A Different Christmas Poem
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear..
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always
remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."
" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq
Monday, December 7, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
your story...
Moses, Joshua, David, Samson, Daniel, Jesus, Peter, Paul...how about Lottie Moon, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Joan of Arc, Martin Luther...you know all of these stories, some better than others. Besides the Bible and the place in history that they hold...do you know why you know their story? They were just ordinary humans, living for the most part very ordinary lives until one day they made a decision.
Their situations were very different, what they accomplished ranges to all aspects of human life. But the simple thing that made their life and story historical and memorable was that they made a sacrifice.
They looked beyond themselves, beyond their convenience and comfort and made a choice. They took action. They decided that the challenge was worth the personal cost.
In the story of your life where is the sacrifice? The sacrifice that costs you and benefits someone else? The sacrifice that does not want recognition or praise, but only the peace and satisfaction of knowing that your life made a difference, left a mark, changed the future of someone else. An effort that changes you. A sacrifice that leaves you with less, without, with pain. This Christmas and this coming new year...what will you do that costs you?
What will you sacrifice to give someone else's story a better ending?
Their situations were very different, what they accomplished ranges to all aspects of human life. But the simple thing that made their life and story historical and memorable was that they made a sacrifice.
They looked beyond themselves, beyond their convenience and comfort and made a choice. They took action. They decided that the challenge was worth the personal cost.
In the story of your life where is the sacrifice? The sacrifice that costs you and benefits someone else? The sacrifice that does not want recognition or praise, but only the peace and satisfaction of knowing that your life made a difference, left a mark, changed the future of someone else. An effort that changes you. A sacrifice that leaves you with less, without, with pain. This Christmas and this coming new year...what will you do that costs you?
What will you sacrifice to give someone else's story a better ending?
Monday, October 12, 2009
I am Jesus.
Now before you call the facility or my family…give me a minute.
As a husband, who am I to be to my wife? Jesus. As a friend who am I to be in the way I love you? Jesus. Who am I to be one with? Jesus. Where am I? In Jesus. Whose righteousness am I? Jesus’. Who am I alive in? Jesus. Whose body am I? Jesus.
If you have an electronic bible program or search tool, do a search using the phrase, “in Christ.” Read them all in the context of who we are.
Now, I do not think that I am the historical Jesus. I do not believe I am a reincarnation or a second coming or anything crazy, cultic or blasphemous. No Waco wacko here!
But it has occurred to me that the only way I will ever really be able to be Jesus to others is I have to start being Jesus to me!
Let me put it another way. You have landed the starring role of Jesus in the movie called your life! In this movie you are Jesus in your home. You are Jesus in your career. You are Jesus in traffic. You are Jesus in your church. Everywhere you go you are Jesus.
How about this one…with whom have you been crucified? According to Galatians 2:20 who exactly is supposed to be living in you? According to the divine transaction who exactly are you?
You can play word games and semantics and give me all the reasons why I am not Him. And when you are done…I will look you in the eye and tell you that I am Jesus. And if you know Him as Lord and Savior, so are you!
I am not to have any other goal or aspiration. I am to have no other identity. I am to have no other expression toward others than one simple thing…be Jesus.
To say that I am Jesus is not arrogance or narcissism. It is not a boasting or a psychotic delusion. It’s a humble confession. It’s the embracing of a call upon my life. It is an acceptance of all the N.T. teaches me about who I am and how I am to live. It is a goal, a determination, a desire.
Jesus is who the Father sees when He looks at me…Jesus is who the world needs to see when it looks at me…Jesus is who I should see when I look in the mirror.
Imagine how you would live your life if for a whole day you had to wear a T-shirt that had a simple statement on the front and back, I am Jesus Christ. Imagine living a day being Jesus to everyone you meet…regardless of how they treat you. Imagine being Jesus in every situation. Imagine loving those around you as Jesus does.
While you may still think I am wrong, crazy, heretical or whatever for saying I am Jesus, just so you will know, I am okay with that…as Jesus I have to be!
But with all the Bible says about the lost world around me…they don’t need me. They don’t need a better me. They need Jesus. And whose body am I? Whose hands am I? Whose voice am I? Whose will am I to fulfill?
I will just proclaim again with all the faith and courage and hope and desire and will and every other fiber of expression that is trembling within me, I am Jesus…who are you gonna be?
As a husband, who am I to be to my wife? Jesus. As a friend who am I to be in the way I love you? Jesus. Who am I to be one with? Jesus. Where am I? In Jesus. Whose righteousness am I? Jesus’. Who am I alive in? Jesus. Whose body am I? Jesus.
If you have an electronic bible program or search tool, do a search using the phrase, “in Christ.” Read them all in the context of who we are.
Now, I do not think that I am the historical Jesus. I do not believe I am a reincarnation or a second coming or anything crazy, cultic or blasphemous. No Waco wacko here!
But it has occurred to me that the only way I will ever really be able to be Jesus to others is I have to start being Jesus to me!
Let me put it another way. You have landed the starring role of Jesus in the movie called your life! In this movie you are Jesus in your home. You are Jesus in your career. You are Jesus in traffic. You are Jesus in your church. Everywhere you go you are Jesus.
How about this one…with whom have you been crucified? According to Galatians 2:20 who exactly is supposed to be living in you? According to the divine transaction who exactly are you?
You can play word games and semantics and give me all the reasons why I am not Him. And when you are done…I will look you in the eye and tell you that I am Jesus. And if you know Him as Lord and Savior, so are you!
I am not to have any other goal or aspiration. I am to have no other identity. I am to have no other expression toward others than one simple thing…be Jesus.
To say that I am Jesus is not arrogance or narcissism. It is not a boasting or a psychotic delusion. It’s a humble confession. It’s the embracing of a call upon my life. It is an acceptance of all the N.T. teaches me about who I am and how I am to live. It is a goal, a determination, a desire.
Jesus is who the Father sees when He looks at me…Jesus is who the world needs to see when it looks at me…Jesus is who I should see when I look in the mirror.
Imagine how you would live your life if for a whole day you had to wear a T-shirt that had a simple statement on the front and back, I am Jesus Christ. Imagine living a day being Jesus to everyone you meet…regardless of how they treat you. Imagine being Jesus in every situation. Imagine loving those around you as Jesus does.
While you may still think I am wrong, crazy, heretical or whatever for saying I am Jesus, just so you will know, I am okay with that…as Jesus I have to be!
But with all the Bible says about the lost world around me…they don’t need me. They don’t need a better me. They need Jesus. And whose body am I? Whose hands am I? Whose voice am I? Whose will am I to fulfill?
I will just proclaim again with all the faith and courage and hope and desire and will and every other fiber of expression that is trembling within me, I am Jesus…who are you gonna be?
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Spiritual Relativity: the purpose of life (2)
20Sep09 Ephesians One
Last week we began this study entitled:
Spiritual Relativity: the purpose of life.
Our life has meaning only as it is relative to the purpose of God.
I used the idea that Einstein’s theory of relativity E=MC2 which helped the world discover nuclear power is an analogy that if we could unlock God’s purpose for our life we might discover an equally life changing power.
And so I am excited to unveil my equation for Spiritual Relativity.
P=HKC Purpose = His Kingdom Come
In every situation of our life our Purpose is to choose the action or attitude that demonstrates His Kingdom Come into our lives…
The Purpose of God and the purpose of life is to make what is a reality in the Eternal World a reality in the Earthly World.
Last week we talked about The Principles of Spiritual Relativity.
Principle #1 We live in a multi-dimensional world.
We concluded that the great conflict in which we all live is the struggle between the human purpose to make everything about us and the purpose of God which is to unite all things in him.
The conflict is between what we see in our mind and what God sees in His.
It occurred to me this week that there is in most people a great struggle between several versions of us that exist in our own mind and the version of us that exists in God’s mind.
There are so many versions of us… for example…
In our relationships
…husband…Dad…preacher…friend…
In our self awareness…
The version of us with all the dysfunctions created by our past wounds that we don’t want anyone to see…
The version we want to be and want others to see.
But the version I need to focus on is the version that God sees me as!
Which brings me to :
Principle #2 The way we exist in the mind of God.
This is the application of the equation
P=HKC [Purpose = His Kingdom Come]
In these verses Paul describes our existence in the mind of God…
READ VERSES 1-10
“In the heavenly places” means that there is a version of us that exists in the mind of God.
“In the heavenly places” we are God’s intentionally created object of His affection.
Instead of unwanted I am chosen
“In the heavenly places” we are holy and blameless.
Instead of wounded and disgusting I am holy
“In the heavenly places” we are predestined to be adopted…
Instead of alone and unwanted and aborted…I am adopted!
“In the Heavenly places” we are lavished with His grace to make up for all of our wounds and wickedness.
Instead of being eternally separated from God…nothing can separate me from the Love of God in Christ Jesus!
From eternity past God has had us in His mind and how He was going to love us and what he was going to do for us and what He wanted to accomplish in our lives and that is His purpose.
That is the power of Spiritual Relativity - P=HKC
The Ultimate question is have you by faith embraced the version that exists in the Heavenly places?
Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, Redeemer and Lord?
Which version of you is dominant in your life?
Are you ready to make it the purpose of your life to bring to earth what exists in the heavenly places?
Then get alone with God right now and invite Him to make real in your life the Purpose of His Kingdom Coming into your life!
Last week we began this study entitled:
Spiritual Relativity: the purpose of life.
Our life has meaning only as it is relative to the purpose of God.
I used the idea that Einstein’s theory of relativity E=MC2 which helped the world discover nuclear power is an analogy that if we could unlock God’s purpose for our life we might discover an equally life changing power.
And so I am excited to unveil my equation for Spiritual Relativity.
P=HKC Purpose = His Kingdom Come
In every situation of our life our Purpose is to choose the action or attitude that demonstrates His Kingdom Come into our lives…
The Purpose of God and the purpose of life is to make what is a reality in the Eternal World a reality in the Earthly World.
Last week we talked about The Principles of Spiritual Relativity.
Principle #1 We live in a multi-dimensional world.
We concluded that the great conflict in which we all live is the struggle between the human purpose to make everything about us and the purpose of God which is to unite all things in him.
The conflict is between what we see in our mind and what God sees in His.
It occurred to me this week that there is in most people a great struggle between several versions of us that exist in our own mind and the version of us that exists in God’s mind.
There are so many versions of us… for example…
In our relationships
…husband…Dad…preacher…friend…
In our self awareness…
The version of us with all the dysfunctions created by our past wounds that we don’t want anyone to see…
The version we want to be and want others to see.
But the version I need to focus on is the version that God sees me as!
Which brings me to :
Principle #2 The way we exist in the mind of God.
This is the application of the equation
P=HKC [Purpose = His Kingdom Come]
In these verses Paul describes our existence in the mind of God…
READ VERSES 1-10
“In the heavenly places” means that there is a version of us that exists in the mind of God.
“In the heavenly places” we are God’s intentionally created object of His affection.
Instead of unwanted I am chosen
“In the heavenly places” we are holy and blameless.
Instead of wounded and disgusting I am holy
“In the heavenly places” we are predestined to be adopted…
Instead of alone and unwanted and aborted…I am adopted!
“In the Heavenly places” we are lavished with His grace to make up for all of our wounds and wickedness.
Instead of being eternally separated from God…nothing can separate me from the Love of God in Christ Jesus!
From eternity past God has had us in His mind and how He was going to love us and what he was going to do for us and what He wanted to accomplish in our lives and that is His purpose.
That is the power of Spiritual Relativity - P=HKC
The Ultimate question is have you by faith embraced the version that exists in the Heavenly places?
Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, Redeemer and Lord?
Which version of you is dominant in your life?
Are you ready to make it the purpose of your life to bring to earth what exists in the heavenly places?
Then get alone with God right now and invite Him to make real in your life the Purpose of His Kingdom Coming into your life!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
13Sep09 Galatians 6 Gravity vs Healthy
℗The World Health Organization…estimates that 2 billion (B) people will contract some type of H1N1/Swine Flu this year.
℗The Center for Disease Control here in the US estimates that there could be as many as 90,000 deaths this fall…more than double the 30-40,000 people who die each year from regular flu related illnesses.
The greatest defense against the disease is basic common sense hygiene i.e. wash your hands, avoid others who are sick, maintain good physical condition!
℗The best way to protect your health is to stay healthy!
(read Six)
℗Four gravity defying signs of Healthiness
℗1.We live in the Grace of Jesus…Him dying for your sin.
We must never get over or away from the Lord Jesus on the Cross for us! (Gravity will pull you away from the cross)
℗2.We live by Faith in Jesus…depending on Him like air.
We must consistently engage our dependence upon Christ. (Gravity will pull you toward independence)
℗3.We live with the Promise of Jesus…there really is someone on the other end of the rope.
We must never lose the mystery of our Faith.
(Gravity will pull you away from the idea of relationship)
℗4.We live through the Spirit’s power to love others more than self.
How are we touching the most frequent people in your life.
(Gravity will pull you toward carelessness )
℗The Very Practical Expression of Healthiness
℗1.How are we dealing with the needs of others?
Restore him in a spirit of gentleness...bearing one another’s burdens
Remember Grace is a Jesus dying on the cross for your sin!
Remember the only requirement of grace is to give it!
To whom do you offer less grace than you demand?
How you treat others is the genuine expression of your faith.
℗2.How are you doing on the test, “let each one test his
own work”
℗What role do you play in this ministry?
How are you trying to make a difference in the lives of others?
℗Are you trying to make a difference with your praying?
℗Are you trying to make a difference with your giving?
℗Are you trying to make a difference with your serving?
Based upon what you are sowing into this ministry what could you realistically expect to reap in the crisis of your life?
Based upon what you are sowing into the lives of those around you what can you expect to reap in the crisis of your life?
℗3.How would you describe the work of the Cross in your life?
℗ Is it lifting up Jesus in your life?
℗ Is it crucifying the selfishness that keeps you from living like Jesus?
℗ Is it crucifying the things of the world that have a hold on your life?
Seriously what really is the most important thing to you in your life?
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see it right now…
℗The Center for Disease Control here in the US estimates that there could be as many as 90,000 deaths this fall…more than double the 30-40,000 people who die each year from regular flu related illnesses.
The greatest defense against the disease is basic common sense hygiene i.e. wash your hands, avoid others who are sick, maintain good physical condition!
℗The best way to protect your health is to stay healthy!
(read Six)
℗Four gravity defying signs of Healthiness
℗1.We live in the Grace of Jesus…Him dying for your sin.
We must never get over or away from the Lord Jesus on the Cross for us! (Gravity will pull you away from the cross)
℗2.We live by Faith in Jesus…depending on Him like air.
We must consistently engage our dependence upon Christ. (Gravity will pull you toward independence)
℗3.We live with the Promise of Jesus…there really is someone on the other end of the rope.
We must never lose the mystery of our Faith.
(Gravity will pull you away from the idea of relationship)
℗4.We live through the Spirit’s power to love others more than self.
How are we touching the most frequent people in your life.
(Gravity will pull you toward carelessness )
℗The Very Practical Expression of Healthiness
℗1.How are we dealing with the needs of others?
Restore him in a spirit of gentleness...bearing one another’s burdens
Remember Grace is a Jesus dying on the cross for your sin!
Remember the only requirement of grace is to give it!
To whom do you offer less grace than you demand?
How you treat others is the genuine expression of your faith.
℗2.How are you doing on the test, “let each one test his
own work”
℗What role do you play in this ministry?
How are you trying to make a difference in the lives of others?
℗Are you trying to make a difference with your praying?
℗Are you trying to make a difference with your giving?
℗Are you trying to make a difference with your serving?
Based upon what you are sowing into this ministry what could you realistically expect to reap in the crisis of your life?
Based upon what you are sowing into the lives of those around you what can you expect to reap in the crisis of your life?
℗3.How would you describe the work of the Cross in your life?
℗ Is it lifting up Jesus in your life?
℗ Is it crucifying the selfishness that keeps you from living like Jesus?
℗ Is it crucifying the things of the world that have a hold on your life?
Seriously what really is the most important thing to you in your life?
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see it right now…
Friday, September 4, 2009
Notes for Sunday Morning 06Sep09
If we had been in the upper room that night we would have heard Jesus speak these immortal words recorded here in Mark 14:22-25
℗And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
What did that mean to them as they sat and listened to Him?
℗The word covenant or testament first occurs in Genesis 6:18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.
℗It is repeated again…Genesis 9:9&11 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;… "And I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth."
In a conversation with Abraham God makes a covenant to establish the Land of Palestine with him and his offspring…
℗ Genesis 15:18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,
From the city limits of Cairo to the Northern border of Syria!
From the Mediterranean coastal city of Haifa to Bagdad on the Euphrates!
And only under David and Solomon did it even begin to move in the direction of its potential…
Then God involves Moses in the Covenant to invite the people to join Him in claiming the relationship…
℗ Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;
God extends the covenant to a family and the sons of Noah in the context of protection from the judgment of the world…
He then extends the covenant to the sons of Abraham in a geographical context so that they would have a place to call their own and worship Him and bring blessing to the world.
Through Moses God redefines the Covenant in the context of a protection from judgment (The Passover) The possession of the Land of Canaan and victory over the inhabitants and a relationship with Him guided by the Ten Commandments.
And for 1400 years the nation of Israel staggered and stumbled through feast and famine, freedom and domination until the ultimate covenant was made.
And just like in all the covenants before it came down to a conversation between God and a man…in this situation it was Jesus and the Twelve…
℗For clarity sake, a covenant is a solemn agreement that is binding on all parties…
And the Covenant that Jesus was talking about was similar to the old covenants but yet eternally greater…
I have protection for you from the judgment…John 3:16
I have a place for you…John 14:3
I have a plan for you… I am the Vine you are the branches…
Love me with all you heart soul mind and Strength and love those around you the way I love you!
Here is what I want you to focus on this morning as we distribute symbols of the covenant…
℗ You are celebrating and reaffirming that you are in a covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ in relationship that will deliver you from judgment.
℗ You are celebrating and reaffirming that you because of this covenant you will spend eternity with Him.
℗ You are celebrating and reaffirming that you want and choose to live out the rest of your life loving Him with all your heart and loving others the way He loves you.
℗And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
What did that mean to them as they sat and listened to Him?
℗The word covenant or testament first occurs in Genesis 6:18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.
℗It is repeated again…Genesis 9:9&11 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;… "And I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth."
In a conversation with Abraham God makes a covenant to establish the Land of Palestine with him and his offspring…
℗ Genesis 15:18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,
From the city limits of Cairo to the Northern border of Syria!
From the Mediterranean coastal city of Haifa to Bagdad on the Euphrates!
And only under David and Solomon did it even begin to move in the direction of its potential…
Then God involves Moses in the Covenant to invite the people to join Him in claiming the relationship…
℗ Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;
God extends the covenant to a family and the sons of Noah in the context of protection from the judgment of the world…
He then extends the covenant to the sons of Abraham in a geographical context so that they would have a place to call their own and worship Him and bring blessing to the world.
Through Moses God redefines the Covenant in the context of a protection from judgment (The Passover) The possession of the Land of Canaan and victory over the inhabitants and a relationship with Him guided by the Ten Commandments.
And for 1400 years the nation of Israel staggered and stumbled through feast and famine, freedom and domination until the ultimate covenant was made.
And just like in all the covenants before it came down to a conversation between God and a man…in this situation it was Jesus and the Twelve…
℗For clarity sake, a covenant is a solemn agreement that is binding on all parties…
And the Covenant that Jesus was talking about was similar to the old covenants but yet eternally greater…
I have protection for you from the judgment…John 3:16
I have a place for you…John 14:3
I have a plan for you… I am the Vine you are the branches…
Love me with all you heart soul mind and Strength and love those around you the way I love you!
Here is what I want you to focus on this morning as we distribute symbols of the covenant…
℗ You are celebrating and reaffirming that you are in a covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ in relationship that will deliver you from judgment.
℗ You are celebrating and reaffirming that you because of this covenant you will spend eternity with Him.
℗ You are celebrating and reaffirming that you want and choose to live out the rest of your life loving Him with all your heart and loving others the way He loves you.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Notes for Wednesday Night September 2, 2009
Proverbs_2
How many of you feel like you made a major mistake this week? Who is struggling with a major decision right now? Who feels like they are at a major cross road of life?
Who knows that you made a tiny decision that in time will be your undoing? Wisdom is what we need.
THE POSTURE FOR GAINING WISDOM. 1-5
Treasure
The idea is to hide that which is of great value so that it cannot be stolen.
How valuable is the wealth of God’s wisdom?
Do we seek to truly incorporate it into our lives or is it just for our passing interests?
Do I see the teaching of Scripture and the leading of the Spirit as the most valuable assets available to me?
Attentive
To position yourself so that your hearing is optimized.
To turn your head so that your good ear is toward what you want to hear.
To turn down or away from the distractions or conflicting sources.
Call out
James 4:2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
Do we consistently ask for God’s guidance and wisdom?
Seek it.
This takes us back to treasure and do we see the will and wisdom of God as something valuable and that will enrich us?
Often we see the will of God as the right thing but maybe not truly the best thing.
THE PROMISES OF GAINING WISDOM. 6-11
Verse 6…either God is lying or we are not listening!
The promises:
He gives…its free!
He shields…He protects us
He guides…its accurate…He knows the right way!
He enlightens…you grow in intellect
He gives you discretion…insight and intuition
THE PURPOSE OF GAINING WISDOM. 12-22
To protect you from harm…
There are only two kinds of bad people out there:
Men and women!!!
We have two major areas of vulnerability:
The need for money
The need for love
We will make our biggest mistakes, our biggest failures, and face our biggest temptations in these two areas.
Think back to the biggest mistakes you have made…the majority of us will find it was in regard to one or the other.
We may not face a major challenge everyday…we may not face a major challenge every week or every month…but the devil knows how to tempt and trip humanity…with the two oldest tricks in the book!
Let’s decide to seek God and treasure His wisdom before we find ourselves living with regret.
How many of you feel like you made a major mistake this week? Who is struggling with a major decision right now? Who feels like they are at a major cross road of life?
Who knows that you made a tiny decision that in time will be your undoing? Wisdom is what we need.
THE POSTURE FOR GAINING WISDOM. 1-5
Treasure
The idea is to hide that which is of great value so that it cannot be stolen.
How valuable is the wealth of God’s wisdom?
Do we seek to truly incorporate it into our lives or is it just for our passing interests?
Do I see the teaching of Scripture and the leading of the Spirit as the most valuable assets available to me?
Attentive
To position yourself so that your hearing is optimized.
To turn your head so that your good ear is toward what you want to hear.
To turn down or away from the distractions or conflicting sources.
Call out
James 4:2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
Do we consistently ask for God’s guidance and wisdom?
Seek it.
This takes us back to treasure and do we see the will and wisdom of God as something valuable and that will enrich us?
Often we see the will of God as the right thing but maybe not truly the best thing.
THE PROMISES OF GAINING WISDOM. 6-11
Verse 6…either God is lying or we are not listening!
The promises:
He gives…its free!
He shields…He protects us
He guides…its accurate…He knows the right way!
He enlightens…you grow in intellect
He gives you discretion…insight and intuition
THE PURPOSE OF GAINING WISDOM. 12-22
To protect you from harm…
There are only two kinds of bad people out there:
Men and women!!!
We have two major areas of vulnerability:
The need for money
The need for love
We will make our biggest mistakes, our biggest failures, and face our biggest temptations in these two areas.
Think back to the biggest mistakes you have made…the majority of us will find it was in regard to one or the other.
We may not face a major challenge everyday…we may not face a major challenge every week or every month…but the devil knows how to tempt and trip humanity…with the two oldest tricks in the book!
Let’s decide to seek God and treasure His wisdom before we find ourselves living with regret.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Miles Away from Malaria...a ride for help!
I am excited to announce that one month from today…August 22, I will seek to ride my bicycle 100 miles, from Conway SC to Charleston SC. This is a fitness goal and a faith goal.
I am calling the ride Miles Away from Malaria, a ride for help! My goal is to raise $5,000.00 dollars for Malaria Relief in Burkina Faso. Burkina is one of the poorest countries in the world. The people there suffer tremendously from Malaria.
In case you did not know I traveled to Burkina in January of this year. Upon my return I was diagnosed with Malaria. For four days I lived through the most terrible suffering I have ever known. The good news is I lived…a million people a year do not.
As I recovered I knew I had to do something to help the people who suffer the way I did. As I recovered and was able to ride my bicycle again I decided to try and do a century ride in celebration of my upcoming 50th birthday. I also determined to make it more than just a ride. I wanted it to be a ride for help…a ride to help people get away from Malaria.
Would you consider a donation to Miles Away from Malaria…a ride for help. All donations will go toward purchasing and shipping supplies for testing, treatment and prevention of Malaria. If you will please make your generous donation payable to:
Sardis Baptist Church, for: Malaria
3602 Unionville Indian Trail Rd W.
Indian Trail, NC 28079
Please forward this email to your as many people as possible.
Thank you in advance for your prayers and support!
I am calling the ride Miles Away from Malaria, a ride for help! My goal is to raise $5,000.00 dollars for Malaria Relief in Burkina Faso. Burkina is one of the poorest countries in the world. The people there suffer tremendously from Malaria.
In case you did not know I traveled to Burkina in January of this year. Upon my return I was diagnosed with Malaria. For four days I lived through the most terrible suffering I have ever known. The good news is I lived…a million people a year do not.
As I recovered I knew I had to do something to help the people who suffer the way I did. As I recovered and was able to ride my bicycle again I decided to try and do a century ride in celebration of my upcoming 50th birthday. I also determined to make it more than just a ride. I wanted it to be a ride for help…a ride to help people get away from Malaria.
Would you consider a donation to Miles Away from Malaria…a ride for help. All donations will go toward purchasing and shipping supplies for testing, treatment and prevention of Malaria. If you will please make your generous donation payable to:
Sardis Baptist Church, for: Malaria
3602 Unionville Indian Trail Rd W.
Indian Trail, NC 28079
Please forward this email to your as many people as possible.
Thank you in advance for your prayers and support!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The biggest day in History!
Do you know what May 31st is?
Let’s see, the last day of May? Your anniversary? The 151st day of the year? It’s the fiftieth day past Easter? Bingo! Figured out where I am going yet?
Sunday May 31, 2009 is Pentecost Sunday. The biggest day in the celebration and practice of Christianity. Without it Christmas and Easter would not even exist. Seriously! Pentecost Sunday is the most important day of all the events of Christianity.
Were it not for the Day of Pentecost the story of Jesus would have disappeared like the story of Theudas. Who is Theudas…exactly.
It all builds upon the next…Christmas became significant because of Good Friday. Good Friday became significant because of Resurrection Sunday. Resurrection Sunday became significant because of Pentecost Sunday!
You want to know why we don’t celebrate it? Embarrassment! We are ashamed of it. Rather we are made ashamed by it! We are ashamed because we cannot speak in tongues. We are ashamed because we cannot heal, and cast out demons, and raise the dead.
We are ashamed because our lives are not marked by power and anointing and change! We are ashamed because the most Christian country in the world has legalized abortion. The most Christian country in the world cannot pray in public and will not pray in private. The most Christian country in the world is on the verge of embracing homosexuality as legitimate marriage. The most Christian country in the world is the most spiritually anemic country in the world.
Let’s face it, we can handle a baby in a manger, and a man on the cross, but enough wind and fire to change our lives and the world we live in is too much of a good thing!
After all how do you decorate a tree with tongues of fire? How do you make jewelry that looks like a roaring wind?
We refuse to celebrate it because the only way to celebrate Pentecost is by experiencing it and expressing it. Why would anyone want to celebrate their most glaring failure and shortcoming!
Christianity does not need more education, or elucidation, or indoctrination. We do not need more symbolism or relativism or modernism. We do not need more style or studies or shtick.
We need, as Jim Cymbala wrote about it is, ”fresh wind and fresh fire.” What every Christian and every church and every community in the country needs is “fresh power.”
Maybe we should stop worrying about whether or not we can put a manger in front of the court house or whether we should call it Easter holidays or Spring break. And start seeking God for the outpouring of His Spirit before the whole world goes to hell.
Happy Pentecost!
Let’s see, the last day of May? Your anniversary? The 151st day of the year? It’s the fiftieth day past Easter? Bingo! Figured out where I am going yet?
Sunday May 31, 2009 is Pentecost Sunday. The biggest day in the celebration and practice of Christianity. Without it Christmas and Easter would not even exist. Seriously! Pentecost Sunday is the most important day of all the events of Christianity.
Were it not for the Day of Pentecost the story of Jesus would have disappeared like the story of Theudas. Who is Theudas…exactly.
It all builds upon the next…Christmas became significant because of Good Friday. Good Friday became significant because of Resurrection Sunday. Resurrection Sunday became significant because of Pentecost Sunday!
You want to know why we don’t celebrate it? Embarrassment! We are ashamed of it. Rather we are made ashamed by it! We are ashamed because we cannot speak in tongues. We are ashamed because we cannot heal, and cast out demons, and raise the dead.
We are ashamed because our lives are not marked by power and anointing and change! We are ashamed because the most Christian country in the world has legalized abortion. The most Christian country in the world cannot pray in public and will not pray in private. The most Christian country in the world is on the verge of embracing homosexuality as legitimate marriage. The most Christian country in the world is the most spiritually anemic country in the world.
Let’s face it, we can handle a baby in a manger, and a man on the cross, but enough wind and fire to change our lives and the world we live in is too much of a good thing!
After all how do you decorate a tree with tongues of fire? How do you make jewelry that looks like a roaring wind?
We refuse to celebrate it because the only way to celebrate Pentecost is by experiencing it and expressing it. Why would anyone want to celebrate their most glaring failure and shortcoming!
Christianity does not need more education, or elucidation, or indoctrination. We do not need more symbolism or relativism or modernism. We do not need more style or studies or shtick.
We need, as Jim Cymbala wrote about it is, ”fresh wind and fresh fire.” What every Christian and every church and every community in the country needs is “fresh power.”
Maybe we should stop worrying about whether or not we can put a manger in front of the court house or whether we should call it Easter holidays or Spring break. And start seeking God for the outpouring of His Spirit before the whole world goes to hell.
Happy Pentecost!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Square Root Day
I am not a mathematician but I do love numbers… Today’s date is 03/03/09. 3 times 3 is 9. The square root of 9 is 3. So geeks and mathematicians are celebrating Square Root Day. I also like it when all of the numbers are the same…this year it will be September 9th, 09/09/09.
I like pi too. I love that no matter where you are or who you are or what language you speak, pi is always the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle; approximately equal to 3.1415926. It is a constant…even dare I say eternal.
Which brings me to our current financial crisis. The bottom line to all of it is that the numbers just did not add up. Through a series of confusing and convoluted calculations people were allowed to fulfill their greed at every level from the consumer to Wall Street financier. Madoff was not the only scam running on Wall Street!
Which brings me to another math equation…one plus one equals one. It’s called creation math. God revealed it when he created a man and a woman. He said the two shall become one flesh. In fact He took from the man and made the woman. Making it so the only way they could be whole or one again was to be with each other in marriage. A man and a man will not add up. A woman and a woman will not add up.
People who say that God created homosexuality and therefore approves of it are either liars or …nope there is nothing else…they are just liars! A lie is a lie no matter your means or end.
As far back at least as 1977 (Soap) the entertainment world has been trying to convince us that homosexuality is normal, acceptable, or right. Over the last couple of months two of my favorite T.V. shows have totally endorsed the idea. House a show about a jerk Dr. with a god complex reveals that a team member Dr. Hadley a.k.a. Thirteen is bisexual. Of course they showed very steamy bedroom scenes to arouse us. The show affirms that it should be seen as perfectly normal. Now she is living and having sex with one of the other male Doctors on the team which is equally morally reprehensible.
Then on Bones, another FOX show one of the regular characters reveals that she has a bisexual past that is revealed through conversation and of course a wet kiss, on camera. And of course the whole dialogue is about how no one should judge them or think that it is anything other than acceptable if not completely normal.
Well here is a news flash. It is not normal! It is wrong. It is sinful. It is promiscuity and sexual sin at nearly its pinnacle. (S&M is the pinnacle.) It is physiologically wrong, it is morally wrong, it is mathematically wrong.
One more…while watching a hilarious movie yesterday I was struck by a very odd occurrence. At one point in the movie they took God’s name in vain by connecting it to the word damn. They did not bleep it or hide it in anyway. However, a few minutes later they bleeped the word faggot when it was used to refer to the character who was being outed as a homosexual. Seriously, I don’t like the word faggot. It’s a slang word. Intelligent people do not need to use slang. But then do intelligent people need to take God’s name in vain?
I appreciate that they did not want to offend homosexuals by calling them faggots. But how and why was there no regard for God by taking His name in vain or for believers when it came to taking their God’s name in vain. It just does not add up.
It seems that it all comes back to a math problem. The world has forgotten that there is another eternal constant besides pi, its God! They have forgotten that the square root of every human problem is the individual and that they are in deep need of a new figure in their life, God! Who interestingly enough on this square root day, is revealed as the trinity…
Finally, when we are more worried about offending a sexual deviant than the Holy God, something does not add up. And unless something changes, America just might get what everybody keeps calling for when they drop the G.d. bomb!
I like pi too. I love that no matter where you are or who you are or what language you speak, pi is always the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle; approximately equal to 3.1415926. It is a constant…even dare I say eternal.
Which brings me to our current financial crisis. The bottom line to all of it is that the numbers just did not add up. Through a series of confusing and convoluted calculations people were allowed to fulfill their greed at every level from the consumer to Wall Street financier. Madoff was not the only scam running on Wall Street!
Which brings me to another math equation…one plus one equals one. It’s called creation math. God revealed it when he created a man and a woman. He said the two shall become one flesh. In fact He took from the man and made the woman. Making it so the only way they could be whole or one again was to be with each other in marriage. A man and a man will not add up. A woman and a woman will not add up.
People who say that God created homosexuality and therefore approves of it are either liars or …nope there is nothing else…they are just liars! A lie is a lie no matter your means or end.
As far back at least as 1977 (Soap) the entertainment world has been trying to convince us that homosexuality is normal, acceptable, or right. Over the last couple of months two of my favorite T.V. shows have totally endorsed the idea. House a show about a jerk Dr. with a god complex reveals that a team member Dr. Hadley a.k.a. Thirteen is bisexual. Of course they showed very steamy bedroom scenes to arouse us. The show affirms that it should be seen as perfectly normal. Now she is living and having sex with one of the other male Doctors on the team which is equally morally reprehensible.
Then on Bones, another FOX show one of the regular characters reveals that she has a bisexual past that is revealed through conversation and of course a wet kiss, on camera. And of course the whole dialogue is about how no one should judge them or think that it is anything other than acceptable if not completely normal.
Well here is a news flash. It is not normal! It is wrong. It is sinful. It is promiscuity and sexual sin at nearly its pinnacle. (S&M is the pinnacle.) It is physiologically wrong, it is morally wrong, it is mathematically wrong.
One more…while watching a hilarious movie yesterday I was struck by a very odd occurrence. At one point in the movie they took God’s name in vain by connecting it to the word damn. They did not bleep it or hide it in anyway. However, a few minutes later they bleeped the word faggot when it was used to refer to the character who was being outed as a homosexual. Seriously, I don’t like the word faggot. It’s a slang word. Intelligent people do not need to use slang. But then do intelligent people need to take God’s name in vain?
I appreciate that they did not want to offend homosexuals by calling them faggots. But how and why was there no regard for God by taking His name in vain or for believers when it came to taking their God’s name in vain. It just does not add up.
It seems that it all comes back to a math problem. The world has forgotten that there is another eternal constant besides pi, its God! They have forgotten that the square root of every human problem is the individual and that they are in deep need of a new figure in their life, God! Who interestingly enough on this square root day, is revealed as the trinity…
Finally, when we are more worried about offending a sexual deviant than the Holy God, something does not add up. And unless something changes, America just might get what everybody keeps calling for when they drop the G.d. bomb!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The Long Run
This is gonna be weird but stay with me… I love music, all kinds of music. So when I saw something yesterday about the highest grossing concert tours of 2008 it caught my attention.
Here is why…#13 Michael Buble. Basically he is a reincarnated Frank Sinatra. BTW Sinatra would be 94 years old today. #12 Trans-Siberian Orchestra, they are a cross between Beethoven and Boston. #9 was the Eagles they have been around about thirty years. # 7 was none other than Neil Diamond, he turned 68 this year. The #1 tour of 2008 was a band that has been touring for 25 years…none other than Bon Jovi!
Neil Diamond grossed over 80 million dollars. He sold out 61 shows with an average ticket price of $97.00 each! Bon Jovi grossed over 200 million!
Why did I tell you this? One little reason. The world does not need or want something new or different. They don’t need or really want cutting edge or what’s never been done before. They want true, tried, tested and pure! They want the best! They want it over and over. They want it no matter the cost. They want the real thing!
What if we as believers and the church stopped trying to be something new and different and cutting edge and started focusing on being true and tested and pure. What if in our everyday life we always tasted like 2000 year old living water. 2000 year old bread of heaven. 2000 year old Spirit-filled men and women who were always the same! What if no matter when, where or who found us, we were always simply Loving Jesus, Serving Others, Reaching the World.
What if we stopped trying to be hip and relevant and contemporary and started being genuine and real. Not dressed up or dressed down, just dressed in humility. What if we put on Jesus instead of a show? What if we just made sure we were no more in public than we are in private. What if we hid so much in the prayer closet that we had nothing to hide on stage?
In the long run only Jesus will be able to give that peaceful easy feeling to a world that has a heartache, tonight!
Oh by the way…the number one selling album of all time? A collection of songs recorded between 1971 and 1975 by some guys who call themselves…The Eagles. 29 million copies sold.
Here is why…#13 Michael Buble. Basically he is a reincarnated Frank Sinatra. BTW Sinatra would be 94 years old today. #12 Trans-Siberian Orchestra, they are a cross between Beethoven and Boston. #9 was the Eagles they have been around about thirty years. # 7 was none other than Neil Diamond, he turned 68 this year. The #1 tour of 2008 was a band that has been touring for 25 years…none other than Bon Jovi!
Neil Diamond grossed over 80 million dollars. He sold out 61 shows with an average ticket price of $97.00 each! Bon Jovi grossed over 200 million!
Why did I tell you this? One little reason. The world does not need or want something new or different. They don’t need or really want cutting edge or what’s never been done before. They want true, tried, tested and pure! They want the best! They want it over and over. They want it no matter the cost. They want the real thing!
What if we as believers and the church stopped trying to be something new and different and cutting edge and started focusing on being true and tested and pure. What if in our everyday life we always tasted like 2000 year old living water. 2000 year old bread of heaven. 2000 year old Spirit-filled men and women who were always the same! What if no matter when, where or who found us, we were always simply Loving Jesus, Serving Others, Reaching the World.
What if we stopped trying to be hip and relevant and contemporary and started being genuine and real. Not dressed up or dressed down, just dressed in humility. What if we put on Jesus instead of a show? What if we just made sure we were no more in public than we are in private. What if we hid so much in the prayer closet that we had nothing to hide on stage?
In the long run only Jesus will be able to give that peaceful easy feeling to a world that has a heartache, tonight!
Oh by the way…the number one selling album of all time? A collection of songs recorded between 1971 and 1975 by some guys who call themselves…The Eagles. 29 million copies sold.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Wastin’ away in Malaria’ville
At about 3:00 am Saturday Jan 24 I experienced the onset of Malaria. A recent trip to Burkina Faso Africa had exposed me to mosquitoes that were bearing the disease. And though I had been back for 12 days, the virus was still very active. The short story is that from that early morning onset of symptoms I did not find real relief until sometime Thursday morning. I faced high fever, intense body pain and headaches that responded best to ice packs on either side of my head. In short it was the most horrific experience of my life. I would wish it on no one.
And while I would gladly have never experienced it I must say with all honesty I am grateful. I am grateful that my son Jonathan who slept on the cot next to me in Africa has to date not shown any symptoms. If one of us had to have it, I am grateful it was me.
I am also grateful that I had the privilege of being treated by a great infectious disease Doctor and a fine staff of nurses who did everything in their power to help me seek relief. They were very patient with me when all their efforts seemed ineffective.
I am grateful for a wife and family who cared for me so tenderly. I am grateful for a family of faith, that extends farther than I can imagine, who prayed for me without ceasing. The difference between my condition Wednesday evening and Thursday morning January 29th is borderline miraculous.
I am grateful that I will never be the same. I have been given and incredible gift of understanding, like few can, what it means to millions of people around the world to suffer from Malaria.
While in Africa this year I had held the feeble fingers of a small child as we tested him for malaria. You could almost tell by looking at the child that they had the disease. We had treated adults who had traveled many miles on foot to the clinic. I look back now and remember how desperately ill I was as I traveled by car to the hospital and wonder how they ever made it to the clinic.
I am grateful that for the first time in my life I have a passion for something and for a people that is beyond the walls of a religious status quo. I have already been challenged to never go back to Africa. They argue that the danger to my health is all the reason I need. And my response is,” how can I possibly not go back.” How can I not go and try to help people find relief from a treatable disease of which I now know of the terrible affliction first hand.
Had I known then what I know now I would have spent every moment of every day trying to care more tenderly for those who had the disease. I would have done everything I could to check and treat every person I could.
I will not likely return before January of 2010. But when I do I will go back with a greater sense of focus and passion than ever before. I hope to be able to do more to be prepared than ever before. I want to give an insecticide treated mosquito net to as many mothers of young children as possible. I want to give as many families as we can some repellent for their homes. We will test and treat more people for Malaria than we ever have before. I will share the love of Jesus more passionately than I ever have before.
Thanks for your prayers. Thanks for your love. Pray for those who suffer right now from Malaria.
And while I would gladly have never experienced it I must say with all honesty I am grateful. I am grateful that my son Jonathan who slept on the cot next to me in Africa has to date not shown any symptoms. If one of us had to have it, I am grateful it was me.
I am also grateful that I had the privilege of being treated by a great infectious disease Doctor and a fine staff of nurses who did everything in their power to help me seek relief. They were very patient with me when all their efforts seemed ineffective.
I am grateful for a wife and family who cared for me so tenderly. I am grateful for a family of faith, that extends farther than I can imagine, who prayed for me without ceasing. The difference between my condition Wednesday evening and Thursday morning January 29th is borderline miraculous.
I am grateful that I will never be the same. I have been given and incredible gift of understanding, like few can, what it means to millions of people around the world to suffer from Malaria.
While in Africa this year I had held the feeble fingers of a small child as we tested him for malaria. You could almost tell by looking at the child that they had the disease. We had treated adults who had traveled many miles on foot to the clinic. I look back now and remember how desperately ill I was as I traveled by car to the hospital and wonder how they ever made it to the clinic.
I am grateful that for the first time in my life I have a passion for something and for a people that is beyond the walls of a religious status quo. I have already been challenged to never go back to Africa. They argue that the danger to my health is all the reason I need. And my response is,” how can I possibly not go back.” How can I not go and try to help people find relief from a treatable disease of which I now know of the terrible affliction first hand.
Had I known then what I know now I would have spent every moment of every day trying to care more tenderly for those who had the disease. I would have done everything I could to check and treat every person I could.
I will not likely return before January of 2010. But when I do I will go back with a greater sense of focus and passion than ever before. I hope to be able to do more to be prepared than ever before. I want to give an insecticide treated mosquito net to as many mothers of young children as possible. I want to give as many families as we can some repellent for their homes. We will test and treat more people for Malaria than we ever have before. I will share the love of Jesus more passionately than I ever have before.
Thanks for your prayers. Thanks for your love. Pray for those who suffer right now from Malaria.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
We the people
As I watched the inauguration this morning I was intrigued by several things.
What was going through the mind of President Bush? Certainly it was a blend of thoughts and emotions. A sadness to be leaving a position that he must have loved more deeply than any of us can imagine. Not because of the power or the perks but for the love of his nation and we the people he called, “my fellow Americans.”
I am not a political pundit. I am ignorant of politics and the workings of partisan government influence. But I think I know a man when I see one. A real man. A man not of polish or pretense, but a man who cared more about doing the right thing than merely saying the right words. A real man who was willing to do the right thing regardless of how unpopular the decision.
Like you I was amused by the misspeaks and verbal gaffs uttered by the 43rd president. To say he was not a gifted speaker is to say that Gilligan was not a great sailor.
But when George W. Bush spoke in the National Cathedral following September 11, 2001 you knew he was speaking with genuine emotion, genuine grief and genuine resolve. When he spoke by executive order and appealed to the nation for support, as he called us to war against the terrorist that were harbored in Afghanistan and Iraq, what he lacked in eloquence he made up for in resolve and conviction.
History may judge my president poorly for the result and the recovery of Iraq. But a man cannot make a nation choose freedom and liberty and democracy, he can only give them a choice. And he gave them a choice.
My new president is gifted at speaking and demeanor. He is very intelligent and inspiring. But he like his predecessor, is faced with a great challenge that threatens the very fiber of our nation.
He is faced with a new enemy. The enemy is not foreign but domestic. Its weapons are not military but are monetary. Our new president has been given the great challenge of overcoming consumerism and greed.
President Obama must lead our nation beyond the intoxication of riches and the allusion of wealth without work. He must lead us to rise above selfishness and indulgence.
He as any president is charged with leading our great nation. If we are to prove we are a great nation then we must choose to follow. We will not all agree on every decision that he makes. But we must remember one man cannot make our nation great. He can only offer us a choice.
A choice to live within our means. The chance to choose to measure our wealth and our worth not by the mirage of Wall Street but by the true sweat of American ingenuity. Where people do a fair day’s work for a fair days wage to produce a product of which everyone can be proud.
President Obama is what every president before him has been. Just a man with great responsibility thrust upon him because he was willing to serve. We the people must choose to pray for him. Encourage him. Follow him as much and as far as we can. At best he will be able to lead and offer us a good choice…but we the people must make the choice.
What was going through the mind of President Bush? Certainly it was a blend of thoughts and emotions. A sadness to be leaving a position that he must have loved more deeply than any of us can imagine. Not because of the power or the perks but for the love of his nation and we the people he called, “my fellow Americans.”
I am not a political pundit. I am ignorant of politics and the workings of partisan government influence. But I think I know a man when I see one. A real man. A man not of polish or pretense, but a man who cared more about doing the right thing than merely saying the right words. A real man who was willing to do the right thing regardless of how unpopular the decision.
Like you I was amused by the misspeaks and verbal gaffs uttered by the 43rd president. To say he was not a gifted speaker is to say that Gilligan was not a great sailor.
But when George W. Bush spoke in the National Cathedral following September 11, 2001 you knew he was speaking with genuine emotion, genuine grief and genuine resolve. When he spoke by executive order and appealed to the nation for support, as he called us to war against the terrorist that were harbored in Afghanistan and Iraq, what he lacked in eloquence he made up for in resolve and conviction.
History may judge my president poorly for the result and the recovery of Iraq. But a man cannot make a nation choose freedom and liberty and democracy, he can only give them a choice. And he gave them a choice.
My new president is gifted at speaking and demeanor. He is very intelligent and inspiring. But he like his predecessor, is faced with a great challenge that threatens the very fiber of our nation.
He is faced with a new enemy. The enemy is not foreign but domestic. Its weapons are not military but are monetary. Our new president has been given the great challenge of overcoming consumerism and greed.
President Obama must lead our nation beyond the intoxication of riches and the allusion of wealth without work. He must lead us to rise above selfishness and indulgence.
He as any president is charged with leading our great nation. If we are to prove we are a great nation then we must choose to follow. We will not all agree on every decision that he makes. But we must remember one man cannot make our nation great. He can only offer us a choice.
A choice to live within our means. The chance to choose to measure our wealth and our worth not by the mirage of Wall Street but by the true sweat of American ingenuity. Where people do a fair day’s work for a fair days wage to produce a product of which everyone can be proud.
President Obama is what every president before him has been. Just a man with great responsibility thrust upon him because he was willing to serve. We the people must choose to pray for him. Encourage him. Follow him as much and as far as we can. At best he will be able to lead and offer us a good choice…but we the people must make the choice.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Africa 2009
Our 2009 journey to Africa began on Friday Morning Jan 2. We hit the road at 9:00 am. We flew out of Raleigh Airport to a connection at JFK in NY. From there we flew to Casablanca, Morocco. With a 12 hour layover we took in a tour of the city and made our next connection to Burkina Faso in West Africa. From the airport we traveled over 5 hours by bus to the mission house in Diabougou. By the time we went to bed that night we had been traveling for over 50 hours.
Our work week began Monday morning with a one hour ride to the village of Nakar. A small remote village without power or water. A village that has changed little in the last 500 years. It occurred to me that Jesus must have made his was into villages just like Nakar.
Each day began with a worship service and gospel sermon. Each day we saw adults from the village and surrounding villages make professions of faith. Following the service we would see patiences until 5:00 each afternoon and then make the one hour drive back to the mission house.
A typical visit to the clinic for one of the locals was an interview with a nurse with the aid of a translator. They would move from the interview to the Malaria testing station. With results in hand they would move on to an interview with a highly experienced nurse or with a Doctor. Following a visit with the Doctor the patient would move to the pharmacy bench where they would receive a worm treatment, a malaria treatment if necessary and other medicines as prescribed by the Doctor. Some of the most prescribed medicines were OTC pain reliever and antibiotics. Many patients went through a wound care area where major wounds were dressed and bandaged. Several severe wounds were treated. Broken leg, burns, lacerations, and the most abused feet on the planet were typical cases.
We saw patients for five days. Concluding the clinic on Friday afternoon by seeing nothing but infants and small high risk children. It was the toughest day of the week. So many sick and needy people and not enough time or resources to help them all.
Our return trip began early Saturday morning with a return trip of 5 hours back to the capital city of Ouagadougou. We took a short shopping trip for souvenirs and dinner before making our way back to the airport for a 3:00 am flight. We flew back to Casablanca and then on to JFK and back into RDU. Upon arrival in Raleigh we learned that none of our baggage had made the flight. I laid down in my bed at 1:00 Monday morning. The end of about 40 hours of travel.
A quick road trip to Dillon SC on Wednesday secured our luggage and we celebrated our trip with our congregation on Sunday night Jan 18 at Sardis.
On the trip we saw 439 people in the clinic. Treated 152 for Malaria and saw 94 people make professions of faith. I want to thank www.shatteringdarkness.org for planning the trip and for the whole team that went. I want to especially thank Frank and Kim Donohue, Rob and Angela Jackson, and my son Jonathan for being such great team mates.
I love you all. Kenn Hucks
Our work week began Monday morning with a one hour ride to the village of Nakar. A small remote village without power or water. A village that has changed little in the last 500 years. It occurred to me that Jesus must have made his was into villages just like Nakar.
Each day began with a worship service and gospel sermon. Each day we saw adults from the village and surrounding villages make professions of faith. Following the service we would see patiences until 5:00 each afternoon and then make the one hour drive back to the mission house.
A typical visit to the clinic for one of the locals was an interview with a nurse with the aid of a translator. They would move from the interview to the Malaria testing station. With results in hand they would move on to an interview with a highly experienced nurse or with a Doctor. Following a visit with the Doctor the patient would move to the pharmacy bench where they would receive a worm treatment, a malaria treatment if necessary and other medicines as prescribed by the Doctor. Some of the most prescribed medicines were OTC pain reliever and antibiotics. Many patients went through a wound care area where major wounds were dressed and bandaged. Several severe wounds were treated. Broken leg, burns, lacerations, and the most abused feet on the planet were typical cases.
We saw patients for five days. Concluding the clinic on Friday afternoon by seeing nothing but infants and small high risk children. It was the toughest day of the week. So many sick and needy people and not enough time or resources to help them all.
Our return trip began early Saturday morning with a return trip of 5 hours back to the capital city of Ouagadougou. We took a short shopping trip for souvenirs and dinner before making our way back to the airport for a 3:00 am flight. We flew back to Casablanca and then on to JFK and back into RDU. Upon arrival in Raleigh we learned that none of our baggage had made the flight. I laid down in my bed at 1:00 Monday morning. The end of about 40 hours of travel.
A quick road trip to Dillon SC on Wednesday secured our luggage and we celebrated our trip with our congregation on Sunday night Jan 18 at Sardis.
On the trip we saw 439 people in the clinic. Treated 152 for Malaria and saw 94 people make professions of faith. I want to thank www.shatteringdarkness.org for planning the trip and for the whole team that went. I want to especially thank Frank and Kim Donohue, Rob and Angela Jackson, and my son Jonathan for being such great team mates.
I love you all. Kenn Hucks
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