By His Powerful Word

Twe weeks ago this Friday, Glenda and I drove down to Branson, MO. In southern Illinois we passed soy bean fields that were already turning yellow and nearing harvest. Our fields in northern Illinois were solid green and apparently no where near their harvest. Today, less than two weeks later, as I drove to work I noticed that our fields have caught up with those in the south. It is truly amazing how God works across the universe.

As I drove to work, I thought of the verse in Hebrews 1:3 that says, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." I watched the sun come up this morning and the bean fields change colors, and I realized that someone is in control of it all. God's Word tells us that Jesus is sustaining all things by his powerful word. He speaks and things happen.

Too many people are saying, "There is no God!" They are wrong. He is caring for us and loving on us daily. We need to praise and worship him with all our heart. As you drive to work today or tomorrow, look around. What do you see that happens like clock work in creation? Remember Jesus is working for your blessing. Think about it!

Much Ado About Nothing

I'm not big into Shakespeare but I did start to watch a movie once entitled, "Much Ado About Nothing." It was so ridiculous that after ten minutes of it I shut it off and went to do something else. It truly fulfilled its name!

Yesterday, I preached about "Vision" and how the people parish without vision (Proverbs 29:18). Earlier in the week, Jason and I had been talking about Esau and how he simply didn't have the vision to care about his birthright. He sold it for a bowl of soup. In this case, Esau made little ado about something! Esau's birthright was 42 generations away from being in the linage of the Son of God, Jesus, but he sold that for a lousy bowl of soup-- Jacob wasn't that good of cook either! Esau's birthright was something he should have fought for to the death! He blew it off as if it didn't matter about nothing. Consequently, the writer of Hebrews calls Esau a "godless man."

What about us-- you, me? How often do we blow of the things of God with a casual wave of the hand. Do we sell out God's plan for us over a dirty movie, or extra drink, drugs, an extra long look at the neighbor's wife? Do we sell out God's plan with our anger or frustrations in life, etc? Are we making much ado about nothing or little ado about something? We should be making much ado about something when it comes to the things and plans of God for our life!

Think about it!

Memories

Shelly just told me that she saw one of Tera's grade school teachers the other day at a football game. We talked about what we remembered and what we didn't remember about her. My sister called last night and told me that my first grade teacher had just died. I remember her as being a hundred years old when I was in first grade. She was 88 when she died and so I worked the math. She would have been younger than Shelly is right now.

What I remember about my first grade teacher is that she sent me out into the hallway one day for talking too much. It only happened once and I thought I would be in big trouble at home if anyone found out. But my class room was in the basement and my sister's class room was on the top floor of the building and so I felt quite secure that no one would ever know.

But as I sat there, someone started to come down the stairs. I could hear their steps. It was my sister on her way to the restroom. She was in fifth grade at the time and I decided right then there was no way she was going to squeal on me. I scooted from my position next to the door and hid in the coats. Thankfully for me it was a quick trip to the restroom and back to class for her. I unwrapped myself from my coat and went back to set down just in time for my teacher to come get me out of the hallway. I have always wondered how she would have reacted if I had been hiding in the coats when she came to get me??? I doubt that it would have been good!

Back To Work

Getting away for a few days can be extremely refreshing. Glenda and I went to Branson, MO on Friday and got back yesterday afternoon. We saw the newest of shows in Branson, called Noah, The Musical. It was actually pretty good to start out and temendous by the end. I recommend that you see it if you go to Branson. That is a pretty sound recommendation coming from a guy who doesn't care much for musicals of any kind!

We ate too much! Food is good down there and there are so many varieties. The blackberry cobler with ice cream on it is over the edge. I could go on and on but enough said about food. Our hotel was great. It was clean and modern and cheap! Cheap is a big deal for me and it doesn't always go with clean and modern. Better yet, it was quiet.

The best part of the trip was spending some time with Glenda. It was time we could talk and read and sleep and eat and just be husband and wife without any schedule of time or telephones ringing or expectations from anyone. It was just a good time together and I thank God for the ability to get away for awhile.

Today, I am back at work. I have downloaded all of the 102 e-mails that awaited me when I got here. I am finishing up my blog for today. I have a Bible study at 10:00, a meeting at 1:00, a Sonshine magazine to get mailed, dinner to cook for tonight's Bible study and another Bible study at 6:30. That doesn't take in any phone calls or walk ins at the office. Welcome back-- the vacation is over!

It's Going To Rain

Glenda and I are in Branson, MO. We came down on Saturday, mainly to see Noah, The Musical. We tried to see it in March when we came through but it was opening the next weekend. Anyhow it was fantastic! If you come to Branson and haven't seen Noah, I highly suggest it.

Today we are just kind of lazing around. We've had our first cup of coffee and are getting ready to get breakfast. But the weather forcast is for severe thunderstorms and major flooding for tomorrow. I don't feel God telling me to build an ark so I guess we will get out of here today. I don't know if we will drive straight through or stop on the way but we will be home by tomorrow for sure.

Meanwhile, what would we do (I include myself in this question) if God told one of us to build an ark? The show here in Branson really played up how Noah was the laughing stock of his commuity. What would we do? Think about it!

"What's On Your Mind?"

This comes after reading my Facebook page. When I posted it on Facebook it said too many characters in the box. That is sort of like what my day has been today.

The question in the box on my Facebook is "What's on your mind?" Not much right now. Jenny is talking about the pumpkin fest and pumpkin chili and pumpkin shakes. I have never met a chili or a shake I didn't like, but this might push the issue. Ashley is talking about burning the candle at both ends and I cautioned her to be careful doing that. Glenda has two days off at work and wants to go someplace. I don't know where to go. Carmen says her tootsies are cold. Can't help! Meagan says the average toddler melts down every 20 minutes or so--what about grandpa's-- I think I am about have a meltdown.

Well, I have to go. What's on my mind now? Pumpkin chili- just can't imagine!

The Place Was Filthy

Last week Glenda and I met John and his two boys at a restaurant in Rockford. We have eaten there often, but not real recently. The place was absolutely filthy. The floor was so sticky that our shoes stuck to it when we walked. The tables were terrible and the baby high chair had black filth on it to the point we couldn't use it. It was a buffet and so we had paid for and gotten our food before we found this all out.

Since then, I have seen two different articles on AOL about places that are filthy. One was about a grocery store and the other was about a city. I could understand both! But what about our daily living? Is it wholesome and pure and holy? Are we working to please and honor God in everything we do and say? I had some one come into the office the other day. We talked and in our conversation he said, "That's pretty d--- good!" I looked at him and smiled as I asked, "How good?" Without thinking he said, "Pretty d--- good!" I asked him again, "How good?" This time he thought about what he said, and after turning the color of a beet, he said, "Really good!"

The Bible says, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks!" If we are living with filth all around us on a constant basis, without thinking we will say and do things that do not honor God. God isn't just a Sunday morning God, but a God that wants an every moment of the day relationship with each of us. How is your relationship with God? Think about it!

The Little Things In Life

What are the little things in your life? Might it be shaving the truth just a fraction to get out of a tight spot? How about fudging on your taxes for the sake of getting a little bigger tax return. How about flirting with your boss or secretary with the intention that it would never go beyond that and really just because you can?

Jesus said in Luke 16, "He that is trustworthy with very little can be trustworthy with very much, but he that is dishonest with very little will be dishonest with very much." Solomon wrote, "it is the little foxes that ruin the vineyard." Little things can be just as distructive as big things. While we would never openly cheat, steal and lie, we often times let little deceptions into our lifestyles regularly.

It is these little deceptions that flaw our character and our integrity. Paul wrote in I Thessalonians 5:23, "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." Think about it!

Good By Friends

This week two friends of mine have died. Both of them are about twenty years older than me and both of them have been a part of my life from the time I was a little boy. I remember the telephone number of one of them back in 1952. Think about that!

Bill Andrew was an elder in the church that I grew up in and Leon Driskoll was a pastor. I never had Leon as a pastor but he taught me in several youth camps and conferences that I attended over the years. I had the highest respect for both of these men. Both of these men suffered for years with severe health problems and never complained about what they dealt with. Both of these men served God with all their heart and have raised godly families. I will miss them both.

Today is Bill's funeral and tomorrow is Leon's. I will not be able to get to Leon's as it is out of town and at a time I have something else scheduled. His graveside service is near here, and, I believe, on Monday morning. After I find out more specific details, I plan to try to be there for the family.

Both of these strong leaders in the church are gone now. Who will step up and take their place. Might it be you? Think about it!

Road Closed Ahead

As I drove to the church this morning at 4:30 AM, I came up on a sign in the dark and fog that said, "Road Closed Ahead." I knew the road and I knew where it was closed and why it was closed. We are on a major four lane highway and IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) is putting a tunnel under the highway for a walking path that runs directly behind our church property. They have switched four lanes into two and traffic in both directions will be on one side of the road and then later switch and move to the other side of the road as they dig this tunnel.

My reaction was to stop and go no further. But my action was to drive right around the sign and keep on going up the road to the church driveway. Which is where I was going anyhow. But, as I did, I wondered how many people will come to church on Sunday and stop at the sign that says, "Road Closed Ahead," and not proceed any further with their plans. Never mind that the church doors are open and there will be services held. Despite our efforts to let people know what is going on with the roads around us, there will be those who will be too cautious to drive past the sign. There will be those who will use the sign as an excuse "to not have to go to church this Sunday." (Boy are they in luck--the road is supposed to be closed for ten weeks!) And there will be those who are coming to church for the first time who will simply turn around and go home because they are unsure of what they are doing anyhow. It should be interesting to see what happens to our numbers in the next ten weeks.

But this goes deeper than a blacktop road being closed. Sometimes roads are closed in the spiritual realm that we Christians are supposed to be living in (John 3:3). Sometimes they are closed by God because the timing isn't right just yet. Sometimes they are closed by Satan because he doesn't want something great to happen. Sometimes they are simply closed because someone around us has other plans. We need to be in tune with Jesus and be aware of what and why and when and for how long the road is going to be closed. If what we are wanting to do is from Jesus, it will open again when the timing is right. We need to make sure that when we run up against the sign that says, "Road Closed Ahead," we don't just stop, turn around and walk away from the direction that we started to go in the first place. Think about it!

Where Is Your Connection?

Last Saturday morning, Glenda and I went out for breakfast. As we pulled into the parking place in front of the restaurant, we noticed several parking spots filled with Harley motorcycles. We went into the restaurant and found a place to set. There was a group of people, sitting at tables in the center of the room, and there was absolutely no way that anyone could have not figured out who they were. They were dressed in leather chaps, leather vests, covered in tattoos and all wearing Harley Davidson T-shirts. It was very clear that these people in the center of that room were connected to the motorcycles parked out front of the restaurant.

As we sat there in the booth right next to them, we couldn't help but overhear their conversations. In all honesty, it was quite wholesome and seemed quite pure. There was no cussing in anyway. They seemed to be family people who were interested in motorcycles, and that is what they talked about. They talked about their destiny for the day and what they hoped to accomplish in their lives that day.

Also, as I sat there, I wondered if our identity in Jesus Christ is as clear to others in the resturant. Think about this the next time you go out to eat. If you go as a couple, do people overhearing your conversation hear a tone of Christ in it? Do people see you pray over your food when it comes? Do people see the name of your church on your T-shirt, your hat, your heart?

If you go out in a group of people, what influence do you have on the people around you? Do the waitresses want you to come back. I've heard twice recently in two different resturants waitresses say, "I will not wait on that such-and-such group if they come in today." Earlier, one waitress said to me another day, "It is a good thing you came in. The such-and-such group quieted down with their dirty jokes and crude remarks when they knew a preacher was in the room. They were so bad that I was close to asking them to leave."

Do people know that you are connected to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Can they see he is important to you by your lifestyle. Or, is he just someone that you open your Bible on Sunday and let out the closet for about an hour?

Got Nothing

I said when I got into ministry that I would never force something that wasn't there. Well today is one of those days. I'm drawing blanks and so I say, "Good bye and have a blessed day!" Maybe tomorrow?

Today Is The First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life!

What a weekend! Not only was it Labor Day weekend but we had a family conference at church that started Friday night and lasted through the middle of the afternoon on Sunday. Glenda and I had planned to go away for the weekend but opted to stay for the conference, and I am glad we did. We learned a lot, but as with most conferences my mind was mush by the end of it. I have found from other conferences that I've attended, I can only comprehend so much and by the end everything is running together. We sat at home the rest of Sunday evening and didn't do much of anything. I think I got frozen pizza for dinner:(!

Monday morning, Labor Day, we both woke up early. We were refreshed and felt like we could tackle almost anything. We decided to go to Wisconsin Dells for the day. By 7:30 we were on the road, had breakfast on the way, and spent the day in the Dells. We took the upper Dells boat tour and the lower Dells duck ride, ate an early dinner at a BBQ and headed home. By 7:00 PM we were in Winnebago and I was passed out on the couch waiting for it to get late enough to go to bed for the night.

But today is different! School has started again. I realize I am not looking forward to being gone another weekend down the road, and I realize that today is the first day of the rest of my life. What am I going to do with it? It's the same for you. The craziness of summer should be over and your life should begin to slow down a little bit. It is the first day of the rest of your lfie. What are you going to do with it? For me, I am going to work on getting my focus on Jesus a little more fine tuned for the weeks ahead. Will you join me for yourself?

Crazy Day

Yesterday was just a crazy day. Nothing went as I expected and beyond that most everything went wrong. We were getting ready for our Family Conference and the details just kept getting complicated. Glenda, at her work, waited all day for an important announcement and it didn't come until 4:30 in the afternoon. Then it was simply they couldn't make the announcement because they hadn't accomplished what they had hoped to get done. She came home disappointed and some what frustrated. And so the day went.



We had a great night at the family conference and I heard some insight into Matthew 16:13ff that I had never heard before. After the evening session, we took the guest speaker, Norm Wakefield to where he was staying, dropped him off, and headed home. At the edge of town, right where the speed limit was changing, I drove through radar and got pulled over by the town policeman. He did let me off with a warning for driving 45 in a 30 mph speed limit. Maybe 100 feet from where he sat, the speed limit was 55 mph. Oh well. I was humiliated, but grateful for the warning.



And so we start today. It will be better. It has to be!

Road Blocks

The Department of Transportation is putting a tunnel (for a walking path) under the highway that runs in front of our church. They have been working for weeks getting all the ground work done to dig the first scoop of dirt for the tunnel. Today they are rearranging the movenment of the traffic and switching it over from four lanes to two.

To prepare the people, they have had one lane shut down for a couple of weeks in both directions, and they have moved the driving lane back and forth over the half mile distance. You never know if you going into the left lane or the right lane and it is a bit confusing. Today, I was driving along and they were working in the road next to me. All of sudden, without warning, in the driving lane were two barrels- dead center in the lane. Everyone was swerving left or right to go around them. They were just over the crest of a hill and I could see the potential for someone who was slightly distracted in the littlest bit as they came over the hill to run right over top of the barrels.

Life is much like that! We are cruzing along on the highway of life and all of sudden something shuts down one lane. It makes things a little more difficult, but we can still get to where we are going. Then things change, but since we are on top of things we still can get to where we are going. Then someone sets two barrels in the middle of the one lane we are driving in. Maybe we are alert and go around them. Maybe there is a distraction and we don't see them until too late.

Bang! Something gets wrecked or someone gets hurt and a relationship is destroyed or damaged. Maybe it can be easily repaired-- maybe not. But life must go on. Seek forgiveness (if you are the one who left the barrels where they shouldn't be), forgive if someone else did it.

Let God be glorified as far as you you are concerned at every level of life-- even when there are barrels in the road that shouldn't be there.

Want A Cup Of Coffee?

If you were here I would pour you a cup of coffee. We could set and chat awhile and discuss whatever. Maybe we'd talk politics- every thought about the origin of that word-- poly (many)
tics (blood sucking critters)-- I think our government is made up too many blood sucking critters. Maybe someone could come up with a platform on "Change!" I'm sure things would get better then.

What about health care- government sponsored health care--sounds like a good idea but not if it is run by the government-- just another area for fat cats to get fatter!

How about religion? What do you think about it? Just a bunch of crazies worshipping something that can't be for real? That's what I am often told. So, what if we worship something that we think can be for real? Money? Sex? Golf? Fishing? They're all real but it doesn't seem like they will take us very far into eternity- at least not in the direction that I want to go. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." I believe those words, and so I have asked Jesus to be my Savior. He will help me to the Father. What about you? While we drink our coffee together, can I ask, "What or who are you worshipping?"

Why Bible Study?

I'm ten minutes away from leading our Wednesday morning Bible study. We have a group of five or six who come and study each week and fellowship together with each other. My question today is, "Why study the Bible?"

John 17:3 says, "Eternal life is knowing God the father and Jesus Christ his son." The key word in this verse is "knowing." If want to pass a science test, I had better "know" the answers. If I want to have a successful marriage, I had better "know" my wife. If I am going to have great relationship with the neighbor guy, I had better "know" him for who he is and not just know of him. Everything about life is going the extra step, or going a little deeper with our effort to succeed.

So why do I study the Word of God. So that I can know God for who He really is and in that knowing my life will be better, both now and for eternity. We can take the importance of studying God's Word with a casualness and do nothing about it. I know how that works with the science test. I don't want to be found failing with God as I did with my science test. Think about it.

What Happened To Our Van?

Yesterday when I came to work, a white van was in our parking lot. There was nothing unusual about that because New Life Bible Church owns a white van and there is one always in our parking lot. It just happened to be that this van was in a different location from where our van had been. My first thought was, "I wonder who moved the van?" Then I noticed that this was a white work van with no windows in it, and I realized John, the man who cleans the church, and is a mechanic had driven this van and it wasn't ours at all. Then the obvious jumped off the page at me. Our van was gone and not to be seen. But that is not unusual at all. Different people in the congregation have keys and different ministries within the church use the van often. When Pastor Tim came in to work I asked him, "Who has the van?"

His response was, "No one that I know of!" and off we both went to look at the parking lot a little closer. Sure enough, our van was gone! We made some calls to different people who might have it, and none of them did. We looked at each other and scratched our heads. Who would take a church van with big black letters that read NEW LIFE BIBLE CHURCH down both sides of it. We accounted for all the keys to the van-- they were all where they should be. No one from the church had the van or knew anything of its where abouts.

We called the Sherriff's Department and reported it stolen. A deputy came out and took our report and put out a notice for stolen white church van. So far we have heard nothing or seen anything more of our van. It's a funny feeling as I set here and wonder who has our van and what is happening to it right now. God knows. Whoever took it knows. Father, forgive them for they don't know what they have done!