I'm not really sure just how old I was when my favorite boyhood movie played at the drive-in. It was probably the late 50's when The Day The Earth Stood Still made its impression on me that this is the best movie ever to be shown anywere. This black and white feature had a space ship, a spaceman, and plenty of overwhelming power to overtake any military threat. To a young boy, it had everything necessary to be one to remember. I had the occassion to see it a few more times before it seemed to be lost in the movie house archives forever.

 

Then it happened. The Hollywood machine started advertising the remake of this wonderful film and I waited in anticipation for its release. So, here I am in Lancaster, California and a beautiful Sunday afternoon seemed like the perfect time to pay the ticket price. Well, let me just say that I should have saved my time and money. Hollywood has once again taken a classic movie and inserted their political agenda of Greenism - see blog of August 26th. Not only that but they give the Keanu Reeves' character God-like qualities of granting healings and second chances. In the end, although he came to save earth from us, we get a second chance to be nice to the earth so it can be saved. This movie makes me puke!

 

Save your time and save your money. It is a very disappointing and shallow story line and not worthy of Mr. Reeves' talents.

A friend of mine, Pastor Jamie Hamblet, recently wrote an article I thought should be passed along to my readers. I print it here for your benefit because I could not say it any better.

 

Do you want to believe? I mean, really want to believe? That's the question the latest “X-Files” movie poses. It’s in the title – “Do You Want to Believe?” and, of course, ‘believing’ in the X-files world covers a multitude of ‘difficult to believe in’ things like alien abduction, crazy government conspiracies, shadowy smoking dudes and even your run-of-the-mill creepy crawly monsters of the week. It’s a dark and disturbing film and was released on the heels of yet another dark and disturbing film, “The Dark Knight.” But, of course, that’s just my opinion. Because even though - as the X-files series proclaims - ‘the truth is out there,’ there is no absolute truth, so everyone’s ‘truth’ is just opinion, right?

 

See if this sounds familiar: “That may be true for you, but it's not true for me.” Sure - when we’re talking about what Starbucks drink

we like the best or what we like on our massive burritos at Panchero’s. Those are ‘truths’ that you can put under the category of

opinion. But no absolutes? Anywhere? The whole logical problem with ‘there are no absolutes’ is that’s an absolute statement about the

non-existence of absolutes!

 

Whether or not absolute truth exists is not a question of how we feel. I may feel like I don’t want gravity to exist so I can fly to work and save on gas; but when I jump in the air, I will absolutely kiss the pavement. We can ignore the claims of Christ and the principles in the Bible but that will absolutely get us into physical, spiritual and eternal trouble. Here’s the deal. As humans, we have limited knowledge. And with limited knowledge, we simply cannot make absolute negative statements. For example - ‘there is no God.’ To absolutely affirm that, we would have to know everything, have been everywhere, seen everything, etc. Again, to absolutely know there are no absolutes, we would have to have absolute knowledge, which then would create a category of absolute truth and defeat the very concept we tried to

prove.

 

Whew! Does your brain hurt? Mine does - so let’s get down to why I bring this up. I believe in absolute truth because Jesus did. Check out these three extremely clear statements: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6). Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." (John 8:31-32). And my personal favorite: Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17).

 

First, Jesus not only claims that absolute truth exists but also that He is the truth! He speaks the truth and acts out the truth. In fact, Jesus makes the statement ‘I tell you the truth’ over 70 times in the gospels. So if absolutes don’t exist, then Jesus is a liar. He also is referring to Himself when He says, “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” What Jesus means is that we must abide in His Word, which is necessary for true discipleship. Abiding opens the way to knowing the truth more fully; to the point of being set free through it. Finally, Jesus calls the words of God ‘truth.’ Since the Bible is the inspired word of God, we have 774,746 words of absolute truth!

 

I get where some people are coming from. They think it's arrogant for a limited human being to say their beliefs and interpretations about life are absolutely true and should be shared by everyone. I don’t think this makes us arrogant; it makes us confident. So, if you’re like me, you want to believe. And we can, because the truth really is out there. Let’s open our Bible and talk to the Savior - because He will tell us the truth…the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

 

 

I have not heard it anywhere else yet and I do not know if I am the first to coin the phrase or not, but it deserves to be talked about in the right light. And that is Greenism. You know what I am talking about. This whole idea of worshiping the Earth through feeling responsible enough about the earth's health that you arrange your whole life and your way of thinking around "being green"!

 

Now let me say that I am the first to not litter. All litter has its place and that is in the trash. Oh, and BTW, I love animals.

 

Having said that, let's get the right perspective on this whole green business. Proponents of Greenism will even try to quote Scripture to reinforce their views by saying that Man should not pollute what God has created and that we are supposed to protect the earth from destroying herself - and, yes, this means elevating animals to the level of having souls so we have to save them also. But one step at a time.

 

First, God did create the earth. Some Greenists got that point right. But God created the earth in a perfect state where nothing rotted or wore out or needed to be thrown away. It is due to our own fallen nature that we live in an imperfect world. But even on this corrupted planet, we are told to take dominion over the living creatures of the world and over the plants of the soil. We were even warned that it would be hard work. But we were not told or directed to save the planet! God never asks us to do that which He does not give us the power to do.

 

Second, Greenist personify the earth as a living being. God created the earth in a perfect state, but after the worldwide flood, God set the seasons that we now know. And with this He allowed measureable data that shows cycles having to do with our planetary characteristics. He has set its path and knows the number of its days. He alone decides its future destruction. The earth has no soul, but Greenists would have us believe that earth, Mother Nature, is a fragile creature that needs our help. Therefore, we must do what we can to help warm it or thaw it or prevent it from melting. Billions of dollars are being asked for and spent on endeavors man has no control over and will only be stymied at every attempt. Colossians tells us that there is only One who holds it all together - Jesus Christ!

 

Thirdly, Greenists assign human-like souls to that of the animals. While God did create each animal wonderfully and lovingly amazing, He did not give them souls. God was first to kill an animal and demanded many more to be killed to offer worship to Himself. We are instructed everywhere to use and harvest animals for our well being whether in war or peace. While it is nice to think Fido will be in Heaven with you, that simply is not the case. A new heaven and earth will be created one day and there will be animals - the lion will lay with the lamb, etc - but not the ones we knew. Greenists elevate animals to the level of created souls where someone can now be imprisoned for treating animals cruely - while our own children are killed for convenience. Animals can even inherit property! We will even not develop an area for fear of endangering a gnat!

 

What is this world coming to? Nothing new, actually. Man has long worshiped the created over the Creator. Let us not be caught in its web of deceipt.

When you make a move like we just did half way across the country, there are many items on the list that must be checked off in due time. Of course, there is the mail and forwarding of such, final bill paying and hook ups at the final destination, the locating of stores that you are used to using and re-establishing the infinite rewards cards that all these stores seem to push today. And, yes, there is the task of finding a church.

 

This is something we have had to do many times for various reasons. In our exuberance as a young Christians, it was all about the teaching. The church had to offer good solid bible study and expository exagesis. Then as the kids got older, the church needed a good youth program. And when they were well grounded and in college, we were looking for a challenge. Another time we were looking for a large church where we could just rest awhile (this plan never seems to work out). More recently we needed a place where the pastor had maturity and balance in his life (this is not found everywhere).

 

And so we began our search with a bit of trepedation but also knowing exactly what we were looking for. In addition to being doctrinely sound, a church with these characteristics:

 

1. Atonomy - the local body of Christ needs to be free of interference from civil government and denominational influences. This is especially so in this age of compromise and the twisting of scripture for the sake of unity and cultural pressures.

2. Elder rule - this is the only biblical form of government for the local church. BTW, the elders need to be spiritually mature and tested men.

3. Bible preaching - where the members are encouraged and taught to read and study the Scriptures for themselves. A healthy church is one where Christians live the truths of Scripture daily.

4. Gospel centered - where the simple Gospel of grace is not watered down to easy believism nor made a stumbling block by judgmental Mightier-than-Thous.

5. Youth oriented - an active youth group led by a man excited about Godly things. The youth are our future leaders and I want the church to be just as solid when I am an old goat.

6. Opportunity to minister - there has to appear to be room for us to use our giftedness.

7. Building - is there evidence that the body is not just standing still?

8. Friendly - how were we greeted? Anyone we invite will probably be greeted the same way.

9. Pastor - the pastor must have a sense of humor, be tried in the role of pastor, a faithful family, skilled at preaching, a man of integrity, and accountable to the elders.

 

Have we found this church? Maybe. We settled on one and we will dig in, join in, minister where the Lord permits and hopefully make it a better place than how we found it. Because that is what we do!

 

 

 

It is with excitement and a bit of sadness that we bid you all farewell. As most of you have gotten to know Cheryl and me, you know that we do not take our church family lightly. You opened up your hearts and homes to us these past five plus years and we have developed valued relationships to the point of you allowing us to minister to you in many ways. We want you to know that you have ministered to us as well and we will always cherish our time here with you.

 

We are on to the Seattle area by relocating closer to our grown children so that we can be a more influential part of their lives. This is at their request and we are thrilled at the opportunity it presents. We recently had our first grandchild so you can imagine what is ahead for us. This is the exciting part.

 

The bit of sadness comes as not being a part of the very exciting things I believe the Lord is doing in our midst at FEFC. I have resigned as Elder but will represent the Northern Plains Biblical Seminary in the Pacific Northwest. I look forward to this ongoing connection with FEFC. Cheryl will greatly miss the excellence we are accustomed to on the worship teams and we will both miss the wonderful worship and teaching the truth unequivocally from the pulpit. Please do not ever take this for granted. You are all well served in more ways than you may realize now.

 

Please know that when we find a new home church we will, of course, jump right in and minister as the Lord allows. Rejoice with us as we continue to strive to serve Him in all that we do. Our emails remain the same so please keep in touch.

 Until we reside in Heaven together, our love in Christ Jesus to you all.

I am sorry for not posting more regularly. As you can see from the added picture gallery I have been busy rehearsing and performing for CTL - Celebrate The Life. Our church celebrates Easter every other year by performing CTL for our community as a love gift. Advertising and ticket sales are done well in advance and we have attendees come from a five state area to see this event. We did seven performances and each was a sell-out. And, yes, the beard is real!

 

Shaved off now, I have but the wonderful memories and the eternal reward of knowing that the Gospel message was presented so clearly as to not return void. We are aready getting reports of lives that been changed and decisions that have been made that were prompted by our ministry to our invited guests. The Holy Spirit is indeed Good. The children in attendance are always so excited when "Jesus" or one of the other characters interacts with them. I had a plump rooster that I only wanted 5 sheckels for and can you believe it? Not one person out of the over 5600 in attendance had a single sheckel on them! There were live sheep, goats, chickens, rabbits, a calf and Jack, the faithful donkey that carries Jesus into Jersualem.

 

But I am left with much more than this. The hours of practice and rehearsals and prayer time before and during the performances were special times to get to know others that I do not know very well. In a large church it is hard to know everyone like you want to, and as an Elder the burden is perhaps more evident. CTL has brought together some of our congregation in a way that other events don't seem to do. There were very serious times as we understood the important work we were undertaking but there were some light moments when stress needed to be alleviated and we were humbled when we were not on queue. These are the times where iron sharpens iron and true fellowship exists on levels not experienced enough in our day. I am sure over 100 others who participated feel the same way.

 

Tomorrow is Easter and after church, Cheryl and I will spend the afternoon with brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray that you will take the time to thank Jesus for giving His life as a ransom for you. He is alive and He is my King!

I have never in all my years ever seen Christmas attacked like I have this year. I am not sure why I am surprised, for people in general are becoming more and more skeptical and deceived than ever before. I want to take this space today and state truthfully a few facts you can absolutely count on in regards to Christmas.

 

1.  Christmas is a time that we celebrate the birth of the prophesied Messiah of Israel.

2.  This Messiah's birth was foretold more than 700 years before His actual birth.

3.  Mary was a virgin when she became pregnant.

4.  The Holy Spirit of God (the third person of the Trinity) was the father of the child.

5.  Both Mary and Joseph knew this because they were told by angels on separate occassions.

6.  When Joseph and Mary were forced to go to Bethlehem because of an edict concerning taxaction there was no place for them to stay and Mary was about to give birth.

7.  An innkeeper allowed them to stay in a place reserved for animals.

8.  The child was born and Joseph named the child Jesus as the angel of God instructed

9.  At the time of the birth a new star appeared in the sky.

10. Magi from the East saw this new star and recognized the prophesy indicating the birth of the King of Israel and began to follow it to the place where the child lived.

11. Shepherds in a field outside Bethlehem not only saw the star but suddenly angels appeared and told them of the birth of a new King.

12. These shepherds searched Bethlehem the same night until they found the child and bowed in worship.

13. The Magi or wise men were never at the manger. It took them two years to follow the star through Jerusalem where they asked King Herod about Jesus.

14. When the Magi finally found Jesus they worshipped Him with gifts and left without telling King Herod where the child lived.

15. Joseph was warned in a dream to take his family to Egypt for Herod was about to kill all babies throughout Judea two years old and younger.

16. Jesus lived in Egypt until Herod died and and an angel told Joseph it was safe to return and they returned to Nazareth where Jesus grew to be a man.

 

All of what I have just stated can be found in the Bible in Matthew chapters 1 and 2. It is no secret but can be read by anyone. The Bible is absolutely the Word of God and is truthfully recorded for us today. Rely on it and not on the wisdom of this world or the wagging heads on TV who only want to try to use science and reasoning to explain miraculous things. If we could explain them that way - they wouldn't be miracles, would they?

 

By the way, the purpose of miracles was always to authenticate the truth being taught or an event as being authored by God Himself. This is repleat throughout the Old and New Testaments. Who you going to believe? The reasonings of mere men or the God and Creator of the universe?

 

I choose Jesus.

You may have guessed by my profile provided on this page that I make my living in sales. Yes, I am a salesman. Of course, we are all salesmen one way or another - but that is for another time.

 

Today I want to talk about sales. Isn't it weird how some people make a decision about buying? Have you ever wondered about what makes a person want to buy? Have you ever wondered why you bought, when later you realized that you really didn't need it or even want it? It is not always about price - this I know for sure. I can't count how many times I had the best price in my industry and my potential clients still did not buy from me. I have marvelled at times how people will jump at the chance to pay more or stay with a service they are paying too much for when provided the opportunity for an equal service at a better price.

 

Value is decidedly not the determining factor either. The service package I happen to sell far outweighs any offerred by my competitors, yet, again, many have not jumped at the bargain I present to them. As a side note, may I just say here that my sales skills are as good as anyone's - so that is not the issue here. Nope, some people just will not switch from what they are presently doing simply based on price, service or convenience.

 

So what is it that makes someone want to buy? I'll bet you are thinking that if only you knew, then you could strike it rich. Well, I know - and I am not rich! But I am confident. Because of this little known secret of what makes people want to buy, I am assured of a lasting career in any field I choose for myself.

 

Have you guessed what it is? It is relationship. Relationships are what sells. You have to make your customers want to do business with you. When I take a low approach in my sales calls, I often come away with nothing the first and second time I see them. But, when I see them again and pick up the conversation where we left off last time, it is like seeing a friend and the relationship starts to build. Don't ever lie in this relationship-building endeavor. It is not only a sin but it will kill the relationship before it takes hold. Sales always follows relationship. I will probably buy my next car from a guy called Garry, because over this last year, he has allowed me to "kick" a few tires on his lot without ever trying to push me toward a particular car. We have built a relationship where we know each others' names and I will let my new friend know when I am ready to buy. At that point, and at that point only will he have a sale! The price won't matter much and the service will be as good as anyone else's, but I will be buying from someone whom I have a relationship.

 

The easiest sales I have come from bank referrals. Do you know why? Relationship. People trust their banks in financial matters and this transfers to me in the form of a referral. Relationships. It is the key to almost everything in life, isn't it?

 

So, why do I think that's so weird?

"You know what really bugs me?", as Andy Rooney was fond of asking.

 

What really bugs me is those out there who are "homeschooling" their children and giving the rest of us a black eye. You know the ones I mean ... they're the bunny and tree huggers who think their kids are going to soak up all the needed knowledge they'll ever need just by running around half-clothed in the sunshine. Or maybe their approach is to force feed those wondrous little creatures with classical literature, advanced math, cultural sophistication and sciences without ever having experienced anything.

 

One leads to educational poverty, the other to social diminishment. You know the type! You can hardly talk to either of them. The first doesn't understand blonde jokes, or any joke for that matter; the other you can't understand! One doesn't and can't spell well enough to write a recipe; the other uses words and terms foreign to most ears!

 

What's the solution? Balance is the solution. Yes, let's stimulate our kids to do well and tackle such things as the advanced sciences and fine arts. Let's also let them play and enjoy the short time of childhood that is still theirs by God's design.

 

It also bugs me that some parents treat their kids like like grown-ups at age three! What is that about?

 

How about you? How is your homeschooler doing? Did your homeschooler pick up on the fact that I should have used "whom" instead of "who" in the title?  Hmmm....

 

If you were to boil all of life down to just one important thing, just one thing you absolutley had to get right, what would it be? Picking a mate? Knowing how to raise kids? Picking the right job? The right friends? Living in the right place? Doing the right things? Being a good neighbor? Giving to the right charities? Attending the right church?

 

What if I told you that there is one thing you had better get right that far outweighs any of the very important things mentioned so far. That no matter what you did or decided concerning these things, that it simply would not matter if you got this one thing wrong. It would be pretty important to get this one thing right, wouldn't it? And yet most people, it seems to me, spend more time, effort and resources picking out the color of their next couch or car than they do on this one thing they absolutely must get right.

 

Many people, as a general rule, float through life battered about by every outside force that puts demands on their time, effort, and resources and they go about like happy little non-thinkers thinking they have it all by living up to everyone else's expectations. Then one day they stop and consider a glimpse of something really important only to be caught up by every wind of doctrine that points them once again away from that one important thing they have to get right.

 

We, as a people, have the extraordinary ability to think and to reason. We are able to look at our surroundings and deduct certain inferences, causal interactions, and consequences. Scientists have even helped us to consider laws of time, space, and matter that point us to a Creator. The Creator, Himself, has preserved and handed down to us His Word, describing Himself and how He interacts with his creation. As a matter of fact, the God says that we are without excuse concerning this one important thing we have to get right.

 

So, what it is? As a thinking individual, you have probably guessed that the one thing you have to get right is your eternal destiny. You have to get it right because everything - yes, everything depends upon it. Our Creator is also our Judge. How sad that we would spend days or even weeks picking the color of our couch and not so much as a few moments our destiny!

 

A rather good book on this is A.E. Wilder-Smith's work entitled, He Who Thinks Has To Believe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Double nickels. On the eve of my 55th birthday I have this overwhelming sensation that perhaps, just perhaps, I am not as young as I feel.

 

My 40th birthday with the typical black balloons and old age cards didn't bother me. After all, I felt as if I was in my prime - still able to outwork, outplay and outthink most of my peers - and even my teenagers. I felt good and aside from some balding, I looked darned good, too.

 

Even my 50th birthday didn't bother me. I remember the gathering in my honor as many who have called me a friend for twenty or thirty years offered their best wishes as if my stay on this earth was short lived. I found it to be a bit odd because I felt as youthful as ever. I enjoyed good health and worked hard. When I looked in the mirror I did not see half of a centurion. I simply started to see a bit of my dad in my jowl line. No big deal.

 

But time goes by and a guy starts to notice a couple of things. Over the last few months I have to actually work at keeping the added weight to a minimum. And a good stretch before jumping out of bed in the morning is definitely warranted. Like my old Ford PU that needs to be warmed up a bit in this cold weather before starting off, I, too, need a more gradual start these days. I was shoveling snow today like someone of more youthful years, not thinking much about it - after all the job needed to get done and I am a do it kind of guy. Well, I am paying for it now. And let's not talk about how I seem to forget things a little more often now. Just another realization of advanced years.

 

Oh, don't get me wrong. I plan to be around for another 55 years or so. But I think my mind better catch up with my body so that I can protect myself from foolishness. I need to think a bit longer and be a bit smarter when tackling jobs that require physical endurance. My mind seems to be stronger than my back these days.

 

You know, even being welcomed at a senior gathering for coffee recently didn't make me feel old. But when someone the other day suggested that I could now take advantage of senior rates at the movie theatre, something inside me wanted to scream, "No way! I am not that old!"

 

But hey. I'll take the discount. I remember when it was only 35 cents to get in the theatre. Now that is old!

Maybe I need to be more tuned into the plan for my life as the Designer has planned it.

You have probably heard or read the story of Oblio, a pointed-headed boy in a round-headed city. He didn't seem to fit in anywhere. No matter how he wished for or tried to wake up each day as a round-headed boy, he continued to wake up to the city's dawn as a pointed-headed boy. Life seemed miserable as he didn't seem to fit in anywhere. One glorious day he was confronted by a person of exceptional beauty and with the most perfect round head as he has ever seen, who gave him the desire of his heart. He went to bed that night with great expectation and awoke early to stare in the mirror with admiration of his perfectly round head. Oh, how pleased he was and rushed to the town square to show off his new pride and joy! All the town's people gathered around in curiosity and wonder as the boy shrunk in bewilderment and humiliation and he ran as fast as his legs would carry him from the city's crowd of pointed-headed people. He cried himslef to sleep that night wishing for a pointed head again.

Why do we strive so to fit in and be admired by our peers? Have you ever thought that we are admired for the very qualities that people see in themselves? What's this say for differentiation and uniqueness that gives rise to leadership and independent thinking? What's this say for the authorship of the living God and what He has called us to?

Am I pointed- or round-headed?

 

Great efforts of men can avail nothing at times.  

I have recently re-read R.A. Torrey’s wonderful work called “How To Pray” written in 1900. Allow me to quote briefly for yours and especially my exhortation.  

“We live in a day characterized by the multiplication of man’s machinery and the diminution of God’s power. The great cry of our day is work, work, work, new organizations, new methods, new machinery; the great need of our day is prayer. It was a master stroke of the devil when he got the church so generally to lay aside this mighty weapon of prayer. The devil is perfectly willing that the church should multiply its organizations, and deftly contrive machinery for the conquest of the world for Christ if it will only give up praying. He laughs as he looks at the church today and says to himself:

            'You can have your Sunday schools and your Young Men’s Christian Associations and your Women’s Christian Temperance Unions, your Institutional Churches and your Industrial Schools, and your Boys’ Brigades, your grand choirs and your revival efforts too, if you don’t bring the power of Almighty God into them by earnest, persistent, believing, mighty prayer.'”  

Insert, as I did when I read this, “youth ministries, your men’s ministries, your women’s ministries, your AWANA, your VBS programs, your praise services and outreach programs, evangelism in the workplace…”  

I am asking myself today, "How many times am I just spinning my wheels due to lack of prayer?"

 

 

I recently received a note from a friend who is spending some time in Honduras. He was musing about the simplicity of life there and how he has been able to catch up on some reading and generally enjoy a much slower pace along with the bare essentials of goods and things clamoring for his attention.

 

It occurs to me that I was feeling a little jealous for what he was describing. I remember visiting a place much like what he wrote and I remember the feeling that I had all I needed and I could easily have stayed much longer than I was allowed. There is something about being reminded of the lifestyle of a third world country to make you truly thankful and truly retrospective.

 

Not quite the life I ended up with! Do I feel guilty? Not at all. I am very thankful to God for the abundant and comfortable life I have been given. But what is wrong with with this picture? In a household of only two people we have enough stuff to fill five bedrooms and an ample double car garage where we barely squeeze in two cars. We furnish rooms that we rarely use and have more TVs than people who live in the house. We have storage places and cabinets stuffed with stuff that neither of us remember is there for the one time we might need it.

 

Oh, don't get me wrong. Everything has a purpose - or at least had a purpose, and was probably a good buy or regularly used at some time. But life situations change, kids come and go, hobbies change, age sets in, years pass and stuff piles up. Even our multiple moves over the last several years have done little to stem the tide of stuff. So, what's the answer?

 

Perhaps there isn't one. I guess until some life altering event or need presents itself our stuff will remain ready and able to be given away or relied upon to rescue the day. After all, stuff can come in handy if it isn't broken, outdated, or hidden beyond recognition!

 

Hmmm. We may be moving again and I think I have too much stuff.

I am not sure if I have heard anyone express what I have been thinking lately. Why did the democrats do so well? I think because many people voted their hearts and not their brains. Let me explain. regardless of what people say they believe and what they say they want, the thing that matters most is their loved ones. And for many, their loved ones were yanked from their jobs and "normal" lives and sent off to a foreign shore as part of their "duty" in the National Guard. Now, I am all for the National Guard, but are they not supposed to stay in country - doing things like guarding our borders and making our country safe from foreign threats?

 

I would submit that if the Guard was not deployed to foreign soil and we let the regular services do their thing - like fighting a war with the intent to win - the dems would not have had such a victory at the polls. Of course, this would be easier without the media there, but I degress.

 

The fact that emotions often over-ride clear thinking is especially evident, I think, in this election year when many have simply voted for their loved ones to come home. Do they want an expanded government influencing their lives? Do they want higher taxes? Do they want financial restrictions on business revenue and salaries? Do they really want to see more innovation moved off shore? Do they really want Spanglish taught in our school system? And open borders for all? Do they really want to see the gay agenda moved forward, judges legislating from their districts, and a general move away from God's righteousness in the family unit? Probably not. But they voted for it!

 

Without the National Guard deployed, people could have voted with their thinking caps on.

 

The democrats may have won the battle but I think we have lost the campaign for righteousness.

Let's think about a train. What comes first? The locomotive does, of course. And like the other cars of the train following the locomotive, so it goes with your actions and emotions. Thinking always comes first for it is here that thoughts are formed. It is these thoughts that produce both actions and feelings.

Think about it. Thoughts must exist before we can actually think about doing anything. So, I guess the addage of "I wasn't thinking" when caught doing something really dumb does not hold much weight. Also, both thinking and action must come before feeling. It is only when one thinks about something and doing it, when feelings are actually realized. Feelings do not exist in a void - but a context. Feelings always follow what you are doing about your thoughts - the action. I guess the old excuse of "I just felt like it" isn't very valid either.

 

Remember the train! You truly become what you think about.

 

I was at a missions conference this week with Steer, Inc. and Steve Saint was one of the guest speakers. You may remember Steve as that 8 year old boy in 1956 when he was told his daddy, Nate Saint, wasn't coming home anymore because he had just been killed with his friends in Equador when they tried to share the gospel with head hunters. His theme - God is writing His story in each of our lives - really rang true for me. Sometimes things enter our lives that we do not ask for or expect. Sometimes we wonder why bad things happen to good people or why good things happen to bad people. Ours is not to wonder so much why as it is to marvel why at all! God shows Himself strong, patient, merciful, gracious, and righteous through His people who these things happen to.

I pray God is satisfied with my story so far. There have been trials and challenges along the way, but hopefully His story in my life is one of being an overcomer.

So this is my first entry on a brand new space. Some call it a blog, others a rambling, but whatever it is, I hope it becomes a place that will challenge yours and my thinking. Thinking is something I know quite a bit about because I have been doing it since my earliest memories. Notice I did not say that thinking was synonymous with memories! So, let's think about thinking.

Because bad health seems to be generated by many bad choices over time - or so it seems to me - I believe thinking comes before health and wellness. I also believe thinking comes before feeling and actions.