Being Watched!

Christian, you are being watched! You are being watched in every aspect of your life, by the non believer. Every thing you say and do is being scrutinized. Everything and I mean everything is being monitored whether you know it or not. They are waiting for you to stumble or fall. To say or do something un-Christ like. They cannot wait to point a finger at us, and tell us that wasn't very Christ like. We are not perfect. We are still human, so we are still going to mess up. God is still working on us. The people that I work with are no different. They know me and what I stand for. They know that I am a Christian and also a pastor. Because of that, I think that I am being watched even more so than usual. It wasn't more evident than this past week at work. As many of you know or may not know, I wear Christian t-shirts to work, almost everyday. Co-workers comment on them all the time. What a cool shirt. What a good word or message being portrayed. Well, I have one shirt that was given to me as a Christmas present. I asked for it, and got it. It is a Marvel comic hero. They have made a t.v. show about him on Netflix. I really enjoyed watching the show, but it's not for everyone. It is very violent and bloody. So anyway, I wear this shirt to work. My Christian shirts get a few comments here and there. I wear this super hero shirt, and everybody loses their minds. Since Christmas I have only worn it two times to work. When I wear it, everybody comes out of the woodwork to make a comment on it. Some like it, some don't. Most point out, that it is directly opposite of the other shirts that I wear. So that is what I mean when I say we are being watched. When I wear my Christian t-shirts, only a few people seem to notice. But when I wear the other shirt, everyone notices. People are paying attention. I have received more comments on the super hero shirt than I ever have on my Christian shirts. So no mater how much you strive to show and do good, people are going to point out that one thing.

1 Peter 2:12 New Living Translation (NLT)12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

2 Corinthians 6:3 New Living Translation (NLT)3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.

So if wearing this shirt to work might cause someone to stumble, then I may have to think twice about wearing it.

Desire Of My Heart.

Psalm 37:4 New Living Translation (NLT) 4 Take delight in the Lord,and he will give you your heart’s desires. I am taking a class at work every Tuesday night. This past Tuesday, when we got out of class, it was still daylight out. On my way home I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to go for a walk. It was about 32-33 degrees that night. I don't normally go for a walk when it is that chilly. I told my wife that I wanted to go for a walk, and to see if she wanted to go with me. She said that she would like to join me. We walked for a little over a mile and started to head home. In the nighttime sky there was a crescent moon. While I was admiring it I noticed a very bright light close to the moon. I asked my wife if it might be a planet. She said no, it is probably a satellite or something because it was blinking. Then she pointed out that I have a pair of binoculars at home that I could get out and take a "closer" look (my binoculars are good, but not telescope good). I agreed, and we continued walking, looking at the sky. In the backyard of our house, we have an owl that hoots all night long and into the morning. I have always wanted to see an owl, but never have been able to. To just see one flying, or sitting, or anything, but alas, nothing. We have lived in two houses in Sycamore and both of them have had owls in our backyards. When I would hear them hooting, I would go get a flashlight and run out into the backyard, only to be disappointed. So anyway, back to the walk and the moon. We get home and go inside. I go and grab my binoculars head out onto the deck to take a look at the moon and bright light. I could see the moon clearly, but the bright light, was still just a bright light. Could not make anything out, except that it was not blinking. I panned back over to the moon, looking at it in amazement, then pan back over to the bright light. Just as I panned, an owl came flying right into my view through the binoculars. It's wings spread wide, just gliding effortlessly. Then it landed on top of a tree a few houses down from us, and just sat there looking around. I was beside myself. I could not believe it. After all these years, it finally happened. It was like God was reminding me that He is still here. That He still loves me, and wants to give me the desire of my heart. I was delighting in His creation of the moon, and He produced an owl for me to see. It was really cool to see how He set this all up. From the prompting to take a walk even when it was chilly. To pointing us in the right direction to even notice the bright light next to the moon. To having a set of binoculars to look through. He set everything in motion for this to happen, and for that I am thankful. Thank You Lord for loving me and caring about me. Even in the small things, such as being able to see an owl, God is faithful! He loves us. Unconditionally. Psalm 136:26 New Living Translation(NLT)26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever. Thank You Lord! Amen!

Volunteering @ Winter Jam.

This past Thursday, I had the opportunity to volunteer at Winter Jam. Winter Jam is a huge touring Christian music festival that runs from November through April. A radio station that I listen to and follow on Facebook (WBGL) posted through their volunteer page on Facebook that they needed volunteers for Winter Jam in Peoria. I thought about it, a lot! It was on a Thursday night. Then it dawned on me...it would be the Thursday before Good Friday. I have Good Friday off of work. Bonus! Peoria is only a two hour drive (I love road trips), double bonus! So I contacted the person that was organizing the volunteers and said "sure, sign me up." I took a half day off of work, went home, changed and headed down to Peoria. Now if anyone knows me at all, knows that I am early to events. Especially one like this. So I arrived at 3:20. The line of people to get into the show was already almost wrapped around half of the building. I thought to myself "glad I don't have to stand in that line." I found the volunteer entry door, but was not allowed to enter just yet. A guy greeted me and asked if I was a volunteer. Told him I was, and he informed that I was at the right location. This guy was a big biker looking dude. Bald head, long goatee, leather jacket on. Nicest guy you could ever meet. We talked and exchanged stories about concerts and things that we had been to in the past. We checked in, and that's the last I saw of him. Bummer. I meet some really cool people that were also volunteering that night. As the leader lead us down the hall, I just assumed that I would be working the WCIC booth. No, we were to work in the actual artists merch booth. The ones that were performing that night. We were to sell their t-shirts, cd's, patches, necklaces, whatever. We were teamed up with an actual person that was responsible for that particular booth. So I met the guy that was in charge of the one I was working. Ken was his name. Super nice and super awesome guy. I knew there was a reason that I didn't raise my hand for other booths. God wanted me at this one. We hit it off right away. For the rest of the night, we traded 'dad jokes' with each other. So the evening started, and let me tell you, I was in my element. Meeting and greeting people. Talking with, praying with, ministering to, being blessed by them, as I hope that I was being a blessing to them. I heard story after story. The people just needed someone to listen to them, and listen I did. A woman came by the booth and she noticed one of the shirts that we were selling. It had on the front "Faith, Not Fear" She looked at it, and kept on going. A few minutes later she came back by and said that she would take one, because she had a lot of fear in her life at the moment. She told me that she had some stuff going on and the saying on the shirt really spoke to her. As she was walking away, The Holy Spirit told me to pray for her. By the time that I realized what He was telling me, she was gone in the sea of people. I thought to myself "man, I just blew that opportunity didn't I?" Then I started praying and talking with The Lord. I said "alright Lord, if this is from you, then You will bring her around again." Guess what? She came back, albeit a few hours later, after the show was over, but she still came back. I started thanking The Lord for this third opportunity to minister to her. I told her that The Holy Spirit wanted me to pray for her after she bought the shirt. So I asked her if it was alright to pray for her. She agreed. I prayed for strength and boldness for her, not fear and anxiousness. After I was done praying, she told me that she felt something break off of her. She felt different that when I started. I praised Jesus for that. After that we said goodbye to each other. As I found my way to the van, I was thanking God for answered prayer. I prayed that when I left home that afternoon, that He would use me in a mighty way. That He would use me to make a difference to someone that night. To use me to be His hands and feet! I think that He came through, BIG TIME!! Hallelujah!