Tired.

I'm tired. Tired of what you may ask. I'm tired of being labeled a hater, a hypocrite and a bigot. Tired of being accused of being hard hearted and closed minded all because I am Christian. Yes, I believe in Jesus, and I believe that the Bible is 100% accurate and without error. Just because we have differing opinions and beliefs doesn't mean that I hate you, or won't accept you. How many times have you ever seen me spout hatred or tear someone down because of their lifestyle? I am not the judge, I leave that up to God. My job is to point people to Jesus. Not to block the way. I have several family members and friends who live an alternate lifestyle. I do not treat them any differently than I do anyone else. I love them all the same. As a Christian pastor, I will not water down the Gospel when I preach. I will not change it or alter it to not offend someone. The Bible is God's word. A book on how we are supposed to live our lives. We can't pick and choose what we believe and what we don't believe. We either believe all of it, or none of it! I will never be ashamed to speak the name of Jesus. So, I am tired of being tired. We as Christians need to stand up for Jesus. Proclaim His name louder than before. We need to stop worrying and let God do His thing. All the praise and glory to God!

Get to Versus Have to.

I have been hearing a lot of people grumbling/complaining at work and other places of things that they have to do. They have to mow the lawn, do laundry, pay bills, go to work, etc, etc. I say, have to! I thank God that I get to do all of that and more. Having a lawn to mow means that God has provided a house for us to live in. Doing laundry means clothes have been provided. Paying bills means that I have the money that God has provided for me. Going to work to a job that God once again has provided for me. God's provision is amazing. We never go without. He supplies our needs. Not going to lie. We have been to the point of how are we ever going to be able to afford this. God always supplies a way. We look back and say "wow, that was God." There is no other explanation. One last thing. Every morning I wake up and I get to read my Bible instead of feeling like I have too. I get to pray and commune with my God. What a way to start my day. Getting to be in touch with my Savior first thing in morning! For that I give thanks and praise! Thank You Lord for loving me so much that I am able to do all of these things. For You!

Godsend!

2004 Dodge Grand Caravan. 166,000 miles. Doesn't sound like much does it? Well, let me tell you what a Godsend this vehicle has been to our family. We had three drivers in our household with only two cars. My daughter and I were sharing a car during the school year. It wasn't perfect but it was working. We had our eyes and ears open to anything that might become available to us. We had something specific in mind, just looking for the right deal to come along. Well. We found it. I was going to a visitation for a friend the Friday before Memorial day, when I passed by "The Van." I was thinking to myself, that looked really nice. My wife and I attended the funeral on Saturday and we drove by "The Van" once again. She was intrigued as well. So, on our way home, we stopped and looked at it. Got the phone number off of the for sale sign and made the "call." We arranged to test drive it on Memorial day. A good friend of ours went with us to be an extra set of eyes and ears. Test drive went very well and we made on offer on "The Van." They accepted and the Thursday after Memorial Day we became the new owners. It's been two and half months since we bought "The Van" and let me tell you where we have been with it. We have been on a camping trip to Iowa with it. Loaded down with camping gear, and family. The van handled awesome. We have been on a nine hour drive out to Yankton, SD to a cousins wedding, and you guessed it. The van ran just fine. Most recently we drove to Orlando, FL. We put over 2,600 miles on "The Van" and everything went smoothly. The only thing that went wrong on the trip were the bugs that splattered against the windshield and front of "The Van." So since we have bought the van, we have gone on two long trips and one camping weekend and the van was everything that we had hoped for and more. The only repairs we have had to make to it were a new battery and a drainage problem with the air conditioner. I praise and thank God for providing us a vehicle that is reliable, functional, comfortable and in our price range. Thank You Jesus!!

GOD, And My Drive To The Fair.

Last week I volunteered at the Stephenson County fair. I was helping out some friends in their church booth. I was scheduled from 6 - 10 Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday night I left a little after 10. I had an hour and fifteen minute drive home. I got home a little before eleven thirty. By the time that I got settled in and ready for bed, it was midnight. Did I mention that I had to be to work at six the next morning. So I only had four hours of sleep before heading out to the fair Thursday night. So as I was driving along jamming to my REO Speedwagon, with the volume turned up to Keven's satisfaction, I heard a voice. Just as plain as if I were talking with someone riding along with me. The voice said "how about listening to some Jeremy Camp?" The crazy thing is, I was just thinking about how bored I was getting with the cd's I had been listening to. So I parked my van and went into the fair. When I left for the night, I switched the cd's around in the van. I took out REO and put in Jeremy Camp. So after four hours of sleep, working nine hours and then driving over an hour to the fair, being there for four hours and then finally heading home you think that I would be extremely tired. I was exhausted let me tell you. So I take off and head for home and I turn up the Jeremy Camp cd that I put in the player. You know what? I never got tired on the way home. Never felt sleepy one bit. God spoke to me about my music choice and wanted me to choose worship music. He provided safe travels for my ride home. I was thankful for His provision and protection. On my friends churches website, they have a page of what they believe in. One of their beliefs is that God still speaks. Let me tell you. He does. Everyone keeps telling us to listen to the still small voice. And we must. But God still spoke to me in the middle of "Riding the Storm Out" at a very audible voice. All praise and glory to GOD!

Work Stress!

My boss is on vacation this whole week. So that means that I am in charge of our department in his absence. No big deal you say. I beg to differ. Oh, this year is much different than last year let me tell you. Last year when he was gone, everyday I would have little melt downs. Okay, who am I kidding, major meltdowns. I worked with a guy who was one of the most negative people I have ever met. He made that whole week miserable, on top of all ready being stressed about covering for my boss. I would complain, grumble, moan and groan and just not be myself. I was not being a good witness for Christ. The enemy was definitely attacking. I wasn't trusting God to get me through or to give me the strength and knowledge that I needed. It was horrible. This year is much different. The negative nellie is gone. My new co-worker is a lot more positive and encouraging. We get along so much better than with the other guy. Plus this year, for this week, I given it all to God. Each day is His. Taking them one day at a time. I am leaning on Him, looking to Him and trusting Him for everything this week. So, the first two days of this week have been very chaotic and busy. A ten hour day on Monday. Nine and a half hour day Tuesday. But through it all, God has given me such a peace about it all. He has kept my emotions in check. Given me mercy and grace for the people who have needed it. There are people at work who witnessed my blow ups last year, that are waiting for it to happen again. I have news for you. IT WON'T!! I am in a very different place than last year. I have grown and matured in Christ to ever let that happen again. Jesus has given me a peace that passes all understanding. I am still smiling at the end of the day, just like when I began the day. My trust and confidence come through Christ. He gives me all strength. So I am here to tell you. If you are facing a difficult day or week, trust in Jesus to get you through. I do a lot of praying in the midst of it all. Even when I am driving a forklift and loading a truck, I am praying. Lord Jesus, help me!! Guess what? He does!! He never leaves us or forsakes us. Too that I say THANK YOU JESUS!!

Mary? Or Martha?

Have you ever been invited to a party or hosted a party where there is always someone working and moving around. They never sit still and enjoy the company that is there. They are always picking things up. Cleaning up. Getting drinks, cups or ice, etc. Always seem to be flitting about. Busy! You want to say to them, "sit down and relax. Enjoy your company while they are here. All that other stuff will still be there long after everyone is gone." It reminds me of the story of Martha and Mary in the Bible. In Luke 10: 38-42 it tells the story of Jesus being invited into Martha's house for dinner. While she was concerned about all the details, her sister Mary just sat at Jesus' feet listening to Him talk. Martha complained to Jesus about this. She told him that is wasn't fair for her to be doing all the work while Mary just sat around in His presence. Jesus pretty much told her to relax and not be so worried about all of the details. He said that Mary had it right and would not be taken from her. To sit in the company of her Savior and soak it all in. I'm sure you have heard the saying "slow down and smell the roses." Well, why not slow down and take time to sit in the presence of your Savior. He is waiting for you. He wants to commune with you. We are so busy with the everyday details of our lives, that sometimes we forget God. He should be the center of our lives, not just in the background. Our society always thinks that we have to be busy doing things. That's not God's way. He wants us to take time for Him. To spend quality time with Him. That is His desire and it should be ours as well. So my question to you today is. Are you going to be a Martha? Or, are you going to be a Mary.

Fan? Or Follower?

Last week at work, a driver came in wearing (gasp) a Milwaukee Brewers hat. I gasp because I am a Cardinals fan. I proceeded to ask him if he liked the Brewers. He said that yes he did. I started telling him how the Brewers did us a big favor the day before by beating the Cubs. How much that really helped us out. He looked at me quizzically and stated "oh, I'm just a fan. I don't really follow them." Right then and there God did what He always does. He used that conversation to point something out to me. That there is a difference between being a fan of something or someone or being a follower of something or someone. I started to think, not only am I a fan of the Cardinals, but I am also a follower. I know the roster names and positions, batting order, how many games ahead or behind. The scenario for each game and series. I am invested in the team. If I can't watch them on tv, then I track them on my phone. There are only a few people that I know of that I can talk sports with and are fellow followers. We can talk stats, players and what not. But most of the people I come in contact with, are just fans. Casual observers, very little interest. So that's what God was showing me that day. He wants us to be His followers. Not to just know about Jesus, but to know Him, personally! Jesus wants us to be in the game, engaged and participating, not just sitting on the sidelines cheering. We are to take up our cross and follow Him. To many people are comfortable with just knowing about Jesus. They have heard of Him and all the good things that He has done, and think "wow, that's a good story." They do little to grow closer to Him. To know Him personally. To accept Him as their personal Savior. They go to church on Sunday just for the fire insurance. Then come Monday morning they are right back to doing what they always do. I want to be known as a Christ follower. A heart and life that have been changed because of Jesus' grace and forgiveness. So my question to you is this. Are you a FAN? Or a FOLLOWER? There is a great book out that is titled Not A Fan. I suggest that you get it and read it. It is amazing! God Bless!