Joshua 24:15

About a month ago, we had a volunteer appreciation day at our church. All the people who volunteered in some kind of ministry were called up to the front of the congregation and handed a certificate stating what ministry you volunteered. What was really cool about that was, my daughter, my wife and myself were all up there getting recognized. I thought to myself, "how cool is this, that all three of us are up here for serving the church." Fast forward to this past weekend when the company that I work for hosted a Feed My Starving Children mobile pack event. The event ran from Thursday afternoon till Sunday evening. My family and I packed together on Saturday night. My daughter scooped the first two ingredients into the bag, I dumped the other two. My wife was holding the bag and then weighing them. My daughter and I stood right next to each other and my wife was to my left. All three of us were in close proximity together and it was awesome. Towards the end of the shift it hit me. Between us serving at the church as a family and now packing food as a family, we were really being the definition of Joshua 24:15. Our house will serve The Lord, and that is exactly what we were doing. Oh how I thank You God for giving us a servants heart. Now matter what. To God be the Glory!!

Future Path.

Our daughter is a senior in high school this year. She is going to graduate in the summer. Her plan is to go to college next fall. God has already provided a college for her to go to. What we don't know is, what's going to happen while she is there. Sure she has a plan for her degree, but what is God's plan going to be? We all want her to be successful while she is there, but I want her to be successful in God's eyes, not our frail human eyes. His ways are much better than ours. My wife and I are not pushing her to any one direction. Nor is anyone else telling her that she needs to be a doctor, lawyer, nurse, whatever. We want what God has for her. We want her to be in God's perfect will. No matter what that might be. We will support her in whatever field she goes into. Whatever happens, all the praise to JESUS!!

God & Mowing The Lawn.

I love to mow our lawn. Nothing better than the mower, you and God. It's one of my alone times with God that He requires of us. How can I be alone with God while mowing the yard you may ask. I have an hour and a half of pushing a mower back and forth while talking with God at the same time. Talk to me He does. He gives me ideas for my blog. He gives me ministry ideas. Parental advice, marriage advice, all kinds of stuff. You maybe wondering how I can still hear His still small voice over the noise of the mower. His voice is much louder than the mower. It may be a small voice, but it can be loud when needed to be. I found that out this year on my way to a festival and blasting my music in the van. I heard His voice loud and clear above all the music, and now mowing. I thank Him for the lawn to mow. The mower, the gas for the mower, the energy and strength. The clothes that I am able to wear. Plus the time to do it. In a few short weeks, I will be switching from mowing with God, to snow blowing with God. Not looking to that one as much. I look forward to spending time with God, just not looking forward to the cold and snow. One thing I know for sure is, I thank God for it all.

What Would You Have Done?

I was asked a question earlier this week by a truck driver that made me stop and really think about what he asked. We were talking about the campus shooting in Oregon and he asked me "what would you have done?" He knows that I am a pastor. In fact he has a nickname for me. He calls me Rev. whenever he comes in. So he kind of knew what my answer would be. I told him of course I would admit that I am a Christian. Then I thought, would I? Having a gun pointed at you, knowing that you are going to die for admitting your faith. I have never had a weapon pointed at me before, so I really can't say for sure what I would do. I believe that I would say yes to being a Christian. It says in the Bible in Matthew 10:33 New King James Version (NKJV)33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. The Apostle Peter also denied Jesus. Not once or twice, but three times when confronted with knowing him. I don't want to be that guy. I want to acknowledge my Savior and King. I want Him to know that I am His and He is mine! No matter what I come up against. No matter what kind of persecution that I may face, it will and has always been Jesus. So my question/challenge to you is.......What Would You Have Done? Think about it.

Dirty Glasses.

I was at work one day and I removed my glasses to scratch my eye. I happened to hold my glasses up so I could see them in the bright lights of the warehouse. I could not believe how dirty they were. Scratches, smears, fingerprints, dust, etc. etc. I must have gotten used to looking through the dirt and smudges to notice anymore. Anyway, the dirty glasses got me to thinking about how dirty and sin stained my life had been prior to Jesus. The things that I had done, the mud and the muck that I was mired in. The sinful nature that I couldn't pull myself out of with my own strength. Little did I know, that I would need Jesus and the strength that He provides to pull me up and out. He pulled me out of my downward spiral and set me upon Him, The Rock. (Psalm 40:2) I thank God everyday that He doesn't look at me like a pair of dirty eye glasses. He see's me clean and spotless. He see's me as His child. He has no recollection of prior sins. "Hey God, remember when I did this?" "No son, no I don't." I am thankful that I am a new creation in Christ. My old life is gone, I am now a new person. (2 Corinthians 5:17). So, just as I use a cloth and some spray to remove any dirt and smudges from my glasses to get them clean. Jesus took my sins upon Him and made me clean. (Psalm 51:2). When I first became a Christian, I thought that all of my past sins had stained me forever. Then I heard/read this verse. Isaiah 1:18. Hallelujah!!! It has been a process for me. To realize that I am forgiven by me Heavenly father. I am redeemed. Thank You Jesus. For everything that you have done for me and continue to do for me. To think. All of this from looking through a pair of dirty glasses. I love when God does that!!

Wedding = Reflection.

My cousin was married this past weekend. As a standard practice for me at weddings, I started to reflect back on my life. As the bridal party were walking down the aisle to take their places,followed by the bride, my mind started wandering. On things that I have done well. Things that I haven't done so well. My life choices. Things that I have done, things that maybe I shouldn't have done. People that have come in and out of my life. Relatives and friends that have passed on since that last wedding that I attended. These are my standard wedding thoughts. But this wedding was different. It hit me harder. The things from my past. I don't know if it's because I am getting older or what, but wow, the flood of emotions. Looking at the beaming groom waiting for the beaming bride to make her way down the aisle to him. I looked at me wife and remembered that same moment at our wedding. Getting to be introduced as Mr. and Mrs. as you come back up the aisle together. The bringing together of families. Grandma's and Grandpa's. Aunts, Uncles, cousins, brothers and sisters. To see the love shone to one another. The hugs, handshakes and pat's on the back. That is the one thing that I love about weddings. There is only an air of love and kindness. No hatred, no ill will toward anyone. If only we could have this all year long, instead of just at a wedding. As the night where's on, I reflect back on everything that God has done for me and my family. We are a close knit family. Aunts and Uncles are more like second moms and dads. Cousins are like brothers and sisters. For this I am grateful! I love my family and the closeness we enjoy. So I reflect back on what God has done, and ponder ahead of what God is going to do next. I am sure of one thing. It is going to be awesome!

Pointing Fingers

To all of my family and friends who live the LGBT lifestyle. Just because I am a Christian, I do not hate you! We as Christians are not called to hate, but to love. So if a person is claiming Christianity and say that they hate you, they are not being Christian at all. Just let me say that I will not run away from you if I see you out in public. I will not run and hide if I see you in a store. I will most likely greet you warmly with a hug, a handshake or maybe even both. I will not point my finger at you to condemn you. The only pointing that I should be doing is this...pointing to Jesus. I'll let Him take it from there. For many of you, I have known about your lifestyle long before I became a Christian; before I became a pastor. I loved you then, I love you now! So if anyone is pointing a finger at you trying to convict you or condemn you, that's not Jesus. Jesus always responded with love. If we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus, how then, can we react any differently. We are to show the love of Christ to everyone.