Ode To My Mom!

My mom has always supported me. From the time I was born 51 years ago, till right now, as a grown adult. Everything I have ever done in my life (well most things) my mom has supported me. I have made some pretty dumb decisions or choices I'm sure that she would/did not like. For the most part she has supported me and my brothers. From buying us our first baseball gloves, so we could play catch together. To attending all of our little league games. All of our concerts, plays and whatever else in grade school, she was always there. As we moved up in our baseball system and started traveling to different towns to play ball in, she was there. She had to work, but yet she always found time to make it to our games. She taught me how to drive and then provided a car for me to drive. Playing high school football, she was there. Even though I never played, she would still come and sit there anyway. She would always take on the arduous task of having to wash my grass stained uniform pants. She would listen as I started telling her about girls that I liked, and wanted to ask out. Then listen to me lament about my heartbreak about being turned down by said girls. As I grew into adulthood, she supported me there as well. As I told her I was getting married for the first time, she supported that decision. She even had the wedding at her house, in the basement. As I was going through my divorce, her support was unwavering. She told me that whatever I needed, she would do her best to help me out. Then when I met another woman, and was about to propose, my mom was the first call I made to let her know what I was about to do. Guess what? She supported that as well. Then a few years later, I decided to go ministry school. We all went out for dinner the night I told my mom of my plans. At first she wasn't so sure, but she supported my choice anyway. Her support has always been 100%. Always unwavering and strong. Never judging me or my choices.


She is the best mom in the world. You will never see me go on Jerry Springer, or any of those other trash talk shows complaining about my parents, childhood, or how I grew up. I love my mom and absolutely loved, loved, loved my childhood. We never went hungry. We always had clothes. Always had a roof over our heads and beds to sleep on. We never went without. My mom would sacrifice to make sure that didn't happen.

Deuteronomy 5:16 New Living Translation (NLT)16 “Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God commanded you.

Mom, I sure hope that I have honored you with the way that I have lived my life. I hope that I have made you proud of the person that I am today. You have loved me un-conditionally all my life. I could not have asked for a better mother. I love you mom!!

God bless you mom!

Little Flashing Lights.

On our docks at work, we have what's called a dock lock. It is a mechanism that will hold the trailer to the dock with a hook. It curves around the trailers bumper to keep it from moving away from the dock. You activate it from inside the building. You push the lock button and a green light will start to flash, letting you know it is okay to enter the trailer. When you push un-lock, a red light will flash indicating do not enter the trailer. If the hook doesn't sense that there is anything there when you push the lock button, and alarm will go off and then you have to push the override button. The trailer is still hooked to the dock, but with both lights flashing, instead of just the green or the red.

So today as we were loading a trailer, I started to stare at the green and red lights flashing on the control board. According to the panel the trailer was both locked and unlocked at the same time. That got me to thinking about God and what He has said about the world. To be in it, but not to be of it.

1 John 2:15 New Living Translation (NLT)Do Not Love This World 15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

The green light flashing reminded me that I am in the world. Green means go, and be part of the world and take part in its wickedness and sinfulness. The red light means stop. Do not go any farther. Reminding me that I am not supposed to be of the world. God has called me out of the world. To be different than.

Matthew 6:24 New Living Translation (NLT)24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other.

The red and green lights flashing simultaneously had me thinking about the above verse. I cannot be both locked and unlocked at the same exact time. For I will hate one (locked) and love the other (unlocked). I would rather be unlocked and free for Christ who died for me and gave me life, than locked into they ways of the world, that lead to death and destruction.

I don't want to have to push the override button to choose Jesus. If there is ever a conflict, Jesus is my choice ALWAYS!!

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!

Pick and Choose!

My wife and I moved from outside of town last year to a neighborhood in town. My drive time to work has been reduced a tad. So in the time that I have been driving through the neighborhood I started to observe things. Like peoples driving habits. I have noticed that people drive all kinds of different ways around here. Some will do the speed limit but not use a turn signal. Or use the turn signal but speed. Pass other cars while they are turning in an intersection. Not pull over for emergency vehicles. Talk on their cell phones while driving. They'll run a stop sign or red light, but stop for the pedestrian in the cross walk. While watching this all happen over the last few months, I started thinking "wow, these people think that they can pick and choose what traffic laws they are going to obey or break." To me, if you are going to follow one, you should follow all. So like I always do, I started comparing this to the Bible. Everything to me comes back to the Bible. People seem to do the same with God's word. They pick and choose what scripture or verse to believe and ignore the rest. Or they believe some things are sinful, but others are not. They believe that murder, stealing and adultery are wrong, but believe that homosexuality is ok. Lying is ok. Blaspheming God is ok. None of it is ok. All are sin according to God's word. There is not one sin greater than another. All are equal in God's eyes. So we must not pick and choose which we are going to follow. Either we believe that the Bible is 100% inerrant and infallible, or it's not. If you don't believe that its all true, then none of it is true. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 New Living Translation (NLT)16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 New Living Translation (NLT)13 Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe. Amen!

Left In The Dust.

Have you ever done something nice for someone, help them get back on their feet, only to be left in the dust when they get back up? Yeah, me too. Several times in fact. People keep saying to me that I am to nice of a person. I have a hard time saying no, especially to those in need. I don't do kind things for people to get repaid, it's just who I am. I try to be like Jesus. In my daily Bible reading this week, I came across this story which kind of reminds me of things that have happened in my life. It's one of the stories of Joseph in Genesis. The story can be found in Genesis 40 and continues into chapter 41. He interpreted dreams for two of Pharaoh's officials who were put into prison because they had made him angry. Three days later, the officials were released and put back into their places of prominence. Forgetting all about Joseph and what he had done for them. Yep, this sounds familiar. Stick your neck out for people, help repair their reputation, whatever, and so on. Then their like "who are you?" as they take off again, leaving you in the dust. It took two full years for the one official to finally remember that Joseph was still in prison. That only happened because Pharaoh had dreams that he needed interpreted. The official remembered that Joseph had interpreted his dreams two years ago, so he let Pharaoh know about Joseph, and what he had done for the two officials in prison. Joseph was summoned immediately and interpreted Pharaoh's dreams. When Pharaoh heard the interpretation, he accepted it and then placed Joseph in charge, over of all of Egypt. It wasn't Joseph who accomplished all of this. It was because God was with him. Leading him and directing him. Giving him the wisdom to interpret dreams. The Spirit was fully on him and his life. Even though he was in prison, Joseph never stopped doing the right thing. He never grew tired of doing the right thing. Read the story for yourselves and see. I know a lot of people who would have given up and said forget it. I'm done. In the New Testament comes this powerful verse. Galatians 6:9 New Living Translation (NLT)9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. I think that Joseph was living this out well before Paul wrote it. So my prayer is that no matter what happens to us, keep on doing good and never grow tired of doing the right thing. We will reap a harvest of blessing if we can just hold on. I believe that it is possible because God's word tells us so. Philippians 4:13 New Living Translation (NLT)13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. So my brothers and sisters, keep the faith, hold on and never tire of doing good! God bless you all!