IDOLS!!

I was talking to a pastor friend of mine over the weekend about the upcoming Blackhawks game six of the playoffs. He was telling me that I have to watch because it was going to be epic. I didn't disagree with him, I just really didn't care that much about it. Don't get me wrong. I still care if they do well or not. It's just not a priority for me anymore. You see, God revealed to me several years ago, that watching sports on tv. had become an idol in my life. Of course I didn't realize it at first because I didn't understand what an idol was. What is an idol you ask? Something that you put first in your life over everything else. That was before becoming a Christian. Once I became a Christian, I learned that an idol was something that you put before God. That described me perfectly. I was 100% sports all the time. I would schedule any event around watching my favorite baseball, football, or hockey team play on tv. I would put family on hold. Not go to anything until the game was over. I even put my first marriage ceremony on hold until after a NFL playoff game was finished. We got married on a Sunday in January. The game was at noon, I made us wait until 7:30, just to make sure. I was a fanatic. Then things started to fall apart. I felt like I was distancing myself from my family, especially my daughter. God was knocking on the door of my heart, and I didn't even realize it at the time. So after I was divorced, I started realizing that I was spending to much time in front of the television and not enough time with my family. So I started cutting back (very little). I was still glued to the important games. Then one summer I accepted Jesus, and the rest just didn't matter as much anymore. I found myself not planning on watching game seven of a crucial series with my favorite team. Instead, going out to a movie and dinner with my wife and daughter. Wow, what a change. This kept happening more and more frequently year after year. My wife kept asking me if was sure that I didn't want to stay home and watch the game, I told her no, I was right where I wanted to be. With her and our daughter. As this was happening, I kept hearing the voice of God saying "I'm tearing down that idol that used to rule your life." "You will still care and keep track of teams and games, but that will be secondary to spending time with Me." So over the weekend was a very crucial game for the Blackhawks. They were facing elimination from the playoffs, and I was content sitting together with my wife watching a movie and eating popcorn. So I thank You Lord, for tearing down and removing that idol from my life.

Not Very Compassionate.

I have been mulling over posting this for almost two weeks now. I wasn't sure I should write it or even share it. But it seemed like God kept telling me to do so. So here it is. It might get a little wordy and for that I am sorry. I am going to try and give you the Readers Digest version as best as I can. There is person at our church who needs a ride to and from church every Sunday and Wednesday evenings. I have been among the few people that have picked her up and dropped her off. A little back story for you. My daughter and I volunteer in kids church once a month. So that means that we have to be there a little earlier than usual to get the lesson ready and get prepared for the kids. Two weeks ago was our Sunday in kids church. While reading my Bible and praying first thing in the morning, I get a text from a friend, requesting that this woman be picked up because the ride that she has on Sunday mornings were not going to be there due to being sick. To be open and transparent with you, I about lost it. I told my friend that we had to be at church earlier than usual, so I didn't think that we could do it. My friend just asked that we try. I told her that we would at least do that. So for the next hour or so, I stewed and stewed over the request to pick her up. The enemy kept poking me and getting me angrier and angrier. I told me daughter what was asked of us and she asked me what I planned on doing. I told her that this was our Sunday to be in kids church and I was committed to doing that. I didn't really care if this lady got picked up or not. Then my daughter started making sense about it all. "You know dad, Jesus doesn't tell us to worry about programs and stuff. He tells us to take care of each other. So if that means picking up this woman for church, then that's what we should do." I begrudgingly got in our van and started headed to her apartment, still steaming and fuming about this. About halfway there God spoke to me. He said "remember Matthew 25." Matthew 25:35-40New Living Translation (NLT)35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[a] you were doing it to me!' I was like "ok Lord, I get it." So between my daughter chirping in my right ear and God speaking to me in my left ear, I was put at ease. That we were doing the right thing. So to pick this woman up, we have to pass by the church. So my daughter and I turn at the corner and go down about a quarter of a mile, when we pass a car heading towards the church. I paid no attention to it at all, but my daughter did. She said "dad, I believe that woman that we are supposed to pick up was in that car." I didn't believe her at first, but she insisted it was her. So we turned around and went back to church. Sure enough there she was, getting out of the car and going through the door. Then God said to me "I was testing to see if you were going to be obedient or not. You were so I did not make you go all the way to her apartment to get her." "You only had to start down the road before I had you turn around." I started praising Him and thanking Him. Needless to say, I was humbled that morning.

Bright Glow

My daughter and I were returning home from getting dinner the other night, when I noticed something, something that I never noticed before. We were heading south on route 23 from Genoa, when we could see a very bright glow in the south west. I asked my daughter what that might be. She told me it was probably NIU's football stadium lights. I kind of agreed at first, but then thought. Why would they have the stadium lights lit up this time of year, this time of night. We hit a flat spot on the road where you can see for miles and miles. As we looked, it turned out that the bright glow that we were seeing was actually the city of DeKalb. I have driven this way home many, many times and have never seen it glow like that before. I don't know if it was the cold crisp night, or what, but it was glowing pretty good. Now I know that DeKalb doesn't sit on a hill, but from that spot on route 23 it sure looked like it did. So of course where does my brain go? To comparing it to Jerusalem. I'm not comparing the cities to each other, not at all. Just thinking about how Jerusalem is a city on hill it's light can be seen for miles and miles around. A city on a hill that can be easily seen. Then I started thinking about myself. I don't want to hide the light of Jesus. I want to let it shine brightly. I don't want to cover it with a bushel or basket or anything else. I want to put it on a stand for everyone to see. Just like that old song "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine". So when people look at my house or even at me and my family and they see a bright glow, I want them to ask "what is that bright light, and where is it coming from?" The answer is Jesus. He is the light within us. He is the light of the world, He lights our paths and He lights up our lives. Praise The Lord!!

Seriously!!

This may be a long post, so bear with me. Our daughter is set to attend a Christian university in Springfield, MO. this coming fall. Our family went down for our first initial visit last April (2015). She decided that weekend that she would love to attend there. So she applied and has been accepted. The second visit down there was for a Fine Arts weekend. She was to read something that she had written to possibly get a fine arts scholarship. Before my wife and daughter could get to the school, they had an electrical problem with the car. Wouldn't start, alarm going off, doors wouldn't unlock, etc, etc. Attack number one. This past weekend my daughter and I drove down for her third visit. She had been invited for an interview to possibly receive a Founders scholarship. This is a very prestigious scholarship, that not everyone is invited to receive. We left on Thursday night and made it down there no problem. We went to have dinner at Lamberts (YUM). On our way to the hotel while on the interstate, we got a flat tire. I exited on the ramp and stopped in a parking lot, got out and looked. Sure enough, we had a flat. I was like "Seriously"? Attack number two. The enemy is sure trying to keep her from doing her thing at the college. John 10:10. First electrical problems and now a flat tire. Guess what Satan? Our God is bigger than our problems. John 16:33. You tried to stop us from attending the interview, but alas we got a cab in the morning to get her to the university. I was able to secure a tow truck to get my van to a place where I could get the tire replaced. I was able to meet back up with my daughter at lunch and everything continued on as normal. So Satan, you may have knocked me down, but you did not knock me out. If my God is for me, who can be against me? We as a family have a saying that goes like this. "The closer we get to God, or are in His perfect will, the more the enemy will attack". So God must be going to use her, the university or even us, in a mighty way. He has great things planned for her/us. Jeremiah 29:11. We just can't wait to see what it is. I should mention, that all of this started after she applied to and was accepted at this college. To God be the Glory!! Forever and ever. Amen!!

Black Out!

This could be a cool post about my favorite Scorpions album, but it's not. It's a post about losing power at work last week, and being in total darkness except for the occasional emergency lighting. It's amazing how much we rely on electricity. When it goes out we're like "what do we do?" So anyway. This power outage got me to thinking about life without Jesus. Jesus is the Light of the world, and without Him, we would be in total darkness. Not knowing which way to go or turn. Getting lost and flustered. Tripping over things, running into things. Just plain dangerous. Well that's what it is like to live without Jesus. Just plain dangerous. He is the light for my path. He directs my steps and holds my hand along the way. So I never get lost or turned around. I have the light of Christ in me at all times. Not just an occasional emergency light shining here and there, temporarily. Watching my co-workers stumble around in the dark, trying to find the stair case to get to the lunchroom, or even trying to find their way out of the building was difficult. It reminded me of people who are stumbling through life without Jesus. No light to guide them, not knowing where or when to turn. Obstacles in their paths. Jesus' light does all that for us! For that I am thankful. Thank You Jesus, for never having to live in the dark ever again. You are the light in my and my family's life!

Odd Comparison.

So my family and I went to see the musical 'The Sound of Music' the other night. If you are not familiar with it, it takes place during WWII. During the second half, it depicts the Nazis trying to take over Austria. Forcing everyone to do things the Nazi way and making people display the flag with the swastika on it. The main character Capt. Von Trapp will not have any of this. He will not fly the flag or be heil'd to. He and his family are Austrian and are going to stay that way no matter the consequences. During this time of the play, I started making comparison's in my head to present day Christianity. It seems like the world is trying to take God and Jesus out of everything and make being a Christian a crime. Trying to make us bow down to someone or something that is not our God. This I will not tolerate. I will speak only the name of Jesus and I will not be ashamed of it or Him. Go ahead world and throw me into the fiery furnace for not bowing down to someone else. My family and I will survive just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego survived with Jesus' help. If there were ever a time that we needed Jesus, it's now! I mean they have taken God and prayer out of our schools. They are trying to take God out of the court room and off of our money. Trying to make pastors turn in their sermons. There are churches I have read about that are hosting two different kinds of services that are being told to take their cross off of, or out of the building. I mean "REALLY!!" We need to take a stand for Jesus. I am wearing a wrist band right now that states "I stand with Christ." It says in the Bible in Matthew 10:33New Living Translation (NLT)33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.I pray that our church never has to face that kind of situation. If it does, I hope that it makes it's stand for Christ. We pastors need to stand strong. Keep preaching the gospel, without watering it down. Start telling people what they need to hear instead of what they want to hear. This world is fallen and it's getting worse. Isaiah 5:20New Living Translation (NLT)20 What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil,that dark is light and light is dark that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. Tell me this isn't happening right now! Wow, the things I think about when I attend what was a fun family night out at a musical.

God's Preperation.

Don't you love it when God does something in your life and you have no idea why until something happens and you were like "oh, God was preparing me for that, and I didn't even know it." For example. On Christmas Eve I had planned on relaxing and getting prepped for my sermon at church. I was planning on going out to run a couple of errands and grab some lunch. I went to put on my shoes and.......instead of putting on my slip on shoes, I put on my gym shoes. I thought to myself, "this is weird. I have no idea why I did that." Definitely not normal for me. I never put those shoes on unless I am going to be on my feet for a very long time, or working out. Both which I hadn't planned on doing that day. It was supposed to be a quick run out and back. Well God had other plans for me that afternoon. We have swing doors on our fence, kind of like barn doors that swing open to get access to our back yard. The wind storm that blew in the night before, broke the board that we had holding the gate closed. So the doors where standing wide open. Without my knowledge. I proceeded to let our dog out before going to do my errands. When she didn't come back in right away, I stepped out onto our back deck and saw that the gate was wide open. You guessed it, the dog was gone. Panic settled in as what I should do. I got in the van and drove around looking for her. No luck. Then I set out on foot. For over an hour. I came to realize that after everything was over and our dog was home safe, that God prepared me for all the walking I was going to do looking for the dog, by having me put on my gym shoes. So all I could do was to thank God for bringing the dog home safe (answered prayer) and give Him praise for having me put on the correct shoes for what I was about to do. Thank You Jesus!!