What If?

There's been an interesting story running in the media lately... There is a group of "believers" (led by a Christian radio director on the West Coast) that is sure that the Church will be raptured and that the beginning of the 'End' starts tomorrow, May 21, 2011... They believe that Jesus Christ is going to take His people home at that the earth will erupt with a ferocious earthquake beginning at 6 PM Eastern Time...

First off - I have no idea how they came up with a mathematical equation to figure out the exact date AND TIME of when God The Father is going to send His Son, Jesus to swoop up His Bride, or even if it's accurate... But regardless of how the media spins these 'doomsdayers' - they are bringing an important theme to forefront of many conversations... Is the 'End' near? Is it tomorrow? It makes you think, doesn't it...

I don't know whether I'll go home to be with my Savior tomorrow, or not... I could go tonight... It could be a week from now... It could be 100 years from now... Who knows? But I do know this - I'm excited for whenever it happens...

"Heaven must receive Him (Jesus) until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets." Acts 3:21

God is going to restore everything when He's good and ready... There are definitely 'signs of the time' showing all over: earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados, floods, volcanic eruptions, famine, AIDS, genocide, anarchy, riots, united governments, and more... Not to mention all of the trouble surrounding Israel (God's People) is making all kinds of headlines... These could be birthing pains and we could be close... But I'll say this, though - that's how we should be living life everyday... We should always be anticipating and prepared for His arrival... Much like the apostle Paul - we should be torn between our purpose and mission in this world and our eternal reward with Jesus...

So who knows - this could be my last 'blog entry'... On the other hand - I may be blogging tomorrow night... But either way - Jesus is coming back soon... Are you ready?

As American As Apple Pie

One of my favorite things to do on Monday's is cook or bake... Especially since our low sodium diet has taken effect - I have found that I enjoy the culinary creativity that takes place in our kitchen... Now - I still dust, vacuum, and take our weekly trip to Lowe's with my son - but I enjoy making something out of nothing in the kitchen, as well...

Today's venture - thanks to a children's program singing songs about a Samurai pie maker - I opted to bake a pie... FROM SCRATCH!!! And what better pie to start out on then the all-American classic - Apple Pie... And yes - it had the crumb topping on it... My son and I went to the store and bought our Granny Smith Apples and began the process... We started out making our pie crust out of flour, shortening, 'no-salt' salt, and ice water... We wrapped it up and put it in the fridge for a few hours and started on the apples... First I combined the sugar, cinnamon, and flour for the filling and then the brown sugar, flour and butter for the crumb topping... Just one task left - chopping the apples...

Now - being the avid Food Network watcher that I am - I knew I had to do something a little unique with this pie... It couldn't be like EVERYONE ELSE'S pie! What to do? Then it hit me - leave the peel on! "It won't taste bad," I thought to myself... "It might even make the texture more interesting..." So I went for it... And you know what - it wasn't too bad! It tasted good to me, at least (my wife and small group also said they enjoyed it - but that's their job!) and I succeeded in that it was a little bit different... Even though it was pretty good - I still plan on adapting my recipe and technique as I make more in the future... Oh yes - there will be more!

Sometimes we're like apple pie to our Heavenly Father... We may be doing pretty well and living inside of His Will - but it doesn't mean He will use the same techniques every time... He may try some different flavors in the recipe of our lives from time to time... Sometimes we may need to bake a little longer or maybe have a little less sweetness in our circumstances... At times He may cover us in the tinfoil of His love so we don't get burnt around the edges - and other times we may just get dropped in the deep fryer so we are ready faster! He's the Chef (or in other analogies, "The Potter") and He has the divine, unfathomable ability and forth sight to prepare our hearts and lives in gourmet fashions... His recipe book is endless and full of delicious possibilities - and He never tires of whipping us up into a 5-Star course...

So maybe tomorrow won't taste the same as it did today - but that doesn't mean it won't be delicious!!!

One Nation, Under God...

I'm sure like many others - I almost forgot about today being the "National Day of Prayer"... Now - granted - I didn't have any official "involvement" in any of the meetings - but it was something that I was planning on attending and being a part of... Those in charge of the event for our community planned three different sites at three different times... There was a morning session at 7:15 AM hosted by a local church that included breakfast... That would have been a wonderful time to go - except that it was 7:15 in the morning... Not my favorite time! There was a meeting at the courthouse at high noon - and I was actually able to attend that event... Finishing the day off was a prayer service at another local church in the early evening...

As I said earlier - I attended the noon session... It was pretty cool to be on the lawn of a government building praising God and lifting up the Name of Jesus Christ - especially on a day as beautifully created as this one... The event was planned well with a choir of small children starting things off singing a medley of "Everlasting God/A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"... Following the cute choir were several different individuals that made statements and led the impromptu congregation in prayer and a talented young lady led the group in a couple of songs... The designated prayers were facilitated by pastors, politicians, teachers, and businessmen from different denominations and backgrounds... White, black, men, and women... There was no segregation on this day... It didn't matter if you were baptist, methodist, lutheran, pentecostal, catholic, or something in between... Today - we we're the body of Christ... Gathered together in the assembly of the saints - proclaiming the Name of Jesus Christ and seeking God's favor and wisdom for our community, our leaders, our churches, our families, our children, and our nation...

At least for today - we were "One nation, under God... Indivisible - with liberty and justice for all..."

Projectile Dysfunction

My work day was shortened today... Productive - but shortened by a couple of hours so I could go home and watch my little boy so his grandma could get her hair done... I didn't mind, though... There's not much better then spending time with the coolest kid ever! To my surprise - he had just woken up from an hour and a half nap when I arrived home and was ready to hang with his dad...

We watched a video together... We laughed... We played... And then we decided we'd run a few errands and go for a ride "in Dad's truck"... As we went out to the garage, though, I was greeted with an attack from the mouth of my little boy... BLAH!!! BLAAAHHH!!! All over him and me! I was officially grossed out!

But as I was holding my sick little guy - I began to feel a sense of worry mixed with a healthy portion of sadness... My precious boy was legitimately sick and I couldn't do anything about it... What a terrible feeling! It's one thing to feel bad yourself - but so much worse when somebody you love that much is sick or hurting! I wanted so desperately to fix it - to make him better...

I have a feeling I'm not the only Dad that feels that way... I know my Heavenly Father feels that same way about me - but to even a greater extent... He sees me hurting, or broken... He sees me when I'm sick (physically or spiritually)... And He loves me - even when I vomit all over His chest and His powerful arms... And He wants to hold me in His arms and make me feel all better... But sometimes - the best thing for us is to just 'make it through' it... Sometimes - things just need to 'run their course'... Even knowing that, though - it's comforting knowing that our Daddy (Abba) has us in His arms - covered in our vomit and spit-up - stroking our heads and kissing our teared saturated faces - and telling us it's going to be okay... It's going to be okay...

Artistic Expression

Being a pastor - Easter is always a busy time of year... Well worth it, of course, as non-believers are often 'extra curious' those 2 or 3 days a year about Jesus, God, the church, or salvation... We can't miss the opportunity to share with them the love that God has for them - the love that He showed by the death of His Son, Jesus of Nazareth... And in this culture - sometimes you have to get creative to bring the message home...

My closest friend (also our Creative Arts pastor) had some really good ideas for that this year... With the potential of over 3,000 people coming through the doors of our church building for Easter services - we had to make sure our message was precise, full of truth, and creative enough to hold a 'first-timers' attention... So to accomplish that task - our team added a large metal cross illuminated with LED lights suspended over the congregation... My friend also sang a Garth Brooks song with video clips from the "Passion of the Christ" showing in the background to connect the message of Jesus' love with those that weren't familiar with 'church music'...

One of his oddest suggestions, though, was that we start the service of with me singing a song - not so strange - but to be painted while doing it... Okay - now it's a little strange! But you know what - it was powerful! I don't know about for the congregation and those that witnessed the song... But for me it was very moving... Singing about the change that God has made in me - knowing who I used to be (and still have a tendency TO BE) about brought me to tears every time... As I was being covered in all the colors of the rainbow - I was becoming a new creation - just like Paul said I would...

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone, and the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

I know many do not agree with 'creative thinking' when it comes to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ... They feel it is wrong and inappropriate to use such creative means of expression - And maybe they're right... But when Judgement Day comes (and it will) I don't want to reach the Bema Seat and find out that I didn't do all I could to reach lost people and inspire those struggling in their faith - just so I could please 'church goers'... Does that even make sense?!

Take A Hike

I try to make it a point everyday to thank God for His many blessings... I thank Him for my family, my home, my job, and a wonderful church family to serve with... I start each day out before my feet hit the floor with reciting a passage of Scripture - "This is the day the LORD has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24) Every day is a gift... The bed I sleep in and my beautiful wife I share it with are a blessing... The little toddler that I chase around the house is a blessing... Even the very air I breathe is an undeserved reward from my Heavenly Father!

Today - however - I discovered something else I am thankful for - my feet! I often take for granted my ability to move my body around the way I do with my feet and legs... I know not everyone is as fortunate as I am to have a strong set of legs and two feet to take me to and fro... Due to my truck going 'in the shop' this past week - I have been "forced" to take a hike to and from work on occasion... Thankfully - it's only about a 15 minute walk from the shop to my office... And it also doesn't hurt that it's been 70 and beautiful both days (Thank You, Lord!)... But in those few minutes it dawned on me how blessed I am... I'm not just blessed to have a truck that gets me around and works well (most of the time) - but also that I'm able to walk... What a blessing! During those walks I noticed so much more of the blue sky - and how bright the sun was shining - how the clouds looked like delicious cotton candy or odd shaped puppies...

I'm not saying that I'm selling my truck and (like Forest Gump) just start run-nin... But it was nice to have to slow down for a few days... Sometimes we need that, don't we? We need to get back to the transportation system that God started this world off with - our feet! So I encourage all of us to every now and then - just take a hike!

Who do you root for?

I have spent the entire NCAA basketball tournament on the edge of my seat... I have seen some amazing upsets that nobody expected and 'no-namers' become stars... I've seen the underdog overcome overwhelming odds and coaches pull rabbit after rabbit out of their hats... The Final Four didn't fail to excite and now the anticipation of the grande finale - The Championship Game!

But here's where my problem lies... I don't know who to root for!

Every other game I have been cheering for a team to win so my bracket would give me a bit of self worth and impress others 'less knowledgable' than me... Unfortunately - that didn't happen for me this year (or any year, that matter!)... Actually - I was beaten by my wife this year in total points on our brackets... Talk about humiliating!!! But if I were going to lose to someone - I'd rather it be her... But the two teams I wanted to win in the Final Four did and now they both have the privilege of playing in the 'big game' against each other... Both are exciting stories and starring a cast of unlikely heros... One team has a legendary coach with years of experience and one is one of the most prominent up-and-coming coaches in the game... What's a basketball fan to do?

I guess I will just have to enjoy the game... If I do that - I can be excited for both sides... I can be impressed by both coaches... I can be impressed by the elevated play of each individual on the court... I might not even have to yell at any referees this way! I can just be what I should be - a fan of the game...

Often times I like to see things go my way - even in my faith... Even though we are all part of the Body of Christ - I like to see my particular part look better or come out on top... I like to be the guy people are looking at and cheering for... And (if I were honest) I like to win! I want my ideas and my ways to work out the way I think they should... I want people to choose me over somebody or something else... I like to hear people say how great I am... I even find myself, at times, wishing for the blessings that others receive... Not very attractive, I know - let alone Christ like!

Jesus made it pretty clear, in Luke 9:48 when He said, "whoever is the LEAST among you is the GREATEST." I'm not on a separate team... I'm not involved in individual sport... I am not even the star player on the team! I'm just what I'm supposed to be - a role player on Team Jesus... He is the person I need to root for... His Will is what I need to be cheering for - no matter who He uses to accomplish it... I just need to be a 'fan of the game'... Not worrying about who wins, but rather lifting up those who are in the game! Go Team!