Old Glory

Remember Me!

Some people call me Old Glory; others call me the Star Spangled Banner. But whatever they call me, I am your Flag; the Flag of the United States of America.

Something has been bothering me. So I thought I might talk it over with you, because it is about you and me.

I remember some time ago people lined up on both sides of the street to watch the parade. Naturally I was leading every parade, proudly waving in the breeze. When your daddy saw me coming, he immediately removed his hat and placed it against his left shoulder so that the hand was directly over his heart. Remember?

And you; I remember you; standing there straight as a soldier. You didn't have a hat, but you were giving the right salute. Remember little sister? Not to be out done, she was saluting the same as you with her right hand over her heart. Remember?

What happened? I'm still the same old flag. Oh, I have a few more Stars since you were a boy and a lot more blood has been shed since those parades of long ago.

But now I don't feel as proud as I used to. When I come down your street you just stand there with your hands in your pockets. I may get a small glance, but then you look away. I see the children running around and shouting. They don't seem to know who I am. I saw one man take his hat off, then look around. He didn't see anybody else with theirs off so he quickly put his back on.

Is it a sin to be patriotic anymore? Have you forgotten what I stand for and where I've been; Anzio, Guadalcanal, Normandy, Iwo Jima, Korea, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Iraq? Take a look at the Memorial Honor Roll, sometime, of those who never came back to keep this Republic free…One Nation Under God. When you salute me, you are actually saluting them.

Well, it won't be long until I'll be coming down your street again. So when you see me, stand straight, place your right hand over your heart. I'll salute you by waving back. And I'll know that...YOU REMEMBERED!

The 4th of July is not just a holiday, it is a life style

Reflecting the Character of God

The first three chapters of Genesis give us a detailed account of the creation of this world and the creation of man. What is quite clear is the perfection of God's creation; everything was good. Man being created in God's image was good, sinless and in harmony with his Creator. What we then proceed to witness is the degeneration of the human race from perfection to moral abasement. This is called "The Fall of Man".

One of the goals of the Christian life is to get to know God, to know and impregnate oneself with His character, to learn how to resemble to Him, to forge oneself to and become His image. A Christian person will have succeeded his life if he arrives to incarnate the characters of God.

When we talk about "Reflecting the Character of God", in the beginning that was not a problem, but with the fall of mankind in Genesis, reflecting God's character became a little more difficult. For us to reflect God's character we first need to know God's character...

First - God's nature defines moral values. He did not merely "invent" them. Nor are they something we are "free" to define for ourselves. A righteous or upright moral character is a reflection of God's character; a depraved or corrupt moral character is anything that goes against, or is contrary to, God's character.

Second - Our values influence conduct. What you believe will influence what you do. You may be able to hide your true values, character and motives for a while; but when you do so, you merely introduce another character trait into your life - hypocrisy! And you cannot hide it forever: In the end, the day will come in which your true character will be exposed and known to all (1 Timothy 5:24).

Third - To truly understand the very Character of God, we then need to base our life on the following attributes:

• God is love (1 John 4:8). God is the great lover of people - even people that have been corrupted by sin. He cares about us, He is patient and kind with us, He has good plans for us. (Jer. 29:13)
• God is Holy (Ps 99.3). Holiness is spiritual beauty. It is also total moral uprightness and separation from all that is unclean or evil. Like a diamond in the light with many faces, each of God's attributes shines out in perfect balance. There is no defect in God's character or nature.
• God is righteous (honest, impartial, fair). (Deut 33.24; Ps. 116.5). What he does is always right and fair from a moral point of view. As Judge of all the earth, God is a just judge. He judges with fairness, knowing all the facts and all the intentions of the heart. (Rom 2.16)
• God is good (Ps 136:1). He wants good things for people and for the universe. Jesus did the will of the Father, doing good and healing those who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38). However, God does not force people to be good, and it is because of the evil in people that there is suffering in the world.
• God is truthful & has integrity as does His Word (Num 23.19; John 17:17).
• God is faithful (keeps his promises). 2Tim 2.13.
• God alone is wise in Himself (Rom 16.27) - that is, he knows what He is doing and is doing it in the best way. Any wisdom we may have received comes from God, not from our own independent creativity. Wisdom is knowledge correctly applied to achieve the right purpose.
• God is forgiving and kind by nature (1 Jn 1:9; Pr 28:13; Matt 5:45). He blesses even His enemies at times and longs that his kindness will lead them to repentance so that He can forgive them. (Rom. 2:4)

CONCLUSION: To relate with God properly we must understand that He loves us, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb 11.6). We should not believe the world - not the world's view of God, the teachings of religious tradition or our own philosophies or imaginations. We should always strive to seek God's direction for our lives and in turn "Reflect His Character" to others.

God is into "Home Improvement"

It never ceases to amaze me at the houses people build in the most insecure settings. Who among us has watched as homes (often large and luxurious), have been swept off their foundations by the power of a hurricane! How many of us have seen houses slipping from the cliffs along the Southern California coastline due to mud slides or during an earthquake! Even in our own inland regions we find sink-holes that consume entire homes in just one afternoon. Do you really want to build a million dollar home on top of a mountain with a skimpy foundation or build a vacation home right at water's edge; of course not, but people do everyday!

God is certainly into Home Improvement, but from a different perspective then most General Contractors or Structural Engineers would consider. Although foundations are critical to support the upper structure, His interests don't stop there; He is also interested in the interior design. The Bible says that "we are God's workmanship" (Ephesians 2:10) and promises that "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion..." (Philippians 1:6).

In addition to new construction, God specializes in renovation projects (fixer-uppers) of the human heart. So often people think they have to clean up their act before God could ever accept them. Nothing could be further from the truth. God loves and accepts you just the way you are; although He doesn't intend to keep you that way. He has a design for your life. All He's waiting for is a "building permit" that will allow Him to be a master builder. If you say "yes" to God, He can commence His home improvement project right away and always bring it in on time.

You were created according to God's design. The Bible says you are fearfully and wonderfully made when He knitted you together in your mother's womb (Psalm 139). Most of us would have to admit that we've done significant damage to the design of our life over the years. True change is beyond our ability. The Good News is that, in Jesus, God has given us all that is required to complete the job. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation..." (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus is the foundation on which our life must be built. The Bible also warns against building our lives on unstable ground. Too often we put our hopes in money, power, fame, or earthly desires. If we ignore God's plan, Jesus says that we are like the foolish man who builds his house upon the sand (Matthew 7:24-27).

If you want a sneak preview of how God intends to renovate your life (from the ground up), look at Jesus. He's the model or show home that God wants us to resemble when His redesigning work is complete. In God's blueprint, our new life is to be fashioned after Jesus' character. Like Jesus, we were created to carry out good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

Fortunately, we don't have to renovate our life alone. When we permit God to work, His Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in our hearts until the work is completed (1 Corinthians 3:16). Each day the Spirit provides a fresh supply of resources and building materials such as love, joy, peace, gentleness, and self-control. The Spirit continually works to restore us.

So the next time you look inside yourself and don't like what you see, remember that God can redesign or renovate any life. Get a life...in Christ! It's one home improvement adventure that will truly change your life from the inside out.

Fellowship in the Body

John Calvin wrote, "Christ . . . once for all offered a sacrifice of eternal expiation and reconciliation; now, having also entered the sanctuary of heaven, he intercedes for us. In him we are all priests (Rev. 1:6; cf. 1 Peter 2:9), but to offer praises and thanksgiving, in short, to offer ourselves and ours to God. It was his office alone to appease God and atone for sins by his offering."

Christ prayed for all Believers in John 17:20-26. There He offers us assurance that the glory God has given Jesus would be given to us as royal priests that has been made perfect in Him. "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. and the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one. I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have love them as You have love Me" (verses 20-23).

Jesus not only prayed for those the Father had given Him, but for all future believers - for their unity and their future glory. If you are a believer, these words are Jesus' prayer for you. "All may be one" is a present tense of the verb "to be" indicating that Jesus was praying for the unity that takes place through the sanctification of believers. This mutual indwelling of the Father in the Son and the Son in the church is also the means to unity, the ultimate expression of God's love.

Now let's get down to the real root of Christ's prayer. The Christian life was certainly not meant to be lived alone. God intends for each of us to spend precious time together with others who have Jesus Christ in their hearts. Often, however, Christians have either a wrong impression of what fellowship is, or how it helps them in their walk with God. Churches that don't associated with other churches in the neighborhood just because they believe something a little different in a doctrinal statement. Christ prayed that future believers would show unity, to allow God's love to flow freely between all who love Him. Of course there are some religions out there that are not part of the Body of Christ and/or will never be part, but why do Baptists stay away from Catholics and Catholics stay away for Independents; I thought we are part of the same team, or at least that is the way it was planned originally. It is mankind that put up the boundaries, not Christ; and it will be Christ who will break them down and set the story straight when He comes again; but do we really need to wait that long?

In order to have fellowship together we must meet together. When the early Christians got together they did more than just talked about doctrine. When we get together we should do things that are beneficial for the Body of Christ. Our fellowship should consist of prayer, time in the Bible, singing, encouraging each other, and getting to know on another. The goal of fellowship is to build each other up to become more like Jesus. This is not a short-term project, but a long-term life experience. Through fellowship, let us seek to help each other along the way.

Christ's prayer was for unity; unity that can still cross man made boundaries. We need to stop thinking about how we sing a song or do worship and start thinking how we need to join together to combat tomorrow's tomorrow. If not, we will be the losers, and we will loose more then what we lost on 9/11 as a nation, because that will happen again and again if we don't band together. Remember...tomorrow is just around the corner...

Self-Centered Society - A time for Change!

We are a self-centered society that typically considers the well being of our self before others. What would happen if we place others before our own self-interest? Certainly such word phrases as "please and thank you" should be heard often. Is that the only thing required to change our society...certainly not...but it is a good start.

Show genuine interest - I believe this is by far the most effective way of encouraging others, but it has to be genuine. To be genuine means...you place their self-interest over your own; please keep in mind...you expect nothing in return.

By acknowledging what’s important to them first, your allow them to talk about their needs, while you have a chance to formulate a response that offers them a positive solution. Don't talk when you can be thinking and certainly don't talk if you haven't thought though a concept.

Say “well done” and “thank you” is a great start to help people when they feel there is no one really out here who cares. Reciprocate the favour - if someone does something nice for you, a great way to show your appreciation is simply to reciprocate the favour.

Respond with something unexpected - another effective way to encourage others is to respond with something totally unexpected. Out of the blue. That’s when the maximum impact is delivered. Such acts can reach them at an emotional level and our brains are hard wired to respond to emotional things.

Ask for advice or confide in them - This is like flattery. Haven’t you felt like you were on top of the world when your peers asked you for advice or confided in you about something personal or important to them? Did’t that make you want to help and do everything you can to ensure their faith in you is well founded?

Waiting for someone to ask you for advise - be proactive by offering to lend a hand. If that person sees that you are willing to commit your own time and energy in their interests, they will be more committed to seeing it through and less likely to give up themselves.

It is time for a change..."We serve God by serving others. The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. If you can demand service from others, you've arrived. In our self-serving culture with its me first mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept."

Rick Warren

This is a 'fallen', broken world that isn't always what God wants it to be. Humans get damaged. We do hateful things, we distrust, we lie, we trick ourselves and each other, and we seek after our own interest. We don't grow, because we grow up twisted without God's direction; hence the need to reconcile. This is true within each person, between people, in marriages and families, at the level of small groups, of towns, of peoples and nations. It is also true of our relationship with God, but at least God did something about that, through Jesus. Through Jesus we also can find what's most needed to heal, but that takes some of our own efforts to do so. Change is an action word...it is time to get going and do something; something that will last the test of time.

God's Wrath on Unrighteousness

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of god is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man -- and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator who is blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 1:18-25)

Mankind is an unique creature! Sinful people can't mentally perceive the revealed truth of God, but they have chosen instead to suppress it. They are without excuse...and God's anger will be revealed against sin and the suppression of the truth one day.

Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself, for you who judge practice the same things; for you know that the judgement of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. (Romans 2:1-2)

We judge our neighbor (right or wrong), for their deeds, but commit the same deeds against others and receive praise (humanities double standard). We justify untruths and accept lies to suite some given political agenda. We convince ourselves that it is for the betterment of mankind that we act the way we do; then force that action on other countries. Most want you to believe this Scripture addresses homosexuality, but be careful...for those who throw stones will soon have stones thrown at them... "So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment" (Romans 2:3).

So, how do we change? Certainly if we allow mankind to right the rules, change will never come about. Only God can make the difference...our hearts need to be changed from the inside out.

Fighting for the mind of Man

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ (Colossians 2:8).

We live in a world of ideas and philosophies, and whoever wins the mind is part of the way to winning the heart; it is much more difficult for the world to win the heart if they cannot enter through the gateway of the mind. One of the great needs today is to have Christians who are able to defend the faith and refute those who oppose it: either publicly, by debate or in print via books, articles or the Internet.

The idea that we leave our mind behind when we become Christians is blatantly unbiblical. We are to be salt and light to the world; salt both preserves and prevents decay; it also adds flavor. Edmund Burke (1729-1797) once said 'The only necessity for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing' - passivity in the midst of evil is sin. Let us also remind ourselves that "All authority in heaven and on earth" has been given to Christ not to the devil (Mat 28:18). Think about that the next time you are asked to stop praying in your class room, to remove the Ten Commandments, or accept the Koran verses the Bible in a Court of Law.

It is the duty of every Christian to be prepared to "give an answer (apologia to defend or speak or plead for oneself before a tribunal or elsewhere) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Pet 3:15-16 see also Col 4:5-6). Apologetics (from the Greek apologia, 1 Peter 3:15) refers to the branch of Christian theology that seeks to provide rational justification for the truth claim of Christianity. Paul also uses apologia in the sense of a legal defense (Acts 22:1, 25:16, 1 Cor 9:3, 2 Cor 7:11, 2 Tim 4:16). One of the qualities required of an overseer or bishop is that he must be able to "encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it" (Titus 1:7-9).

Paul talks about 'deceptive philosophy' in the Scripture above - if we allow ourselves to be deceived, we are accepting the wrong message as fact. If we are to 'see to it' and see through it, then we need to use our mind (our heart may give us a gut feeling that it is wrong, but our mind will tell us why it is wrong). We should also use our mind to avoid false teaching - the current failure to use our mind leaves us wide open to false teaching. 1 Th 5:21 tells us to 'test (discern, examine) everything' and to 'Hold on to the good'.

While the mandate of the Great Commission is to make disciples, we are still to plunder the kingdom of Satan and 'open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light' (Acts 26:18). We can see from Paul that he debated, reasoned, persuaded, and defended the gospel in order to accomplish this purpose (Acts 9:29, 17:2, 17:17, 18:4, 18:19).

It is time for Christians to stand up and be counted for God’s Kingdom. Never before will it count more than now. Time is short…

Waking with a Limp

Did you ever feel that life is not fair? No matter what you do, say, or pray about, you always seem to be impaired; you walk through life as if you had a limp. Many of us feel that way when we really take time to sit and analyze our present situation. We question “why is this happening to me”; “what did I deserve to be on the wrong side of God”; “why is it, the more I try, the more I seem to regress backwards.

God never wanted us to walk with a limp; that is not how He designed us to live out our lives. Even when we’re committed to God and we’re doing what’s right, we will experience pain, injustice, and hardship. Some times it’s because of our Christian faith that we suffer. The world isn’t very user friend as a Christian. At times some of us can develop a negative attitude; we get angry with God or turn away from Him altogether. To them it all seems so unfair. God seems far away and His blessings seem unreachable. Yet others persevere through these hard times maintaining a positive attitude and trust in God. It is those who survive to play another day; to work through the situation by looking at it through God’s eyes.

Beth Moore suggests -- “We are to walk as people who have encountered God, and some of the most transforming encounters are wrestling matches. The lost do not wrestle with God nearly as much as we who belong to Him. The profane and ungodly don’t care enough to wrestle. We, who are His, often wrestle with Him most, and at times we also seem to hurt the most.

You probably know this. But we need to say it anyway: life isn’t easy. Most of us must struggle through life, believing that God’s blessings are but a prize to work for. Like Jacob of old, we expect to wrestle with God in the dark and to keep struggling until you prevail if you want to take a hold of the blessings you need. Our faith will be tested; for this there is no doubt. To grow in Him, we need to take risks. We have to think and act and relate in ways that are unappealing and unpopular for most to truly find what and how God wants us to live. Like Jacob we may end up walking with a limp, because we receive God’s blessings best when we’re wounded. (Genesis 32:22-32).

Is it worth it? For many it’s not. What some want most out of life are things like health, wealth, success, popularity, and pleasures. But the true blessings of God are all matters of the soul - emotional well-being, loving relationships, godly character, and, most of all, God Himself. These blessings bring eternal joy and meaning.

So we may feel we walk with a limp, but that may not be all that bad. He makes us strong through our weakness; we depend on Him more during times of struggle; during times that we can’t see clear sky ahead. It is at those times we question Him, but only through our questions can we receive answers that grow us stronger. A word of caution…there are times when the answer does come. It isn’t that He does care, it is that we need to learn something first before He can grant us the desires of our heart. We may have to limp a little while to run the race according to how He views our life.

God's Woodshed

Waiting on God is the special process through which the Lord causes our eyes to turn to Him for help in time of need. By extending the duration or distress of our trial even a little bit, our weaknesses become apparent.

It is at this point our hearts become desperate, our faith is proved, and our hope is purified. The process is so common that the phrase "Wait upon the Lord" or "Waiting on God" is regularly used in most Christian cycles. We need to wait on God for a spouse, for a job, for healing, for wisdom, for ministry, etc. We might say that it is Satan tempting us, and in some cases it is, but at the same time it could be God testing (proving) us. By doing so, He is bringing us a step closer to Himself through our dependence. Waiting; therefore, is a crucial step in which our dependence upon God grows. Without this deeper awareness of God in our lives, God restraining Himself from giving us grace, we learn to grow more depended for His guidance. Blessing without humbling brings increased susceptibility to temptation. This is the reason growth comes with tests. Humility keeps us from pride which makes us selfishly ambitious where we would otherwise forget the Lord.

Certainly waiting for the Lord is not easy. Our heart is often crying out in agony. We feel oppressed and constrained. We yearn for freedom and provision. Waiting upon the Lord for needed supplies is one common area in which He trains us. We have to be needy so that we are forced to look to the Lord for help. Our other resources are stripped away. Someone yesterday said to me, "But I don't like what the Lord is bringing me through." How true this is. We squirm, squiggle and squeak.

Waiting upon the Lord are times in which we do not have resources, or answers. Instead we are often confused, poor, broken and limited. Our hope is focused on what happens after that season of humility, where we will experience a period of God's blessing. If we live by confidence in our own resources and abilities, will we not become self-confident? What glory does that bring to God?! But through this process, God enables us to depend upon Him so that we know it is only He who does wonderful things in our lives. Ultimately then, waiting upon God protects us, deepens our trust in Him, forces us to seek His ways and brings Him the most glory. They are times the Lord is testing whether we are really seeking Him and His ways.

I can remember experience after experience, where I have cried out to God for help and deliverance. When going through those times, I think that if I could just get out of this one pit all would be well. However, not long after the Lord delivers me from one set of problems, I find myself in another whole set of problems. And again I am seeking His help with the same kind of desperate prayer. It began to dawn on me that God has carefully planned out these 'pauses' in life in order to renew, strengthen, humble and focus me on Him.

Certainly all of us experience waiting. Many times there is no alternative but to just trust Him to work the details in His timing. Frustration can be good only if we view our frustration...believing that He will remain beside us...before, during, and after each season. That is when waiting becomes worth while...knowing that in everything there is a season and seasons do change.

Facing the Giants

Who is your Goliath and where does he live? If you listen carefully you can recognize his walk... the thunder of his voice...the taunting with bills you can't pay...people you can't please...habits you can't break...failures you can't forget...and a future you can't face. But how do we fight his approach, his attack, and his ability to disrupt our lives. We all face personal giants at one time or another in our lives; giants that seem overwhelming, invincible, and unmoving.

A few words of caution...we need to have a spiritual balance between acting like a Goliath in the eyes of others...able to overcome every situation...to having an underdog mind-set that fights against everything that seems to be outside of God's will for our life.

Giants come in many different Sizes and Shapes...

• Sometimes the giants are people - there are people who are obstacles which we seem to be able to make no progress whatsoever. They stand in our way and we don't know what we are going to do to deal with them. Who is it in your life, who seems to dog your every step? You can't get rid of them; they are there, right in front of your every turn. Just like the armies of Israel, such people can paralyze us!
• Sometimes the giants are situations - think about situations that arise in our lives that rise up like mountains; seemingly impossible to deal with; so enormous, so huge, that we don't know what way we're going to turn.
• Sometimes the giants come from within - fear about a situation can stop you dead in your tracks faster then a physical person or situation. Fear of the unknown, God's will, or the uncertainty of a decision.

Each of us must face our giants...maybe the following will help! (1 Samuel 17:1-11, 41-50)

1. List out all your personal giants you are presently facing.
2. Look to God for the answer your concerns? (Psalm 19:14)
3. Believe that "God is a God of the impossible." (Ephesians 3:20) (Luke 1:37) (Mark 9:27)
4. Be open - surrender to the outcome; praise God no matter what happens. (2 Corinthians 12:9) (Philippians 4:12-13)

I pray you will be able to overcome your giant...I pray that I will too! We don't have the strength to do is on our own...it takes He who is greater than all of us.

The Purpose of Community

I am always inspired by people like Paul; people who proclaim and sustain hope. You see, there are times when I tend to see the glass as half empty, rather than half full. I tend to be the kind of person who can focus on what is not working rather than on celebrating what is; I guess it is the engineer in me. At times, there is a part of me that can become cynical and switched off to hope. When that happens, I aspirer to pray harder for others and my problems seem to gradually get smaller.


Community is not just a sum of individual parts; there is a synergy grounded in patterns of relationships and interactions that are all connected and affect each other. How people interact in one part of the body certainly has a ripple affect to other parts whether we know it or not; something like these gears and how they interact.


To be a healthy community, a healthy body, Paul says the gifts of all parts are needed. And each part needs to respect and value the gifts that are not their own. Just because an eye thinks that seeing is the most important thing because that is all it knows and has ever done, does not mean that the body does not need ears to listen, hands to heal, a heart to offer compassion, a mouth to speak truth, a mind to see the bigger picture. One part cannot pretend that it is more important, or less important. When that happens it divides. The word in Greek means literally “tears to pieces.”


Paul reminds them that they are better together. Paul asks the Corinthians to orient their differing gifts in unity. They are not asked to eliminate differences but to coming together and interact, to recognize their interdependence and cooperate so that they can be the body of Christ as a community.


We can’t talk about a living body, without talking about health and maintaining health. I know that keeping my body healthy entails paying attention to the mind, body, spirit connection. When my mind is caught in negative critical patterns of thinking, it drains my spirit and my body energy. When I am not attending to my spiritual well-being, I find my mind moving into those very negative, critical patterns which in turn affect my body. We also need to think about how we are affecting our family, our community, and our work place. You know from experience that some patterns and interactions help to create health and wholeness for all the parts and for the system as a whole; and some interactions encourage disease, disintegration and dysfunction.

• I think we all could strengthen our attitude of gratitude since it is such a key marker in health. What if we appreciated and thanked people for what they do in community instead of looking for what missing or not done according to our expectations?
• What if we each offered our gifts to build up the whole community and its mission of being the body of Christ?
• What if we were to pay close attention to the information loops in our community...the way information is carried from one part to another. What if we all worked to keep these loops healthy and information flowing freely amongst them, building one another up in trust?
• What if we made sure that each person felt connected with the loop of communications that allowed spiritual grow by sharing our gifts to others without the fear of rejection.

It does not mean that there will not be conflict or troubles in a healthy community. That is part of dealing with diversity and growth, and change. But a healthy community is one that does not run away from, but actively and responsively address or heal its disturbances, and grow through them.

BE THE EYES, FEET, AND HANDS OF CHRIST

Christ has no body now on Earth but yours...no hands but yours,no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which is to view Christ's compassion to the world; Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good; Yours are the hands with which he is to bless people now.
1 Corinthians 12: 12-31a

Finding God's Will

Are you wrestling with a career decision, not sure which path to take? Are you wondering which direction the Lord desires you to go? If so, you are not alone! Many Christians struggle with making career decisions at various points in their lives. As Christians, we desire to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. We want to do His will in all aspects of our lives. We long to make the "right" decision--the choice that proves to be good for us and that is the one we believe God would have us make. So what can we do to make wise career decisions that are within the will of God for our lives? Although the Bible is not a manual on career planning and decision making, it does teach some important principles that can assist you in becoming a wise decision maker.

• Our first priority in life must always be to develop an increasingly intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. In our society, we are concerned with accomplishments: what we do, how we perform, what we produce, how busy we are, etc. We may judge the fruitfulness of a pastor's ministry, for example, by the size of his or her church, the number of books written, tapes produced, the presence of a television ministry, etc. Yet Jesus said that all of this doesn't matter unless the person is intimately connected to Him: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned" (John 15:5-6). There are some warning signs - does your job require you to act in unethical or immoral way such as not revealing certain information about a product or service to a prospective customer? Does your work require you--or seduce you--to spend so much time at work that you have little time for anything else including your friends and family, your quiet times with the Lord, church, etc.? Does it tempt you to become prideful, greedy, manipulative, etc.? In other words, is your work leading you away from Christ rather than leading you toward becoming more Christ-like? If so, you would be right in questioning whether this is a career path the Lord would have you to pursue. As Jesus says, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" (Mt. 16:26).
• God has created you with the aptitude for particular skills and abilities, and with the inclination toward particular interests. Your design is the most important factor to consider in making career decisions. You are God's handiwork. He created your inmost being, and knit you together in your mother's womb. You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:13-14). You have been given work-related gifts that have been chosen specifically for you (Romans 12:6-8). God desires for you to use the gifts He has given you. Working out of your design will bring you satisfaction, will bless and enable you to serve others effectively, and will bring glory to your Designer. To make good career decisions you must have a thorough knowledge of your personality, skills and abilities, interests and values. Without this knowledge, you are not fully equipped to make good career decisions.
• Being a Christian does not exempt us from the responsibility to become wise decision makers. Therefore, it is your responsibility to use your God-given mind to learn how to make good career decisions. Learning how to make decisions is a part of developing wisdom and maturity, both of which God desires for us. The book of Proverbs is full of admonitions about the importance of gaining wisdom to live a life that is pleasing to God. The proverbs are given to us "for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life..." (Prov. 1:1-3). God desires for us to have not only spiritual maturity and wisdom but also wisdom that relates to making decisions in this life.
• Living out God's will for your career and life will require that you take risks. Learning to take risks is an essential part of following God and living out His will for our lives. Without risks, a person's life becomes a process of digging an ever-deeper rut in which he or she stagnates and cuts himself or herself off from all that God intends life to be. As Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." We know that, as God's sons and daughters, we have already won in this life--we are victors! God calls us to live courageously--to take risks in order to use our gifts and bring salt and light to this hurting world. We have nothing to lose, and everything to gain! "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Eph. 3:20-21)

Moving forward is not easy, take my word for it. I have been searching through Scripture for the past several years; searching and searching to ensure how long to stay within my present season of work and when to move on. God gives us seasons of life; each season has a specific purpose and calling.

I believe seeking wise counsel is primary for any seasonal change...that is scriptual. The more I read, the more I get confused...each writer has a little different slant to the situation, but what comes through the overall concept is...placing God first in everything and just let Him work out the details. If you place Him first...He will not allow you to make the wrong decision.

So as you walk forward...walk softly and don't carry a big stick. Allow God to speak so you can listen. If you are stomping around making lots of noise, you will not hear Him. Don't be a heavy foot person stomping through life.

The Perfect Storm

The decline of America should be obvious to any rationally thinking American. The explosion of crime, gang warfare and drive-by shootings in our cities; the disintegration of the American family, with proliferating divorce, infidelity, child abuse, single parent families, and teenage rebellion; the explosion of drug usage (the highest in the world); abortion on demand that kills millions of babies in their mother’s womb in the name of progress; the rampant spread of promiscuity, pornography, homosexuality, and sexually transmitted diseases; the dummying down of American children in the public school system; high taxation; the ignoring of our Constitution; exploding governmental controls over every aspect of the American peoples' lives; and gross immorality and corruption at the highest levels of the U.S. government are all irrefutable evidence of a country whose culture, morality, traditions, and spiritual life are in a free fall.

Our Lord allows storms to come into our lives for a variety of reasons. For unbelievers, some storms are sent to force them to cry out to God for salvation (i.e. September 11, 2001). In the case of believers, God some times will use a storm for correction, to bring back to His side as a parent would a child. Judgment can take on many forms; massive earthquakes, storms, floods, and fires (i.e., accelerating physical disasters); the removal of our financial prosperity; the proliferation of deadly diseases and plagues (i.e., consider AIDS, Hanta Virus, the flesh-eating virus or bacteria, or the Gulf War Syndrome); increasing oppression of the people and their freedoms by an all-powerful, collectivist government; the ascendancy of wicked, evil leaders who reject our traditional values, morality, history and culture; and eventually via attack by foreign powers (whether a New World [UN] Army, a reborn Russian and world Communist movement (including China), by radical Islam, or some combination of these groups). Is it just possible that these events are not just happening by coincidence, but are warnings from God? Americans are now either practicing or tolerating lifestyles which the Bible clearly states will remove God's blessings and bring the wrath of God. God has warned in the Bible that He will destroy any nation which openly practices fornication, adultery, homosexuality, sexual perversion and the shedding of the blood of innocent children including abortion and partial birth abortion.

The Perfect Storm -- When our country was in the grip of the aftermath of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, all of us where reminded how easily certain conditions bring us close to a total melt down. Certainly each of us can and do experience minor "storms" at different levels; the loss of a job, a loved one, a break-up, moving, health issues and other traumatic transitions can "knock you off balance" and make you feel that everything in life is coming apart. But when you combine several issues together; we see how quickly society breaks down.

Certainly our elections in 2008 can set the stage for more things to come; therefore, choose wisely. On the surface, things may look like they are improving, but remember, what is stated in a campaign doesn’t necessary come forward into policy.

The President of the United States sent a letter of congratulations for the Gay and Lesbian Pride Celebration, 1998 at Disney World. In the letter the President stated: Our ideals and our history hold that the rights guaranteed us as Americans are inalienable. They are embedded in our Constitution and amplified over time by our courts and legislature, and I am bound by oath of office and the burden of history to reaffirm them... And we stand to lose when any person is denied or forced out of a job because of sexual orientation.

God's judgment is not a popular topic among most people, even among most Christians. The Church in America today shares in the responsibility for the decline in this once great land. Americans have become fat, dumb, lazy, apathetic, and complacent, in part due to being spoiled by 50 years of nearly uninterrupted prosperity since the end of World War II. Many can no longer discern the difference between good and evil, nor do they in any way take a stand against evil. Jesus said in Matthew 5:13: Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is henceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden underfoot of men.

There is a Perfect Storm looming on the not to distance horizon that will make our present situation look like a social hiccup; a storm that will make us all wonder how, where, and why did we allow our country (not to mention the world) get this way. We need to be ready for it; turn your hearts toward Him!

Safe Harbor

Safe Harbor

Many assume that the weather merely obey the laws of science. But mariners have always known that there is another power at work. "They cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress; he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed."

Psalm 107:29

There are also metaphorical storms in our daily life. When those planes flew into the towers in Manhattan, many in the United States and Canada felt the impact of the storm. Right now in Pakistan Christians are facing a vicious storm of persecution. There are storms that can hit our place of work, and suddenly all is in confusion. Some of you are facing financial storms, and there seems no hope of paying the bills. There are also medical storms that engulf us and our family. All is going well, and then suddenly cancer or a heart attack hits us or our loved ones. Some of the toughest storms are when a family is being torn apart and is in danger of breaking up by the force of the wind.


We all need to know how to weather the storms of life. Christian faith is about much more than just surviving shipwreck. It's about believing, with confidence, that whatever and wherever our journey takes us, Jesus will always remain at the helm.


Be confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

The Cross of Christ

The cross stirs up persecution -- even in America. A rising number of brave uncompromising Christians can testify both to the "offense of the cross" and to the joy of sharing Christ's suffering.

Few of those heaven-minded saints demonstrate Biblical conviction more humbly and kindly than Patrol Sergeant George Daniels. Yet, in September 1998, this honored "Officer of the Year" -- a 13-year veteran of the Arlington, Texas Police Department -- was fired. While other officers could wear symbols that expressed their beliefs and values, Sergeant Daniels was denied such freedom. Afraid that his tiny cross-shaped lapel pin "might offend someone,' Police Chief David Kunkle refused to grant him permission to wear it.

George Daniels agonized over his decision. He had given his life to God, and he couldn't ignore Scriptures such as Acts 5:29. His conscience told him "to obey God rather than men," and as an American citizen, he had that right. Should he not, by faith and with his life, exercise that right? In the end, he did. Willing to suffer for and with His Lord, he took an unpopular stand and faced the consequences. But in his heart, he agreed with the words of the apostle Paul,

"what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death...."

Philippians 3:7-10

Sooner or later, we all are faced a turning point...do we just "go-with-the-flow" or stand-up for what we believe. Taking a stand for Christ will cost you something...it maybe your job and/or in some nations, even your very life. If we allow a small cross to be removed from our person, what are we going to do when we are asked to give up our Bible. Times are coming when each of us need to make a choice about where we stand.

Put on Christ

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision of the flesh, to fulfill its lust.

Romans 13:12-14

I often hear people ask, "Which form of government is the best? Which is the one God wants us to have?" We Americans would love to think that democracy obviously is the most God-honored form of government. But I don't think you can establish that from the Scriptures. In fact, the Scriptures reflect various forms of government. So when you ask, "Which government is the best kind? Is it a monarchy? An oligarchy (i.e., ruled by a few)? Is it a republic? A democracy?" The answer of Scripture is not necessarily any of these. It is whatever God has brought into being. That is best for that particular place and time in history. God has brought it into being, considering the makeup of the people, the degree of truth and light which is disseminated among them, and the moral conditions that are prevailing. For that condition, for that time and place, God has brought into being a particular government.

Not long ago I read about a man who was hauled into court because he had stolen a loaf of bread. When the judge investigated, he found out that the man had no job, his family was hungry, he had tried to get work but couldn't, tried to get funds for relief but couldn't, and so in order to feed his family he had stolen a loaf of bread. When the judge found out the circumstances, he said, "I'm sorry, but the law can make no exceptions. You stole, and therefore I have to punish you. I have to assess, therefore, a fine of ten dollars. But I want to pay the money myself." He reached into his pocket, pulled out a ten dollar bill, and handed it to the man. As soon as the man took the money, the judge said, "Now, I also want to remit the fine." That is, the man could keep the money. "Furthermore, I am going to instruct the bailiff to pass around a hat to everyone in this courtroom, and I am fining everybody in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a city where a man has to steal in order to have bread to eat."

The problem is not with the court system, not with the government or how we are govern. The problem is in the hearts of mankind. If you want to change the system, you must first change the heart.

So the next time you complain about how our government is not doing something you thought they are required to do, look at yourself. God has -- brought it into being, considering the makeup of the people, the degree of truth and light which is disseminated among them, and the moral conditions that are prevailing. For that condition, for that time and place, God has brought into being a particular government. We are the cause of each situation we find ourselves...do we continue to blame the government or take the responsibility for the makeup and the degree of truth in place. It is time for a change and the change must come from within.

God's Secret Weapon

Left to ourselves we will assert our will contrary to God. It is the nature of mankind to believe he is in charge and better equipped than anyone else to make life's important decisions. But if we look at the problems of life from God's perspective there is a definite pattern. Every time we violate a biblical principle we reap a problem. And even if we work to eliminate the problem, unless we deal with the core issue, we are merely trading one problem for another.

The KEY is to live in such a way as to not hinder the grace of God. God's grace is power. It is mediated to us by prayer, the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. It is summed up in Philippians 2:13, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Here is God at work in us giving us the desire as well as the power to do what pleases Him!

The master illustration is in the life of Jesus. He lived in harmony with God because He understood about God's Secret Weapon. Philippians 2:5-11 tells the story. Existing in the "form of God" Jesus had a position in the universe of equality with God. At a point in time Jesus willingly took the "form of a servant." Now we view God in terms of "The Father, " "The Son" and the "Holy Spirit." In this God illustrates a submissive relationship. At no time does the Bible imply The Father and The Son are anything less than equals. But in their relationship to One Another there is submission. The Greek word translated submit (and subject) is hupotasso. This is a term indicating order rather than ability. It is used in a military context to illustrate chain of command. Junior members of a military unit "submit" to senior members.

The biblical idea of submission means "arranging under the authority of another." This is not the life of a doormat! It is a recognition that God has ordained a certain order in the universe and exhibiting a willingness to work in harmony with that order. The significance of accepting this concept cannot be overstated in terms of our spiritual and social health. Many problems are traceable to a violation of this principle.

We need to accept God's direction and not depend on our own. That certainly sounds easy, but it is not; we really have to work on it. That is the only way we can move forward in life and not trade one problem for another.

Teasures Beyond Belief

Movies, books, and television programs tend to excite our imagination when they present stories about hunting for buried treasure. Pirates, of the old mast, obtained fortunes in gold, silver and jewels, many of which are still hidden to this day. But there are treasures far more valuable than anything you can find in a buried chest or a sunken pirate ship and these treasures are available to each of us.

The Bible is a treasure chest of divine promises. One of the most precious, yet often-overlooked, is found in the book of Philippians. If you want peace of mind, you will want to act on this promise. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6–7).

Scripture also compares God’s kingdom as a valuable pearl. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it" (Matthew 13:45–46). The pearl of great price represents spiritual riches.

Human beings are still learning a hard lesson that no amount of material wealth will provide lasting happiness. We see this in the lessons King Solomon learned. He had it all, but throughout the book of Ecclesiastes we find the theme repeated, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Solomon was the wealthiest man on earth, but his wealth did not bring him contentment. After searching for happiness in so many ways, what did he conclude? "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all" (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Jesus said, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). Those who seek physical, material treasures often fail in their search, but if we seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness, you will find the greatest treasure of all…HIM.

Shoes of Righteousness

The Bible speaks volumes about how we are to approach our Heavenly Father.

In Exodus 3:5, Moses was to approach Him by taking off his sandals. In Acts 7:32, we see again this same encounter..."Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground."

In Joshua 5:15 Then the Commanders of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Take your sandals off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so.

Certainly it is not a question of shoes, but a personal attitude, how we approach the holiness of God during our life. Steve Green sings about leaving footprints behind that others may follow; thus they will see our faithfulness; how we approach Him and honor His authority in our lives. The life we live needs to light a way for others, that through our walk, others will come to know God's love. The fire that burns within our life, to share Him with others, should offer a burning desire of others to also share. We need to be an example. The question is -- what does your footprints look like.

Certainly all of us want to put our best foot forward; use only formal shoes that leave the best imprint, but all imprints are good as long as to express God's love towards someone else. Certainly you wouldn't wear a formal shoe when working in the bush; you would wear a common shoe like this one shown here. It is not about the shoe, it is about the heart. Moses only took off his sandals (shoes) when God asked him too. It wasn't about the shoes, it was about the man...God's man standing on God's holy ground and God wanting to share His love direct. We need to stand firm, with or without shoes; it is all about a relationship with Him, but most important, it is all about what we leave behind for others to follow. We need to offer a good imprint, one that shows the fullness of a love relationship. What kind of footprint do you offer; is it one that you want someone to follow. Think about it the next time you sit down to put on a pair of shoes as I will.

One Size Doesn't Fit All

One size doesn't necessary mean it still fits... Noah certainly had a big task; he had to gather two of each kind and get them into a boat.

I am reminded of what Bill Cosby suggested in his reflection about Noah -- Who is this really?...Am I on Candid Camera? Little did Noah realize that the task was a little larger then he expected, well over budget, and someone should have though this through before placing all different animals together in a confine space. Did you ever feel that God doesn't do things on a small scale, and when He talks, everyone listens.

Certainly God asks many of us to do some strange things, whether it be for just a season or a life time. Little did I know that at 50-years of age I would be asked to give up my career, go back to college (which turned out to be seminary), and move East Texas to serve in full time missions.

Being an engineer I typically can't just take things on face value; I need to measure all available options that will produce the best outcome. Engineer's are like that; weight the costs before spending the money. If I was asked to build Noah's boat and gather in some animals, I would want to know the final outcome, the purpose of the task, develop a cost analysis for the project, and determine the correct manpower allocations for the project before moving forward. To stop everything and just pick up a hammer...start banging on some wood without any formal blueprints (other than verbal direction) would not be logical. Talk about a "walk in faith"...and that is what we had to do!

I have been asked several times..."are you retired"...on the surface it may seem that way, not having any corporate income, no 401k plans, not even a long term goal written down in a day-timer. God simply wants us to walk in faith and allow Him to plan the future. Whether that was going through Noah's mind when he accept the position, only God knows, but it would certainly be an issue if I had to build a boat to transport these animals. All of us need long term planning, but when you deal with God...it is His plans...not ours - that we should follow.

Now, getting back to Noah...certainly the boat took more then a few years to build. If Noah is anything like me, there would be lots of time to think about the task and/or question the outcome. Being over budget, consuming all his spare time and efforts, being questioned from every Tom/Dick and Harry...what do you thing you are doing...building a boat that is too far away to launch, etc., certainly would raise some doubts. Whenever God wants something done in our lives, it may not be logical to the world, but most certainly have a purpose, even if we can't see it...He can. It shouldn't stop the forward progress of the task, but certainly it should make you question the mythology. Such was the case within Cosby presentation that is so real -- "no wait a minute, there got to be a better way." God always weighs the cost, knows the outcome, and looks at the big picture, even when we can't.

Now the question at hand...how would you handle such an assignment? Question it and analyze the outcome before moving forward or just walk through it in faith. I believe it is the walk that will get you there and not the analysis. Try it for a while and let God run the show. You won't be disappointed...trust me and certainly trust God. You will not go wrong...He will not let you.