I Am Offended

We hear more each day whereby an agency, government office, businesses, or any number of news stories   are taking God out of any mention in  fear that it will "offend" someone.  Examine this with me.  Why are people today afraid to mention God, Religion, or Jesus?   Jesus intimidated and offended the Roman government, and the religious leaders over 2000 years ago and He is still intimidating and offending the government and people today.   Must be something to this man called Jesus.

Growing up we knew there were Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslim, Atheist and any other religions.  The zealots in churches thought it was only one way and all others were wrong but tolerated.  We did not try and stop them from practicing their religion, but embraced it more and appreciated the freedom given to us in the Constitution.

Today I see the very freedoms given to us in the Constitution being turned around so that the word God is a "bad" word and needs to be removed.  God is not allowed in schools.  Mention of God by an organization on an internet advertisement by Google is now subject to being taxed.  Crosses erected years ago to remember a person who died in an accident along a road now have to be removed.  Why?  Because a few are offended.

Therefore now, "I AM OFFENDED!"   Congress can pray before the start of any session, but establish laws that are careful, "not to offend anyone" because of religious tolerance.  Yet when a tragedy occurs who is the first to the scene?  Not FEMA who takes weeks to even move their headquarters trailer to the location.  It is  the churches and the people who live nearby that give the helping hand.

Look at Nashville and Joplin.  The flood in Nashville was devastating but you never heard about what all FEMA did for the city.  Instead it was the help and heart people along with the churches that reached out to help rebuild this great city.  Next the tornado that hit Joplin.  Once again it was not the government that made the difference, but the local people who stepped up and helped get these people back on their feet.  In fact, Joplin lost it high school, but instead of just saying, "Government, we can not have school for our children until you rebuild us a school", they took it upon themselves  to find a place for an education while the current school lays in rumble.  Hummm. .  not much media coverage on that positive story.

Even though I am offended that God is being removed from any place possible, wait until the next earthquake, terrorist attack, hurricane, or other disaster  and then watch people pray, ask the churches for help, and expect the Government to be their god. 

What in the heck are the people who think God "owes" them everything going to do should the churches and God be removed from everything we call freedom?  I perceive it is coming but wonder what it will take before people realize that the guidelines established by the Constitution relied on Godly reasoning and the principles of the Bible.

What offends you?  Is it this blog that uses the Freedoms we still have to speak out dreams and thoughts?  Or is it something else that is inherently placed deep inside you that is making you uncomfortable? 

The more I draw closer to the Creator, the more I fear that the dreams we have for our children may never see the light of day.  Mainly because most of us are NOT Offended by what is being done in society in just the past 30 years. 

Each one of us can do something amazing to help keep our freedoms.  Are you willing to speak out now or just wait until it is too late and then complain. 

Before I ran for Mayor of a city in Ohio, I was complaining to a Councilman able what the current Mayor was not doing and the issues that he was creating.  This wise ole' gentleman said, " I am tired of you complaining.  Either run for the office and help this place or keep your mouth shut."   Even though that was thirty-seven years ago, I believe it is true today.

So are you going to complain or try and do something about it?   Do you plan on just back and let you lose your freedom?  The choice is yours to do something or keep your mouth shut.

Are you offended enough?

It's Just a Pain

Have you ever had a nagging pain and thought "Wonder what caused that?"  or "Should I go get it checked out?"  Well for about the last few months, I periodically had a sharp pain that would come and then go in the center of my chest.  No it did not feel like a heart attack and it would go away as quickly as it came when I would just lightly rub the center of my chest. 

So at my quarterly doctor's visit, I mentioned it to the doctor and so he had tests run.  It seems that my sternum is cracked.  Humm. . . how did that happen?  I had not lifted too much that I know of.  Yet, I have so much going on at the office and at home which need me to get up and down on the tractor, etc that I just don't have time for pain. 

Yet when I move too quickly or pick up something, I get the reminder that this part of my body is in the healing process.  Therefore this morning after taking pain and inflammation medication, I am reminded of the pain that Paul the apostle went through on a daily basis and I have no room to complain.

This past weekend was our Miracle Sunday and we are seeing God work miracles into lives.  Just know that Satan is hard at work trying to stop God from performing Miracles in our lives.  ON the biggest weekend of the year at our church, the electric went off, someone coming to pray was in an accident, the pastor got sick from Saturday through Monday (although you could not tell by his passionate celebration, praise, and prayers) and so many other things that I know was a Satan distraction all weekend long. 

Stop a minute and read the beginning of the Book of Job (Chapter 1 & 2).  See what God allows Satan to do in testing faithfulness.  In their conversation Satan does things to the body and family of Job that we would call real pain.  Most of us would just figure out a way to blame God. Yet Job's faithfulness did not fail.

The moral to this story is to recognize that it is just pain we experience and it can be a way for us to get distracted from the power that the Lord offers each one of us each day!

As for me I try to forget the pain with other distractions and praise the giver of life.  There's a Miracle out there just waiting to happen in your life!  What Miracle are you waiting on?  Be prepared for Satan's distractions.  Know that it's just a pain.

The Lord's Voice

Matthew 3:16-17   After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him."

In your private moments with the Lord, have you ever asked Him a question and then paused, waiting for the answer?  Maybe you have said something profound or a little embarrassing and expected the Lord’s voice to come booming down from heaven to give approval or express dismay.

I have often thought that when I get to heaven, I’ll have a laundry list of questions to ask Him.  It may be about pain, or suffering, or poverty, or war, or hate, or many things that come to mind right now.  But don’t you wish we didn’t have to wait.  That He would just answer them now? 

Today’s verses give us a glimpse of the relationship that has been present since the beginning of time.  It’s the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

At this one location all three are revealed at the same time.  We see Jesus being faithful to his Father’s wishes, the Holy Spirit moving like a dove, and the Father speaking His words of approval. At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry what better way to show the people that God’s Messiah had really come.  He speaks His approval for all to hear.

So how can we hear the Lord’s voice speak to us?

Have you ever had an issue in your life and pleaded for the Lord to answer your earnest prayer?  Then within a short period of time, a friend or even a stranger approached or called you and gave you the answer to that prayer.

Today I am struggling with a situation whereby a family has dis-owned their son.  This young man has never given them a problem publicly.  His only issue is that he did not finish high school and wanted to learn a trade.   Arguments ensued over who knows what is best for him and the young man left the home.  He is living in meager conditions but is pursuing a trade.  I have been praying for reconciliation but have not heard the Lord voice as how to help.   Expecting an answer is tough when you want instant results.  In this case it will take everyone reconciling in order for situations such as this to be resolved.  Nevertheless, I pray expecting results.  Be ready to act when given direction in that God can use us to be the answer to someone else's prayer.

Soooo . . . today you should pray expecting an answer.  Most importantly is to listen for the Lord to speak to you.  Your answers may come from the most unexpected place, but you will know that the Lord has spoken to you.  

Listen for His voice!

Just Too Busy

Matthew 7:9-11

“Would any of you who are fathers give your son a stone when he asks for bread? Or would you give him a snake when he asks for a fish? As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

OK Lord, it’s late today and I was so busy I forgot to get my thoughts in this blog down on paper. Humm . . . come to think of it, I didn’t have much time yesterday to spend time with you, Lord. Or the day before. I’m brain dead for an idea. What’s this? Bill Hybel’s book, “Too Busy Not to Pray”. It is dusty and laying on the back of the shelf. Great sense of humor Lord!

Sometimes we all get caught up in the rush of the moment of being too busy to spend any time with the Lord. There are great reasons like work, children, husband or wife, chores, or numerous other activities. We are faithful for a period of time and talk to the Lord each day. Then one event or more turns our routine upside down. I must plead guilty because the reasons that I rationalized in my mind as to why I have not prayed more and spent time with the Lord are poor, at best.

Another reason I have used is that God really has a lot more important things to do than listen to me. My stuff is so petty. Then in reading the scripture today, I know that it’s not about our petitions in prayers but in the relationship of prayer.

He knows what we need and responds to it so well. Yet it is us who need to understand that we do not accomplish great things on our own. This realization of appreciating the Lord’s work in our lives comes from opening our eyes to the beauty around us in God’s creation.

Maybe it’s a morning sunrise, listening to the birds greet a new day, or watching our children being so innocent when they sleep. God’s involvement with us personally is written all over those things and so much more. We just need to take a deep breath and slow down. We should try spending more time in strengthening our relationship with the Lord. Talking with the Lord when we’re not just asking for help may be more rewarding than pleading with Him to give us help during a crisis.

He may even show us a dusty book sitting in the back of a shelf.

Can You See a Miracle?

In talking with someone I mentioned miracles and he said he had never seen a miracle in his life.  He has two children, wife, good job, and a home that is nearly paid.  And for years I had the same attitude.  If someone pulled through a surgery, medical technology and a good surgeon were given the credit.  And with everything else that took place, I could explain it away.

Then I began a study this year, called a Personal Growth Plan.  It drove my writing these blogs and has continued in new discovery of a book knowledge that became a heart knowledge. 

In opening my mind to beyond what I know, I looked back at events, pain, recovery, and experiences and see today where with every step I took someone was there guiding me.  Times when I asked to Lord to take me home so I did not have to endure pain seemed to fall on deaf ears.  Yet today I am thrilled that He did not listen to me.  

I say all this because my eyes have now opened to seeing miracles all around.  We at the end of our church’s Miracle Month and I see miracles taking place. Some of those are Miracles of Healing, New Jobs, Families restored, Financial, and Life change.

So what is a miracle?  When you do the Natural but it is not enough for success and then God walks in and does the Supernatural.  Many people just sit and say, “OK God do your thing.  I want to see your miracle NOW!”.  But that is not how it works.  If you are looking for healing, you go after the best care and then with faith watch God do the Supernatural.  

A close friend’s wife had brain surgery last week.  The doctors said if you don’t have the surgery it may be only days to weeks of life left.  The surgeon noted, "We have found that there is only a 25% survival even during the surgery."  She went for the surgery and many of us were asking for a Miracle of healing and success.  She went through the surgery and is awake with the recovery expected within 90 days.  Wow!  The doctors give her a 25% chance of surviving the surgery and God made it 100% chance.  

That is just one of many miracles that I have seen and continue to see.  The difference is that I fully believe, have faith in the power of the Heavenly Father, and do what I can to take care of the Natural. Now I can see the Supernatural and give Him praise. 

When are you going to see Miracles?  Don’t wait as long as I have.  Trust me each day is exciting when Miracles are all around each day.  Maybe you need a Miracle.  Begin by believing, trusting and develop a faith that Miracles do happen.  Then do something and not just sit around.

Personal time with the Lord is a great start.

Who Was on Your Guest List?

Matthew 19: 5-6  “. . . a man will leave his family and be joined together with his wife, and the two will become one life.  They are no longer two, but one.  What God has joined together, let no one separate.”

The church was filled for the joyous occasion with beautiful flowers and music all around.  Two lives were being joined together in the presence of God and friends.  But in the back corner, in the very last chair, sat an uninvited guest.  He is busy writing on a legal pad as each vow is spoken.  On his pad was written:

“I watched you both as you grew to love each other and I didn’t say a word.  People say that dating always brings out the best in each person, but to me it is just preparation for the plans I have for your lives.

I’ll allow you get through the honeymoon and maybe a month or two of blissful happiness.  But this thing about serving the Lord together and being an example for others is just not in MY plans.

Let’s see!  You both must work long hours to get the possessions I dangle in front of you.  For the groom, you will have little sensitivity to your bride’s feelings as I give you plenty of guy things to do and think about.  There’s golf rather than a date, and the TV ball games on Saturday, the Internet every waking moment, and on other days just doing your own thing rather than playing with your children.  Let’s not forget about Sunday’s.  There’s no time for church, or prayer, or giving, for either one of you.

Ah, I hear the pastor talk about God bonding you together.  What he bonds today, I’ll pull apart next week, next month, and next year.  Some of my best pleasures to tear at a relationship are money, possessions, children, fellow employees, and just being too busy for each other. I can take you two and turn you away from God and you won’t even realize it until you’re in divorce court.”

This may sound a little absurd, but when you look at the ever increasing divorce rates and see many of your friends ending their marriage, it’s appears that Satan is having his way with many of us.  He knows your faults and weakness.  He capitalizes on each area until we see a stranger in the house that we call our spouse.

We figure that our lives are going to be happy because two people get married.  Yet when the daily grind of life hits us, we often turn our attention to the day’s events and forget the Lord all together.

So as you are confronted by the world’s issues, take time for each other.  Not just for romance, but for working on your commitment to each other through prayer, and focusing each day on the Lord. 

Work on taking Satan off your guest list today in every decision you make!