December 14, 2009
A Christmas Miracle
I went to pick up a package from the post office today. I was not looking forward to waiting in the dreaded line, so when I walked in and saw 25 people in front of me, I heard myself groan out loud. Keep in mind, this was not a package for me, but for my wife. But just as soon as I made up my impatient mind and decided to wait, low and behold a young man came up to the counter and said, “Is anyone just picking up?” I couldn’t believe my ears. I timidly reached into my pocket and raised my little card to show the world that I was legitimate. Surely this was how Oliver Twist felt when he begged “Please sir, I want some more”. Sure enough, I was ushered right up to the counter. This fine young man produced the package and I was on my merry way in less than 3 minutes.
The only reason I posted this, is because the very minute I decided to do something nice for my wife, I was rewarded instantly…let this be a lesson for all the husbands out there.
December 11, 2009
Merry Christmas?
December 3, 2009
“Beer is proof God loves us & wants us to be happy”
This quote stopped me in my tracks. Ben Franklin said what??? So I looked it up & found a very well-written blog based on that specific quote: http://beerisproof.org
I really enjoyed reading this blog, especially the essay called “Redemption”. It offers a little balance to the ”beer is proof” idea. What do you think???
I believe God expects a whole lot more from us than just drinking beer & feeling good. Blogs like this use beer…churches these days use loud music, Facebook, or whatever silly thing they can think of as a doorway to introduce people to a loving God, who offers us infinitely more than just beer, or music, or Twitter…He offers real fulfillment & redemption through Jesus Christ.
Does God want us to be “happy”…? Of course He does, but He’s more interested in our redemption, not our shallow, self-centered version of happiness. The real proof of His love is found in His Son, who sacrificed His own pleasure, so we could experience true life…not in chasing the empty pleasures of this life.
November 6, 2009
Good News for (moderate) Coffee Drinkers
I only drink 1 cup per day, but lately I’ve been feeling guilty about it, until I read these tidbits on Wikipedia…
“Contrary to popular belief, caffeine does not act as a diuretic when consumed in moderation, and does not lead to dehydration or to a water-electrolyte imbalance; current evidence suggests that caffeinated beverages contribute to the body’s daily fluid requirements no differently than pure water does”
“Coffee consumption is also correlated to a reduced risk of oral, esophageal, and pharyngeal cancer. According to one research, coffee protects from liver cancer”
“According to the longitudial study led by Esther Lopez-Garcia of Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, coffee reduces the incidence of dying from heart disease”
November 3, 2009
“No…!”
As a new father, I’m learning how tough it is to teach my 2-yr old daughter the hard lessons of life. When I was a little boy, I can remember my mother saying, “Life isn’t always going to be fun”…I had no concept of what she meant at the time, but now I do.
It’s hard when you have to force your child to accept something that isn’t “fun”. The first thing my daughter says is “no”… simple as that. That’s our first response usually. I don’t want to accept this. I don’t like it, so I won’t do it. But sadly, no matter how much we say “no”, sometimes we have to face the truth. Sometimes life isn’t fun.
But now I see things from the Father’s perspective. It hurts me to hear my child say “no”. It would be much easier if I could always say, “It won’t hurt”, or “It won’t last forever”, but sadly, sometimes it does. We all want to say “no” when we experience pain in life, but our Father knows what’s coming, & He can’t always spare us the pain, as much as He would like to. He will always be there for us, to love us & help us through it, but He can’t spare us from it. And that’s what hurts the most…
November 3, 2009
The One Thing
The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.” Luke 10:41-42 The Message
Jesus always wants us to come closer. Oswald Chambers says, “All of life’s problems can be solved with these three words, ‘Come to Me’…”. It’s the one essential thing in life. Mary knew it, & she didn’t let the cares of this life distract her from it.
Has that breaking of my independence come? All the rest is religious fraud. The one point to decide is— will I give up? Will I surrender to Jesus Christ, placing no conditions whatsoever as to how the brokenness will come? I must be broken from my own understanding of myself. When I reach that point, immediately the reality of the supernatural identification with Jesus Christ takes place. And the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable— “I have been crucified with Christ . . . .” Oswald Chambers: My Utmost for His Highest
November 3, 2009
“I am willing”
When [Jesus] came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.
Matthew 8:1-3 NIV
October 30, 2009
Hospital
If you ever need a good dose of reality, try hanging out at the hospital. Have you ever looked into a family’s eyes & seen the pain? That’s reality. That’s where you find Jesus. He’s right there in the middle of it…
As I walked out of my mother’s room in the ICU tonight, I passed a Hispanic family & they were crying. They were hurting. You could see it. You could feel it. They were speaking Spanish, so I couldn’t understand what they were saying, but I could understand what they were feeling. That was clear. I suddenly sensed His presence. He was there. And I realized, all over the world, at this moment, the Holy Spirit is there, in the middle of every situation, every hospital bed, every cancer clinic, every maternity ward, every surgical procedure, every family waiting room…He is there. And He is not a passive observer. He is not some unfeeling, uncaring, indifferent, ethereal ghost. He knows. He cares. He reaches down & pulls us up out of our despair because HE CARES!! When no one else in the world seems to care, He reaches out his arms & says “YES, I CARE” Because He knows what despair is. He knows what pain is. He’s been there. He’s experienced it on a level we can’t even comprehend. Why? Why did He come down from heaven & subject himself to such abuse? Because HE CARES.
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV
