Fitness 2000-the place to stay away from

Here is the posting I put on Facebook.  We started the gym membership January 2016 for 12 months.  I canceled it early December 2016.  When we started I paid first and last month dues.  Here's what they say:

Run from this place. You can find anything better. My wife and I signed up for 1 yr membership January 2016. We paid the first and last month dues (that would be January and December). We canceled in December. Now they say my 12 month membership runs thru February. I'm not sure where they get their calendars from, but they are way off. When I call, even the agents I speak with can't fully explain it. When I email, I get the same generic responses:

You have 2 payment(s) left to finalize your term, which includes Dec 2016 and Jan 2017. Your membership will expire on 02/14/2017, whether you you use the club or not. The automated calls/notifications is to advise you of this as courtesy and you must pay remaining balance on your account membership terms of agreement for it to be cancelled without any further due on 02/14/2017.

Marriage, Baptism, and Living Together

So Jen and I are basically eloping in April to get married.  We are not really eloping
"from" anyone, but going to a far off land to get married and honeymoon...Florida.  And anyone that wants to come is welcome.

Nervous...Oh yes.  Ready to go...Heck Yeah.  

What is marriage?  Marriage is the giving wholly of oneself to another person and that other person doing the same thing.  What is it NOT?  Standing in front of a preacher and saying some vows; Throwing a bunch of flowers; Saying I Do.  Those things are a ceremony, not marriage.

What is baptism?  Baptism is giving wholly to God yourself because he has already given everything to you. What is baptism NOT?  Water; words you said before getting wet; balloons flying away in recognition.  Those things are basically a ceremony, not baptism.  Just like everyone says when giving their testimony: "I'm not saved when I get dunked, but I want everyone to see outward what I feel inward."

So how is this related?  Anyone who knows us or is friends with us on Facebook knows we are living together.  There are some people that will say it's wrong.  Some will say we are doing it out of convenience.  Most people don't care as long as we are happy.  Let me work backward...

We are happy.   Very happy in fact.  We have a new house and are getting settled in. We are planning the perfect wedding for us.  We are really good together. 

This was not out of convenience.  We didn't move in together because rent needed to be paid or one of us lived closer to work or whatever.  

So....It comes down to "It's wrong to be living with your partner/mate/fiance/whatever unless you are married".  Anyone who doesn't know us (Or Didn't Actually Talk To Us) can easily say that "biblically what you are doing is wrong.  You are not married so you are living in sin."  I get that.  But that is SSSOOOO short sighted. 

,For many years I've heard people say "if a couple isn't married, one of them can leave at any time."  Did you know that you can get an uncontested divorce for under $500.  And the divorce rate in America is 50%....even among CHRISTIANS.  A marriage license is cheap, but a wedding and honeymoon is anything but cheap. Whether married or not, leaving is easy.  Staying is work.  

When I made a commitment to Jen in our relationship, I said "you are the one.  I'm not looking for another."  That is marriage.  When I made a commitment to Christ, I said "you are my Lord.  I'm not looking for another." That is when I married Christ and become a Christian (just like the church makes a decision to be the bride of Christ). Getting dunked in water is not when I became a Christian. 

I say all of this to keep you from being short sighted and to actually have a conversation. It's OK if you don't agree with me.  Just so you know, I also drink, dance (although not great), and curse.  But I pray to God all the time.  I thank him for my fiance and I pray for her and our future.  I pray for my daughter and the decisions she is making right now.  And I pray he guides me since I am the head of this house and have a higher responsibility whether I like it or not.  

Jen is my wife even if there is no paper that says it.  Just like I will protect my family, I will protect her.  We are one. 

-Sean

Let Me Help You Help Me part 4

I think this may be the last post.  Not that there isn't more to say, but I think I will just start repeating myself.  Although I like to hear myself speak, this is all in my head and I don't say it out loud.  
In the past, Brandy and I have always been a support system for people in certain situations.  I think the pastor in me spilled over to her (or vice versa) and we were always the counselors.  I think God may be using Brandy's death like that again. 
For sure it has put a new light on marriage and relationships for some of our friends.  But in another way, I think people coming up to talk to Julia and I get some therapy. 
One lady that we know through family more or less cornered Julia this weekend expressing her condolences and saying she knows what it's like because she lost 2 husbands and mom, etc, etc.  It was interesting because at church that morning she had just given us both a hug, said sorry for your loss, and that was it.  I leaned over to Julia and told her "that's how you do it."  Then that evening she became everyone else. 
I had a woman at work this was the 1st time meeting her.  We talked for 5 minutes and she "just had to give me a hug."  I didn't need a hug, not that I will object to a pretty woman giving me a hug.  I think she needed a hug. 

And that's where I am on this.  Maybe Julia and I doing good is therapy for these other people.  If it is, great.  I love to be able to get people back on the right track.  Who knows.  I don't reject people coming up and talking to me.  I love talking about Brandy.  If you have a story about her, let's talk. 

-Sean

Let Me Help You Help Me part 3

First, I want to the thank the person that created text messages.  For both Julia and I that was the best thing in the world.  the week after Brandy died we didn't want to talk to anyone.  It didn't matter who it was.  Texting was the best.  by boss got it.  The CEO of my company got it.  Some people didn't.  But I can tell you, texting kept us alive.

Everybody goes through a different journey in times like this...and life in general.  Your journey will not be the same as mine.  I think I am normal, but I also think everyone should be just like me.  It would make the world run a lot smoother. 

I was thinking about relationships this week.  I don't know when the right time will be for me to start dating.  Hell, I don't even know how to date.  Brandy and I met in college.  We got married a couple years later.  We were married 20 years.  I could date Bandy because I knew her inside and out.  Everything she liked, what she wanted to do, etc, etc.  Meeting someone new does not put confidence in my future.  I think I would go celibate, but I like women and sex too much to do that. 

"For I know the plans I have made for you."

Now that I am 42, I know what I will be looking for.  A Christian girl, that has a great personality. Likes to sit around the house relaxing but likes to go out looking beautiful. One who likes country music. One who doesn't have a chip on her shoulder and can take it and dish it back out.  One who loves family.  A girl who loves to laugh, at me/with me/ and love me for who I am.

but then again, what do I know.  Oh how God has surprised me in the past (as he has most people). 

Things not to say: "Now you can date such and such..."  This was said to a friend of mine.  "You need to get back out there..."  It will happen when it happens. 

When is the right time?  It's different for everyone, and I don't think anyone really knows.  It's like having kids.  You are never really ready, but here they come and you will make the most of it. 

It's a weird feeling being single.  I don't know what to make of it.  Hopefully I will figure it out and be awesome in this like I'm awesome in everything else.

-Sean

Let Me Help You Help Me part 2

I guess there is going to be a part 2.  I wasn't sure if it was going to happen or not.  This one will probably be shorter than the last one. 

"How are you doing?"  That question has become the very last one I want to hear.  think about it this way.  You are walking through the office and you see someone you have not seen in a few days or even since yesterday.  You ask politely "how are you doing?"  Do you really want them to tell you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help them God? 

Of course not.  They start into a story that resembles the orange juice commercial.  The lady is sitting around the table with all the people that are going to slow her down or she is going to have problems with today.  In the end she is glad she had her OJ today.  No you are expecting "fine", "good", "better than I ought to be". We all are expecting that. 

Then why would you give me those sad eyes like you are having pity on me and ask "how are you doing" expecting me to tell you all about it?  Maybe you want the whole thing and you think it will help "me".  Let me stop you there.  It won't.  Probably (or maybe) you need it for yourself.  You started thinking about your life and death more.  If I can make it though then you can make it though.  Good for you.  Passing in the hall is not the place for that.  If you need counseling, we can have lunch. 

Probably the most annoying is when I say "fine" or "good" or "better than I ought to be" I get those "he's such a strong man holding it together like that" look.  That's a condescending look.  stop it. just stop it.

Here's how it will go down.  If I am close enough to you, I will tell you the truth about how it is.  That means you are a close friend, confidant, or we have another connection.  There are two guys in my church that lost there wives in the past year.  We have a connection we didn't have before.  My best friend and I have a connection.  A couple guys that I have become close to. 

Now that doesn't mean you and I cannot connect and get together and build that friendship.  You will see when things like this happen that previous friendships will fade away and new ones will emerge.  And I don't want you to avoid me like I have ebola.  If we were talking in the past, we can still talk after a funeral.

So let me tell you.  I am doing fine.  Good in fact.  So is my daughter Julia.  We are not curled up in a ball in the corner crying ourselves to sleep.  We laugh. We play.  We pick on each other.  It's just like any other day in my house.  We talk about Brandy.  We miss her.  When I say I know she is in a better place....I do.  We both want her back, but we both move forward.  We are not moving on.  Brandy helped us become who we are. 

How are you doing today.  Hopefully, "everyday is a holiday."

-Sean

Let Me Help You Help Me

I don't know if this is going to be a series, a one time post, or if I will even finish this one.  It's been years since I have posted on my blog, and although I have had fleeting interest in returning, it never happened.

This post is about grief.  Well, it's about my grief, but really about what you can do with it.  My beautiful wife Brandy died on August 31, 2014.  It's been just over 2 months.  We were married 20 years ago.  We started dating in college.  And we have a wonderful 18 year old daughter, Julia.  We were awesome together.

But now she is gone from the living to be with God.  I can say with all sincerity and honesty that I know that's true.  I know there is a God and I know Brandy is with God.  Christianity doesn't have to be really deep and hard to understand.  Some people want to make it hard so they have a reason to reject it.  Brandy liked to get a little deep sometimes, but mostly just wanted the facts.  We had some good discussions after Pete's preaching on Sundays.

This post is about Me helping You help Me.  I wanted to write this post because losing a spouse or a child is different than losing a parent.  Really they are all different and every grieves differently, but this is about me :o).  My dad died 2 years ago.  My father-in-law died 4 or 5 years ago.  My step dad died 7 years ago.  My grandfather died 8 years ago.  I could have those last two off by a year or so, but you get the picture.  It hurt when all those people died.  But this is different.

I have a two friends that lost children...young children.  I have a few friends that lost spouses.  Although you know when you get married that one of you will die before the other. Unless you are related to Thelma and Louis.  But it's not something you think about or consider.  I know you know because you buy life insurance.  Brandy and I never talked about death.  We talked about retirement and where we may possibly be.  Why would we talk about death.

That's just a downer.  And really if you are a guy and your wife asks you what you will do if she dies first, your answer will probably be "go celibate and blind because I eyes and hands can never see a beautiful creature as you."  Any other answer will be unacceptable.  Your answer should not go like this:

"Dear," asked a wife. "What would you do if I died?"
"Why dear, I would be extremely upset," said the husband. "Why do you ask such a question?"
"Would you remarry?" persevered the wife.
"No, of course not, dear" said the husband.
"Don't you like being married?" asked the wife.
"Of course I do, dear" he said.
"Then why wouldn't you remarry?"
"All right," said the husband, "I'd remarry."
"You would?" said the wife, looking vaguely hurt.
"Yes," said the husband.
"Would you sleep with her in our bed?" asked the wife.
After a long pause. "Well, yes, I suppose I would," replied the husband.
"I see," said the wife indignantly. "And would you let her wear my old clothes?"
"I suppose, if she wanted to," said the husband.
"Really," said the wife icily. "And would you take down the pictures of me and replace them with pictures of her?"
"Yes. I think that would be the correct thing to do."
"Is that so?" said the wife, leaping to her feet. "And I suppose you'd let her play with my golf clubs, too!?"
"Of course not, dear," said the husband. "She's left-handed."

I have no regrets.  We had 20 years of awesome marriage.  Of course there were rough patches.  But 1. They were overshadowed by all the great times, and 2. if you don't have rough patches in your marriage, you are not really married.  This is not a business relationship where each partner puts in 50%.  marriage is 1+1=1 billion because you go all in. 

Some people believe they did something horrible right before their spouse died, or didn't love of them enough, or didn't say a good thing right before, etc, etc.  The night Brandy died, I kissed her on the head in the office, told her I loved her, and went to bed.  However, even if that was the one night I didn't tell her I loved her with those being the last words I spoke, I don't have regrets.  I can't.  If I start second guessing anything I did, I will drive myself crazy.  And again, we had a great 20 years.  I would give up all my possessions to have her back, but that won't happen. 

Last thing on this post.  What do YOU say?  Please please please, do not say over and over and over "I'm so so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."  I heard you the first time.  I understand you are sorry for my loss. Also, Don't go into a speech about how you don't know what you would do in my shoes, don't know how I am handling it, etc".  You are not helping.  I know you think you are, but it makes me want to punch you in the face.  I don't wish this on anybody.  The best way I can describe it..."It sucks".  Just say "I'm sorry.  She was an awesome woman.  I am a better person just by knowing her.  Her heart was pure and always willing to be there for anyone." 

What can YOU do?  Well first, don't tell my daughter to call your daughter to go hang out.  Again I know you don't know what to say, but that's just stupid.  If our kids don't hang out together ever, then don't expect my daughter to reach out.  If your daughter does want to connect, she should do it.  But it needs to be organic, not forced.  Don't tell my daughter "well at least you have so many other moms" just because we are in a home school group.  And the other one who asked while leaving the funeral home "You should come over next weekend.  Can you babysit the kids."  Both of those are just idiotic. 

I know you have no idea what to say.  There is no class @ church or in school that tells you how to behave around people who have lost a loved one.  Let's try this:

1. What does my family always have when you see us?  Get us a Sonic gift card.  And say "I was at Sonic and started thinking about your family.  Brandy always had a smile ready for anyone and she always had a Sonic cup.  Here."
2. Say I'm sorry.  She was great. If later you have a great memory to tell about her, let's have it.
3. Don't stay away thinking "He needs his space." If we are friends, then let's get together.  If we are acquaintences, then maybe we will become friends.  As long as you don't keep dwelling on my wife's death.

Maybe that will help.  maybe not.  who knows.

Libya and Jesus

It's interesting what's happening in Libya right now is a decent illustration of the end of Luke 22. The temple police come to arrest Jesus. He is a non-violent defender of what is right. He seeks justice and truth. He wants good to come to that nation (and beyond).

Yet those in power (in the temple and beyond) like the status quo. They don't want to lose their power. They don't want to change. They don't want what Jesus is offering. So they figure out a way to have him killed.

Although there are MANY stories right now about Libya, check out http://goo.gl/6MM7D .

Gaddafi, who has led the country virtually unchecked for four decades, has unleashed a violent crackdown against those seeking his ouster, drawing international condemnation and sanctions. Hundreds have been killed, perhaps more, putting pressure on the international community to do more to stop the crackdown on protests that began on Feb. 15, inspired by successful uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, its neighbors to the east and west respectively.

Those in power for four decades (Gaddafi and friends) like the status quo. They don't want to give up their power and feel they should stay in power at all cost. The cost is the lives of those who want freedom from the dictatorial regime.

Although we don't know what the outcome will be from all these people in the Middle East wanting democracy, I can tell you that democracy and individual freedom is much better than socialism/marxism/and all the other ism :o).

A baby reconciles the family

A child is born. Nothing new right. It happens every day. And to those who are not in the family, it's not a big deal. Oh they will ooohhh and aaahhh over the baby when he is here, but quickly they will go back to their lives, and the parents will move on to parenting with love and logic.
But 2000 years ago something different happened. Luke 1 is a great version of the story. 1st John was born. The parents were very elderly and had no kids. They were not shunned in the community, but many people (including themselves I'm sure) thought they had done something wrong or something against God since He had not blessed them with children. Yet one day when Zechariah was performing his priestly duties, he was visited by the angel Gabriel who said he would have a son. A blessing, prophesy fulfilled.
Then 6 months later, another blessed miracle. A virgin is visited by the same angel and is told she will be pregnant and give birth to the savior of the world. The miracles never cease. The elderly woman gets pregnant and the virgin gets pregnant. What's more is the 2nd baby will be the savior to all mankind. He will be called the "Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David and he will rule over Jacob's house forever. His kingdom will never end."
But why? Why would the Son of God (God himself) come to be part of creation? He could easily have wiped out the powers that be and set up shop. To understand, we have to go back to Genesis 1. You see, in Genesis 1, God made man and woman. We were his creation. We were (are) children of God. But the problem came when we listened to someone other than God. On that day so long ago, Adam and Eve listened to the snake who talked them into doing the ONE thing God said not to do. They had so much freedom. Being in the family and so close to God was freeing.
I'm not sure the snake talked them into eating the fruit, as much as he showed them the fruit and they talked themselves into eating it. However it happened, they ate. And punishment was swift. Childbirth is painful for the woman (I wonder what it would have been like without the Fall) and work is toilsome and painful for the man. The snake is cursed (I probably would have done the same to the snake without him being bad. I hate snakes).
So we are now cut off from paradise and alienated from God. Does any of this sound familiar. Painful childbirth; check. Toiling away at work; check. Hating snakes; double check. Feeling like there is something just outside your grasp that you catch glimpses of here and there but never see the full picture; big check.
So after the separation and alienation between God and man, something needs to happen to bring them back together. It's those friends you have that were a couple but broke up and you know they were meant for each other and you know they need to be together, so you will think of ways for them to do it. That's our way of doing it. Daniel 9 is kind of like that. A god-like person comes into the world and sets up shop. He takes over everything becoming a great ruler. He lets the Jews start to sacrifice in the temple again. If you want to get on someone's good side, let them do what they love. But just a few years later, this ruler is ready to go the next step. He sets up shop in the temple. He made himself God and king. Isn't that how we would save the world too? The rich and powerful rule over everything. We need to become one of them to change things. But that's not how God did it.
To reconcile his family and bring his lost children back to him, he invaded their world. Not as a mighty conqueror but as a little baby. Something that would never be expected, and for sure something none of us would think of. Because of this little baby, our family was reconciled. We as children can go back to the Father, and the Father will open his arms wide and accept us in.
Many times it's the same with our earthly families. Sometime in the past, the parent screwed up and turned his/her back on her children alienating them. And the children with all their emotional energy ran as fast as they could. Of course the child had help. Those around him/her helped push her along that road farther away from the parent.
But then a miracle happened. A baby was born. The once child has to grow up in 9 months and become an adult. She has a baby, and the muck and dirt and pain and suffering are cleaned off the hearts of the parent and grand-parent. The past is put in the past and the future is a bright almost paradise. The pictures of the beautiful glorious family we have gotten glimpses of in the past are coming to fruition. Although this earthly paradise is not perfection, it is a start.
That's how it happened for me. Our child was born. I wiped out the past regarding my dad and started fresh. There are some things I can tell you from my experience. One is your parent has changed. He is not the same dumb-ass he was before. She is not the same selfish mother you remember. Two is you have changed. Your not that bundle of emotions you were before. You are now mom (or dad) and you had to grow up.
Your experiences have made you who you are; your decisions will make you who you become.

Jesus and Jonah

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though they were a very large mammal their throat was very small.The little girl stated Jonah was swallowed by a whale.The teacher reiterated a whale could notswallow a human; it was impossible.The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah."The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"The little girl replied, "Then you ask him."


How do you know the story of Jonah was real? All I can say is Jesus referenced him specifically in regard to being in the belly of the whale for 3 days. It doesn’t seem to be written like a fanciful story. I’m going with truth.

There are many parallels between Jonah and Jesus. I want to document below not a parallel of their whole lives, but a parallel of their “death” and “resurrection”.

Jonah 1:4-16
4 Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish."
7 Then the sailors said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity." They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.
8 So they asked him, "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?"
9 He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land."
10 This terrified them and they asked, "What have you done?" (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.)
11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?"
12 "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you."
13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried to the LORD, "O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased." 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.

In the beginning, God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach to them to turn from their self-destructive ways. The problem is Jonah’s people didn’t like the Ninevites. He would be all happy to let them be destroyed. He knew God’s power of changing minds and he knew that if he went there to preach, they would change. Jonah didn’t want that. So he goes to the port of Joppa and hops on a boat to Tarshish, which is the opposite way from Nineveh. He wasn’t running because he wanted to disrespect God. He was running because he didn’t want God to succeed in this task.
But then in vs. 4, a huge storm came and threatened to break the ship into pieces. Sailors that were used to storms were afraid of this one. Jonah on the other hand was in the bottom of the ship taking a nap.

This is where the 1st parallel comes in. Luke 8:22-25
22One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
24The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

A storm comes along on the lake. The disciples are scared because their boat is not big and if the storm is a decent size, they will tip over. Sounds like the sailors in the boat with Jonah don't it? But Jesus is asleep in the boat just like Jonah. Not knowing what to do, they run to the one who is acting differently. Jesus is calm. Jesus says faith in God will save you and calm the sea. Jonah tells the sailors to throw him overboard because his God is controlling the storm. In both instances, God is in control.
In Jonah 1:12 the sailors wanted to save themselves by praying to their false gods and throwing stuff overboard to make the ship lighter. In another sea story where Peter walks on water out to Jesus, as long as he keeps his eyes on Jesus he does great, but when he takes his eyes off Jesus and looks at his feet to “do it his own way”, he starts to sink (see Matthew 14:29-30). In Jonah 1:16, after the sailors throw Jonah overboard and the storm calms, the sailors are in awe and worship the true God. In Luke 8 they were in fear and amazement (sounds like awe) of Jesus and his control of the storm.

We now turn to Jonah 2:1-9. This is his prayer to God. It could easily be called a prayer of lamentation. “In trouble, deep trouble, I prayed to God.” (The Message).

1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. 2 He said: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave [a] I called for help, and you listened to my cry.
3 You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.
4 I said, 'I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.'
5 The engulfing waters threatened me, [b] the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God.
7 "When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.
8 "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD."

Jonah cries out to God. He is going down and feels death’s grip around him. Through 6a, Jonah says he is going down to the depths as deep as he can go, “to the root of the mountains”. Basically, he felt he was thrown into Sheol and the keys were thrown away never to be released. Total despair.
Jesus has similar concerns, but he is quicker to turn around. Before Jesus is taken into custody (knowing full well what is about to happen) he goes into the Garden of Gethsemene to pray. He takes the three disciples that have been closest to him, Peter, James and John, to pray for him in this time of struggle.

Matthew 26:36-44
36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

In despair and agony he asked God to “take this cup from me”. He knew what was coming. The pain. The rejection. The death. The end.
Just like Jonah though, Jesus knew this was his destiny. God’s plan, God’s world, God himself is bigger than us. We may think we know the end game, but God has other ideas. Read vs. 8 in the Jonah passage again.
vs8 "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. "
Jonah is specifically talking about Ninevah. Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds, walk away from their only true love. They are so lost they cannot see the grace that is available to them, that has saved me in this sea. That whale was God’s grace, and Jonah accepted. Jesus also accepted with “…thy will be done.”

3 Days

Jonah 1:17 17 But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

For three days Jonah was in the nasty muck of whatever the whale swallowed. I’m sure it felt like death. When you read the prayer again in Jonah 2, you see that Jonah was also stuck in the mire of his own disobedience. Jesus though was obedient (not happily of course) and went to his death and was dead 3 days.
Matthew 12:39-40 (as well as other passages such as John 2:19)

39He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The “heart of the earth” can be translated (maybe transliterated is better” as Sheol which is OT for the place between heaven and hell. Read the story about Abraham and Lazarus and the chasm between them when they die. It can also be translated as where the sin is (maybe hell). The heart of man is where sin resides according the bible. The heart of the earth would be where sin resides after death…Hell. Jesus could not resurrect himself. He had to rely on God 3 days later to bring him back from the dead.
He took on all the sins of the world and was dragged down to the depths. This makes me think of the movie The Mummy 2, where at the end the bad guy is pulled down by all the demons. I can’t find a video of that though.

Jesus and Jonah die. They are dead for 3 days. Then in Jonah 2:10 the fish spits him up on the beach. In John 21:4 Jesus is on the beach cooking some fish. I love being on the beach, especially in the morning when the sun is just coming up. It’s peaceful, like everything is new.
The whale for Jonah was grace that saved him. The fish Jesus was cooking was a gift (isn’t that what grace is) given to the disciples when they made it to shore. The result is the same. Both Jesus and Jonah are changed people and they are changing people. The disciples (and all the people for 40 days that see Jesus) change their lives to follow the risen Lord. The Ninevites believe this guy from Joppa who normally would not want anything good for them. He must be sent from God. Their hearts are turned and moved to repentance.

WHATS DIFFERENT??

OK….what’s different between Jesus and Jonah? That’s a good question and there is one HUGE answer.

Jesus willingly went to save those who were on the path to destruction. Jesus looked upon Jerusalem with a breaking heart with sorrow because of all the lost people he could see. Jonah went to Ninevah because he was told to go. Jesus came to this world because he wanted to. All of Nenevah (the text specifically mentioning the King) repented and asked God for forgiveness (see Jonah 3:6-7). Change at Nineveh was top down. Change for the people Jesus dealt with was bottom up. The poor, rejected, ugly, unreligious are the people accepting the free gift of seeing the Kingdom of God.

That’s where we are today I think. The “elite” class (not all of them of course) are so caught up in their high and mighty knowledge that they can’t accept the reality of God.

Isaiah 55:7 "Let the wicked forsake His way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord; and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

Something I heard the other day was “faith is doubting your doubts”. Our doubts (not believing what has been presented to us) holds us back from faith. The people who saw Jesus had doubts about him. They had heard all this before from different groups. But there was something different in this man. They doubted their doubts and came out on the other side much better.

That’s what I want you to do today. Doubt your doubt about a big fish swallowing a man and then spitting him up on land. Doubt your doubt that “those people” can change. Doubt your doubt that you can change. And doubt your doubt that this man Jesus is something different. He is. That faith will set you free.

Wh I preach God and not Me

Back when I was a preacher in the church (about 3 years ago), one of my congregants came to me and said she didn’t really know me and where I came from and what I believed.

That struck me as odd. Had she not been listening to my sermons? You can pretty much understand what I believe by listening to my sermons. As for really knowing about me, I never really preach about my self in a deep way. My sermons are always to focus on God and Jesus Christ incarnation. If I wanted to center on this humble pastor, I would be saying my words, not God’s. (on another note she could have asked my any question at any time and I would have been happy to answer.)

But something else I have realized the last few years is if I get too personal and too deep in my public sharing (not one on one but in a group), I cannot keep it together. I’ve seen this happen with my pastor. He will get choked up about specific issues that are near to his heart. But he always could keep it together.

I’ve had a those Glenn Beck moments. And recovering from those is not a quick bounce back. I stood up at men’s group the other day and opened up completely to how Dave had brought us to this church and me to this group and I could not continue. When I was baptized it was the same way.

But when I am preaching and it’s the Word of God I am speaking, I am emboldened not broken, powered not empty. And the Word penetrating your soul to empower and embolden you. That’s why “Fear Not” is in the bible so many times. :o)

A study of Daniel

Daniel chapter 1
Jehoiakim king of Judah gets attacked and taken over by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Articles such as goblets and plates were taken from the temple of God and put in the temple of the gods of Babylon (this is important to remember for later in the book). In addition, the good-looking and young men of Judah are taken to be fed the best food and have the best training so in 3 years the best of the best can serve in some respect in the king’s government. If you saw the men they picked, you would automatically think of One Tree Hill or another WB TV show. Four of these men were Daniel called Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Instead of coming in and wiping out a country, Nebuchadnezzar came in and integrated the defeated people with the Babylonians. Because of intermarriage and time, the old way of doing things (in this case Judah’s ways) would be swept in and meshed with Babylonian and you would not recognize a different people.
Daniel and his friends had no plans to defile their bodies and they had total faith that God would either show them favor and protect them, or show them favor and let them die with God on their side. Daniel convinced his coach (for lack of a better term) to let him and his friends only eat vegetables and water instead of the kings food and wine. You see, the king’s food was food that was sacrificed and offered up to idles. For Daniel and his friends to eat it would be going against God’s rules. So for 10 days they ate vegetables and water yet after that allotted time, they looked better than the other men in their company. For three years they did this, and then went before the king who saw how good they looked and brought the 4 into his service right then.
Because the four followed God’s rules, God saw favor in them so (vs 17) God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. What was more, the king saw they were “10 times” better than the other magicians and enchanters in the kingdom. (important again in future chapters).
Daniel was there until the 1st year of King Cyrus.

Daniel Chapter 2

In his 2nd year (which is before Daniel and his friends came to work in the king’s court) Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and wanted it interpreted. The king sent for his magicians and enchanters and said “what’s the dream and what is the interpretation”. They did their best to walk around the subject and not get specific so they asked the king to tell them his dream. He would hear nothing of it and said he wanted both the dream and interpretation to prove they are real. In Vs. 10, the astrologers and others rightly told the king, “there is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks. No king has ever asked such a thing. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men.”
They tell the king that no man can tell him the dream and interpret the king. Only “the gods” can do this. The king feeling they were spitting in his face and basically to start all over again, he ordered for all the magicians, astrologers, etc to be killed. Daniel was in this group, even though he was just in training. When he asked his coach what was going on and was given an explanation, he told the coach that “he would be able to interpret the dream with a little time”.
Daniel told his friends what was happening and advised them to pray to God for the interpretation. Overnight in a dream, Daniel was given the information he sought.
Daniel went to his coach and said he can interpret the dream. His coach takes Daniel to the king and says “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.” Arioch was covering his bases. If Daniel doesn’t interpret the dream correctly, he can say “oh well it’s one of those Judah guys who was trying to pull one over on the king.” If Daniel comes thru and interprets the dream correctly, he can say “I brought Daniel to you. Look what I did”.
Contrast that with Daniel. He does not take credit for being able to interpret the dream. He gives all glory and honor to God almighty. He reiterated what the magicians told the king before that “no man” can interpret this dream, but only God who reveals mysteries and has shown you what is to come”.

The dream:
The king came upon a huge statue.

The head was made of gold.

The chest and arms made of silver.

The belly and thighs made of bronze.

The legs of iron.

The feet of a mixture of iron and clay.

A rock, not cut from human hands, came out of nowhere and struck the feet of the statue. The feet shattered and the statue was disintegrated and saw of no more. However, the rock became huge and basically took it’s place. Now before king Nebuchadnezzar just the rock stands.

The interpretation: There are 5 Gentile kingdoms that will rule over Israel. The head of gold was the kingdom of king Nebuchadnezzar (609 bc-539 bc). He is powerful and strong.

The check and arms of silver are Medo-Persia (539-331 bc). Daniel 5:30 tells us that Darius, the Mede, captured the Babylonian kingdom.

The belly and thighs of bronze or brass are Greece (331-164 bc)

Legs of iron are Rome (164 bc – 450ad.) that is Western Rome and Eastern Rome

Feet of iron and clay are where Roman influence are still present

King Cyrus of Persia allowed the people of Judah to return to Jerusalem in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.


Daniel 3

Nebuchadnezzar builds a large gold statue to worship. You would think after having that dream years before about a large statue he would not do that, but most people don’t learn from history. Then the royal governors, astrologers, judges, etc went to the king and said Daniel’s friends were not worshiping the statue. They were jealous of these 3 because they were shown up so much.
The three gave Glory to God in 3:17-18. They said “God will save us, but even if he didn’t, we don’t worship your false idols.” So the 3 were thrown into the fire to be killed. But by God’s power, they were spared and another that looked like a “son of the gods” was in the fire with them. The three came out of the fire (without the 4th) and king Nebuchadnezzar gave praise to the true God.


Daniel 4

The Tree Dream



Nebuchadnezzar had another dream of a tree so large it touched the sky. It had great fruit and the animals were using it for shelter and food. The magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners could not interpret the dream so he brought in Daniel.
Daniel interprets the dream as the tree is king Nebuchadnezzar. Because he is prideful and says his kingdom is his own creation, God will take it away for 7 years and make the king live like an animal. At the end of seven years, the king must pronounce the glory to God almighty. Since a stump and roots are left of the tree, the king will be able to retake his leadership position. 1 year later, the prophecy comes to fruition.

Daniel 5

King Belshazzar is the son of King Nebuchadnezzar. He throws a banquet and brings in goblets and plates from the tabernacle. As they drank the wine from the goblets of God and they praised their own gods. The 1st commandment: you don’t have any other god before me.
A hand appeared out of nowhere and started writing on the wall in a language the king could not understand. Now the language thing would be an issue, but a bodiless hand will really screw with your mind. The king brought in all the enchanters and astrologers (sound familiar) who could not interpret the message, no matter what the king promised.
The king’s wife tells him that Daniel can interpret the writing. The king brings him in and Daniel does as he did before. He doesn’t want the gifts the king offers, but he wants to give all the glory to God almighty. Daniel wags his finger at the king and tell him he saw everything God did to his father to humble him, yet the son is not humbled before God but still worships the god who cannot see, hear or speak.

Naked Air

I'm starting a new airline. I'm going to call it Naked Air. In the wake of the latest terrorist plot by an idiot radical, new regulations and restrictions are coming. There will be a ban on blankets, pillows, laptops, etc.
The only way to make sure everyone stays safe and feels safe is for no-one to have anywhere to hide explosives. Therefore, everyone on the plane will be naked. That goes for the passengers, staff, and pilots. I hope you will consider flying with us in the future.

Neighborhood power

Neighborhood power
100 house central collection pt
each hm has solar & uses own elec. Feeds excess to NP. Pay NP based on qtr usage. pmt goes to maintanence. NP sell excess to state grid. Prfits at end of yr distributed to households based on what u contributed to NP
need: smart meters to monitor flow. Central battery station. Solar cells.

The End Game of politics today

Most of the time we complain that politicians are short sighted and only think of the immediate future when they make laws. Usually that is true. That's when Carmax gets new material for their radio ads. "There is a law in some state that says you can't sell peanuts after dark on Wednesday."
Now that law was created because of some fool walking around n the complete dark trying to sell his last peanuts. There was probably some competition going on and his Type A personality would not let it go. Therefore...we get a new law.
But I think right now the leadership in the government actually has an 'end game' in sight. No conspiracy theory here, but I see one world government coming. Here is how we get there. The economy is poor. The gov't is printing more and more money which will of course raise taxes within 2 years. But hte most important part of this for our situation is it will cause inflation.
The inflation will further devalue the US dollar (did you think it could get worse?). Because of the hyper inflation and devaluation of the dollar, other countries around the world will see the US dollar as a bad option to base their currency value on. Unfortunately, there is no other good option. The next logical step is to have one currency around the world. There will be a couple years pain as old currency and new currency valuation is worked out.
There might be a baby step where we have a regional currency such as the Amero for North and South America. But we might just bite the bullet and go for one currency around the world.
The logical next step from one currency is one govt. Now it won't be where we have a "Stalin" as president over all the countries. There will be a gov't body such as the UN. They will name is something different to avoid any negative connotation from the past. That body of people will then make decisions for all the world gov'ts. There are signs of this consolidation. Interpol and the UN join for peacekeeping missions. We have the World Bank and IMF to control money. The G8 and G20 will make policy. The International Court of Justice (World Court) will cover Judicial issues. And then UN for peacekeeping. the good thing is Nixon will be President in the future.
And there we are. No more autonomy for groups. everyone will hold hands and sing "We are the world" and drink a coke or soda or pop or whatever you want to call it around the world.

For God so loved.....who?

I got this email the other day. I'm sure you have recieved this one or one just like it:



DID YOU KNOW THESE FACTS?
I SURE DIDNT TILL NOW
Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death!
Make a personal reflection about this.....
Very interesting, read until the end.....
It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7):
'Be not deceived; God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man sow,
that shall he also reap.

Here are some men and20women
who mocked God :

John Lennon (Singer):
Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said:
'Christianity will end, it will disappear.
I do not have to argue about
that. I am certain.
Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous
than Him' (1966).
Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ,
was shot six times.

Tancredo Neves(President of Brazil ):
During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his
party, not even God would remove him from Presidency.
Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President,
then he died.

Cazuz a (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet):
During A show in Canecio ( Rio de Janeiro ),
while smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and
said:'God, that's for you.'
He died at the age of 32 of LUNG CANCER in a horrible manner.

The man who built the Titanic
After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic
would be.
With an ironic tone he said:
'Not even God can sink it'
The result:I think you all know what happened to the Titanic

Marilyn Monroe (Actress)
She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show.
He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her.
After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said:
'I don't need your Jesus'.
A week later, she was found dead in her apartment

Bon Scott (Singer)
The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang:
'Don't stop me; I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell'.
On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked
by his own vomit.

Campinas(IN 2005)
In Campinas , Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a
friend.....
The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the
drunkenness of her friends=2 0and she said to the daughter holding her hand,
who was already seated in the car:
'My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You.'
She responded: 'Only If He (God) Travels In The Trunk, Cause Inside
Here.....It's Already Full '
Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident,
everyone had died,
the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but
surprisingly, the trunk was intact.
The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact. To
their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken

Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer)
said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written.
In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle.
Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name that
was given so much authority as the name of Jesus.
Many have died, but only Jesus died and rose again, and he is still alive.











So 1st, look in the mirror. Tell me what you see? Is it perfection? of course not. Dave Ramsey says "I'm better than I deserve". I totally agree with that. I'm a poor sinner with no hope of digging myself out of the pit of sin I have dug on my own. My only hope is in Jesus Christ.



"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life. God did not send the Son to the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved thru him. "





The first question you should ask after reading the above email is "did God smite them?" Basically that's what the email was saying. These people rejected God, or spat at him, or vocally mocked him and now they are dead. Coincidence. Yeah I think so. Some people die of natural causes, some die when bad things happen, and some die of stupidity. What I hate about the email is it infers that if you believe in God you are ok. There is a small step from this to the prosperity preachers on TV saying if you just pray louder and have more faith you will have prosperity.





Back to our first scripture of John 3:16. For God so loved......THE WORLD. Here is where many people get off track. The "children" of God are not only the people who have a saving faith in Jesus Christ. The "children" of God are all people. Unfortunately, there are many of the children who have turned their back on the Father resulting in the loss of that wonderful relationship they can have with him. Your heavenly Father loves you more than anyone here on earth could love you.





For those who are not believers and reading this, I want to assure you....Christians are not perfect. It's that simple. As a Christian we have assurance of an eternal relationship with God. Unfortunately there are some Christians who have "pet sins" they like to Preach about. Whether it be adultery, homosexuality, pride, anger, materialism, etc, etc it doesn't matter. What I used to preach to the congregation was "You cannot save anyone." It's impossible. You can only lead them to the living water. You can only share the living water. You cannot make them drink.


Read mark 4, the parable of the sower. The sower spread his seed on the hard road, rocky ground, among the thorns, and on fertile ground. Jesus was the sower for his parable. You as Christians are sowers today. However, that's it. You sow. Spread the Word and let the Holy Spirit penetrate the hardened heart. Only those who are wanting to see the truth will be able to accept it. Others actively cover their eyes wanting rather to live with the darkness instead of seeing the truth before them. One of the things I learned as a pastor was "unsolicited advice is never taken."


I get tired of beating down on the pet sins. Yes they are wrong. I won't deny that the bible says in Romans 1 that homosexuality is wrong. But I am more interested in how a person's spirit is doing more than what they are doing in bed.



Shane Claiborne has a great book out called Irresistable Revolution. He really shows what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. Him and a small group of people moved to the inner city in Philly and they live among the poorest of the poor. When scripture says "the poor will always be with you" he understands what that means. But I bring that up because Christ said in Matthew 25 "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, and I was thirst and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you visited me....I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of these least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."



I realized from reading Shane's book, that we all come fromd ifferent worldview backgrounds, so our emotions will be focused on different things. For example, a woman who is racked with guilt over having an abortion will be engaged in coversation or social justice regarding abortion. However, a man with 2 kids married for 15 years and just fired from his job will engage in conversations regarding employment, healthcare, and being a good father.

Have you read the bible and thought "I can apply that to my life"? Of course you have. Interpretation leads to Application. But maybe instead of "apply that to my life" we should "apply that to my community." Will O'Brien has a great article HERE. He gives some good illustrations of obsticles to biblical literacy. I can narrow those down to "worldview". But one of his main points is how we should read the scriptures as the 1st century people would have heard them, as a community. He says:

Similarly, we cringe at the story of the rich man whom Jesus counsels to sell
all his possessions (Mark 10:17-22). Only a handful of saints could ever do
that, we think. But we miss that this story is part of Jesus' teaching on a new
way of communal economic sharing (10:28-31), a way of living that Jesus insists
is both practical and possible. Gospel economics are not a matter of heroic
individualism but are rooted in ancient covenantal practices. Paul's writings
have been particularly skewed by the individualist paradigm. As Krister Stendahl
and other biblical scholars have argued, we moderns read Paul through the lens
of Augustine, Luther, and the "introspective conscience" of Western
individualism. As a result, Paul is diluted into a theologian of personal
salvation with a minimal or even conservative social viewpoint. Yet scholars
like Neil Elliott, Elsa Tamez, and Ched Myers have helped increase understanding
of Paul as a builder of communities very much rooted in Jesus' radical vision.

We are a community of individualist. Who is #1? I AM or I am? For God so loved the world. He loves the world thru the church. The church is not a haven for Christians to huddle in the basement while the storm of society swirls outside. Jesus said "I am the vine, you are the branches." On the back wall of our house last year we planted some vines (I think they are jasmine). We were trying to keep the heat off the house. They grew some, but not what I was hoping. Oh well.
Well this year, they came back with a vengence. The Vine is now thick and hearty. The 'branches' running from that vine are going in all directions. None of them are going back into the earth though. I try to make them grow down (after reaching the roof) and they turn right back around.

O'Brien tells how communities were formed around him:

How can we begin to put aside this filter of individualism so endemic to our own
culture? A primary way is to situate ourselves within a community as the context
for our Bible reading. Within our Alternative Seminary, we've encouraged study
group members to covenant together as community. (In fact, a small house church
grew out of our first study groups; other groups have formed prayer circles or
have continued to meet for more life-sharing and discernment.)Structuring our
lives so that we read Scripture within a committed community of fellow believers
and disciples is a fundamental challenge to our cultural values. Whether such
groups happen through a church, an intentional community, or some other
structure, they would ideally include serious life-sharing, reflection on our
social context, mutual accountability, and prayerful attention to the presence
of God's Spirit. The core biblical image of covenant is itself a guide for our
Bible study.

You see, God so loved you and me and everyone else in the world that he wants to have a relationship with you, not only individually, but also communally. In the spiritual sense, 1+1=3 because we are stronger standing together than we are standing alone.

Looking back at the original email I received from a caring friend. I don't know if the people who died were believers in Jesus Christ or not. That is not a determination I am here to make. I can lead you to the water, but cannot make you drink. However, I do know that God loved them as much as he loves you and me and you and you and you :o). I believe it was Peter that asked in the book of John regarding John, "well what about him. what will happen to him?" and Jesus responded, "that is none of your concern." Remember that God loves the world and everyone in it. we are all children of God. make Him proud.

Preachers and politicians

I've said before that preachers and politicians are the only occupations that every word you say will be analyzed.

What's interesting is a politician is someone who talks about money and is criticized for talking about God and a preacher is someone who talks about God and is criticized for talking about money.

Bury the bodies

Sometimes you just have to share a cartoon. I love this one....

Hope and Change and new business

So we have decided to start a new business. The "experts" say that your career should be what you love doing, and the pay won't matter. I think you should do what you love to do, and get paid to do it. Until the government takes over everything, we will have keep paying our bills.
But in the spirit of doing what I love, our business will focus on saving money and get a deal. While buying parts to build Julia's computer, I realized how much I love searching for that gem of a deal and getting it. Now I will pass that along to everyone else. Stay tuned for future information.

Blessings....Sean

The lost sheep

What do you do if the pastor doesn’t stand up to give a sermon on Sunday Morning? Your worship leader finishes that last song and sits down. 30 seconds go by. 1 minute. Maybe 2-3 minutes. Have you ever sat and done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for a full 60 seconds. It’s excruciatingly long. In that uncomfortable silent time when no one gets up, do you think, “I have something to say. I want to share the glories of my God!”
And so you do. You get up. You share the Word God has given you to give to the people in front of you. It’s not the same words he would give to the people out on the street or in a bakery or pharmacy. These are the words specifically for the group of people sitting in front of you. Truth is relevant. It’s relevant to the time and place it is given. Truth is also relevant outside of that time and place, but “those who have ears let them hear” are there to hear right now.
Do you think ministry is like this? Is ministry getting up and preaching? It can be. It can also be a lot more. You see, as a Christian you are part of the ‘kingdom of heaven’. “But heaven is something I am striving to reach after I die,” you might say. Actually that’s true and not true. Heaven is that place you want to reach. But Christianity and the kingdom of heaven is a lot more than that.
In Luke 15, Jesus is eating with tax collectors and sinners and is called out by the Pharasees. You notice how it’s “tax collectors” and sinners. The tax collectors were an especially hated group of Jews who basically extorted money from their own people to give to Rome. Read the story here:
Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’
3 So he told them this parable: 4‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” 7Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
8 ‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” 10Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’
Julia and I went to my niece’s baby shower last weekend in west Texas. It was a long 7 hour drive each way. Actually I didn’t stay during the shower. As my Grandmother said “what do you think about all these hens crackling around here.” Sonic was calling my name.
My niece is 21 years old, unmarried, living with the father of her baby (or as it’s said ‘my baby’s father’). I think they love each other and will get married, but it’s sad to see. But that’s not what this is totally about. You see, I think many Christians see the above verses as “those backslidden christians” who repent and come back to church, follow the way, whatever. But that is not the meaning of what Jesus is saying.
You see, those highly religious people came to Jesus complaining he was unclean because he was eating with people who were not believers. A righteous Jew would not have anything to do with these people. You should avoid them at all cost. And I think that’s what some Christians do also. They turn people off by preaching at them all the time. They seek to “save” them instead of know them. Is ‘friendship evangelism’ another way of just preaching to those lost heathens and getting a notch in your belt (or crown when you die)??
My sister is really screwed up. She has been married 3 times and every time she married her father….her father of 20 years ago, not her father of today. The last guy she married was abusive physically and emotionally. She is estranged from one of her daughters. She is a believer and she does love Christ. I saw her take the above verses to heart and really show what it means to go after that lost coin or sheep.
My niece has a good friend named Matt. Matt is a bi-sexual. He is also a drug addict. His mom is an addict. He has been sober for 3 weeks. He was supposed to make the cake for this party we went to. My sister went over to his house. He had gotten really drunk the night before, picked up two guys (yes you read that right), and forgot all about it. He says he had a “gay moment”.
As my sister is telling this story, I looked at my grandmother who was sitting in the front seat with me and said “oh I hate that. When you are walking along minding your own business and POW, you have this gay moment. They come upon you out of no where. It’s just terrible.”
So what does a Christian do with Matt? What does the church do with Matt? Where does he go and what does he do? Which one of you having 100 sheep and losing one would not go after it and when you bring it home throw a party. Jesus says that is heaven. But read the parable again. Who is the Sheppard supposed to represent? It is God. Who are the “sheep”? The sheep are all the people in the world. It’s not just the Christians. The sheep-the people-all belong to God. We are all his children. Red white black and brown. Matt is the lost sheep. Matt is the lost coin.
At one point in your life, you were a lost sheep. You have always been a child of God, but you were not in the family because you had turned your back on God. That doesn’t change your heritage or DNA. Before you became a Christian, you were still “one of the little ones” who didn’t know any better. You rejected God-Christians-Christianity. Now your eyes have been opened and you see the glorious truth in front of you. Matt has not seen that truth and what his life can become and the hope and joy Jesus can bring him in this life, not to mention the life to come. He either has not been told, or has been told and ignores it.
When you read the parable, there are no little groups of sheep or little bags of coins. You don’t hear Jesus say “which one of you with 100 Christian sheep which are different than this other guy’s 100 Muslim sheep which are different than this other guy’s Hindu sheep lose one…..” All the sheep are in the same group. All are children of God and are watched over by God, yet some have lost their way. They have blinders on and don’t want to see the truth. “Those who are in darkness love the darkness.”
So Matt the sheep runs away, or just loses his way. He was at the edge of the field smelling and eating the green grass, and the rest of the herd walked away without him. What do you do? You go to him. Isn’t that what Jesus did. The Pharisees said “come on in.” Jesus said “go out and get ‘em”. He went to weddings, banquets, dinners. His first miracle was to turn water into wine. When you see that scripture, culturally he turned 5-7 50 gallon jugs into the highest end best wine that normally would have been reserved only for the priest. I think Jesus knew how to party.
So many churches throw open the doors and say “come on in.” Sounds eerily familiar huh. That’s not what we should be doing. Maybe you can start a church in a pub. My sister went out after Matt. She didn’t dump him because of his “gay moment”. It doesn’t mean there will not be consequences for his actions. It will take a lot of work to get back into a good relationship with my niece. He deserves those problems.
When Jesus finds that sheep, he carries it back. Why? Because sheep are dumb. And when they have gone astray, you have to carry them back to the herd or they will not come back. Creatures of habit they are.
In Florida, alligators are starting to like the suburbs. Swamps are drained and the gators have no where to go, so they find a nice swimming pool to stay in. The problem with catching the gators and taking them back to the everglades, is they have this sense of direction and can go straight back to their old grounds (where the people are). So the animal control people put these magnets on the gator’s heads (think of the headgear in Minority Report), and it disorients them. They pick up the gator and move him to a new location. His sense of direction is changed and will not go back to that old location. Pretty cool.
There will be more rejoicing in heaven over that one who repents. The one sheep who sees God for who he is, or he sees God in the person coming along side him and turns around to run to the light. Too many people (not just Christians) would turn their backs on Matt. That hopeless case who is an addict, drunk, and (oh my) he is a homosexual too. We can’t have anything to do with him. We definitely can’t be seen with him because what would the others think.
I think we have taken the verse that says “run from every type of sin” and changed it to “run from ever sinner you see so you don’t have the possibility of being swayed by it.” If you stay around it, you will start thinking its ok and then you will become complacent and then the sin becomes a non-sin….nonsense. But that’s not what you do. You come along side Matt. You help him with his addiction. You don’t shove the bible in his face and say “just believe and you will be healed”, smack him on the forehead and push him to the ground. You be yourself, be a friend, and be there for him. This isn’t “friendship evangelism”. This is friendship PERIOD. And when he sees Christ shine in you, that glow will give him a Son-tan he has quietly needed.
Man this will make some people uncomfortable. 1st I say to bring that sinner into the group, 2nd I say don’t preach to him and tell him how wrong he is, 3rd I tell you heaven (meaning God and all the angels) throw a party when he turns his life around, but when every day Christians do the right thing, it is business as usual.
This whole posting is for Matt. It is also for “regular Christians” to see what changes need to be made. But really it’s about all the “Matts” in this world that are discarded and left behind. Let me tell you something. When you yell at God “what am I doing Lord? Why do you have me in this job/marriage/town/church/whatever?” (yes it’s ok if you yell at God. He can take it.) Matt is doing the same thing. He is yelling out (to God or maybe to no one in particular) “What am I doing here in this job/marriage/town/bed? How do I get out of this lifestyle?”
I have a friend in North Dallas who was a drug addict and alcoholic for many many years. He credits God for taking away that craving from him. Yes God can do that and he does. But sometimes he doesn’t. It doesn’t make him mean dictator-like god. But he does know what they and you are going thru. It took God hitting my friend with a 2x4 in the back of the head to get him straight. My friend doesn’t drink or do drugs anymore. He does smoke more than anyone I have ever seen and he drinks more coffee than anyone in their right mind should. Should we run from him since he is not treating his body like the temple it was designed to be?
That brings me to us sheep. Jesus brings that lost sheep back into the herd and sits him down in the middle of the pack. Now is the moment of reckoning. We can turn our backs on him, or we can come along side him, one on the left and one on the right. Some behind and some in front. We help him stay on the narrow path that leads to righteousness. Everyone of us has troubles staying on that straight and narrow path during our lives. When we slip and fall, who will be there to pick us up?
Here are the lyrics to the Tracy Lawrence song “Find out who your friends are.”
Run your car off the side of the road
Get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere
Or get yourself in a bind lose the shirt off your back
Need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare

This is where the rubber meets the road
This is where the cream is gonna rise
This is what you really didn't know
This is where the truth don't lie
{Chorus}
You find out who your friends are
Somebody's gonna drop everything
Run out and crank up their car
Hit the gas, get there fast
Never stop to think 'what's in it for me?' or 'it's way too far'
They just show on up with their big old heart
You find out who your friends are

Everybody wants to slap your back
wants to shake your hand
when you're up on top of that mountain
But let one of those rocks give way then you slide back down look up
and see who's around then

This ain't where the road comes to an end
This ain't where the bandwagon stops
This is just one of those times when
A lot of folks jump off
{Chorus}
When the water's high
When the weather's not so fair
When the well runs dry
Who's gonna be there?
{Chorus}
You find out who your friends are
(yeah, yeah)
You find out who your friends are

Run your car off the side of the road
Get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere
(Well man, I've been there)
Or get yourself in a bind lose the shirt off your back
Need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare
(Man, I've been there)




*****************
Are you a fair-weather friend? Are you a fair-weather Christian? Are you seeking some friends to stand beside you at those tough times?
Heaven on earth is that place you get to when you are saved from the hell in your life right now. Hell is real. When Jesus picks you up and puts you on his shoulders, he carries you back to his special field, you have been saved from that hell on earth. The Heaven to experience now is not streets paved with gold, but friends with golden hearts. The heaven now is full of believers who see your ugliness and don’t care because they are ugly too according to the world’s standards. But according to God they are beautiful.
It’s time to make a stand and find all the Matts out there and show them Christ, not just invite them to a building and experience a great worship service. It’s time to be a friend and not do friendship evangelism. It’s time to see the inequalities and injustice in the world and do something about it. You have a choice to make right at this moment. Are you going to live as the status quo or are you going to live like today is your last day and you have to bring as many people with you as possible.
Make a choice….and go get ‘em.

Things I miss from Sardis

There are things I miss from being a pastor. It's been just over a year and half since I was behind the pulpit. There are many things I miss....especially preaching. I miss sharing-showing-shouting the Truth. But there are things I specifically miss from Sardis.
It's interesting when I sit and start writing them out. I do my best to put all of Sardis behind me, but it was not all bad (and I knew that all along). It's just when I start thinking about the things I miss, the things I don't miss start to surface also.
I miss making bread for communion. The first time I did this was awesome. I got up extra early and got the bread started in the bread-maker 3 hours before service started. I put it up in the choir loft where no one could see it. When people came in for Sunday School they started looking thru the kitchen (at the other end of the building) trying to figure out where that "amazing smell" was coming from. I was asked one time why I used bread with yeast for communion. I replied "because Christ has risen!"
I miss Little Mike. Although he wasn't little back then but compared to his dad he was. Little Mike had Downs. He loved God and loved people with all his heart. If you want a picture of true worship, he is it. His prayers were just conversations with God, his buddy. Little Mike could always bring a smile to my face every time I saw him. He jumped up to help every time he could. He harassed his sister like any big brother should. Many crowns will be waiting for him in heaven.
I miss Edna and her stories. The first time I went to see Edna I was there 4 HOURS. Then every other time I was there for a long time and heard the same stories over and over. However, that was her life. She missed John (her deceased husband) very much and wanted nothing more to be with him in heaven. She was a truly caring person.
I miss Bill showing up for leftovers. Back when I had time to cook, there were always leftovers, and they almost always went to the same place....straight to Bill. He would leave the airport and come straight over to the parsonage. That was perfectly fine with us.
I miss talking theology with Richard Smotts. Richard was a spiritual man I will always look up to and pray I can one day come close to his righteousness. A week before we moved, he put his hand on my shoulder and prayed a blessing over me I will never forget.
I miss talking sex with Doyle and Cindy. Funny story, but I won't describe it here.
I miss Brian. I would go to Sears and between customer he would share his struggles with God, family, spirituality. I see God working on him to just let it all go and give it over to God, but he struggled with that submission.
I miss sharing the Truth to many people at one time. I miss the light bulbs going on over the head and reading faces that "get it".
I miss keeping Dan awake during my sermons. Not too long after I started, Dan said "I can't sleep during your sermons because I never know where you will be." He and Ann are great. Ann has a true heart for kids.
I miss talking to people about God who would never come to church, but would get into discussion with me because I was a "pastor". One guy has "heard it all", but he kept seeking more. That is the Holy Spirit working.
I miss talking to Arthur Sweeney about God and seeking the struggle to believe in his eyes. That couple could be poster-children for many couples going to church today.
I really miss sitting in the dark sanctuary at midnight with just the candles lit. I miss praying and feeling the Holy Spirit move inside while the demons move outside.

I was at Sardis for a season. I thought the season would be longer, but it wasn't. One pastor told me I would be there for my 3 years and move on. I planned on being there for 8 years and seeing God work some great miracles. How do you get God to laugh? Tell him your plans.
The season has changed but my call has not. Where God sits me next is where I will go. There are other things I miss from Sardis I am sure, but this is a good list to start with.

Advertising and being on TV

I"ve had a couple thoughts lately. The first one is that advertising agencies don't actually watch or listen to their ads before sending them out. I think they get the money from the client, throw something together fast (because fast means good), and everyone is happy. But when you listen to some of the ads and start to think about them, they don't make sense.
For Example:
There is an ad on the radio for a eye doctor who does "crystal lense" (whatever that is) instead of lasik on eyes. The ad goes like this: "Hi. I'm Pat Summerall. Do you have over 40 eyes?"
So let me stop right there. I have 2 eyes. All the kids I went to school with have 2 eyes. Everyone in my family have 2 eyes. When did the aliens with over 40 eyes, or even those with 3-39 eyes, get to earth and how have them been hidden all this time? I don't think those huge ugly sunglasses Paris Hilton wears would cover 10 eyes much less 40.
Here is one more. The ad goes like this: "Men, do you urinate frequently? Or do you wake up to urinate?" Ok I will admit that when I was a baby I might have "urinated" while I was asleep. But this ad is targeted to "MEN". Now we men don't sit around talking about urinating in bed, but if I took a poll (I won't), all the men I know do wake up to urinate.

Since I am on the subject of media, under no circumstance should you or anyone you know who is not a professional media personality (and many of them also) talk to the media if they come to ask your opinion on something. Let me repeat, DO NOT TALK TO THE REPORTER. YOU WILL LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT.
I will give you a fictious example and a couple real ones. See if you can figure out which is not real.
1. The police are handcuffing a family in a quiet neighborhood and taking them to jail. The reporter goes to the nieghbor who is standing outside watching to ask a few questions.
reporter "How long have you known Mr. Jones?"
neighbor "About 5 years now. Our kids have played and grown up together. What happened?"
reporter "It's believed Mr. Jones and his family are cannibals and have killed and eaten on average 3 politians a month. No one noticed they were gone until someone realized they were being told the truth when they asked a question."
neighbor "What?!? Cannibals? That's impossible. The Jones' were a great family. In fact, we were just over last week. Bob grilled up some great steaks. They were to-die for. I can't believe they were cannibals."

2. In a suburb of DFW, there is a controversy raging about red light cameras. This one specific camera is catching people turning right on red. They slow down, cross the white line so they can see oncoming traffic, stop, and then turn if it's clear. They get a ticket because they crossed the white line. During the filming of this TV report, one lady stopped and made this comment, "Oh yeah this red light camera is terrible. I mean I must have gotten at least 6 or 7 tickets in the past month because of it."

And last but not least.....

3.


Boo Got Shot - Animation - Celebrity bloopers here

What I learned from being a pastor...still more

OK...so I've been pondering what I posted before. Maybe I was a little hard on the church before. What I think is you can't change unless you know what needs to be changed. And not everything I say needs correction. Most of the time it's just an observation. Here are some more though.

* All people are searching for God, in one way or another. Even people who say they don't believe in God are searching for a god. I sent out an email to my team offering to set up a bible study for anyone who wants to join. I got back a response from one girl stating "
Thank you for including us in your worship and faith, however I ask that I not invited to participate in these types of events. Thank you again for your invitation. " Why would she respond back instead of just deleting the email?? Now I know it's fashionable to bash Christianity. However, I believe God is working on her heart. There was another email that was sent to the whole building for anyone who wants to join the Biggest Loser weight loss program. Should I respond back to that asking them if they think I am an obese fat ass needing to lose weight, or if I don't want to participate, just delete the email?? Easy answer.

* Worship is done in many ways and many settings. In one church I was in there was a "helicopter woman". That's the label I attached. During praise music she would sing, put out her arms, and spin around in praise and worship to God. It was wonderful to see unfettered praise. In another church I have been a part of, the members would be hard pressed to crack a smile. Reverence, they believe, is focused intent on worship, preacher, sermon, singer, etc. In Pete's sermon last week, at one point he said that if clothes had been in the original plan of God we would not have had Eve eat the apple. Adam was standing beside looking at a naked woman and couldn't speak. If she would have put some clothes on instead of standing there naked Adam would have spoken up and told her not to eat the apple. There was a great reception by the members. And then there are house churches, where the main worship meeting of a group of people is in the house of a person. No-one is the 'pastor' but all have the opportunity to share what God has revealed to them. Lastly, music styles are all different, not only here but all across the world.

What I Learned...comments

It's interesting how fast I got a comment on this post...and anonymous. The comment was right on and I loved it. This person without knowing me (I assume) and without knowing much about me made a judgement. I thought it would good to respond in a new post instead of just in the comments section for this one. Here is the comment he/she left:

I stumbled on your blog through Google. I was searching for stories from people about their call to ministry and your blog entry from 2007 came up. Very interesting and uplifting. After I read that, I clicked the Home link to read your most current entry and found this. Wow! I read some more entries looking for clues to explain what may have happned to justify such a bitter and spiteful entry, and the only thing I could find was an entry where you said something to this effect, "...at Sardis, I was the preacher I always wanted." Perhaps you should've tried to be the preacher Sardis needed instead. Sad.

Well....1st bitter and spiteful are pretty harsh words. Hard truth would have been better. If I describe you as a middle age woman with long hair and brown eyes I would be telling the truth. If I described you as a pew warmer that jumps in when she finds time and one day said "I think I can preach a good sermon too"...maybe that's truth also. I don't think I know you. It's just an illustration.
Many of my blog entries are thoughts I want to put down, maybe something another person will glean some insight into, maybe something they have no idea about but helps me to put it down. You read a few sermons and then some of my postings after leaving Sardis. Unfortunately it's not everything. However, just maybe it's a good picture. One thing about my blog entries...many of them are written as thoughts come to me. Sometimes I flesh them out and sometimes I don't.
I was the pastor at Sardis I always wanted. One who followed God instead of pandering to man. One who preached the Word instead of watered it down. One who sought the approval of God in everything I did.
And the most interesting thing....I was the pastor Sardis needed. That's the great thing about God. He worked it out perfectly. For 10 years this church had a pastor that just came to preach and leave. Then they got a good student pastor for 3 years that didn't push too hard but showed the congregation they had to work in the church also. Then they got me. I was the change/transistion pastor (if you accept a call to ministry you will read about him). I showed the church there is more than Sunday morning worship. And I stretched them...a lot. The pastor before me gave his entire salary back to the church because he had a pension from another career. I couldn't do that for sure. Neither could anyone coming after me.
Probably the last thing to tell you. Out of 40-50 people in worship on Sunday morning, it was half a dozen that were my antagonists. You have to read posts like mine to know what to expect. Also, read Antagonist in The Church. When you get behind the scenes, you see what really happens.
Oh...BTW...yes I was hurt. It took a year to get over it. There are still times my blood pressure goes up. However, since leaving I've been in two great churches. The year at Sardis was the best year and worst year I have had. My call hasn't changed. But the way I see my realtionship to God and to his church has evolved into something greater. I look forward to 2009 and the wonderful experiences it will bring in the Kingdom.