Red Skelton’s Pledge

Posted by on Mar 26, 2008 in Uncategorized | 1 comment

I am alive, and will be back

Posted by on Mar 20, 2008 in Blog | 1 comment

I meant to write on Monday, then possibly on Tuesday and certainly yesterday, but today is here and my brain hurts from being me!

I will try to be back later and put something down on here. At some point I need to find a “normal” routine.

Thanks for reading this post about nothing.

I Pulled Some Hair Out!

Posted by on Mar 13, 2008 in Blog | 1 comment

The future of our children does not reside in the ideas and concepts of man, but in the mind of a gracious God. The founding fathers of this country knew his and included God into everything about this country only to have a few ungrateful people squash the purpose driven principles of the Bible in government. These few ungrateful souls wish to torment the rest of us through their hate filled speech assaulting Christians and any movement wishing to promote God in public, but they speak their agenda in courtrooms across our country never allowing to a difference of opinion and belief.

Well my friends, it is now hitting closer to home than it has before! I received an email a few moments ago regarding a National Homosexual Day of Silence. Yeppers, you read it correctly. (Click here to read the email I received)

While I am shocked and appalled by the disappointment I see various school systems participating in this function. To be in fair and honest law, it is necessary for each school to participate in a Day of Silence for Christ.

My friends, your children’s school may be listed, so look closely.

The participating schools are listed here: http://www.missionamerica.com/homosexual.php?articlenum=70

Pardon me while I go pray, then pull some more hair from my head.

Just some frustrating thoughts!

My Stress Relief

Posted by on Mar 13, 2008 in Uncategorized | 2 comments

A couple weeks ago, Bobby Valentine posted his Stress Relief. I am stealing his idea and posting mine.

Yesterday, the kids got out of school early so we took a little trip after dropping Carrie off at a friend’s house to get ready for our Bible study that evening. The kids and I ran some church related errands in Mount Pleasant then took a trip to the “stress relief zone.”

Today’s Thought — From Thursday

Posted by on Mar 11, 2008 in Uncategorized | 1 comment

This post was written Thursday as I sat in a room for hours listening to the jury selection process. To say the least, I was not chosen and and I very thankful to be home. Working in the kingdom of God is more important than sitting listening to people ramble on and on regarding multiple millions of dollars; we are saving souls, which is greatly more important.

________________________________________________

From Thursday…

Today was jury duty day! Last night I made the journey to Columbia, South Carolina to take part in my civic duty. Today started last night as I stayed in a hotel located five (5) blocks from the courthouse. While the hotel was part of a major chain, I can describe it is two words — “a dive.” The only thing missing was the remote screwed to the nightstand.

As I write, I am playing the part of people observer; two people behind me are complaining about the reimbursement checks being sent in two weeks, the lady beside me reads her novel, the business man beside me is thoroughly annoyed and in need of decaf, the people in front of me are carrying on a friendly conversation and me….I am just watching.

It is frustrating to watch as people line up one after one to give their reasons for being excused from jury duty. As the last person moves closer, people randomly stand up and join the back of the line. (Don’t get me wrong, I have my time in line sharing my many conflicts a two – three month trial will have on the ministry as well as my family life.) The excuses of everyone range from hate the drive to being the sole provider of children. While I am sure every excuse has its bonafide reason, some are seen as absurd.

The reason for my judgement is the face of the judge and the lawyers as they decide which excuses are a valid reason for missing jury duty. Sometimes they smile, others times they laugh and still others shake their head in a look of disgust. I smile as I watch their faces, but I smile more as I listen to those giving the excuses sit down beside me and discuss the reason they cannot serve.

My observation caused me to ask this question, “Does the same procedure happen with our spiritual growth?”

Is there a sense of duty with church related events but the overwhelming effect of “I do not want to do that” overtake our religious duty?

The duty sense of duty we feel in a spiritual way is a result of our respect for our country and the quest for a better government but the sense we feel around church related events is different. The emotions we feel are related to the sacrifice of Jesus and our blood covered lives. His sacrifice was not out of duty, but out of love. Duty would have brought him pride and self-worth, but love brought him to the status of a sacrificial lamb.

When lambs were sacrificed, they did not know better. The Israelites picked out the lamb, cared for it then sacrificed the best lamb. I am sure the lamb thought everything was going just fine, until…the strike of death.

Jesus was different. He knew what the process was and chances are he took part in the process as some point in his early life; but he was humble enough to go through it. He was the one to lower himself; it was a self-sacrifice of love, not a sacrifice of duty. Duty did not keep him on the cross, love did! Jesus said,

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15.13; ESV)

 

What holds you to your spiritual events of your life — Duty? or Love?

My friends, the choice is yours.

Just a thought…