"Happily Un-Married"

I recently watched a movie with my wife that we thought "might" be good. It was not a good movie on many levels. Before the movie got going to far the couple in the movie stated that they were "happily unmarried". This couple thought that life would be "no fun", "hard", have "more responsibilities", and that "children were not even a topic to be discussed, ever". This movie made me think about why marry. I was reminded of Ephesians 5:22-33. I have an example of how I am to love my wife, Christ's love for the Church. My love for my wife needs to one of self-sacrificing love. I need to nourish and cherish her. I need to follow the example that Christ left in loving my wife. This "happily unmarried" bit is ridiculous! This is not the way that God intended it to be. Through my marriage I have an opportunity to love, nourish, cherish, and help her to grow spiritually. Marriage is not about what "I" can get from it. It is what can I give of myself to my wife. Wow! What a challenge; to love my wife as Christ loves the church! I need God's help, strength, and wisdom.

Press ON!

How Foolish.

I am the Sunday School Superintendent for this year, 2009, at our church. I have enjoyed the opportunity to serve God in this way! I am the one who is either to direct a Christmas program for the Sunday school classes or find someone to direct it. I thought that this is not so hard. I can do this. Wow! I may have underestimated the task I was taking on. We are doing the "Peanut Butter Christmas" put together by Ron Hamilton.
I thought that I would be able to get everything together and put this play on and that it would be a great success. I could not have been any more prideful. This was a task that, yes, I could lead but not put it on all by myself. I tried. The very first rehearsal proved that I was not going to be able to do this all by myself. There was only one lady who was there helping me and she was playing the piano. It was a horrible practice. I proved that I was not able to lead a group of children in singing nor keep them focused for a certain amount of time. Thankfully I was approached by a couple who suggested that I ask another lady to help with the singing. Wow! I am so glad that I did! She is and has done great! So much better than I would have ever been able to!
There are so many other times during this play, whether planning or practice, that I have desired things to go the way that I had planed, in my mind. But they did not. I would get frustrated and then be upset till God would remind me that this play is not about me but is really about Christ's birth, which we are celebrating. It is funny that I was so focused on how "I" was going to accomplish this play. Wow! How dumb!
Last night and this morning I have spent some time thinking and praying about the whole situation and realized that I should be thankful to God allowing my to serve as the director. Also that I should not think of my responsibility as a chance to prove something but rather to serve. God brought to my mind all the people who are really going to make this whole thing possible and I began to pray for them. Here are some of the people who I am very, very thankful for their help and participation: Maggie (God's greatest helper that He has given me), Jesse (props) and Katie (piano player), Dave (lights) and Darla (song leader), Juan and Sonja (parents in the play), Zach (sound), Isaiah (Davey), Kenzie (Ruthie), David (Joshua), Pastor Thompson, Rich, and Kent (the great bumbling robbers), and all the children who are singing in the choir.
In reallity I have such a small part in this whole play. Thank you to all who are involved! I am continually praying for you! Thank you!

Press ON!

Take It Seriously.

Last night I went to hear a good friend of mine preach at the church that he and his wife are attending. He gave a wonderful challenge to take the return of Christ seriously. He essentially wanted us to see that we do not really live as though Christ could seriously return before you are done reading this or before you take your next breath! Through God's Word he showed us three actions that a person who takes the return of Christ seriously will evident in their life.
First, he took us to Philippians 2:16-18; 2 Peter 3:11-12. He stated that a person who is serious about the return of Christ will rejoice in anticipation. Paul and Peter both were rejoicing in anticipation of Christ's return. Paul rejoiced in the return of Christ because he had opportunity to serve God and be doing that when He came. Peter asked what kind of people we should be based on know what is going to happen to this world and then said he was looking forward and desiring to hasten the coming of the Lord. I was posed with a question of my own life. "When was the last time I felt so excited and filled with joy when I thought of the return of Christ?" I know that I can become excited and joyful about a lot of things, but the return of Christ...I do not think about it as I should. Many times the reason why I am not thinking about it is because I have a strong grip on this worlds things and activities. I need to release that grip and rejoice in anticipations.
Second, he took us to Romans 13:11-12; Mark 13:32. He stated that a person who is serious about the return of Christ will renew our sense of urgency. Paul wrote to the Romans basically that the time of the return could be any minute and they needed to "wake up and get to work!" Paul challenged them to get rid of the works of darkness and get to work because Christ may return at any time. Mark says a similar thing in that he wants them to be alert. I was posed with a couple of questions that are similar here as I was thinking about this. "How do I use my time?" He asked us, "Would I be more likely to be reading God's Word or watching tv when Christ returns? Would I be more likely to be praying or eating/preparing food when Christ returns? Would I be more likely to be sharing the gospel or committing a sinful act when Christ returns?" These were all hard questions for me to answer because I am not doing or being what God wants me to do when I should, now. I was convicted about my lack of urgency about the things of God. I need to renew my sense of urgency.
Third, he took us to 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9; 1 Peter 1:13. He stated that a person who is serious about the return of Christ will replace apathy with sobriety. Paul is urging these people, and us, to be sober. Peter is also challenging us to be sober in our minds. They are not wanting us to let anything hinder our thinking so that we may be completely focused. We cannot just go through life not focused on the return of Christ. It needs to be our goal, what we are aiming for. We need to be working towards that goal. I was posed with this question "Where is my focus?" Is my life showing, evidenting that I am focused on the return of Christ? My life is focused on a lot of temporal things more often than it is focused on the eternal. I am needing to put my attention and focus on eternal things, which will last for eternity. Colossians 3:2 say "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." I need to replace my apathy with sobriety.
What about you? Are you one who takes the return of Christ seriously?

Press ON!

(Thanks Tim)

Snow

It is December 3 and we still have not really had any significant snow to speak of. I enjoy all the seasons. I enjoy the changing of the seasons. Now I think it is time for some snow. This morning it has snowed in other parts of the state but not here. In my mind the snow helps the cold temperatures not feel so cold. Today is a cold one. Snow would have been much appreciated.
When it is snowing it is very beautiful, also it is very beautiful right after it has snowed and before anyone has had an opportunity to walk through it or drive over it. It is so white and clean! It reminds me so much of how God has washed our sins as white as snow through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. When I see snow it reminds me of the love that God has for me. He loved me so much that He sent His only unique Son to earth to live life and struggle as we struggle, yet without sin, and go to the cross willingly to die for my sins, and not mine alone but all the world. Jesus died on the cross so the we might have eternal life. Snow reminds me of what God has done for me. Made me pure from sin. I no longer am a slave to sin, but rather a willing slave to God! Praise the Lord for what He has done! Snow, love it!

Press ON!