People who think they can please God by right behavior do not know big and how perfect God is.
Obedience to the Law is a good thing, but don’t be deceived into thinking that obedience to the Law will either save or help save you.
When Jesus said "…when you obey my commands…" He was not talking about obedience to the law of Moses or the Ten Commandments.
He was very clear: His commands are to love God with all of your heart, mind soul and strength and your neighbor as yourself.
Here is the message of the gospel, "…if you confess with your mouth Jesus is (as) Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved."
This the only possible conclusion to draw if (and only if) you understand Scripture in its context of entirety.
Sure, you can put verses together to say what you think they should say, but doing so dooms you to miss the point of the Word.
Since the Bible is God’s revelation of His character, His love for His creation and His plan for its redemption, we must interpret it thusly.
Whatever you are reading in His Word, you must answer the following questions about it:
1. What does it further reveal about the character of God that is consistant with the rest of the Bible?
2. What does it further reveal about His love for His creation?
3. What does it further reveal about His plan for its redemption?
Whatever you are reading in some "further revelation testament" must also answer the same questions.
See, if it just reiterates what we already know about the character of God, then it is unnecessary and so could not possibly be the "further" Word of God.
If it attempts to reveal "more" about His love for His creation, it could not possibly be the "further" Word of God, because then what He has already revealed would have to be either wrong or incomplete…and God is neither of those.
If it attempts to reveal "more" about His plan for our redemption, it could not possibly be the "further" Word of God, because when Jesus cried with a loud voice, "It is finished," He was proclaiming once and for all that everything necessary for mankind’s redemption was complete.
With all of this in mind, why don’t you stop "trying" to please God by forcing your behavior to conform to some artificial inkling of what is right or wrong, and instead begin to love Him with all of your heart, mind soul and strength?
Exercise your faith in His finished work at Calvary.
If you do, don’t worry. You will please Him.
If you don’t, don’t worry, you can’t please Him, for without faith it is impossible to please God.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
CREATION
The Bible proclaims: "In the beginning God created..."
Science proclaims: "In the beginning gaseous cloud and 'Big Bang'."
One is right.
One is wrong.
Let's start with "...gaseous cloud and 'Big Bang'."
Of what was the gaseous cloud supposedly made?
Trillions to the trillionth power of atoms forming molecules of gaseous material.
Each atom was (and is) made up of one or more proton(s), neutron(s) and electron(s).
Each of these is made up of such things as nucleons, quarks and other assorted atomia, some of which have not yet been discovered.
So...where are nucleons, quarks, protons, neutrons and electrons supposed to have come from?
Scientific answer: They were a part of the big gaseous cloud that just was.
That, dearly beloved, is a statement of extrodinary faith.
Once upon a time, the big gaseous cloud exploded.
Its atoms and molecules shot out into "space" in infinite randomness.
By chance, many were able, even as they accelerated outward from some nebulous center, to combine to form some sort of clusters, which, by "natural attraction" drew other atoms and molecules to them.
By chance, some of those clusters grew into large enough bodies to begin attracting greater numbers of atoms and molecules.
By chance, some of those atoms and molecules clustered in the right proportions to form pre-creative starites, planetitess, asteroidites, cometites, moonites and other cosmic entities, each of which was composed of various combinations of elements from the periodic table.
By chance, some of those pre-creative starites, planetites, etc., attracted just the right atoms and molecules to have just the right proportions of elements to form gasses and solids in the right percentages to become actual stars, etc.
By chance, some of those stars attracted some of those clumps of planetites to them at just the right distance to orbit around them.
By chance, some of those planetites became planets.
By chance, some of those planets held water, oxygen, nitrogen, and other rudimentary elements, to begin the process of "forming life."
By chance, the right proportions of elements combined to form elemental organelles (the structures which carry out specialized reactions within cells, which, of course, "died" because they did not have what they needed for sustanance, ie: the rest of the cell.
By chance, those same elements came together often enough to evenually create a eukaryotic cell with which to surround the organelles which kept forming (for some unexplained reason).
By chance, the eukaryotic cells developed the other things they needed to form sustainable "life," such as: mitochondria; rough endoplasmic reticula; nucleii; plasmic membrane, nucleolus; nuclear envelopes; chromatin; ribosomes; smoothe endoplasmic reticula; cillia; golgi apparatus; micro tubules; centrioles; peroxisomes; lysosomes; microfillaments; and other assorted biological requirements.
By chance, the eukaryotic cells also developed deoxyribonucleic acid, which contained the instructions for the cells to develop into whatever they were going to develop into and to continue manufacturing the right combinations and proportions of the other material to continue existing.
By chance, the deoxyribonucleic aced (DNA) was able to enter related nucleic acid (RNA), to instruct molecules to synthesize proteins or to construct ribosomes and spliceosomes.
By chance, these cells were able to divide, thus replicating themselves.
Sort of reads like a scientific version of Hebrews 11, doesn't it?
Picture a canon loaded with an unimaginably large and complex Erector Set (remember those?).
Shoot the pieces out.
How many of you believe the Erector Set would come together to form a replica of the Empire State Building?
Yet, scientists would have us believe that a process infinitely more intricate took place, the end result of which was you, me and our universe.
Right.
Now, it seems to be the nature of humans to contemplate our origins, whether by "natural processes" or by a Creator.
I wonder where that nature came from?
It seems to me that the most complex entity in the universe, besides the universe itself, the human brain, made up of the second most complex entity in the universe, the eukaryotic cell, speak loudly and clearly for a Creator.
Add to that the existence of the eukaroytic cell's little sister, the prokaryotic cell, and you have a life constituancy that defies imagination.
In the end, I think it makes infititely more sense to accept, "In the beginning God created..."
Science proclaims: "In the beginning gaseous cloud and 'Big Bang'."
One is right.
One is wrong.
Let's start with "...gaseous cloud and 'Big Bang'."
Of what was the gaseous cloud supposedly made?
Trillions to the trillionth power of atoms forming molecules of gaseous material.
Each atom was (and is) made up of one or more proton(s), neutron(s) and electron(s).
Each of these is made up of such things as nucleons, quarks and other assorted atomia, some of which have not yet been discovered.
So...where are nucleons, quarks, protons, neutrons and electrons supposed to have come from?
Scientific answer: They were a part of the big gaseous cloud that just was.
That, dearly beloved, is a statement of extrodinary faith.
Once upon a time, the big gaseous cloud exploded.
Its atoms and molecules shot out into "space" in infinite randomness.
By chance, many were able, even as they accelerated outward from some nebulous center, to combine to form some sort of clusters, which, by "natural attraction" drew other atoms and molecules to them.
By chance, some of those clusters grew into large enough bodies to begin attracting greater numbers of atoms and molecules.
By chance, some of those atoms and molecules clustered in the right proportions to form pre-creative starites, planetitess, asteroidites, cometites, moonites and other cosmic entities, each of which was composed of various combinations of elements from the periodic table.
By chance, some of those pre-creative starites, planetites, etc., attracted just the right atoms and molecules to have just the right proportions of elements to form gasses and solids in the right percentages to become actual stars, etc.
By chance, some of those stars attracted some of those clumps of planetites to them at just the right distance to orbit around them.
By chance, some of those planetites became planets.
By chance, some of those planets held water, oxygen, nitrogen, and other rudimentary elements, to begin the process of "forming life."
By chance, the right proportions of elements combined to form elemental organelles (the structures which carry out specialized reactions within cells, which, of course, "died" because they did not have what they needed for sustanance, ie: the rest of the cell.
By chance, those same elements came together often enough to evenually create a eukaryotic cell with which to surround the organelles which kept forming (for some unexplained reason).
By chance, the eukaryotic cells developed the other things they needed to form sustainable "life," such as: mitochondria; rough endoplasmic reticula; nucleii; plasmic membrane, nucleolus; nuclear envelopes; chromatin; ribosomes; smoothe endoplasmic reticula; cillia; golgi apparatus; micro tubules; centrioles; peroxisomes; lysosomes; microfillaments; and other assorted biological requirements.
By chance, the eukaryotic cells also developed deoxyribonucleic acid, which contained the instructions for the cells to develop into whatever they were going to develop into and to continue manufacturing the right combinations and proportions of the other material to continue existing.
By chance, the deoxyribonucleic aced (DNA) was able to enter related nucleic acid (RNA), to instruct molecules to synthesize proteins or to construct ribosomes and spliceosomes.
By chance, these cells were able to divide, thus replicating themselves.
Sort of reads like a scientific version of Hebrews 11, doesn't it?
Picture a canon loaded with an unimaginably large and complex Erector Set (remember those?).
Shoot the pieces out.
How many of you believe the Erector Set would come together to form a replica of the Empire State Building?
Yet, scientists would have us believe that a process infinitely more intricate took place, the end result of which was you, me and our universe.
Right.
Now, it seems to be the nature of humans to contemplate our origins, whether by "natural processes" or by a Creator.
I wonder where that nature came from?
It seems to me that the most complex entity in the universe, besides the universe itself, the human brain, made up of the second most complex entity in the universe, the eukaryotic cell, speak loudly and clearly for a Creator.
Add to that the existence of the eukaroytic cell's little sister, the prokaryotic cell, and you have a life constituancy that defies imagination.
In the end, I think it makes infititely more sense to accept, "In the beginning God created..."
Saturday, August 11, 2007
GOOD GOD!
My wife was chatting in a "Christian" chat-room with a person who purported to have asked God for a certain job which he did not get.
His attitude was that if God did not give him the job he prayed for, there was little reason to pray, 'cause God doesn't answer his prayers.
In the book of James we read, "You have not because you ask amiss." (James 4:3)
In other words, you ask with the wrong motive...to get your way.
News flash! It is not your way that counts.
The only way that counts for anything at all is THE WAY, who is Jesus.
It is a question of submission to His will.
"But if I submit to His will, I will not get what I want," I hear you object.
Wrong.
If you submit to His will, then you will want what He wants for you and will therefore get what you want, since it is what He wants.
"But...but...I want MY way."
OK. Have it your way.
You'll never be either satisfied or happy.
Have it God's way and you'll never be dissatisfied or unhappy.
Your choice.
He has written, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
That is not a promise of riches in the worldly sense. It is a promise that God wants what's good for you, not what's bad for you.
If God is God (supreme...the Creator...omnipotent...omnicient...omnipresent...the boss of all that is), then I want what He knows is good for me, in place of what I think would be good for me.
I either trust Him or I don't.
There is no such thing as, "I trust God, but..."
If I put the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (who is Jesus) first, then He will provide for me the wherewithal to have what He knows I need. (see the verses before and after Matthew 7:33)
"But the job I wanted and did not get would have made me happy."
NO.
The job God wants for you will make you happy.
Want to be happy?
Submit.
"But submitting would mean giving up my wants, desires and way!"
Right!
You're beginning to catch on!
The Bible is packed jam full of examples of people who found their joy in giving up self desire and giving up to God.
Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Joshua, Daniel, Mary, Peter, Paul (not to be confused with Peter, Paul and Mary), John, et. al. are just some of the people who found enriched freedom in submission.
You can too.
Or not.
Choose.
His attitude was that if God did not give him the job he prayed for, there was little reason to pray, 'cause God doesn't answer his prayers.
In the book of James we read, "You have not because you ask amiss." (James 4:3)
In other words, you ask with the wrong motive...to get your way.
News flash! It is not your way that counts.
The only way that counts for anything at all is THE WAY, who is Jesus.
It is a question of submission to His will.
"But if I submit to His will, I will not get what I want," I hear you object.
Wrong.
If you submit to His will, then you will want what He wants for you and will therefore get what you want, since it is what He wants.
"But...but...I want MY way."
OK. Have it your way.
You'll never be either satisfied or happy.
Have it God's way and you'll never be dissatisfied or unhappy.
Your choice.
He has written, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
That is not a promise of riches in the worldly sense. It is a promise that God wants what's good for you, not what's bad for you.
If God is God (supreme...the Creator...omnipotent...omnicient...omnipresent...the boss of all that is), then I want what He knows is good for me, in place of what I think would be good for me.
I either trust Him or I don't.
There is no such thing as, "I trust God, but..."
If I put the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (who is Jesus) first, then He will provide for me the wherewithal to have what He knows I need. (see the verses before and after Matthew 7:33)
"But the job I wanted and did not get would have made me happy."
NO.
The job God wants for you will make you happy.
Want to be happy?
Submit.
"But submitting would mean giving up my wants, desires and way!"
Right!
You're beginning to catch on!
The Bible is packed jam full of examples of people who found their joy in giving up self desire and giving up to God.
Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Joshua, Daniel, Mary, Peter, Paul (not to be confused with Peter, Paul and Mary), John, et. al. are just some of the people who found enriched freedom in submission.
You can too.
Or not.
Choose.
Friday, August 10, 2007
RIDICULOUS!
Tooling along the Six Mile Cypress Raceway, on my way home from the studios of the Christian radio station at which I work (heard online at www.kingdom.fm), I heard a discussion with an author who has written a "satire" about current politicians.
The characters in the book being discussed included George Bush, Barack Obama, Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, First Husband wannabe, Bill Clinton and an assortment of other quasi leaders in the world.
The foibles and follies of each were pointed out in sweeping scenarios of ridiculousness.
Trouble is, it is not satire.
Two generations of Americans (and I suspect other world citizens) have lost sight of what constitutes satire.
This is largely due to the TV program, Saturday Night Live.
SNL referred to what it did as satire, so the TV public assumed that they knew what satire is.
They don't.
What they engaged in was (and is) ridicule.
Ridicule is not satire.
Ridicule is a valid form of humor (sometimes), but it is not satire.
Satire, in its classical historical sense, is misdirection.
It is using characters to expose the preposterousness of the government or other entity.
Gulliver's Travels, for instance, purported to be a children's adventure story.
And it is a very compelling children's adventure story.
It is also four mini-novels about the British government.
Not only that, there is a topic that runs through all the four novels.
It is that the human race often takes things for granted not considering that there could be some one or something getting hurt.
Do you know what each of the characters represent?
Who are the Lilliputians, the Brumbidangs, the Laputas and the Yahoo's (ever wonder where that characterization came from...as in: What a Yahoo!)?
Do you know who are represented in Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass?
Who was the Walrus?
Who was the White Rabbit?
What about the Cheshire Cat?
What governmentally induced dangers were represented in the stories?
That's the point.
You (probably) don't know.
Neither did those at which the books were pointed.
Both Jonathan Swift and Lewis Carroll found a way to poke fun at both government and society through misdirection, without getting in trouble over it at a time when "free speech" was only a figment of most people's imaginations.
So, look. Ridicule is OK and has its place.
But please, please, please don't call it "satire."
If we must call "ridicule" "satire," then we will have to come up with another word for "satire."
I must go.
As the White Rabbit said:
"I'm late! I'm late...for a very important date!
"No time to say, 'Hello,' good by.
"I'm late! I'm late! I'm late!"
The characters in the book being discussed included George Bush, Barack Obama, Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, First Husband wannabe, Bill Clinton and an assortment of other quasi leaders in the world.
The foibles and follies of each were pointed out in sweeping scenarios of ridiculousness.
Trouble is, it is not satire.
Two generations of Americans (and I suspect other world citizens) have lost sight of what constitutes satire.
This is largely due to the TV program, Saturday Night Live.
SNL referred to what it did as satire, so the TV public assumed that they knew what satire is.
They don't.
What they engaged in was (and is) ridicule.
Ridicule is not satire.
Ridicule is a valid form of humor (sometimes), but it is not satire.
Satire, in its classical historical sense, is misdirection.
It is using characters to expose the preposterousness of the government or other entity.
Gulliver's Travels, for instance, purported to be a children's adventure story.
And it is a very compelling children's adventure story.
It is also four mini-novels about the British government.
Not only that, there is a topic that runs through all the four novels.
It is that the human race often takes things for granted not considering that there could be some one or something getting hurt.
Do you know what each of the characters represent?
Who are the Lilliputians, the Brumbidangs, the Laputas and the Yahoo's (ever wonder where that characterization came from...as in: What a Yahoo!)?
Do you know who are represented in Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass?
Who was the Walrus?
Who was the White Rabbit?
What about the Cheshire Cat?
What governmentally induced dangers were represented in the stories?
That's the point.
You (probably) don't know.
Neither did those at which the books were pointed.
Both Jonathan Swift and Lewis Carroll found a way to poke fun at both government and society through misdirection, without getting in trouble over it at a time when "free speech" was only a figment of most people's imaginations.
So, look. Ridicule is OK and has its place.
But please, please, please don't call it "satire."
If we must call "ridicule" "satire," then we will have to come up with another word for "satire."
I must go.
As the White Rabbit said:
"I'm late! I'm late...for a very important date!
"No time to say, 'Hello,' good by.
"I'm late! I'm late! I'm late!"
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
CONTROL FREAKS
Should a Christian dance?
Should a Christian smoke?
Should a Christian go to movies?
Should a Christian run around with strange women (or men...as the case may be)?
These are some of the heart-wrenching questions being asked when I was first introduced to Jesus.
We all thought that there was some kind of check-list that God kept to decide whether or not to strike us with lightning (or to just give us a good jolt from the wall socket).
But it was more than that.
Our parents, teachers, Sunday School leaders and pastors used these issues to help us "keep in line."
This still goes on today.
I could not count the number of times I have had well-meaning (I guess) Christians quote some scripture or other in an attempt to prove or disprove what I (or someone else) should or should not be doing.
Partly that's because I can't count all that high.
But mostly it's because most people think Christianity is about the old control game.
So, before I stray too far from topic, let me make this clear:
The Bible is not a guide book by which we can discover the behaviors that will please God.
Some of you are now reeling and stumbling backward with shock.
Get over it.
The Bible is God's revelation of His character, His love for His creation and His plan for its redemption.
Notice the underlined "His"es.
The Bible is not even about you.
It is about God and His intervention in history.
"What!!?" I hear you exclaiming, "I thought the Bible was God's guidebook...the "operator's manual" for human living.
Nope.
Before you go off half cocked, let me assure you that it contains the best guidance that has ever been conceived.
But it is not a guide-book.
Nor is it a history book.
Now it contains the best history that has ever been written.
But it is not a history book.
Neither is is a science book.
Whenever science and the Bible contradict one another, you can be certain that it is science, not the Bible, that is wrong.
The Bible is not a psychology book.
Yet its author, who created both the brain and the mind, knows more about the psychology of the human mind than all the psychologists who ever have lived, are living now or ever will live.
Follow the Bible's guidance...you'll never go wrong.
Learn from the Bible's history...you'll be enriched.
Accept the Bible's description of the material universe...you'll grow in faith.
Trust the Bible's understanding of human nature...you'll be humbled.
But know that you know that the Bible is about God.
It is about His love for His creation.
It is about His plan for its salvation through the death burrial and resurrection of His incarnate self, Jesus, the Christ.
When this is internalized in you, you will never have to worry about the legalistic following of this rule or that.
It will be enough to have entered into a personal relationship with Him.
When that happens, you will not want to steal, kill, hate, worry, fornicate, covet, lie, cheat, or engage in any other behavior that would detract from the moment-by-moment joy of walking hand-in-hand with Him and His great love.
When you are focused on Him, you will not be able to focus on anything or anyone else.
You will never feel the need to control someone else, and you will never fear that someone else might be able to control you.
You will find God's grace in every circumstance, good or bad, and will be able to have an eternal attitude of gratitude, praise and wonder.
The next time you study God's Word, remember who it's about.
Draw closer to Him.
Should a Christian smoke?
Should a Christian go to movies?
Should a Christian run around with strange women (or men...as the case may be)?
These are some of the heart-wrenching questions being asked when I was first introduced to Jesus.
We all thought that there was some kind of check-list that God kept to decide whether or not to strike us with lightning (or to just give us a good jolt from the wall socket).
But it was more than that.
Our parents, teachers, Sunday School leaders and pastors used these issues to help us "keep in line."
This still goes on today.
I could not count the number of times I have had well-meaning (I guess) Christians quote some scripture or other in an attempt to prove or disprove what I (or someone else) should or should not be doing.
Partly that's because I can't count all that high.
But mostly it's because most people think Christianity is about the old control game.
So, before I stray too far from topic, let me make this clear:
The Bible is not a guide book by which we can discover the behaviors that will please God.
Some of you are now reeling and stumbling backward with shock.
Get over it.
The Bible is God's revelation of His character, His love for His creation and His plan for its redemption.
Notice the underlined "His"es.
The Bible is not even about you.
It is about God and His intervention in history.
"What!!?" I hear you exclaiming, "I thought the Bible was God's guidebook...the "operator's manual" for human living.
Nope.
Before you go off half cocked, let me assure you that it contains the best guidance that has ever been conceived.
But it is not a guide-book.
Nor is it a history book.
Now it contains the best history that has ever been written.
But it is not a history book.
Neither is is a science book.
Whenever science and the Bible contradict one another, you can be certain that it is science, not the Bible, that is wrong.
The Bible is not a psychology book.
Yet its author, who created both the brain and the mind, knows more about the psychology of the human mind than all the psychologists who ever have lived, are living now or ever will live.
Follow the Bible's guidance...you'll never go wrong.
Learn from the Bible's history...you'll be enriched.
Accept the Bible's description of the material universe...you'll grow in faith.
Trust the Bible's understanding of human nature...you'll be humbled.
But know that you know that the Bible is about God.
It is about His love for His creation.
It is about His plan for its salvation through the death burrial and resurrection of His incarnate self, Jesus, the Christ.
When this is internalized in you, you will never have to worry about the legalistic following of this rule or that.
It will be enough to have entered into a personal relationship with Him.
When that happens, you will not want to steal, kill, hate, worry, fornicate, covet, lie, cheat, or engage in any other behavior that would detract from the moment-by-moment joy of walking hand-in-hand with Him and His great love.
When you are focused on Him, you will not be able to focus on anything or anyone else.
You will never feel the need to control someone else, and you will never fear that someone else might be able to control you.
You will find God's grace in every circumstance, good or bad, and will be able to have an eternal attitude of gratitude, praise and wonder.
The next time you study God's Word, remember who it's about.
Draw closer to Him.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
And now Let's Play THE BLAME GAME!!!
A bridge fell.
People were on it.
That is a tragedy.
We pray for the family members who lost loved ones.
It was not George Bush's fault.
As much as it pains me so say so, it was not Bill Clinton's fault.
Maintaining roads is up to states, counties and municipalities.
It will cause you some distress to know that the federal government is not your mommy.
It is not their job to take care of you.
It is not their job to provide you with health care.
It is not their job to feed you.
It is not their job to rescue you from the elements.
It is not their job to control your daily non-criminal behavior.
It is not their job to educate you.
(That's right. Schools used to be run by the church in this country. Then they were run by local governments. [Those were the schools that educated the people who put us on the moon...notice we haven't been back?]. In the early 70s they started becoming federal government schools)
It is the federal government's job:
1. to unite us
2. to see that justice prevails in the courts
3. to keep us peaceful
4. to defend us from those who would harm us
5. to promote our enthusiasm (called "the general welfare"... which has nothing to do with government hand-outs)
6. to protect the blessings of our freedom.
Life, liberty and personal property (not the pursuit of happiness...that's the Declaration of Independence) are guaranteed by The Constitution of the United States of America.
Your freedom to fuss at the government is guaranteed.
Your freedom to worship anytime, anywhere is guaranteed.
Your freedom write whatever you want is guaranteed (think blogs).
Your freedom to own a weapon is guaranteed.
Etc. (Check out The Constitution of the United States of America for more of your freedoms.)
Although The Constitution of the United States of America is a living, breathing document, it lives and breathes slowly...by the amendment process, not by the judicial process.
We can change it, but it has been made a very arduous procedure...on purpose.
So when tragedies happen, resist the urge to point the finger at the feds.
Do what you can to help.
Pray for the families affected.
Send money.
But don't blame the government.
When you blame the government for that which is not their responsibility, you embolden them to think that it IS their responsibility, and they then seek more control.
Trust me.
You don't want the federal government to have more control over your life.
They aren't very good at it.
If "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely," then you don't want to give Washington more power.
In fact, you should do what you can to help take back much of the power you have ceded to them in the past.
If you don't do it while it can be done peacefully, you will have to do it by force later.
If you don't, there will come a day when you will be ruled by despots who will take away every freedom you have.
They will think for you.
They will control you.
They will tell you what job you must have.
They will tell you what you must study to have that job.
They will tell you what to drive.
They will tell you what to eat.
They will tell you what to wear.
And if you disobey them, or if they just dislike you, they will torture you, cut off your fingers and toes or simply cut off you head.
Don't believe it?
Check out both current events and history.
Both prove it.
Is that what you want?
So who do you blame?
People were on it.
That is a tragedy.
We pray for the family members who lost loved ones.
It was not George Bush's fault.
As much as it pains me so say so, it was not Bill Clinton's fault.
Maintaining roads is up to states, counties and municipalities.
It will cause you some distress to know that the federal government is not your mommy.
It is not their job to take care of you.
It is not their job to provide you with health care.
It is not their job to feed you.
It is not their job to rescue you from the elements.
It is not their job to control your daily non-criminal behavior.
It is not their job to educate you.
(That's right. Schools used to be run by the church in this country. Then they were run by local governments. [Those were the schools that educated the people who put us on the moon...notice we haven't been back?]. In the early 70s they started becoming federal government schools)
It is the federal government's job:
1. to unite us
2. to see that justice prevails in the courts
3. to keep us peaceful
4. to defend us from those who would harm us
5. to promote our enthusiasm (called "the general welfare"... which has nothing to do with government hand-outs)
6. to protect the blessings of our freedom.
Life, liberty and personal property (not the pursuit of happiness...that's the Declaration of Independence) are guaranteed by The Constitution of the United States of America.
Your freedom to fuss at the government is guaranteed.
Your freedom to worship anytime, anywhere is guaranteed.
Your freedom write whatever you want is guaranteed (think blogs).
Your freedom to own a weapon is guaranteed.
Etc. (Check out The Constitution of the United States of America for more of your freedoms.)
Although The Constitution of the United States of America is a living, breathing document, it lives and breathes slowly...by the amendment process, not by the judicial process.
We can change it, but it has been made a very arduous procedure...on purpose.
So when tragedies happen, resist the urge to point the finger at the feds.
Do what you can to help.
Pray for the families affected.
Send money.
But don't blame the government.
When you blame the government for that which is not their responsibility, you embolden them to think that it IS their responsibility, and they then seek more control.
Trust me.
You don't want the federal government to have more control over your life.
They aren't very good at it.
If "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely," then you don't want to give Washington more power.
In fact, you should do what you can to help take back much of the power you have ceded to them in the past.
If you don't do it while it can be done peacefully, you will have to do it by force later.
If you don't, there will come a day when you will be ruled by despots who will take away every freedom you have.
They will think for you.
They will control you.
They will tell you what job you must have.
They will tell you what you must study to have that job.
They will tell you what to drive.
They will tell you what to eat.
They will tell you what to wear.
And if you disobey them, or if they just dislike you, they will torture you, cut off your fingers and toes or simply cut off you head.
Don't believe it?
Check out both current events and history.
Both prove it.
Is that what you want?
So who do you blame?
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
A NEW CHEMICAL ELEMENT
Someone sent this to me.
So, naturally, I thought I would pass it along to you.
I was right...I would.
Recent hurricanes and gasoline prices are proof of the existence of a new chemical element.
Research has led to the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science.
The new element, Governmentium(Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.
Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact.
A minute amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second, to take from four days to four years to complete.
Governmentium has a normal half life of 2- 6 years. It does not decay, but instead undergoes reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.
In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes.
This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration.
This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass.
When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium(Ad), an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium, since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.
So, naturally, I thought I would pass it along to you.
I was right...I would.
Recent hurricanes and gasoline prices are proof of the existence of a new chemical element.
Research has led to the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science.
The new element, Governmentium(Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.
Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact.
A minute amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second, to take from four days to four years to complete.
Governmentium has a normal half life of 2- 6 years. It does not decay, but instead undergoes reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.
In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes.
This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration.
This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass.
When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium(Ad), an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium, since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
ONE MORE RADIO POST
I am the Production Manager at Kingdom FM, 91.5 FM, Fort Myers Florida and have a weekday air shift from 9:00 AM until Noon.
Kingdom FM can be heard online at www.kingdom.fm.
There is a temptation in Christian radio to think that if we do something special on air for one person, one business or a small group of people we are ministering.
Such is not the case.
There is a reason why radio is called BROADcasting.
Christian radio is best designed to attempt with every element (spots, programs, music, and other ministry) to reach the largest number of people 24 HOURS PER DAY.
While it is true that, in general, drive times have the largest number of people listening at a given time, it is not necessarily the largest audience.
The largest audience is actually found in non-drive time, when considered as a whole.
Let's say you have 100,000 listeners.
From 7:00 AM until 9:00 AM (Morning Drive), let's say you have 20,000 listeners and from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM (Afternoon Drive) you have 23,000 listeners.
These would be distributed over 4 hours of broadcasting, or about 10,750 listeners per hour.
The rest of your listeners are distributed (rather unevenly) among Midnight to 7:00 AM, Noon until 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM until Midnight. This, using the above figures, would total 57,000 listeners.
These would be distributed over the other 20 hours of broadcasting, or about 2,800 listeners per hour.
While the total number of listeners in any drive time hour is higher than any given non-drive time hour, by far the greatest number of total listeners is in non-drive time.
Add in the Saturday and Sunday hours, and the differences between drive time and non-drive time become even greater.
It would behoove a Christian radio station, then, to make every effort to minister to the non-drive time hours at least as well as it does to drive time.
Now radio listeners are dynamic, not static. That means that the audience is constantly changing.
A person gets in the car, listens to the radio until reaching the destination and then does not listen while shopping, working or whatever else might be taking place.
This is important to take into account when planning programs, spots, music and other ministry elements.
Additionally, it is a waste of valuable ministry time to engage in programming that does not target the largest possible number of people in any given day part.
Programming a particular church's baptismal service, for instance, makes little sense.
First of all, baptism is a visual event and not suited for radio.
Secondly, a particular church's baptismal service is of only minor interest to members of other churches or denominations.
So the wise Program Manager seeks to constantly air the type of programming that appeals to the greatest number of people at any given moment of broadcasting.
One final programming thought.
Radio, especially Christian radio, is very personal to the listener.
Listeners come to feel as though they know the announcers ministering at a given day part.
They also love to know the artists to whom they are listening and the songs they are hearing.
Each of the Bible study personalities has a style to which listeners become accustomed.
The personal nature of Christian radio should encourage a station to exercise an extra measure of integrity and dependability when planning programs.
Constant change irritates listeners.
The inability of listeners to know what they are listening to frustrates them.
Irritated and frustrated listeners are less likely to feel that they are being ministered to and are therefore less likely to support Christian radio.
Increase your ministry AND your contributions by being steady, stable and wise in your programming decisions.
Remember, it is all about ministering to the listener in the name of Jesus.
Kingdom FM can be heard online at www.kingdom.fm.
There is a temptation in Christian radio to think that if we do something special on air for one person, one business or a small group of people we are ministering.
Such is not the case.
There is a reason why radio is called BROADcasting.
Christian radio is best designed to attempt with every element (spots, programs, music, and other ministry) to reach the largest number of people 24 HOURS PER DAY.
While it is true that, in general, drive times have the largest number of people listening at a given time, it is not necessarily the largest audience.
The largest audience is actually found in non-drive time, when considered as a whole.
Let's say you have 100,000 listeners.
From 7:00 AM until 9:00 AM (Morning Drive), let's say you have 20,000 listeners and from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM (Afternoon Drive) you have 23,000 listeners.
These would be distributed over 4 hours of broadcasting, or about 10,750 listeners per hour.
The rest of your listeners are distributed (rather unevenly) among Midnight to 7:00 AM, Noon until 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM until Midnight. This, using the above figures, would total 57,000 listeners.
These would be distributed over the other 20 hours of broadcasting, or about 2,800 listeners per hour.
While the total number of listeners in any drive time hour is higher than any given non-drive time hour, by far the greatest number of total listeners is in non-drive time.
Add in the Saturday and Sunday hours, and the differences between drive time and non-drive time become even greater.
It would behoove a Christian radio station, then, to make every effort to minister to the non-drive time hours at least as well as it does to drive time.
Now radio listeners are dynamic, not static. That means that the audience is constantly changing.
A person gets in the car, listens to the radio until reaching the destination and then does not listen while shopping, working or whatever else might be taking place.
This is important to take into account when planning programs, spots, music and other ministry elements.
Additionally, it is a waste of valuable ministry time to engage in programming that does not target the largest possible number of people in any given day part.
Programming a particular church's baptismal service, for instance, makes little sense.
First of all, baptism is a visual event and not suited for radio.
Secondly, a particular church's baptismal service is of only minor interest to members of other churches or denominations.
So the wise Program Manager seeks to constantly air the type of programming that appeals to the greatest number of people at any given moment of broadcasting.
One final programming thought.
Radio, especially Christian radio, is very personal to the listener.
Listeners come to feel as though they know the announcers ministering at a given day part.
They also love to know the artists to whom they are listening and the songs they are hearing.
Each of the Bible study personalities has a style to which listeners become accustomed.
The personal nature of Christian radio should encourage a station to exercise an extra measure of integrity and dependability when planning programs.
Constant change irritates listeners.
The inability of listeners to know what they are listening to frustrates them.
Irritated and frustrated listeners are less likely to feel that they are being ministered to and are therefore less likely to support Christian radio.
Increase your ministry AND your contributions by being steady, stable and wise in your programming decisions.
Remember, it is all about ministering to the listener in the name of Jesus.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
A HIGHER CALLING
As you know, I work at Kingdom fm, WJYO, 91.5 FM in Fort Myers, Florida and online at www.kingdom.fm.
It is an honor, a privilege and a responsibility to minister to a community in the name of Jesus through Christian radio.
To think that we have the pleasure of being ministers of His through this medium is awesome.
However, with that pleasure must come the realization that we are held to a very high standard.
It is a travesty that we sometimes forget that standard (or simply ignore it).
For instance, one prominent leader in a Christian radio ministry asked to have a CD made of some of the music being aired.
"A simple and harmless request," you may think.
Think again.
For starters, the music radio stations air is copyrighted for the protection of the artists who wrote, produced, played, sang and distributed the product.
To simply copy it without permission in order to avoid the bother and expense of purchasing it, is to keep those artists from making money on the product from which they make their living.
In short, it is stealing, and thus a violation of the Commandment, "Thou shalt not steal."
Another area in which Christian radio stations are held to a high standard is the area of consideration.
Consideration is being paid in exchange for the on-air promotion of a for-profit business or other entity.
Many Christian radio stations air "donor acknowledgements," for businesses who contribute to the ministry.
Some stations tend to think, "Donor acknowledgements are really just commercials by another name," and tend to wink at the FCC rules governing such acknowledgements.
NOT SO!!
The Federal Communications Commission, to which all broadcast stations must answer, has very strict guidelines regarding the differences between commercials and donor acknowledgements.
A donor acknowledgement is an announcement that identifies a for-profit business that supports the station with one or more contributions.
It cannot be made for consideration; that is: a noncommercial, religious 501C3 station may not "charge" a for-profit business for air time.
The concept that a noncommercial Christian station may charge, say, $10.00 per insertion for a donor acknowledgement is a clear violation of FCC rules.
What is supposed to happen is that a business decides to support the Christian radio station and the station decides to acknowledge that support...period.
The donor acknowledgement may not call on the listener to act on the announcement, may not announce an inducement for the listener to visit the business or to purchase anything from it, may not ask the listener to rent or lease from the business, may not announce information about the price of goods or services and may not announce any descriptive information about the businesses products or services.
For instance, "Goober Ford sells quality Ford products," would be descriptive of the products Goober Ford sells through the use of the word "quality."
"Goober Ford sells Ford products" is fine, because it is not descriptive, just factual.
"Monty's half-price sale lasts until Saturday," would be illegal, because it implies both a price and an inducement to buy.
Fines for violations can be stiff (see below) and may result in the revocation of the Christian radio station's license to broadcast.
The following is taken from the FCC web site relating to the operation of noncommercial radio stations, including educational, religious and 501C3 stations.
FCC GUIDELINES FOR NONCOMMERCIAL UNDERWRITER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Guidelines covering announcements for the sale of program-related services and materials by for-profit entities were not changed by our 1982 Order.
Thus, such announcements are permitted so long as the licensee (1) receives no consideration [consideration is defined as money’s received or charged in exchange for services or announcements offered] for the announcement; and (2) the materials are offered on the basis of public interest considerations and not the private economic interests of the offeror; or (3) the price of the materials offered is only nominal. Second Report and Order, 86 FCC 2d at 152. As noted above, the nominal price requirement does not apply to offerings sponsored by nonprofit entities.
Advertisements are defined by the Act as program material broadcast "in exchange for any remuneration" and intended to "promote any service, facility, or product" of for-profit entities.
Thus, and underwriter announcement that violates the noncommercial rules is considered an advertisement.
In the Matter of CHRISTIAN VOICE OF CENTRAL OHIO, INC. Licensee of Formerly Noncommercial Educational Station WCVZ(FM), South Zanesville, Ohio, The FCC enforced a $20,000.00 fine and recommended the revocation of their license.
Section 399B of the Act, as implemented by Section 73.503 of the Commission's Rules, prohibits public radio and television stations from broadcasting advertisements. Advertisements are defined by the Act as program material broadcast "in exchange for any remuneration" and intended to "promote any service, facility, or product" of for-profit entities. 47 U.S.C. _ 399B.
Although contributors of funds to a noncommercial station may receive on-air acknowledgements, the Commission has unequivocally stated that such acknowledgements may be made for identification purposes only and should not promote the contributor's products, services, or business.
Specifically, such announcements may not contain comparative or qualitative descriptions, price information, calls to action, or inducements to buy, sell, rent or lease. See Public Notice, "In the Matter of the Commission Policy Concerning the Noncommercial Nature of Educational Broadcasting Stations."
As representatives of our Lord, we have a spiritual and a secular responsibility to conduct our ministry in a way that is entirely above board and that would bring only honor and glory to Him.
Christian radio is held to a HIGHER CALLING.
It is an honor, a privilege and a responsibility to minister to a community in the name of Jesus through Christian radio.
To think that we have the pleasure of being ministers of His through this medium is awesome.
However, with that pleasure must come the realization that we are held to a very high standard.
It is a travesty that we sometimes forget that standard (or simply ignore it).
For instance, one prominent leader in a Christian radio ministry asked to have a CD made of some of the music being aired.
"A simple and harmless request," you may think.
Think again.
For starters, the music radio stations air is copyrighted for the protection of the artists who wrote, produced, played, sang and distributed the product.
To simply copy it without permission in order to avoid the bother and expense of purchasing it, is to keep those artists from making money on the product from which they make their living.
In short, it is stealing, and thus a violation of the Commandment, "Thou shalt not steal."
Another area in which Christian radio stations are held to a high standard is the area of consideration.
Consideration is being paid in exchange for the on-air promotion of a for-profit business or other entity.
Many Christian radio stations air "donor acknowledgements," for businesses who contribute to the ministry.
Some stations tend to think, "Donor acknowledgements are really just commercials by another name," and tend to wink at the FCC rules governing such acknowledgements.
NOT SO!!
The Federal Communications Commission, to which all broadcast stations must answer, has very strict guidelines regarding the differences between commercials and donor acknowledgements.
A donor acknowledgement is an announcement that identifies a for-profit business that supports the station with one or more contributions.
It cannot be made for consideration; that is: a noncommercial, religious 501C3 station may not "charge" a for-profit business for air time.
The concept that a noncommercial Christian station may charge, say, $10.00 per insertion for a donor acknowledgement is a clear violation of FCC rules.
What is supposed to happen is that a business decides to support the Christian radio station and the station decides to acknowledge that support...period.
The donor acknowledgement may not call on the listener to act on the announcement, may not announce an inducement for the listener to visit the business or to purchase anything from it, may not ask the listener to rent or lease from the business, may not announce information about the price of goods or services and may not announce any descriptive information about the businesses products or services.
For instance, "Goober Ford sells quality Ford products," would be descriptive of the products Goober Ford sells through the use of the word "quality."
"Goober Ford sells Ford products" is fine, because it is not descriptive, just factual.
"Monty's half-price sale lasts until Saturday," would be illegal, because it implies both a price and an inducement to buy.
Fines for violations can be stiff (see below) and may result in the revocation of the Christian radio station's license to broadcast.
The following is taken from the FCC web site relating to the operation of noncommercial radio stations, including educational, religious and 501C3 stations.
FCC GUIDELINES FOR NONCOMMERCIAL UNDERWRITER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Guidelines covering announcements for the sale of program-related services and materials by for-profit entities were not changed by our 1982 Order.
Thus, such announcements are permitted so long as the licensee (1) receives no consideration [consideration is defined as money’s received or charged in exchange for services or announcements offered] for the announcement; and (2) the materials are offered on the basis of public interest considerations and not the private economic interests of the offeror; or (3) the price of the materials offered is only nominal. Second Report and Order, 86 FCC 2d at 152. As noted above, the nominal price requirement does not apply to offerings sponsored by nonprofit entities.
Advertisements are defined by the Act as program material broadcast "in exchange for any remuneration" and intended to "promote any service, facility, or product" of for-profit entities.
Thus, and underwriter announcement that violates the noncommercial rules is considered an advertisement.
In the Matter of CHRISTIAN VOICE OF CENTRAL OHIO, INC. Licensee of Formerly Noncommercial Educational Station WCVZ(FM), South Zanesville, Ohio, The FCC enforced a $20,000.00 fine and recommended the revocation of their license.
Section 399B of the Act, as implemented by Section 73.503 of the Commission's Rules, prohibits public radio and television stations from broadcasting advertisements. Advertisements are defined by the Act as program material broadcast "in exchange for any remuneration" and intended to "promote any service, facility, or product" of for-profit entities. 47 U.S.C. _ 399B.
Although contributors of funds to a noncommercial station may receive on-air acknowledgements, the Commission has unequivocally stated that such acknowledgements may be made for identification purposes only and should not promote the contributor's products, services, or business.
Specifically, such announcements may not contain comparative or qualitative descriptions, price information, calls to action, or inducements to buy, sell, rent or lease. See Public Notice, "In the Matter of the Commission Policy Concerning the Noncommercial Nature of Educational Broadcasting Stations."
As representatives of our Lord, we have a spiritual and a secular responsibility to conduct our ministry in a way that is entirely above board and that would bring only honor and glory to Him.
Christian radio is held to a HIGHER CALLING.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
This One's Been Around But I Love It
Gumperson's Law
Gumperson's Law, as explained below, accounts for the fact that you can throw a burned match out the window of your car and start a forest fire, while you can use two boxes of matches and a whole edition of the Sunday paper without being able to start a fire under the dry logs in your fireplace.
The law, stated simply, is:
Readers familiar with these matters will perhaps recognize another version of the Law: The Outcome of a Given Desired Probability will be Inverse to the Degree of Desirability.
Dr. R.F. Gumperson, internationally famous physicist, began serious work in 1938 on a phenomenon long known to scientists, but up until then considered as a mere curiosity. This was the fact that the forecasting record of the Weather Bureau, despite its use of the most advanced equipment and highly trained personnel, was not as good as that of the Farmers' Almanac.
After four years of research, Dr. Gumperson enunciated his now famous law and was able to make a series of predictions later confirmed by other workers in the field. Some of the better known of these include the following:
(1) That after a raise in pay you will have less money at the end of the month than you had before.
(2) That the girl at the race track who bets according to the color of the jockey's shirt will pick more winners than the man who studied the past performance of every horse on the program.
(3) That children have more energy after a hard day of play than they do after a good night's sleep.
(4) That the person who buys the most raffle tickets has the least chance of winning the raffle.
(5) That a child can be exposed to mumps for weeks without catching them, but can catch them without exposure the day before the family vacation.
(6) That the dishwasher will break down the evening you give dinner for ten.
(7) That the parking spaces are always on the other side of the street.
Dr. Gumperson served as a consultant to the armed services during World War II and evolved the procedure whereby the more a recruit knew about a given subject, the better chance he had of receiving an assignment elsewhere.
There is no knowing to what further glittering heights Dr. Gumperson's genius could have led him had it not been for his untimely death in 1947.
Strolling along the highway one evening, he was obeying the pedestrian rules of walking to the left, wearing light clothing, and facing traffic.
He was struck down from behind by a Hillman-Minx, driven by an English visitor hugging the left side of the road.
Gumperson's Law, as explained below, accounts for the fact that you can throw a burned match out the window of your car and start a forest fire, while you can use two boxes of matches and a whole edition of the Sunday paper without being able to start a fire under the dry logs in your fireplace.
The law, stated simply, is:
"THE CONTRADICTORY OF A WELCOME PROBABILITY WILL ASSERT ITSELF WHENEVER SUCH AN EVENT IS LIKELY TO BE MOST FRUSTRATING."
Readers familiar with these matters will perhaps recognize another version of the Law: The Outcome of a Given Desired Probability will be Inverse to the Degree of Desirability.
Dr. R.F. Gumperson, internationally famous physicist, began serious work in 1938 on a phenomenon long known to scientists, but up until then considered as a mere curiosity. This was the fact that the forecasting record of the Weather Bureau, despite its use of the most advanced equipment and highly trained personnel, was not as good as that of the Farmers' Almanac.
After four years of research, Dr. Gumperson enunciated his now famous law and was able to make a series of predictions later confirmed by other workers in the field. Some of the better known of these include the following:
(1) That after a raise in pay you will have less money at the end of the month than you had before.
(2) That the girl at the race track who bets according to the color of the jockey's shirt will pick more winners than the man who studied the past performance of every horse on the program.
(3) That children have more energy after a hard day of play than they do after a good night's sleep.
(4) That the person who buys the most raffle tickets has the least chance of winning the raffle.
(5) That a child can be exposed to mumps for weeks without catching them, but can catch them without exposure the day before the family vacation.
(6) That the dishwasher will break down the evening you give dinner for ten.
(7) That the parking spaces are always on the other side of the street.
Dr. Gumperson served as a consultant to the armed services during World War II and evolved the procedure whereby the more a recruit knew about a given subject, the better chance he had of receiving an assignment elsewhere.
There is no knowing to what further glittering heights Dr. Gumperson's genius could have led him had it not been for his untimely death in 1947.
Strolling along the highway one evening, he was obeying the pedestrian rules of walking to the left, wearing light clothing, and facing traffic.
He was struck down from behind by a Hillman-Minx, driven by an English visitor hugging the left side of the road.
Monday, July 23, 2007
QOD
Here is the
Why in the world would someone imagine that God had led him/her to be the leader of a ministry but not call him/her to be a minister?
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Why in the world would someone imagine that God had led him/her to be the leader of a ministry but not call him/her to be a minister?
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Ponderosa
Pro-Verbs 1:1-13
1. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
2. He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
3. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
4. Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
5. Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
6. The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.
7. If you lined up all the cars in the world end to end, someone wouldbe stupid enough to try to pass them, five or six at a time, on a hill, in the fog.
8. If the shoe fits, get another one just like it.
9. The things that come to those who wait will be the things left over by those who got there first.
10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day getting a sunburn.
11. Flashlight: A case for holding dead batteries.
12. The shinbone is a device for finding furniture in a dark room.
13. A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
1. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
2. He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
3. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
4. Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
5. Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
6. The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.
7. If you lined up all the cars in the world end to end, someone wouldbe stupid enough to try to pass them, five or six at a time, on a hill, in the fog.
8. If the shoe fits, get another one just like it.
9. The things that come to those who wait will be the things left over by those who got there first.
10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day getting a sunburn.
11. Flashlight: A case for holding dead batteries.
12. The shinbone is a device for finding furniture in a dark room.
13. A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Parabola
Once there was a man who wanted more than anything else to own a water-works plant.
He had used water all his life.
He cooked with water, drank water, cleaned with water and made all sorts of good things like coffee, tea and milk.
OK, not milk...maybe powdered soft drinks.
In fact, his own body was made of water...more water than all the other elements combined.
He really, really loved water.
One day a water plant became available that served not one, but two municipalities. And at a price he could afford!
Or so he thought.
So, he bought it.
Problem.
Although he knew a lot about water and had used it all of his life, he knew nothing about the operations of a water plant.
He did not know the laws governing water plants.
He did not know how to run a water plant.
He did not know water-plant terminology.
He did not know who-all used the water from the plant.
He did not know what all the funny dials at the water plant meant.
He did not understand the levers.
He did not know what chemicals needed to be added to the water to make it appropriate for the users.
He did not know how much of which chemicals to use.
Not to worry!
There were people at the plant who had been operating water plants for many years.
He would show them how he wanted the plant to operate.
When he got to the plant the first day, he began making drastic changes to the methods and policies that were considered accepted practice by water plants all over the country.
"Water produced at this plant is too sedate for most of our customers."
"How do you know that?" asked one of the long-time professional water plant operators.
"I have been led by this gut instinct I have that I take to be leading from God, since He let me think of it." he answered.
"Well," said the employee, "I can't argue with God."
"Now let's get started!" cried the new water-plant owner, as he swayed back and forth where he stood.
"Add more chemicals!" he shouted, "We have to give the customers a little 'kick' for their water dollar.
"But sir!" started the employee...
"Who do you think you are?" shouted the new owner. "You need to know your place! I'm the boss here. You do what I say the first time I say it, when I say it!"
His face got redder and redder.
Now he was vibrating all over and there was sweat showing on his forehead.
"This is MY water plant! I bought it!
"And by-the-way. That time yesterday when the Internet went down and you didn't send the email I told you to...that's why we're losing customers!
"I asked you what happened and you immediately started to tell me what happened.
"And you didn't even apologize...why, you don't even know HOW to apologize! You should have STARTED with an apology. Never mind that I asked you what happened...you should have started WITH AN APOLOGY!!!!!!!
"You are a stinking, rotten person and I should fire your butt!
"Don't think you're important to this place! This place will continue functioning with or without you!"
He finally stopped screaming...maybe he ran out of words.
The employee felt the stress knot in his abdomen tighten...it was the same stress that had brought on his liver failure a few months earlier.
"Oh no," he thought, "I'm going to end up right back in the hospital again. I might even die this time...I certainly feel worse than last time."
"Oh, please, sir, I am so sorry I did not send your email while the Internet was down. It was all my fault. Oh, sorrow...oh pain."
"You have to know that our receivables are down from last year!" The new owner was getting red again. "It's all because you didn't send the email when the Internet was down! We can't have this kind of thing happening! Now get out of here!"
The employee went back to work, trying to apply his years of experience to keep from killing off the customers with all the "extra" chemicals and stuff, while still adding the chemicals that the new owner wanted to add.
Customers, meanwhile, did not like the water they were getting. More and more of them began buying bottled water. Fewer and fewer used water from the plant.
"What we need to do," said the owner to the employees, "is to hire someone to go sell water to the many businesses in the area. The businesses will surely want to buy water from us. They will make up for the many regular customers we are losing."
Other water plants in the country were flourishing, having decided that giving the customers what they really needed was the best way to increase the number of customers they had.
What the new owner did not realize, or was too proud or insecure to admit, was that he had in his presence the very people upon whose experience he could draw that would have turned things around for the water plant.
His own ego, though, never even allowed such an idea to occur to him.
And so, the water plant continued to lose customers and to lose customers.
Its flow to the community slowed and slowed until it became just one big drip.
And God looked down and said, "I gave him the desire of his heart and he did everything he could to destroy it with outlandish ideas and an unwillingness to learn from those whose experience had taught them so much.
"And to think, if he had just asked, they would have fallen all over themselves to help him, because they are very committed to water plants."
And while the owner thought God was very pleased, the truth is, God was very sad.
He had used water all his life.
He cooked with water, drank water, cleaned with water and made all sorts of good things like coffee, tea and milk.
OK, not milk...maybe powdered soft drinks.
In fact, his own body was made of water...more water than all the other elements combined.
He really, really loved water.
One day a water plant became available that served not one, but two municipalities. And at a price he could afford!
Or so he thought.
So, he bought it.
Problem.
Although he knew a lot about water and had used it all of his life, he knew nothing about the operations of a water plant.
He did not know the laws governing water plants.
He did not know how to run a water plant.
He did not know water-plant terminology.
He did not know who-all used the water from the plant.
He did not know what all the funny dials at the water plant meant.
He did not understand the levers.
He did not know what chemicals needed to be added to the water to make it appropriate for the users.
He did not know how much of which chemicals to use.
Not to worry!
There were people at the plant who had been operating water plants for many years.
He would show them how he wanted the plant to operate.
When he got to the plant the first day, he began making drastic changes to the methods and policies that were considered accepted practice by water plants all over the country.
"Water produced at this plant is too sedate for most of our customers."
"How do you know that?" asked one of the long-time professional water plant operators.
"I have been led by this gut instinct I have that I take to be leading from God, since He let me think of it." he answered.
"Well," said the employee, "I can't argue with God."
"Now let's get started!" cried the new water-plant owner, as he swayed back and forth where he stood.
"Add more chemicals!" he shouted, "We have to give the customers a little 'kick' for their water dollar.
"But sir!" started the employee...
"Who do you think you are?" shouted the new owner. "You need to know your place! I'm the boss here. You do what I say the first time I say it, when I say it!"
His face got redder and redder.
Now he was vibrating all over and there was sweat showing on his forehead.
"This is MY water plant! I bought it!
"And by-the-way. That time yesterday when the Internet went down and you didn't send the email I told you to...that's why we're losing customers!
"I asked you what happened and you immediately started to tell me what happened.
"And you didn't even apologize...why, you don't even know HOW to apologize! You should have STARTED with an apology. Never mind that I asked you what happened...you should have started WITH AN APOLOGY!!!!!!!
"You are a stinking, rotten person and I should fire your butt!
"Don't think you're important to this place! This place will continue functioning with or without you!"
He finally stopped screaming...maybe he ran out of words.
The employee felt the stress knot in his abdomen tighten...it was the same stress that had brought on his liver failure a few months earlier.
"Oh no," he thought, "I'm going to end up right back in the hospital again. I might even die this time...I certainly feel worse than last time."
"Oh, please, sir, I am so sorry I did not send your email while the Internet was down. It was all my fault. Oh, sorrow...oh pain."
"You have to know that our receivables are down from last year!" The new owner was getting red again. "It's all because you didn't send the email when the Internet was down! We can't have this kind of thing happening! Now get out of here!"
The employee went back to work, trying to apply his years of experience to keep from killing off the customers with all the "extra" chemicals and stuff, while still adding the chemicals that the new owner wanted to add.
Customers, meanwhile, did not like the water they were getting. More and more of them began buying bottled water. Fewer and fewer used water from the plant.
"What we need to do," said the owner to the employees, "is to hire someone to go sell water to the many businesses in the area. The businesses will surely want to buy water from us. They will make up for the many regular customers we are losing."
Other water plants in the country were flourishing, having decided that giving the customers what they really needed was the best way to increase the number of customers they had.
What the new owner did not realize, or was too proud or insecure to admit, was that he had in his presence the very people upon whose experience he could draw that would have turned things around for the water plant.
His own ego, though, never even allowed such an idea to occur to him.
And so, the water plant continued to lose customers and to lose customers.
Its flow to the community slowed and slowed until it became just one big drip.
And God looked down and said, "I gave him the desire of his heart and he did everything he could to destroy it with outlandish ideas and an unwillingness to learn from those whose experience had taught them so much.
"And to think, if he had just asked, they would have fallen all over themselves to help him, because they are very committed to water plants."
And while the owner thought God was very pleased, the truth is, God was very sad.
Monday, July 16, 2007
How to Teach Adult Sunday School Part 1
Since 1968, I have served as a Minister of Education, Minister of Youth and/or Minister of Music in churches in Georgia and Florida.
In my duties as Minister of Education, I have tried to disciple and train teachers of adults in Sunday School.
Here is a set of questions to which would like to require an answer from every Sunday School teacher of adults:
1. What is the textbook you should use in your Sunday School class?
a. The denominational literature
b. The Bible
c. "a" and "b" above
d. None of the above
2. What is the Bible?
a. The Bible is God's book that shows us how to behave in such a way as to please Him.
b. The Bible is God's revelation of His character, His love for His creation and His plan for its redemption.
c. The Bible is a history book about God's involvement in the world.
d. The Bible is a rule-book for life.
3. The Bible's purpose is to reveal to us:
a. How God created the world.
b. Everything you need to know about God.
c. How we should treat poor people.
d. All there is to know about interpersonal relationships.
4. The most important book of the Bible is:
a. The Gospel of John, because it contains the plan of salvation.
b. They are all equally important because they are each a part of the whole.
c. Job, because it teaches us to be patient with God.
d. Revelations because they give us so many mystical pictures of so many things.
5. The Jews became God's chosen people because:
a. They were a fine, outstanding group of God-fearing people.
b. God is God, and He gets to choose.
c. God knew that the Jews would never stray from obedience to Him.
d. Jesus had to be a Jew, or He couldn't be the Messiah.
6. The focus of the Bible, from Genesis to The Book of the Revelation, is:
a. Mankind
b. Jesus
c. History
d. Spirituality
7. Each verse of the Bible:
a. Stands alone in meaning and interpretation.
b. Points to Jesus.
c. Must be taken in immediate context.
d. Is a lot like a proverb.
8. The Bible is all about
a. Answering my questions about life.
b. Jesus
c. Me and my needs
d. Learning to do all things mystical, metaphysical and pseudo-spiritual
There are more questions I would pose, but I'll save them for another time.
By the way, the answer to every question is "b."
Some of the others may seem right, but they are not.
Do you teach Sunday School?
In my duties as Minister of Education, I have tried to disciple and train teachers of adults in Sunday School.
Here is a set of questions to which would like to require an answer from every Sunday School teacher of adults:
1. What is the textbook you should use in your Sunday School class?
a. The denominational literature
b. The Bible
c. "a" and "b" above
d. None of the above
2. What is the Bible?
a. The Bible is God's book that shows us how to behave in such a way as to please Him.
b. The Bible is God's revelation of His character, His love for His creation and His plan for its redemption.
c. The Bible is a history book about God's involvement in the world.
d. The Bible is a rule-book for life.
3. The Bible's purpose is to reveal to us:
a. How God created the world.
b. Everything you need to know about God.
c. How we should treat poor people.
d. All there is to know about interpersonal relationships.
4. The most important book of the Bible is:
a. The Gospel of John, because it contains the plan of salvation.
b. They are all equally important because they are each a part of the whole.
c. Job, because it teaches us to be patient with God.
d. Revelations because they give us so many mystical pictures of so many things.
5. The Jews became God's chosen people because:
a. They were a fine, outstanding group of God-fearing people.
b. God is God, and He gets to choose.
c. God knew that the Jews would never stray from obedience to Him.
d. Jesus had to be a Jew, or He couldn't be the Messiah.
6. The focus of the Bible, from Genesis to The Book of the Revelation, is:
a. Mankind
b. Jesus
c. History
d. Spirituality
7. Each verse of the Bible:
a. Stands alone in meaning and interpretation.
b. Points to Jesus.
c. Must be taken in immediate context.
d. Is a lot like a proverb.
8. The Bible is all about
a. Answering my questions about life.
b. Jesus
c. Me and my needs
d. Learning to do all things mystical, metaphysical and pseudo-spiritual
There are more questions I would pose, but I'll save them for another time.
By the way, the answer to every question is "b."
Some of the others may seem right, but they are not.
Do you teach Sunday School?
Thursday, July 05, 2007
KNOWING YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC
As you know, I work for Christian radio, 91.3 Kingdom FM, in Fort Myers, Florida. You can listen online at www.kingdom.fm.
One of the most important aspects of Christian radio (any radio, for that matter) is to know who your audience is.
As a middle-of-the-road, conservative, Inspirational and Soft Praise and Worship station, we don't have any appeal to the wild-and-woolly side of Christian radio...you know...songs where the drummer somehow thinks he(or she) carries the melody.
At the same time, we don't have much appeal to the staid, formal, stodgy side of Christianity either.
The majority of our listeners come from those with a bent toward Baptist, lite Pentecostal and Calvary Chapel styles of worship.
In my little town of Lehigh Acres, we have more Baptists than all of the rest of denominations combined.
We have seven Baptist churches in town: First Baptist; Richmond Avenue Baptist; Lee Boulevard Baptist; Trinity Baptist; Gunnery Road Baptist; Olga Baptist; Crossroads Baptist (which is technically in East Fort Myers, but many of whose members are from Lehigh Acres); and Temple Baptist Church (in North Fort Myers, but again with a large contingent from Lehigh Acres).
While there are some "mega-churches" in the area, most are average in membership.
Statistically, the average Baptist church has something close to 300 members.
That means that there are at least 2100 Baptists in the Lehigh Acres area. Add to that the churches that are above average, and there are between 3,000 and 3,500 self-professed Baptists in church every Sunday in the Lehigh Acres area.
The only large church in Lehigh Acres is New Life Assembly of God.
There are a couple of Church of God churches, one United Methodist church, a Presbyterian church, five non-denominational churches and an assortment of less conservative and/or non-mainstream churches.
It is safe to say that the major group that would listen to Kingdom FM in my town are Baptists, Christian (the denomination, not the "way"), Christian and Missionary Alliance, other mainstream Protestants and Pentecostals.
In the Fort Myers/Cape Coral/Naples area, the bulk of our listening area, there are 130 Baptist churches, including one "mega-church" (McGregor Baptist Church), First Baptist Church Naples and two other large churches (Cape Coral Baptist Church and Riverside Baptist Church).
Take those latter four out of the mix, and you are left with 127 Baptist churches. Using the 300 average, that means that there are almost 31,000 Baptists in the smaller churches and about 10,000 in the other three, for a total of 48,000 Baptists, three-fourths of whom do NOT go to large or "mega-" churches.
First Assembly Ministries operates five campuses, totally somewhere near 9,000 members. There are a few AOG churches not directly affiliated with First Assembly. Let's give them a total of 12,000 people, give-or-take.
There are some "mainline" Methodist, Lutheran, Christian, Christian and Missionary Alliance and Presbyterian churches in Southwest Florida, as well as a small representation of Calvary Chapel types.
Well...the point is, there are 75,000+ people in Southwest Florida who would be considered prime potential listeners to our station.
One thing we keep being reminded of is that 50 to 60 thousand of them DON'T EVEN KNOW WE EXIST!
What can Christian radio stations do to reach more of their potential?
One thing is certain: statistics have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that direct-mail DOES NOT RENDER A HIGH RESPONSE RATE...LESS THAN 2%.
The most effective means is word-of-mouth, but that has to have a starting place.
It has been shown that where Christian radio stations are DIRECTLY involved in the community with a presence at ministry events and at community targeted church events and services, the word-of-mouth ball gets rolling.
This holds true even when the Christian radio station is NOT located in the community.
Offering churches air time to promote their events open to the entire Christian community will certainly help, however, nothing, but nothing, takes the place of personal involvement with the people you want to listen.
Christian radio Managers, Promotions Directors and Leaders, get involved!
It is not enough to put great programming on the air and expect people to flock to you. You must go to events, speak up at events and let people know you are there.
Remember: Giving follows ministry. If the potential listener perceives that he or she is being ministered to, he/she will tune in and listen, and will give.
If not...oh well.
One of the most important aspects of Christian radio (any radio, for that matter) is to know who your audience is.
As a middle-of-the-road, conservative, Inspirational and Soft Praise and Worship station, we don't have any appeal to the wild-and-woolly side of Christian radio...you know...songs where the drummer somehow thinks he(or she) carries the melody.
At the same time, we don't have much appeal to the staid, formal, stodgy side of Christianity either.
The majority of our listeners come from those with a bent toward Baptist, lite Pentecostal and Calvary Chapel styles of worship.
In my little town of Lehigh Acres, we have more Baptists than all of the rest of denominations combined.
We have seven Baptist churches in town: First Baptist; Richmond Avenue Baptist; Lee Boulevard Baptist; Trinity Baptist; Gunnery Road Baptist; Olga Baptist; Crossroads Baptist (which is technically in East Fort Myers, but many of whose members are from Lehigh Acres); and Temple Baptist Church (in North Fort Myers, but again with a large contingent from Lehigh Acres).
While there are some "mega-churches" in the area, most are average in membership.
Statistically, the average Baptist church has something close to 300 members.
That means that there are at least 2100 Baptists in the Lehigh Acres area. Add to that the churches that are above average, and there are between 3,000 and 3,500 self-professed Baptists in church every Sunday in the Lehigh Acres area.
The only large church in Lehigh Acres is New Life Assembly of God.
There are a couple of Church of God churches, one United Methodist church, a Presbyterian church, five non-denominational churches and an assortment of less conservative and/or non-mainstream churches.
It is safe to say that the major group that would listen to Kingdom FM in my town are Baptists, Christian (the denomination, not the "way"), Christian and Missionary Alliance, other mainstream Protestants and Pentecostals.
In the Fort Myers/Cape Coral/Naples area, the bulk of our listening area, there are 130 Baptist churches, including one "mega-church" (McGregor Baptist Church), First Baptist Church Naples and two other large churches (Cape Coral Baptist Church and Riverside Baptist Church).
Take those latter four out of the mix, and you are left with 127 Baptist churches. Using the 300 average, that means that there are almost 31,000 Baptists in the smaller churches and about 10,000 in the other three, for a total of 48,000 Baptists, three-fourths of whom do NOT go to large or "mega-" churches.
First Assembly Ministries operates five campuses, totally somewhere near 9,000 members. There are a few AOG churches not directly affiliated with First Assembly. Let's give them a total of 12,000 people, give-or-take.
There are some "mainline" Methodist, Lutheran, Christian, Christian and Missionary Alliance and Presbyterian churches in Southwest Florida, as well as a small representation of Calvary Chapel types.
Well...the point is, there are 75,000+ people in Southwest Florida who would be considered prime potential listeners to our station.
One thing we keep being reminded of is that 50 to 60 thousand of them DON'T EVEN KNOW WE EXIST!
What can Christian radio stations do to reach more of their potential?
One thing is certain: statistics have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that direct-mail DOES NOT RENDER A HIGH RESPONSE RATE...LESS THAN 2%.
The most effective means is word-of-mouth, but that has to have a starting place.
It has been shown that where Christian radio stations are DIRECTLY involved in the community with a presence at ministry events and at community targeted church events and services, the word-of-mouth ball gets rolling.
This holds true even when the Christian radio station is NOT located in the community.
Offering churches air time to promote their events open to the entire Christian community will certainly help, however, nothing, but nothing, takes the place of personal involvement with the people you want to listen.
Christian radio Managers, Promotions Directors and Leaders, get involved!
It is not enough to put great programming on the air and expect people to flock to you. You must go to events, speak up at events and let people know you are there.
Remember: Giving follows ministry. If the potential listener perceives that he or she is being ministered to, he/she will tune in and listen, and will give.
If not...oh well.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
IS CHANGE IN THE AIR?
What would it take to change your mind about a particular subject?
Most of us do not change easily.
One thinks "God" wants all infidels converted or killed.
How does his mind get changed?
Another thinks God wants people to shriek, laugh, bark and roll on the floor.
How does his mind get changed?
One thinks God must heal every faithful believer's ailments.
How does his mind get changed?
Somebody thinks God is no longer in the healing business.
How does his mind get changed?
One thinks God wants us to babble in undecipherable syllables called "tongues."
How does his mind get changed?
Another thinks that what actually happened at Pentecost should be the model followed.
How does his mind get changed?
One thinks our borders should be sealed to protect America.
How does his mind get changed?
Another thinks we should have open borders because we are a nation of immigrants.
How does his mind get changed?
Herein lies one of my frustrations with blogging.
Each site attracts certain people, most of whom agree with the blogger.
Those who agree with him/her get mushy or squishy in their response.
Those who don't agree with him/her react with sarcasm, half-witticisms or anger.
No one changes his mind.
We make no progress toward any particular political, spiritual or philosophical bent.
So, what would it take for you to change your mind about some issue?
I don't intend to change mine.
Perhaps you could persuade me otherwise.
Most of us do not change easily.
One thinks "God" wants all infidels converted or killed.
How does his mind get changed?
Another thinks God wants people to shriek, laugh, bark and roll on the floor.
How does his mind get changed?
One thinks God must heal every faithful believer's ailments.
How does his mind get changed?
Somebody thinks God is no longer in the healing business.
How does his mind get changed?
One thinks God wants us to babble in undecipherable syllables called "tongues."
How does his mind get changed?
Another thinks that what actually happened at Pentecost should be the model followed.
How does his mind get changed?
One thinks our borders should be sealed to protect America.
How does his mind get changed?
Another thinks we should have open borders because we are a nation of immigrants.
How does his mind get changed?
Herein lies one of my frustrations with blogging.
Each site attracts certain people, most of whom agree with the blogger.
Those who agree with him/her get mushy or squishy in their response.
Those who don't agree with him/her react with sarcasm, half-witticisms or anger.
No one changes his mind.
We make no progress toward any particular political, spiritual or philosophical bent.
So, what would it take for you to change your mind about some issue?
I don't intend to change mine.
Perhaps you could persuade me otherwise.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
My Humble, But Correct, Opinions
A friend came to me the other day and said, "I'd like your opinion on something."
I said, "GREAT! I have one on just about everything."
Alas, 'tis my reputation.
I'm opinionated.
You probably are, too.
You probably even have an opinion as to whether I am opinionated.
My opinions, of course, are correct.
So are yours.
Oh no?
Well, then, make me a list of the opinions you hold that are incorrect.
Go ahead...I'll wait.
After all, if they are incorrect, why do you hold them?
Here are some of my opinions (thank you for asking):
I think Martha Stewart should not have done jail time for lying.
If she should have, so should have Bill Clinton.
I think Paris Hilton should be doing jail time.
Some say she is being used to "make an example."
I say that she should not be given leniency just because she is a celebrity.
Now she's experiencing "panic attacks" and "claustrophobia."
Don't all prisoners experience that? Isn't that part of the purpose of prison?
Imagine if all of the inmates in American prisons and jails claimed medical need to be released!
Scooter Libby never committed a crime.
I think people who "feel" this and "feel" that can't think.
My former hero, George Bush, has become his own caricature.
I think illegal aliens are not illegal immigrants, because "illegal immigrants" is an oxymoron.
I think Tony Snow does not believe what he is having to say nowadays.
In spite of the fact that it does not sound very spiritual on its face, if given a choice of any person from history to get to know, it would not be Jesus...I already know Him.
It would probably be Abraham Lincoln.
There is not a creative bone in the fingers of any TV sitcom writer.
They only know two subjects about which to write.
They are: sex and sex.
Relatedly, comedians who think naming body parts and functions is funny don't understand funny.
Men who swear are not man enough to control their language.
Women who swear are too stupid to know that they should be encouraging men to be real men and learn to control themselves...especially their language.
Americans who want to be tolerant of others' ideas as long as they are not Christian ideas are un-American.
The majority of school principals are incapable of independent rational thought.
All college presidents are.
Public schools should be run by the public, not the government.
Everything done by the government should be open to the public, but not everything public needs to be controlled by the government.
There is no war that the America military cannot win, if they are allowed to do so.
The only way Iraq will become another Viet Nam is if we pull out prematurely. That is exactly what made Viet Nam Viet Nam.
In my humble, but correct, opinion, if you have read this far, you have way too much time on your hands.
Go write a post.
I said, "GREAT! I have one on just about everything."
Alas, 'tis my reputation.
I'm opinionated.
You probably are, too.
You probably even have an opinion as to whether I am opinionated.
My opinions, of course, are correct.
So are yours.
Oh no?
Well, then, make me a list of the opinions you hold that are incorrect.
Go ahead...I'll wait.
After all, if they are incorrect, why do you hold them?
Here are some of my opinions (thank you for asking):
I think Martha Stewart should not have done jail time for lying.
If she should have, so should have Bill Clinton.
I think Paris Hilton should be doing jail time.
Some say she is being used to "make an example."
I say that she should not be given leniency just because she is a celebrity.
Now she's experiencing "panic attacks" and "claustrophobia."
Don't all prisoners experience that? Isn't that part of the purpose of prison?
Imagine if all of the inmates in American prisons and jails claimed medical need to be released!
Scooter Libby never committed a crime.
I think people who "feel" this and "feel" that can't think.
My former hero, George Bush, has become his own caricature.
I think illegal aliens are not illegal immigrants, because "illegal immigrants" is an oxymoron.
I think Tony Snow does not believe what he is having to say nowadays.
In spite of the fact that it does not sound very spiritual on its face, if given a choice of any person from history to get to know, it would not be Jesus...I already know Him.
It would probably be Abraham Lincoln.
There is not a creative bone in the fingers of any TV sitcom writer.
They only know two subjects about which to write.
They are: sex and sex.
Relatedly, comedians who think naming body parts and functions is funny don't understand funny.
Men who swear are not man enough to control their language.
Women who swear are too stupid to know that they should be encouraging men to be real men and learn to control themselves...especially their language.
Americans who want to be tolerant of others' ideas as long as they are not Christian ideas are un-American.
The majority of school principals are incapable of independent rational thought.
All college presidents are.
Public schools should be run by the public, not the government.
Everything done by the government should be open to the public, but not everything public needs to be controlled by the government.
There is no war that the America military cannot win, if they are allowed to do so.
The only way Iraq will become another Viet Nam is if we pull out prematurely. That is exactly what made Viet Nam Viet Nam.
In my humble, but correct, opinion, if you have read this far, you have way too much time on your hands.
Go write a post.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
MY FAVORITE BLOGS
WHO'S SAYING WHAT?
Have you checked these people out lately?
They are some of my favorite reads. I think you'll like them, too.
Gary Weaver introduces us to, and writes about, Ranulfo Coto of Vera Cruz, Mexico in a series over at Amazing Grace and Old Chevys.
Some special requests for Russia come from Zoanna. See A Penchant for Pens to find out what they are.
At Anvil and Fire John is not writing much lately, but he has some great posts from the past.
If you really want to know about translations, word meanings and other nuances of God's Word, there is no better place than Better Bibles Blog .
Continue to pray for Mark's dad. Read about it at Blue Collar .
Bonnie Writes is the place for humor, spirituality and learning about writing.
"Leaving on a jet plane" sounds like a good title for a song. But Shelly's Confirm the Work of Our Hands (Shelley) tells us what its really about.
An attitude of gratitude is found at Darlene Schacht Dot Com in the blog section. Darlene is always a total "hoot."
To obey or not to obey...that is the question over on Jeremy's blog, Doxoblogy: Jeremy Weaver's Blog . Jeremy is bar Gary.
A post by Jim at Faith Classics helps us put issues in order.
Steve gets an email from the Fandango community. Read all about it at Following God's Will .
Never at a loss for words, Antonio talks about Short Term Mission Evangelism Opportunity to India! It's sort of old news, but he's always a good read. See Free Grace Theology for details.
Gordon, at Heavenly Heartburn , has eased up a bit on posting, as have many of us, but he's worth the trip, if only to learn about his trips.
Hero Bill has a Timeline of great interest. I hope he makes it into a book some day.
The heavy responsibilities of fatherhood have gripped Japheth at In His Image .
Pictures extrodinare and talk of Grandma are featured by Jayleigh at Jayleigh's Grand Adventures .
Jeff Wright writes about the gift of prophecy at Jeff Wright's Blog , but it's not what you may think.
At Job's Tale you can find out about ball point pens and technology.
Will Gayla get back into the swing of things? Check out Journey of the Heart .
In case you care to hear me on the radio, and for some good music and ministry as well, go to Kingdom FM Christian Radio . I'm on the air between 9:00 AM and Noon EST.
On hiatus is the Modern Day Magi, but I always appreciate his comments to my posts. I love his clever humor and astute insights.
For a British perspective you won't do any better than Musings of an English Muffin, in which Libbby discusses a political programme (English spelling), and the balance and good sense of Melanie Phillips.
Continue to pray for Pia at My Blog 2002 (PIA) .
At My Place , Jel give us some wonderful, peace inspiring photos.
For sheer enthusiasm, its hard to beat my sweet wife's blog, My Wife's Blog , which is not really the name of her blog, but will link you to it.
Always a trip, at NBR (Nettie Belle) she tells us she is going away for good, but not really...whatever that means. Still she's more fun than a barrell of whatever you want to have a barrell of.
2007 SBC News and Views is all the rage at Pastor Steve Weaver's Blog. It's about the San Antonio SBC Annual Meeting (BTW: he's bar Gary, too).
"I am so naive...dense...obtuse... " writes Pilot Mom , but trust me, she knows all the angles.
Tim quotes some quotable quotes in his post on Putting the Fun in Fundamentalism.
Things are ablaze as always at Pyromaniac as Frank ponders, "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"
Hear a fine message on Random Responses.
Carla, on Reflections of the Times reflects on a great DAD contest.
My favorite theological blogger, just 'cause she is both fun and challenging, Rose, over at Rose's Reasonings wonders about life before death.
Relatively new in my blog-roll is SelahV Today, always a pensive and enriching read.
"Stop!" is the topic on Sugar Loaf Mountain, as David encourages us to stop the illegal alian amnesty bill.
On Sweeter than Ever, Dana keeps from growing old through laughter. Try it...you'll like it!
Danny Sims experiences "global warming" first hand in a moose of a post at The Danny Sims Blog.
Learn about the teaching ministry of Dave Mullins on The Earnest Contender.
The UmBlog explores Armenian genocide in today's post.
Take a July 4th Quiz from Douglas on The Uncommon Walk .
My former pastor, and friend, Mitch sees the optimism of criminals on The Way I See It . See it now!
In the category of most unusual posts there's Things That Make You go Hmm, to which I almost always say, "Hmmmm!"
Think Sink 's Jeff H. is getting ready for the big day. (This is the one blog I never miss...you need to know this guy.)
Akinola Akinyede, at Unveil, is a deeply spiritual fellow whose total attitude and approach to life and Christ I really appreciate.
So there you have it.
I hope you have a really good read!
God bless you all.
If I don't see you here...I'll see you over there!
Have you checked these people out lately?
They are some of my favorite reads. I think you'll like them, too.
Gary Weaver introduces us to, and writes about, Ranulfo Coto of Vera Cruz, Mexico in a series over at Amazing Grace and Old Chevys.
Some special requests for Russia come from Zoanna. See A Penchant for Pens to find out what they are.
At Anvil and Fire John is not writing much lately, but he has some great posts from the past.
If you really want to know about translations, word meanings and other nuances of God's Word, there is no better place than Better Bibles Blog .
Continue to pray for Mark's dad. Read about it at Blue Collar .
Bonnie Writes is the place for humor, spirituality and learning about writing.
"Leaving on a jet plane" sounds like a good title for a song. But Shelly's Confirm the Work of Our Hands (Shelley) tells us what its really about.
An attitude of gratitude is found at Darlene Schacht Dot Com in the blog section. Darlene is always a total "hoot."
To obey or not to obey...that is the question over on Jeremy's blog, Doxoblogy: Jeremy Weaver's Blog . Jeremy is bar Gary.
A post by Jim at Faith Classics helps us put issues in order.
Steve gets an email from the Fandango community. Read all about it at Following God's Will .
Never at a loss for words, Antonio talks about Short Term Mission Evangelism Opportunity to India! It's sort of old news, but he's always a good read. See Free Grace Theology for details.
Gordon, at Heavenly Heartburn , has eased up a bit on posting, as have many of us, but he's worth the trip, if only to learn about his trips.
Hero Bill has a Timeline of great interest. I hope he makes it into a book some day.
The heavy responsibilities of fatherhood have gripped Japheth at In His Image .
Pictures extrodinare and talk of Grandma are featured by Jayleigh at Jayleigh's Grand Adventures .
Jeff Wright writes about the gift of prophecy at Jeff Wright's Blog , but it's not what you may think.
At Job's Tale you can find out about ball point pens and technology.
Will Gayla get back into the swing of things? Check out Journey of the Heart .
In case you care to hear me on the radio, and for some good music and ministry as well, go to Kingdom FM Christian Radio . I'm on the air between 9:00 AM and Noon EST.
On hiatus is the Modern Day Magi, but I always appreciate his comments to my posts. I love his clever humor and astute insights.
For a British perspective you won't do any better than Musings of an English Muffin, in which Libbby discusses a political programme (English spelling), and the balance and good sense of Melanie Phillips.
Continue to pray for Pia at My Blog 2002 (PIA) .
At My Place , Jel give us some wonderful, peace inspiring photos.
For sheer enthusiasm, its hard to beat my sweet wife's blog, My Wife's Blog , which is not really the name of her blog, but will link you to it.
Always a trip, at NBR (Nettie Belle) she tells us she is going away for good, but not really...whatever that means. Still she's more fun than a barrell of whatever you want to have a barrell of.
2007 SBC News and Views is all the rage at Pastor Steve Weaver's Blog. It's about the San Antonio SBC Annual Meeting (BTW: he's bar Gary, too).
"I am so naive...dense...obtuse... " writes Pilot Mom , but trust me, she knows all the angles.
Tim quotes some quotable quotes in his post on Putting the Fun in Fundamentalism.
Things are ablaze as always at Pyromaniac as Frank ponders, "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"
Hear a fine message on Random Responses.
Carla, on Reflections of the Times reflects on a great DAD contest.
My favorite theological blogger, just 'cause she is both fun and challenging, Rose, over at Rose's Reasonings wonders about life before death.
Relatively new in my blog-roll is SelahV Today, always a pensive and enriching read.
"Stop!" is the topic on Sugar Loaf Mountain, as David encourages us to stop the illegal alian amnesty bill.
On Sweeter than Ever, Dana keeps from growing old through laughter. Try it...you'll like it!
Danny Sims experiences "global warming" first hand in a moose of a post at The Danny Sims Blog.
Learn about the teaching ministry of Dave Mullins on The Earnest Contender.
The UmBlog explores Armenian genocide in today's post.
Take a July 4th Quiz from Douglas on The Uncommon Walk .
My former pastor, and friend, Mitch sees the optimism of criminals on The Way I See It . See it now!
In the category of most unusual posts there's Things That Make You go Hmm, to which I almost always say, "Hmmmm!"
Think Sink 's Jeff H. is getting ready for the big day. (This is the one blog I never miss...you need to know this guy.)
Akinola Akinyede, at Unveil, is a deeply spiritual fellow whose total attitude and approach to life and Christ I really appreciate.
So there you have it.
I hope you have a really good read!
God bless you all.
If I don't see you here...I'll see you over there!
Monday, May 28, 2007
MY TRIBUTE
This is Memorial Day.
It has become a strange holiday.
People don't seem to know what to do with it.
We're supposed to remember those who gave their lives for our freedoms.
Only fighting for freedom has gone out of style for about half of the country.
Seems that many people think since we have it, we can't lose it and if we lose it, oh well.
That's because they don't know what it is like not to be free.
They don't read books about it in school, because it is politically incorrect to teach that The United States of America is virtuous, or great...certainly not better than any other country.
In this nation of laws it has become fashionable to allow some laws to be broken for the sake of some ethnic convenience.
Historically, people from all over the world have struggled, sacrificed, studied, scrimped and saved to be able to come to this land of opportunity.
Now, all they have to do is cross the border, have a child and presto...instant ratification and gratification.
Now, instead of immigrants learning our culture and assimilating, we must bow to theirs, become multi-lingual, relinquish those things that have unified us in the past and cater to their needs, economic, social and medical.
For thirty one years my father served in the armed forces of our country. He was a career officer in the United States Air Force.
During World War II, he served in the South Atlantic theater in the field of communications.
My father was fiercely patriotic, understood freedom and was willing to give his life to preserve the unity and values of this country.
The other day I heard a United States politician call for a total withdrawal of our troops from Iraq.
He was giving encouragement to a group planning an anti-war demonstration, suggesting that they carry signs reading, "Support our troops...end the war in Iraq."
Well, I look forward to the day when our troops can come home.
Nobody likes war, except a few stupid warmongering pseudo-militia groups.
But I'll tell you this: the slogan, "Support our troops...end the war in Iraq," is a slap in the face of our current military personnel, a slap in the face of the service my father performed for these ingrates and is therefore a slap in my face.
It is not a slap in the face because it is anti-war.
People have a right to oppose war.
Many people, including my father, opposed our involvement in World War II.
But he saw the necessity for it, supported it with his life and would never have dreamed of saying or doing anything that would demoralize his fellow military personnel....period.
That, he thought, could best be left for after the war and for history to decide.
It is a slap in the face because it represents an attitude on the part of that Senator, and those who think like he does, that says "We will not respect the processes by which we as a nation have decided that these things are done and will not stand in unity for our country."
In any other time they would be branded as traitors and imprisoned or hanged for treason.
I brand them thusly now.
The slogan should be: "Support our troops...WIN the war against terrorists."
There are those who want to set a time-table for troop withdrawal from Iraq.
Aid and abet the enemy by telling them when we will quit.
Some have compared this war to the war in Viet Nam.
It is absolutely nothing like the war in Viet Nam, and anyone who thinks it is is either unbelievably ignorant, and knows (or will admit) nothing about the Viet Nam war, how we got into it, what went on during it or how we got out of it.
The only way this war will become like Viet Nam is if we quit in defeat.
There are those politicians who want to do that.
They are the ones who will turn this war into another Viet Nam.
So, on this Memorial Day, I urge you to pray for and support our troops by insisting that our political leaders see to their battle needs.
Give them the wherewith all to win this effort.
Mark my words, failure to do so will result in a future attack on our country, the inability to resist the attack and the eventual overthrow of our country.
We will lose our freedoms and will become a country where citizens are de-fingered for disobeying the despot-in-chief, beheaded for "crimes against the state," imprisoned for expressing their point of view.
We will become a land where women are possessions, must hide their faces, obey men's commands and subject themselves to horrors unspeakable.
Let us use this Memorial Day to remember the sacrifices made by our predecessors.
Let us remember the trite, but nevertheless true, saying, "Freedom is not free."
Let us realize that the desire for freedom beats in the heart of every human being as a God-given trait of our species.
Then, let us bring honor to the memory of those who have gone before us to make this a nation that is the not only the land of the free, but also the home of the brave.
It has become a strange holiday.
People don't seem to know what to do with it.
We're supposed to remember those who gave their lives for our freedoms.
Only fighting for freedom has gone out of style for about half of the country.
Seems that many people think since we have it, we can't lose it and if we lose it, oh well.
That's because they don't know what it is like not to be free.
They don't read books about it in school, because it is politically incorrect to teach that The United States of America is virtuous, or great...certainly not better than any other country.
In this nation of laws it has become fashionable to allow some laws to be broken for the sake of some ethnic convenience.
Historically, people from all over the world have struggled, sacrificed, studied, scrimped and saved to be able to come to this land of opportunity.
Now, all they have to do is cross the border, have a child and presto...instant ratification and gratification.
Now, instead of immigrants learning our culture and assimilating, we must bow to theirs, become multi-lingual, relinquish those things that have unified us in the past and cater to their needs, economic, social and medical.
For thirty one years my father served in the armed forces of our country. He was a career officer in the United States Air Force.
During World War II, he served in the South Atlantic theater in the field of communications.
My father was fiercely patriotic, understood freedom and was willing to give his life to preserve the unity and values of this country.
The other day I heard a United States politician call for a total withdrawal of our troops from Iraq.
He was giving encouragement to a group planning an anti-war demonstration, suggesting that they carry signs reading, "Support our troops...end the war in Iraq."
Well, I look forward to the day when our troops can come home.
Nobody likes war, except a few stupid warmongering pseudo-militia groups.
But I'll tell you this: the slogan, "Support our troops...end the war in Iraq," is a slap in the face of our current military personnel, a slap in the face of the service my father performed for these ingrates and is therefore a slap in my face.
It is not a slap in the face because it is anti-war.
People have a right to oppose war.
Many people, including my father, opposed our involvement in World War II.
But he saw the necessity for it, supported it with his life and would never have dreamed of saying or doing anything that would demoralize his fellow military personnel....period.
That, he thought, could best be left for after the war and for history to decide.
It is a slap in the face because it represents an attitude on the part of that Senator, and those who think like he does, that says "We will not respect the processes by which we as a nation have decided that these things are done and will not stand in unity for our country."
In any other time they would be branded as traitors and imprisoned or hanged for treason.
I brand them thusly now.
The slogan should be: "Support our troops...WIN the war against terrorists."
There are those who want to set a time-table for troop withdrawal from Iraq.
Aid and abet the enemy by telling them when we will quit.
Some have compared this war to the war in Viet Nam.
It is absolutely nothing like the war in Viet Nam, and anyone who thinks it is is either unbelievably ignorant, and knows (or will admit) nothing about the Viet Nam war, how we got into it, what went on during it or how we got out of it.
The only way this war will become like Viet Nam is if we quit in defeat.
There are those politicians who want to do that.
They are the ones who will turn this war into another Viet Nam.
So, on this Memorial Day, I urge you to pray for and support our troops by insisting that our political leaders see to their battle needs.
Give them the wherewith all to win this effort.
Mark my words, failure to do so will result in a future attack on our country, the inability to resist the attack and the eventual overthrow of our country.
We will lose our freedoms and will become a country where citizens are de-fingered for disobeying the despot-in-chief, beheaded for "crimes against the state," imprisoned for expressing their point of view.
We will become a land where women are possessions, must hide their faces, obey men's commands and subject themselves to horrors unspeakable.
Let us use this Memorial Day to remember the sacrifices made by our predecessors.
Let us remember the trite, but nevertheless true, saying, "Freedom is not free."
Let us realize that the desire for freedom beats in the heart of every human being as a God-given trait of our species.
Then, let us bring honor to the memory of those who have gone before us to make this a nation that is the not only the land of the free, but also the home of the brave.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
ANOTHER BLOG ABOUT PRAYER
The thing that makes me sad is that there are certain things that I know.
I don't think them, I know them.
But one cannot state that he knows certain things, lest he be accused of excessive pride.
Only what I know is the truth.
Not to admit that I know it would be lying.
So I am faced with a dilemma.
Exhibit pride or lie.
What kind of choice is that?
I was reading a post the other day in which the writer was asking people to pray for a particular physical thing.
Let me be quick to say that I believe it is superlatively important for us to pray about things.
Not everything, but in general, things.
Many people quote Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all these thing shall be added unto you." as though it is God's promise to give you things if you seek Him.
Of course you are smart enough to realize that the word "but" is used as a conjunction, connecting this thought to the ones that go before it.
Thus we know that the verse is saying that if we seek God and His righteousness above all else, that we don't have to worry about food, shelter and clothing.
We have to work for them, we just don't have to worry about them. Worrying about them will not add a cubit to your height or an hour to your life.
So many people find it necessary to pray about the minutia of life.
Such is not necessary.
For instance, you need not pray about whether it is God's will for you to witness the Gospel to others.
His Word tells us to do so in Matthew 28:16-20.
He said do it.
So don't pray about it, just do it!
For many people, prayer is a way to get God to go along with their wants, whether they be wants of healing, riches, stability or whatever.
I wrote a little verse about it. Sing it to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon," the Peter, Paul and Mary hit of years long gone.
It goes like this:
That is so pagan, so superstitious, so blasphemous!
Scripture tells us that when we abide in Jesus we can express to Him the desires of our heart and He will give them to us.
In the context of the whole counsel of God, though, this means that if our desires for ourselves match up with His desires for us, He will give us what we want because what we want is what He wants for us.
You see, prayer is not our way to manipulate God, it is His way of letting us know what He is up to and inviting us to go along for the ride.
It is also one of the means by which we die to self and yield to Him.
It is like a conversation with an expert in a field in which you are a novice, but one who does not look down on you, rather seeks to teach you His field.
Most of us pray gimmie, gimmie prayers (uh...myself included BTW).
"Lord, take away my illness. Give me health."
"Lord, make Aunt Suzie well give her health."
"Lord, you know I need $400.00 to make it through the month. Give me wealth."
(Don't you just love how we tell God what He knows?)
"Lord, Heal my marriage. Make my spouse a better person so we can live together."
"Lord, strike my jerk of a boss with lightning so I will have a better time at work."
"Lord, this business belongs to you. Make it prosper, 'cause it's yours."
"Lord, give apoplexy to that lady who cut me down at church the other Sunday. Get even with her for me."
How much more satisfying our prayer life would be if we would learn to pray:
"Change my heart, O God."
"Lord, help me be more like you every day."
"Lord, if this illness kills me, let me be looking forward to the unspeakable joy of being face-to-face with my blessed Savior."
"Lord, I give this situation to you. Do whatever you want to with it."
"Lord, give my boss a special measure of peace today and help me be the employee I should be to earn the paycheck I get."
"Lord, I offer myself as a living sacrifice to you today."
"Lord, I give this business to you. Help me to work hard so it can grow your way."
"Lord, this is your business. Do what you want with it."
"Lord, help me give myself 100% to my spouse today, expecting absolutely nothing in return and thus show forth your grace and peace."
"Lord, help me die to self a little more today than I did yesterday."
Life is very hard.
Because we live in a fallen world, things happen.
Living our lives for Christ is even harder.
Circumstances? Well, they are just that: circumstances.
Will they change?
Maybe.
But if not, like Paul, we need to say, "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I'm found."
I don't think them, I know them.
But one cannot state that he knows certain things, lest he be accused of excessive pride.
Only what I know is the truth.
Not to admit that I know it would be lying.
So I am faced with a dilemma.
Exhibit pride or lie.
What kind of choice is that?
I was reading a post the other day in which the writer was asking people to pray for a particular physical thing.
Let me be quick to say that I believe it is superlatively important for us to pray about things.
Not everything, but in general, things.
Many people quote Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all these thing shall be added unto you." as though it is God's promise to give you things if you seek Him.
Of course you are smart enough to realize that the word "but" is used as a conjunction, connecting this thought to the ones that go before it.
Thus we know that the verse is saying that if we seek God and His righteousness above all else, that we don't have to worry about food, shelter and clothing.
We have to work for them, we just don't have to worry about them. Worrying about them will not add a cubit to your height or an hour to your life.
So many people find it necessary to pray about the minutia of life.
Such is not necessary.
For instance, you need not pray about whether it is God's will for you to witness the Gospel to others.
His Word tells us to do so in Matthew 28:16-20.
He said do it.
So don't pray about it, just do it!
For many people, prayer is a way to get God to go along with their wants, whether they be wants of healing, riches, stability or whatever.
I wrote a little verse about it. Sing it to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon," the Peter, Paul and Mary hit of years long gone.
It goes like this:
God my magic genie does what I ask;
For Him to do what I command is not too hard a task.
Say the incantation, "In Jesus' Name;"
And when you've gotten what you want you'll know you've won the game.
That is so pagan, so superstitious, so blasphemous!
Scripture tells us that when we abide in Jesus we can express to Him the desires of our heart and He will give them to us.
In the context of the whole counsel of God, though, this means that if our desires for ourselves match up with His desires for us, He will give us what we want because what we want is what He wants for us.
You see, prayer is not our way to manipulate God, it is His way of letting us know what He is up to and inviting us to go along for the ride.
It is also one of the means by which we die to self and yield to Him.
It is like a conversation with an expert in a field in which you are a novice, but one who does not look down on you, rather seeks to teach you His field.
Most of us pray gimmie, gimmie prayers (uh...myself included BTW).
"Lord, take away my illness. Give me health."
"Lord, make Aunt Suzie well give her health."
"Lord, you know I need $400.00 to make it through the month. Give me wealth."
(Don't you just love how we tell God what He knows?)
"Lord, Heal my marriage. Make my spouse a better person so we can live together."
"Lord, strike my jerk of a boss with lightning so I will have a better time at work."
"Lord, this business belongs to you. Make it prosper, 'cause it's yours."
"Lord, give apoplexy to that lady who cut me down at church the other Sunday. Get even with her for me."
How much more satisfying our prayer life would be if we would learn to pray:
"Change my heart, O God."
"Lord, help me be more like you every day."
"Lord, if this illness kills me, let me be looking forward to the unspeakable joy of being face-to-face with my blessed Savior."
"Lord, I give this situation to you. Do whatever you want to with it."
"Lord, give my boss a special measure of peace today and help me be the employee I should be to earn the paycheck I get."
"Lord, I offer myself as a living sacrifice to you today."
"Lord, I give this business to you. Help me to work hard so it can grow your way."
"Lord, this is your business. Do what you want with it."
"Lord, help me give myself 100% to my spouse today, expecting absolutely nothing in return and thus show forth your grace and peace."
"Lord, help me die to self a little more today than I did yesterday."
Life is very hard.
Because we live in a fallen world, things happen.
Living our lives for Christ is even harder.
Circumstances? Well, they are just that: circumstances.
Will they change?
Maybe.
But if not, like Paul, we need to say, "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I'm found."
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