grateful girl

Sometimes it helps to just realize how blessed we are. Sometimes children show us how it's done.

Memorial Day 2010

Thank you for serving us,

for protecting us,

for giving your all.

We haven't forgotten.

Thank you.

What God sees

God doesn't see things the way we do. Here's just one example:

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Mark 12:41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

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Throughout the Bible we get glimpses of how God sees things. He doesn't see things the way we do. This short story gives us a glimpse of what God sees- his eyes are on the heart, not the size of the gift. In the world's eyes many others gave much more than this little widow, but what God saw was her heart, not the amount of her gift. Jesus' words should shock us all as he described how God saw her gift when he said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others." God didn't see the amount of the gift, but what was left for this poor widow after her gift. She gave all she had. All she had was two cents. These two cents impressed God more than the one who gave $10,000,000! You see, God doesn't need our money, he's after our hearts. This gift of two cents and Jesus' commentary on her great gift should reset our values in how we look at what we give to God.

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Now, I always want to know more. I wonder....what happened to this widow? Do you think that God took care of her? Do you think God provided more for her because of her gift? I wonder....what's the rest of the story? One thing I know is this- God loved this dear woman because of her heart. He's always more impressed with our hearts than he is with how much we give. It helps me to know that God sees things differently than I do. He's looking at hearts.

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Risking life for faith

"More than a year after Iranian authorities arrested Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh for apostasy—a capital offense in the Islamic nation—an Iranian judge acquitted the Christian women of all charges on Saturday. The judge warned the women not to conduct any further Christian activity in the country.
The pair left Iran after the hearing, bound for an undisclosed location to ensure their safety. The Christians spent 259 days in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison last year, accused of anti-government activity, apostasy, and propagating Christianity. As their health deteriorated in the prison’s grim conditions, court officials exerted intense pressure on the women to recant their faith. Their reply came in an August hearing: “We love Jesus. We will not deny our faith.”" -WORLD Magazine

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There are stories daily of Christians martyred for their faith. Here is a story of two women, willing to die for Christ, but graciously delivered. I loved their testimony, “We love Jesus. We will not deny our faith.” I'm sure it has been the testimony of many who have died for Christ, but these two were delivered to tell others about their faith. Pray for those around the world who are risking their lives for faith in Christ. Pray for them and their families as they, like these ladies, tell the world that their faith is worth their life. They believe that faith is Christ is worth any price. I wonder......do we?

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Honoring dad

Ephesians 6:2 "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise—

My dad is 84 years old today. We came to Iowa to be with him for his birthday. It's great to have a dad who has lived this long. It is even better that he has been a wonderful dad and a Godly example of what a man should be like.

So, today I want honor my dad. I'm blessed to have a dad who loves God and has shown me the way to live a life that pleases God. Happy Birthday, dad. I love you.

A busy week

Just a short note this morning as we travel to see family in the mid-west. I'll post when I can, but will not have much access to internet this week. I'll be back with you in mind and body next week.

Finding the way

We are often late to technology. It's not because we avoid it, but we always wait for the next one...for the better one. And a second generation item has a lower price. All that to say we just bought our first GPS for the trip we are on. Most of you have them so I won't go into the workings of it, but what was great for us was to program in a destination and a little voice told us where to go. If we followed her directions, and we did by the way, we arrived at our destination...even though we had never been on this route before.

If you are a visitor here you know what's next, don't you? So, all this made me think. Jesus said, and I'll paraphrase here for my purposes, "I am the true GPS that will get you to the Father. No other GPS knows how to guide you there." It was a bold claim on his part. With millions of GPS units available to purchase an ad for the "Jesus GPS" would claim, "No other GPS can get you there!"

For our trip we put our full faith in a little black box to guide us on an unknown road to our goal. For my eternity I'm trusting in Jesus, who claimed to be the only GPS that knows the way to the Father. So, I'm following his directions on an unknown road and know I will reach my desired destination. My faith in the little GPS got us to our goal. My faith in Jesus will do the same thing.

We all are guided by something, by someone, does the voice you follow know the way?
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The challenge of the climb

The challenge of climbing a mountain is not the mountain itself. Yes, the climb may be difficult and must be done carefully, but the challenge of the mountain is not the mountain, but something you can't see. The great challenge and enemy of the mountain climber is gravity. Pulling against him every inch of his climb is an unseen opponent that is silently threatening defeat every moment. Gravity is his enemy, but without it the mountain would be no challenge at all. It's the reality of this enemy that makes the mountain such a challenge. There are two victories for a mountain climber who makes it to the top- the victory over the mountain itself, but also the victory over gravity's tug. Half of his victory is this simple reality...he didn't fall! That is as much a victory as the climb to the top of the mountain. In fact it's part of the victory. The challenge of his conquest is the price of loss. He's risking his life to climb this mountain and his enemy is unseen, but never sleeping. His enemy will kill him if he relaxes for even a moment.

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In my quest for a victorious Christian life I find I'm constantly fighting against a similar unseen enemy, my old nature, constantly pulling at me to bring about my fall, to cause my demise. It's an ever present enemy, an ever active adversary. Like gravity my old nature is constantly pulling at me to cause my failure, my fall, as I grow in faith. The challenge of my climb of faith is the reality that I have an ever present and unseen enemy that is seeking my fall. But it's the reality of that nature's pull that makes any victory so sweet. If I reach the peak I have won a victory in two ways- I have grown in faith and have resisted the pull of that old nature. If I ever forget that this enemy, although unseen, is real then I will soon find that I have fallen. Fallen in the very sin I'm trying to climb out of. Fallen to the bottom of the mountain to once more begin my ascent to the top. In the Christian life there is the thrill of victory, but there is also the ever present threat of defeat.

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Any climber who is still living will tell you that you have to be careful. You have to anchor to the mountain as you climb. There must always be a rope secured to the mountain as he climbs so, if he loses his grip, he will not fall. His safety precautions are based not on his lack of confidence, but on his knowledge of the enemy. Because he knows the risk he has safety measures in place. It is not a lack of confidence that causes his safety measures, it's wisdom! Every climber knows that he could lose his grip and so that rope, secured to the mountain, is wisdom. Confidence in our ability should never cause us to abandon the wisdom of knowing what our enemy is capable of doing to us.

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Sin's pull is strong. It's difficult to climb above its grasp. It may be unseen, but its tug never weakens. Paul described this battle as we climb and grow in our faith. He talked about it in his own life. The great conflict of faith is the desire to grow in faith while dealing with the pull of sin working against us at the same time. There is victory! There are thousands who have climbed the mountains of faith and won against the pull of sin, but they will all tell you to never dismiss the power of this unseen enemy to bring about our defeat. Paul's closing words give us all hope. These words are the promise to each of us. The climb demands safety ropes so that, if grip is lost, we will not fall. What do we tie our ropes to? How do we make sure we don't fall? Connect your ropes to other believers, to God's word, to prayer. Don't climb alone. Make sure you are climbing with others to keep you from falling. Climb for the peak, but never get careless and think this is easy....it isn't.

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Romans 7:15 ...For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

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Victory is possible! The mountain peak is ahead! Keep climbing!

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Saturday's cartoon

Quote of the day

"We depend on God to even be able to depend on God." -David Vinson, at our men's group this morning.

Great wisdom from a great guy! Thanks, David.

Scientists inadvertently prove Intelligent Design

"Created at a cost of $40 million and more than two decades of work, this experimental one-cell organism, which can reproduce, opens the way to the manipulation of life on a previously unattainable scale, several researchers and ethics experts said." -The Wall Street Journal

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Scientists are giddy about this new accomplishment, but what they have done unintentionally, is reinforce the claims of those who believe in Intelligent Design. Obviously, life cannot just happen. Chance could not be the source of all life and without intending to do so, these scientists have shown that a grand designer is a necessary part of all we see. Well done men, thank you for showing the world once more that God made it all.

Just thinking...

Like most of you, I have a thousand thoughts running through my head in a day....most are not worth mentioning, but this is a big year for me. This year I will turn 60. I never dreamed I would get this old this quickly! I knew it was coming, but as it draws closer I become more reflective. What could I have done differently? How could I have made better choices? Did I do all I could, all I should? If I were to do it all over again would I make the same mistakes?

None of those questions are of much use. I can't answer any of them with an answer that brings any help to my little brain, but they bounce around up there anyway. The one thing I do think about as I near the daunting age of 60 is something I read last fall. The author was describing the fact that we are in a time when there are few spiritual fathers. Men who are mature, walking with God and able to help those behind them take the leadership of the church and the world. That thought has been coming back to me often. Spiritual fathers....where are they? I see few men who, 1. qualify or 2. think they qualify, or 3. take the mantle of this identity if they do qualify. Where are the spiritual fathers leading the way for the Christian world? Showing the next generation how to live an authentic and honest Christian life? Where are the men of passion for God?

I know they are out there. I know many of them myself. I hope I can be one of them, but I don't think, if you asked them, they would describe themselves that way. Why not? If these mature men of faith do not lead the way then who will? So, let me throw out the challenge to my peers nearing this stage of life....are you willing to take on the identity of being a godly man, a leader and a spiritual father to the believers behind you? The next generation has to begin to lead the church. We need to help them and let them. Men, be the spiritual leaders of your family, church and generation and help the next generation to see what that looks like as they take the church into the years ahead.

Just a few thoughts I'm working through.....

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Funny church signs

Let's talk about it

An interesting thought from another site. Let's talk about it...

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"Self-improvement is evil."

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If Jesus answered all your prayers....

If Jesus answered all your prayers from the last 30 days, would anything change in THE world or just YOUR world? -Transforming Sermons
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Sitting in God's waiting room

Sitting in God's waiting room. I heard this used as a description of the wait we sometimes endure waiting on God. It's often a wait that is longer than we anticipated, longer than we planned. Waiting is hard. We are not a patient race.
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Sitting in God's waiting room is frustrating. We want an audience, an answer, we want help NOW, but God makes us wait....
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It's clear that our urgency is not God's emergency. God makes us wait. Why? What is he doing? Doesn't he know I need help now? Doesn't he know I have a deadline? Where is God when I need him? He's making us wait....he's teaching us to trust him. He's calming our urgent and anxious hearts. He's teaching us to rest in Him. Here's what the Bible says about waiting...
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Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

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Psalm 33:20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.

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Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;

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Psalm 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.

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Isaiah 30:18 Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

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Lamentations 3:26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

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It's good to wait quietly for the Lord? Why? It forces us to quiet our hearts, to turns our eyes to him, to trust him. Sitting in the waiting room is never fun until you remember why you are there. You are there to see the doctor. You've come to him to help you get better. God's waiting room has the same purpose. We come to God to find help and answers in our time of need. The wait is part of the healing. Waiting is part of God's work. So, wait patiently. The Great Physician will be with you shortly.

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Great news from Russia!

Dmitry, the pastor of our sister church in Tula, Russia, sent this and a few other photos of their church under construction, or should I say remodel. We have worked for years to raise the money so they could have their own church and now it's almost a dream come true. I'm excited for Dmitry and for the church there. I look forward to joining them one day in their new church building. This dream has taken a number of years, but it will be worth the wait.

Friends

Sometimes we all just need a friend. Someone to listen and not say a word. Someone who cares and is glad to see us. Sometimes the best medicine in the world is a good friend.

Thoughts for the day

There is a growing discontent with comfortable cultural Christianity. A wind is blowing through the church and it brings with it a passion to be a biblical Christian. Not comfortable with the status quo Christians are discovering a fresh passion to live out their Christian lives in the world and demonstrate a real faith to the world around us. I'm excited to see this wind begin to blow. Are you feeling the breeze yet?

Saturday's cartoon

Solitude

It's a busy world! We live very busy lives. The demands of work, family and everything else takes more than we have to give. It's an understatement to say that we are busy people.

But when I watch Jesus I see a man with just a few years to accomplish so much. People pressing on him all the time. Disciples to train, sick people to heal, teaching that needs to be done and the ever present demand for this miracle or that need nearly every day. How did Jesus cope with all of the pressure he endured? What is his model for us?

Matthew 14:13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.

Matthew 14:23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

With all the demands of his life Jesus found time for solitude. Time with his Father. Time alone. Time to be quiet. Time to rest. Throughout the gospel records we see him seeking time alone with his Father often. There are times when he forces the disciples to go with him to get away from the crowds and the chaos. Solitude, time with God, time to be quiet is necessary if he was to deal with all that was facing him.

A solitude is the audience-chamber of God. -Walter Savage Landor

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Time for quiet moments, a time to be still gives us the opportunity to listen to God, to rest our minds and bodies, to quiet all the craziness and din of the world. It's a necessary part of a walk with God. I think that's why the enemy tries to keep us so busy. If we can believe that busy lives are more productive then we will rarely give time to solitude. And yet Jesus sought it often. He would frequently escape to the desert to pray, to talk to God, to rest.

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If the son of God needed it how much more do we?

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Untold stories

There are times when all we get is a snapshot of life, of amazing people, of untold stories and are left wanting more. Who were these men? What did they do? How did they know each other? How did their lives turn out? A snapshot leaves us with so many questions. What's the rest of the story? What were their lives like?

I love stories. I love to hear about the lives of people I meet. What do you do? Where have you traveled? What have you experienced? But there are so many snapshots that leave us wanting more. As I read the last chapter of Romans this morning I came to a series of names and acknowledgements from Paul that left me wanting more. He wet my appetite for the rest of the story....for the untold story. Here's just one verse of the passage that I want to talk about today.

Romans 16: 7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

As I read that simple verse, just one verse, I saw at least five things I want to know more about. First, Junias is also translated Junia in some texts. It's a female name. Was this a woman? We don't know. Second, my relatives....were they? How were they related? What influence did they have on Paul's life? Third, they spent time in prison with Paul. When? Where? Why? I want to know more. Fourth, they were apostles! They had been with Jesus. They were part of his ministry and had seen him crucified and raised to new life. Why haven't I heard about these people before? Did their stories impact Paul before he believed? And last, they were in Christ before Paul. How did their lives weave together? What was their witness to him? I want the rest of the story, but this will be one of those untold stories that will have to wait until the day all our stories are told.

There are so many amazing people living their lives for Christ who have stories we may never hear about. They may be mentioned briefly, but there is so much more to know. There are millions who are following God, living for Christ, with stories that will be largely untold until the day when God tells us their stories.

I can't wait to hear more about these two. I want to sit with them and hear about God's work in their lives. How did he use them? What did they do? What did they see? Was it hard watching a late comer to the faith get all the attention and glory? I can't wait to hear about all the lives that were lived for God and got no glory or recognition in their lifetime. One day God will tell us the untold stories of the lives lived for him. Your life might be one of those stories. Your story might remain untold in this life, like the stories of Andronicus and Junias, but one day God will tell us the stories of lives lived for him. I look forward to hearing about so many who served him, loved him and lived for him while no one noticed, while no one applauded.
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Herschel Finds a Hole in Space

"The Herschel Space Observatory" has made an unexpected discovery: a gaping hole in the clouds surrounding a batch of young stars. The hole has provided astronomers with a surprising glimpse into the end of the star-forming process."

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One of the last great frontiers is space. Nearly every week we are discovering new things we have never seen or known before. There is so much we still don't know.....so much still to learn. Discovery is ongoing.

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How could anyone claim, "there is no God?" With all we still don't know how could anyone make such an ultimate statement of knowledge? There is still so much to know. How could anyone know that God is not there?

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The real answer to this claim is not based on knowledge, but a choice to turn away from the God they know exists. The claim of the atheist is never one of knowledge. It's always a decision of emotion. It is, ultimately, a decision of faith for a people who claim no faith. David described it this way when he wrote, "The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. 2 God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3 Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one."

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While we observe the heavens to discover what is out there God is, at the same time, observing us to see what's in our hearts. While we watch the heavens he watches us! While we are still discovering, God already knows. He knows each one. While there is much we still don't know, there is nothing God doesn't know. He's sees the ones who refuse to see him. He knows each one even if we don't know him. Space continues to amaze us, but space was created to show us God. God made it all so we would declare, "there must be a God who made all of this!"

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Take a look....

We were sitting on a park bench enjoying the beautiful day. He was only yards away on the corner soliciting the interest of those who walked by. His sales appeal was simple. As people walked by he would softly call to them, "Take a look..." and then with a flourish of his hand he would point to the booklet in his hand. Each person would hear the same appeal, "Take a look..." but none responded. I watched those walking by. Some would turn their eyes away, others would look down. None responded. None were curious. Everyone walked by without stopping.

I was extremely curious. What was he offering? What was his product? It was all in the brochure, but I didn't want to deal with his sales pitch to find out. What did we all pass up? What did we all miss? Was it a wonderful gift for anyone who would give him their time? I have no idea what he was selling, but his appeal was interesting to me. "Take a look....take a look..." A simple appeal, but most were not the least bit curious.

Could the gospel message be any simpler than this man's appeal? Could it be any easier? "Take a look..." It's the most amazing message and gift of all time, but most pass by. Most look the other way. Most have no idea what this simple invitation offers. "Take a look....eternal life....free for all...take a look."

Some will stop to inquire. Some will be surprised by the amazing offer of life free of charge. Some will look and take the gift. Others will walk by with no idea what they are missing. The gospel is such a simple offer. Such an amazing gift. "Take a look..." What do we miss when we ignore this simple invitation to see what God has provided? It's free. It's eternal. It's amazing....take a look....

Happy Mother's Day!

For all of you who have a mom this is the day we remember them. Mom is an amazing person. She cares for, loves and raises children when they are most annoying to be around. If it weren't for mom none of us would have survived.
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So, to all the moms who have survived their children and still retain your sanity, Happy Mother's Day!

Saturday's cartoon

I just finished reading 1 John 2 a few minutes before I saw this cartoon. It seemed appropriate in light of John's words,

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1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

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It's funny what we value.....money, beauty, things, fame, success.....you know the list as well as I do. We value the visible and temporal. We value the stuff we can touch and hold onto. The stuff that makes us look good to others. If we could take it all with us it would make heaven as bad as it is here. Those that have it all win. Those who don't lose. The stuff is how we measure success. Success is how we feed pride. Pride and significance is what we most value. It's these things I have to counsel people about weekly. Your value as a person. Your value eternally has nothing to do with the stuff...the money, the houses, the cars, the clothes, etc. Your value is in who you are and whose you are. All this stuff is passing away. Don't value the trash and lose the treasure.

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It all means so little to God that when he's done with this world he's going to burn it all up and start over. His focus is on the people. We are what is important to him. The only eternal things on planet earth are people. They are the only things you will take with you. They are the things of value to God. If we could only value the same things God does it would change our perspective on what's of value and who's important. As Henry Brandt said, "It's not my goal in life to compare my pile of ashes to your pile of ashes." If the stuff of this world is what's important to us we are focused on ashes. "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." How could you describe what's important any better than that?

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Almost gone!

I'm running low on one of basic food groups- COFFEE! It seemed like only a few weeks ago that I bought 20 pounds of raw coffee beans. We have roasted almost all of it and I need to make another run to my bean supplier. I love roasting my own coffee. It's a great hobby and we get to enjoy the results.

I'm sure there will be coffee in heaven. I'm convinced the book of Revelation describes the coffee tree when John writes that the fruit of the tree will be for the healing of the nations. What else could that be but coffee? So, off to my bean supplier when I can get away......I can't run out of coffee!

Going our own way

How have we come to a place where we think we can find God's best by completely ignoring what he says? How do we rationalize disobedience and still want God's blessings? But we do! I see it every day. Sad and broken people in my office, one hurting beyond anything I can imagine while the other one says, "I just want to be happy." How can we believe that going our own way, against God's instructions, will ever bring happiness? Let me state clearly, just in case you are in this position, you will never find happiness disobeying God! There, I've said it. And yet, do you know what I will hear today, as I hear it every day, "I know God wants me happy. And besides, he'll forgive me, won't he?" How did we ever come to this strange place where we condone our sinful choices with our claim of God's approval? How can we imagine that forgiveness is permission?

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What is even more amazing to me is when we begin to experience the results of our sins the verbal protest is, "how could God let this happen to me?" May I reply? "Excuse me....what did you expect?"

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Personally, I'm grieved by what I see and I'm tired of the lies that Christian people believe. We are giving ourselves permission to sin because God will forgive?....because we want to be happy?....because we know best? I'm in the middle of the book of Ezekiel right now and the clear message is that there are consequences for sin and they aren't pretty. Sin always has consequences. There is always a price. There will always be fruit from our actions.

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The first Psalm deals with these very choices. They are choices of relationship and response. Who do you hang out with? Who do you listen to? And what will you do? Most people seem clueless to the fact that our relationships mold our responses. We think like those we hang out with. We act like those we associate with. That's why the very first Psalm is so important. It gives guidance for both relationship and response. Read it carefully. Look at the results of choices made. Realize that these basic truths have never changed. They are the same today as they were in the day they were written because we haven't changed. We still need to choose our relationships because they influence our responses. And our responses, our choices, always bear fruit.

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Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

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Wonderful meetings

Have you ever been in just the right place at just the right time?

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Have you ever had the opportunity to bless someone you never met before?

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Have you ever had the joy of being nice for no reason at all?

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I have.
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While in Seattle over the weekend we were in the Pike Place market enjoying all the excitement of a Saturday morning when, from behind me, I heard applause. I turned to witness a young man proposing to his girlfriend. Camera in hand I began to shoot. No one else was documenting this wonderful event so I took on the task gladly. It was a great event in the middle of the frenzy of the market. As he put the ring on her finger and received a "yes" and a warm kiss I asked for a posed photo with them both, flowers in hand. It was a great treat for me. I gave the young man my card with these words, "If you want the photos just let me know, I'll send them to you." Without knowing it until yesterday, before their trip to Seattle, he had e-mailed his sister in law and told her, "if I could just figure out a way to have someone there taking pictures it would be perfect." And then he writes in his e-mail to me, "And there you were...thank you for helping make that day perfect." -Tyler. I was thrilled to get his e-mail asking for the photos, but even more excited to send them. It's great fun doing something nice for no reason at all! Best wishes Tyler and Magan. I hope you have a wonderful life together and I hope you all enjoy the photos that were my great treat to take....

When you live forever

We were walking down the street in Seattle, enjoying the weather and the day, when we passed a retail store with this display in the window. The handwritten sign asks a profound question,

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"When you live forever, what do you live for?"

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Obviously the display is for apparel related to the Twilight movie series, but the question goes beyond the fictional life of vampires.

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The truth is that we are each eternal beings. We don't have to become a vampire to achieve this status. It's our destiny. Everyone one of us will live forever. So, when you live forever, what do you live for? Most people live for now, for the moment. Most of us cannot look beyond next week let alone into eternity and yet what we do now has impact on eternity. Our eternity, our destiny and destination is decided now...in this life. A simple question meant to advertise vampire merchandise offers us in the real world a profound question to consider.

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Peter gave this response, it may give some direction for anyone willing to seriously ask this simply question. He wrote,

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1 Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among those in the world that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

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Paul offered this as his answer,

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1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
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When you live forever, what should you live for? Live for the glory of God. There is no better answer to the question, "what should you live for?" It has eternal results. You will never regret it. The next question for you to ask yourself is much more complicated, "what would that look like in my life?" Now you are on the way. There is no quest more exciting.

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So, since you will live forever, what should you live for?

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On the way home

Sorry for my absence, but my wonderful wife and I took a long weekend and escaped to Seattle. It was a great time to reconnect and rest. More stories later, but I just wanted to let you know I'm still alive and much rested. It's great to get away once in a while, but it's even better to come home. We are on our way home now.

Much thanks to Larry and Michelle for making the trip possible!