Fools

Psa 14:1 To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.
Psa 14:2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
Psa 14:3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

I've been reading some comments made on a web site that highlights a project by two atheists called "The Blasphemy Challenge". The comments made by some of those who claim to be atheists are amazing! There is no shame in their comments, there is no fear of God in their vile rage, they are bold fools knowing nothing!

The bible calls these people "fools". Fools because they deny God, and will not bow their knees to him. They are fools because they think they know there is no God, when they actually know nothing at all. Their rage against any word of wisdom is venomous. There is no reasoning with them....

Blaise Pascal wrote these words. I think they tell a lot about these "fools" who laugh in the face of God, laugh at the prospect of hell, and ignore the reality of eternity:

"Imagine a number of prisoners on death row, some of whom are killed each day in the sight of the others. The remaining ones see their condition is that of their fellows, and looking at each other with grief and despair await their turn. This is a picture of the human condition."

And yet, knowing that their turn is coming...that death is ahead for each one...they rage against the God who made them. They deny his existence in hopes that it's not true...but death awaits and eternity too. They dismiss the bible out of hand as a fairy tale, and while waiting for their death sentence they play games and laugh at those who are investing in eternity rather than these few years on this fallen planet.

Fools? Without a doubt! Fools because they risk everything, with their fist in the air, to be "gods" of their own fate...and in the process lose everything.

Monday's cartoon

Quote of the day

“Though no one can go back and make a new beginning - anyone can start from now and make a brand new end.”

— Carl Brand

God's amazing grace

It's been several years ago now....it was late one night...Joye, my wife, was out of town visiting her mother....and I couldn't sleep. I had a cold or something like it. I just couldn't breathe. Most of the time my colds are in my head, but this was in my chest and I just couldn't breathe. For some reason I did something I have never done before...I went to the emergency room at the hospital.

Looking back I know why now, but I have never done this before...I just don't get sick, and haven't been in hospital since I was 9. For some reason, at midnight, I got up, got dressed and went to hospital.

In the emergency room a nurse came in to see what was wrong with me. I told her I had a cold or something like it, and just couldn't breathe. She left the room, and in a few minutes came back with a pill and told me to put it under my tongue. I obeyed....

The next thing I remember I'm on the floor surrounded by doctors and nurses. I had passed out!

Now, mind you, I had yet to see or talk to a doctor...they simply assumed if I had chest congestion I must have a heart problem, and so they gave me a nitro pill. BUT I don't have heart problems, in fact I had been an active bicyclist riding 20+ miles per day for years. This little pill, meant to help those with heart problems, caused my blood pressure to crash, and I passed out, fell on the floor and hit my head. Now I'm really hurt!

Now, suddenly, I'm getting CAT scans, x-rays....etc., and find myself in intensive care! All I had was a cold, now I'm in intensive care! (That's why I don't go to hospitals!)

But, what I didn't know was that God had a plan, and it really had very little to do with me.

So, I spend a night in intensive care because of the hospital's mistakes....what's going on? The next day some of our men from the church came to visit with me. One of the men, Eric, owned a business, and had an older man working for him who had become very ill. Eric had shared his faith with this man a number of times, and the man had refused Christ or faith....now this man is two rooms down from me in the intensive care unit, in a coma, dying....

After a short visit Eric said, "Since I'm here I should stop and see ____." He didn't see much point to seeing him because the man was in a coma and they didn't expect him to recover...but since he was there to see me he said he would stop by this man's room before he left.

Eric went into the room, the man awoke from his coma, Eric shared the gospel with him once more and this dying man trusted Christ....the next day he died.

Now here's an amazing thing...I was in the hospital by God's amazing plan so I would be in intensive care so Eric would come to lead this man to Christ. What an amazing love God has that he would care for this dying man so much that he would put me through all of that just so this poor man could find Christ!

Now before I finish I must tell you that this man had wasted his life. He was in his 60's when he died. He was an alcoholic, had spent decades in prison and his children were in prison as he lay dying. Like the thief on the cross next to Jesus this man had nothing to offer God but a wasted life and the need for a savior. What an amazing love God has for us that he would die for us when we bring nothing to him but our empty, wasted lives, and in exchange he gives us his life and salvation.

What an amazing love!

Seeing God work in spite of me

Have you ever wondered if you are making a difference, if you are doing anything for the kingdom of God? It is hard at times to keep a clear vision of the goal because of the battles and tasks in front of you. There are days when I wonder, "Am I doing anything for the kingdom of God? Am I making any difference at all???" (I think we all feel this way at times.) Then I read something like this, and I get a glimpse of what God is doing...He's working....and we get to be part of it. Here's my encouragement today:


"Every now and then I post about a great blog I have found. I want others to be able to read and enjoy.
Two blogs that I don't ever like to miss are Joyeful Things , and Finishing Well .
I think I have mentioned Joyeful things before, I have probably been reading hers the longest. Finishing well is her husband who is a pastor. They are so inspiring to me, they are very real and their posts are very inspiring. I don't know them besides from their blogs, but they have ministered greatly to me just through their blogs. If I am ever having a frustrating day I can go read these blogs and they inspire me to get out of my rut. Even though I have never met them, they are a dear couple to me. They have such a heart for God and people. They are some great role-models on this new path of ministry my husband and I have found ourselves on. I glean so much Godly loving wisdom from them.
I actually found both of them through their daughter. I really enjoyed her blog a lot because I could relate to her life. She was a mother of three who were around the same ages as my three and she wrote about her daily life as a mom. I still enjoy reading her blog too. She recently just had her fourth child, and again I find myself on the same path it seems. Maybe I can get some wise counsel from Life in the shoe, as I am thinking I am crazy and my life is about to get even crazier adding a fourth child.
But if you ever need to be inspired, want to read some well written, real people, very thought provoking posts I definitely recommend "Joyeful things", and "Finishing Well" and "Life in the Shoe". These are must reads for me. Just wanted to highlight some of my favorite's."

-Pixiedust

So, be encouraged today...God is working in your life, and at times we will see a little bit of what he is up to....one day we will see it all, and will fall at his feet in worship. What an awesome God!

How great is our God - Chris Tomlin

Songs like this help me get my focus on the right thing- GOD! Take a few minutes to listen...take some time to worship...bow your heart to the great God of the universe and then have a great day!

Just a Thursday morning...

A new day has begun, and I got an early start as well....some reading, some prayer and a few minutes to just think.

It's Thursday. I have a day full of plans, problems and people ahead of me....but I wonder what the Lord has in store for me?

I think I must miss so much of what God would do if I would let him. My calendar is full. The day is busy....meetings, office time, people I need to call, things I must do....but what's on God's calendar for me?

What does he have planned for my day? I will gladly throw out my calendar to do what he wants.

Lord, don't let me miss the appointments YOU have set for me today. Show me the open doors ahead that I might miss because of my busy life.

Let's go by your calendar today!

A short praise

Take a moment...turn off all the noise around you...and read this shortest of all the Psalms. Then dwell on the words for a minute....I'll share my thoughts at the end.

Psa 117:1 Praise the LORD, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples!
Psa 117:2 For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the LORD!

This is the shortest Psalm. Some think it should be connected to the next chapter, but take a moment and look at what it is focusing on- God's love and his truth. These are key elements to who he is and what he communicates to us. It's also interesting to me that Solomon said in Proverbs 3:3 "Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart." Is he talking about the character choices of kindness and truth or is he referring to God's presence?

It's interesting to me that these are keys to who God is, and also important to make a part of who we are. "Bind them around your neck", what an interesting wording choice. In other words wear them like jewelry in plain sight to you and others. Make them one the of the first things people see about you. It's fascinating to me that kindness and truth are almost extinct in our world today....what better way for us to stand out than to make the very character of God the first thing people see in us.

Wear kindness and truth like a necklace for the world to see...it will be the most beautiful jewelry you will ever wear.

The battle of kindness, part 2

Saturday morning I came home after meetings at the church. My first thought was- Go over to the neighbors and tell them not to mow, you will do it on Monday.....but as I drove up to the house I hear the sound of a lawnmower, and see my neighbor once more mowing my lawn. Now I'm TWO mowings behind...it hard to keep up in these kindness wars! My first thing to do is thank him, and I did. I told him it was my turn...I would do it Monday. He brushed me off, hot and sweating, and said, "It was not a big problem, glad to do it, oh, and by the way...we are looking for a church." We agreed to go out for dinner together and talk more. I'm just amazed to see how God works...it's such fun to see God moving in the hearts and lives of people. Thanks, Lord. Maybe I will sneak over and wash their cars...

Quote of the day

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

— C. S. Lewis

Monday's cartoon

Quote of the day

We Christians must simplify our lives or lose untold treasures on earth and in eternity. Modern civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life all but impossible. The need for solitude and quietness was never greater than it is today. ~A. W. Tozer

Revealer of the heart

2Co 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

As I grow in my faith two things help me- 1. the bible which teaches me truth, and 2. the Spirit who reveals himself and shows me who I am. Both of these are like mirrors...revealing what God wants and then showing me where I am. When I read the word I see God's goal for me, and then he reveals me to me...and I see how far I am from the mark. When the Holy Spirit works in my heart I hear from him, and what he wants for me....and I'm convicted and must deal with the me that is and the me that should be. Now, I must say that my goal is not to change me, it's to let the word of God and his Spirit do that. What I must do is be available for him to work. I won't be changed unless I'm willing.....and my will and flesh are the big enemies of what God wants to do in me. The more time I spend with God in his word, listening to the Spirit speak to my heart, the more I see my own reflection in contrast to what God wants me to be, the more I see my need for him to make me what I should be.

Years ago I was in Mexico with a missionary. He took me to a potter's house. This potter made pots the way they did in ancient Israel. We watched him work on a vase. It was beautiful. He was almost done, and then with a quick movement he smashed the vase into a pile of clay again. I asked the missionary why he had done that...ruined that beautiful vase. He asked the potter my question and got back a one word reply, "lumps". If he had fired that vase with the lumps in the vase and not worked them out it would have broken in the fire. He had to get the lumps out.
And that's what I'm working on this morning....lumps. As the Spirit and the word reveal me to me, I see lumps....and the blow to smash me into a pile of clay again so he can refine me is painful, but the goal will be glorious....

2Ti 2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

Deep thoughts, part 6

Ok, now for some deep thoughts from a shallow mind. Realize that profound is just a word to me, and I live in the world of application (so what do I do with that?) So my thoughts will not stir you to great heights, but I do hope they will encourage you.

I don't often deal with current events in this blog, but this is too good to pass up. It caught my attention because it is so strange, offbeat, unusual.

"LONDON, England -- Pedestrians all over the world are moving faster than a decade ago, according to scientists who have conducted a study into the pace at which people walk.
Psychologists say walking speeds have increased by an average of 10 percent in the past 10 years.
People in the greatest hurry live in Singapore, according to the study of cities in 32 countries. Following in their footsteps are residents of Copenhagen in Denmark and Madrid in Spain.
Researchers in each city found a busy street with a wide pavement that was flat, free from obstacles and sufficiently uncrowded to allow people to walk at their maximum speed.
The speed of each city's walkers was then timed by a team researchers, armed with stopwatches.
The pace of life in our major cities is now much quicker than before. This increase in speed will affect more people than ever, because for the first time in history the majority of the world's population are now living in urban center," Wiseman said.
The biggest changes were found in the Far East. In Singapore, walking pace had increased by 30 percent and in Guangzhou, China, the pace was more than 20 percent quicker.
Here is a list, in order, of the cities ranked by the speeds at which people walk:
1) Singapore (Singapore) and lastly.... 32) Blantyre (Malawi)" (I left out the middle 30 to shorten the list.) " --CNN.com

So here's what I'm thinking....this is much ado about nothing! We are rushing around, so busy with our lives that we have to increase our walking pace to just get everything done. We have become a world in a hurry going nowhere!

The place on the list that was most interesting to me was the city with the slowest pace- Blantyre, Malawi. I got online to research this city I have never heard of. It's in East Africa.

Which end of this list is the winner? Which place is the most appealing? Why am I even asking?

I'm curious....why are we in such a hurry? What are we accomplishing? We are so busy, with noise all around us, that we never get time to stop, be quiet and think. We rush through our lives with no idea of what we are doing or what our purpose is. At least at our funerals we can encourage the family, "he was busy!"

Psa 46:10 "Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything."

Are we there yet?

When do we get to a point in our lives when this "Christian life thing" is easier? When do we get to the point when we can easily live this Christian life? As I age I'm convinced that there is never that day ahead of me. Moment by moment I must allow Christ to live his life through me, and live my life in him. My sin nature never gets any better, so it's a daily walk of trusting Christ to live in and through me. There are days that this frustrates me. I am one who wants to master things...to get good at something, but you can't get good at living the Christian life, you can only get good at letting Christ live through you.

That reality, at times, frustrates me. I want to "get good" at this, but that is not an option...it's a daily walk of letting Christ walk in and through me as I walk through my day. It's a daily dependence upon him...trusting him to do in me what I can't. Today I must do it again. There is no pill that I can take to cover the whole week, I must do this daily, walking with Christ in the moments of my day. What a great life.....


Rom 7:22 I truly delight in God's commands,
Rom 7:23 but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
Rom 7:24 I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?
Rom 7:25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.