It looks like we may get our 1st major snow of the year. 

“Who told you that?”  The question God asked Adam in the garden after the fall.  I am continually checking out sources whenever someone says so and so said something.  I go back to the original voice.  I did that a few months ago when I received an email claiming Dr. Dobson was warning Christians about a certain danger.  Upon calling Focus on the Family I found it to be an hoax.  “Who told you that?”   This is a question we need to ask continually. In the book of Acts the Bereans checked out their sources and was called noble people.   I depend heavily upon the Bible and the Holy Spirit when I check out what is being said.  Those two will always be in agreement. 

Alice Roosevelt was a teen that was popular in her time.  She was the daughter of Theodore Roosevelt.  She was young when McKinley was assassinated and her father became president.  What I find interesting about Alice was in all her wildness she sought for a person like her dad in her own life and in a mate.  Alice took the spot light at the inauguration and just about anywhere she went.  She blazed her own trail in her own life.  But when you look at her Dad, Teddy the Rough Rider, he did the same.  Safaris in Africa was just one of his pass time.  Yet, Alice did not stay on the good road.  She was everything her Dad was and more.  Our children will follow in our paths.  Do those paths lead to the One True God? 

I’ve been thinking about the young man that Jesus put mud in his eyes and healed him.  What was his next morning after the miracle like?  It was a brand new life.  I would suspect no one could take away his smile that day.  I remember feeling like that; it was the day after.  No, my eye weren’t blind; my spiritual eyes were.  The day after I was “born again” I saw life much differently.  I continue to see through new eyes – it’s my 1st love. 

Check it out: Gird      (Good Word) 

There is so much in this life we don’t understand.  I had a very restless night.  As I was praying this morning I began to thank God for the restlessness because I know it’ll lead to rest. The reason for my restlessness is some crop failure.  I don’t put my self worth in crop or what comes from this life.  I find my identity in the eyes of my Heavenly Father.  I’m so glad I don’t have to perform to get his approval.  When I look in his eyes I see his love.  That gives me motivation.  When farmers have crop failure they plant new seeds.  That’s my plan.  One of my favorite verses is: Forgetting what is behind I press forward towards the goal.  We all have so much failure in our past.  I see that failure as fertilizer that will cause a good growth today. 

It’s all how you look at things.  This morning an irritated feeling came upon me. I decided right then I needed to die to those feelings.  I realized my increase need for the Holy Spirit in my life.  I could of allowed the irritated sensation to work in me; it would of probably been followed by a person or incident.  Instead it helped me get closer to my Heavenly Father. 

Daughters of Presidents
What were they like?  History shows us that a mold was cast for each of these girls.  They had to conform to what society dictated.  The sad fact of the matter is they did conform.  The Bible tells us to not conform to the things of this world but be transformed.  More than ever before there is a strong movement to make every person conform to the “political correctness” of our time.  If you don’t go with the “norm” you’re labeled as a closed minded person.  I choose to be a nonconformist.  I will be transformed by the power of God.

Yesterday was a wonderday day.  First it was Kim’s birthday.  We went to HuHot to celebrate.  (I love the squid.)  I felt very priviledged to be able to preach on her birthday.   I had to embarrass her by having the church sing Happy Birthday.  It was great.  I spoke on the qualities we need to enter the Kingdom of God.  Those qualities are found in small children: simple, humble, followers, transparent.  Children show their weaknesses.  They are not self-conscience. Children don’t puff themselves up. Children are in need.  It was a good day. 

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become
new.

I’m glad I don’t have to live with “old things”.  Problems in life tell me that this world is not going to last forever.  It will pass away and make way for a new heaven and a new earth.  I’m grateful I don’t have to wait until that time to begin living in the newness.  Thank you Jesus. 

A Lot of Trouble

The valley was beautiful. It enchanted him as a seductive voice captives its victim. The flowers, the trees, the fruit, the opportunity all compelled him to go forward. Excitement was in his step as he and his family entered a new part of their life.  Little did they know the deception of appearance.  He didn’t know the realm that resounded of cries ascending. His own ears could hear the yells of atrocity. He heard the stories of brutally. He saw the villainous crimes of the corrupt. The young being taught the ways of the wicked, surrounded his home. Yet, the valley was beautiful, so silence was his stand.

Then darkness turned to night. Reality knocked at his door. He allowed the wickedness to take a hold of his family.

Genesis 19:9 says that Lot was willing to give his teen daughters over to the evil men of Sodom. How could a Dad do that to his own family? I am reminded that we will sacrifice those we love to the one we serve. Lot came to this place because he lived by what looked good instead of what was good.  He was unaware or didn’t care that he led his family into danger.

 Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where.

He wasn’t concerned with what God required; common sense was his guide. The crimes didn’t concern him until it knocked at his door.

Even though it’s possible that Lot didn’t partake in the evil of the Plains of Jordan, he was encased in darkness. It appears he grew accustomed to the wickedness around him.  If he had TV he would have allowed the wickedness to come in home that way.  He & his family became desensitized. In one day he lost half his family and changed his address from downtown Sodom to uptown cave.  

I’m finding more and more parents have to deal with the issue of “the other house”.  A child goes to live with Mom one weekend and with Dad the other weekend.  What I find is that one or both parents try to put up a fence around both homes. (In fence I’m meaning discipline.)  It doesn’t work.  I continually tell parents in those situations to just parent the child in your own home.  It’s very difficult because what happens in the other home directly affects the other home.  The fact of the matter is you can’t control what happens any where else and if you try it’ll most likely backfire.