The Old and New Way of Looking Ahead!

Waking up in the morning to the Star Spangled Banner playing on the radio at 6:00 a.m. on KEES Radio in Longview, TX was the way I started my day as a youth.  Sometimes I would have to go and turn off the radio as it blared on with no one else stirring or trying to turn it off.  It was time to rise, get ready to start the day.  I was always ready.  Wasting time in staying in bed was not my thing at that time.  There was too much to do, to much to accomplish just waiting on me to begin.

Then I grew a little older and that excitement seemed to wane a little as I began to live a life that was leaving me beaten down and not as excited about the new adventures that were just outside the door.  To me, outside the door was danger.  Not physically, but emotionally and spiritually.  I had started striving to be a "good" Christian and began realizing that it was so difficult because I couldn't conquer the sin in my life.

I had always been able to do anything I set my mind to do.  My dad had taught me that and I believed it, and still do!  He was a wise man.  He may not have understood what his statements concerning this meant to me in my young life.  In fact, I didn't realize what the meaning was until a few years ago.

As I have now had my children and drilled into their heads that they could do anything if they set their minds to it, I hear them talk about their children and the problems that they face in raising them and I still see them the way my father saw and I believe to some extent still sees me, still his child.

I understand that I can't be perfect and that God doesn't want my perfection on a daily basis.  He wants me to love Him on a daily basis and let Him know about it.  The new adventures of the day can only come when I have allowed myself to realize that each day is new and fresh, and being a child of God, I get to start each morning fresh and new.  The excitement of the day is in His hands.  Turn it all over to him.  Don't stop looking for the new in each day.  Also, don't forget to let the bad in the past stay there.  There is something new each and every morning for you to do.  Begin by basking in the sunlight of God's love, guidance and the leading He offers.

I'll see you later!

Work the Program

I am so thankful to be able to continue learning at my age, and I don't think that I am all that old, yet! But it is a breath of fresh air to see God at work in my life leading me to study and learn even more than I ever would have thought possible.

As most of you know my son Anthoney is an addict in recovery.  I am so proud that he is seeing himself in a different light than ever before.  He is smiling and seems happier with himself and who and whose he is.  He is jumping in with both feet, getting involved spiritually and emotionally with God and that to me is wonderful.

One of the things that I have learned from being a part of the recovery process that he is undergoing is leaning about the "Twelve Step Program" that he is using to become more dependent upon himself and God and less on drugs and alcohol.  Their statement of "work the program" means to find the way to sobriety. 

Working the program can also be a good way for us as Christians to look at our spiritual needs and desires. 

God wants us to be active and working in His kingdom.  When we have problems with our lives, we need to "work the program."  We need to admit our sin and look to Him for the forgiveness He offers.

When rehab is completed and the addict or alcoholic leaves, one of the things that they are encouraged to do is to attend 90 meetings in 90 days to help them continue in overcoming their addiction.  Wouldn't that be a great way for us minister to each other and move out of a life of sin and into a life of Godliness?  90 meetings in 90 days.  Seems like a lot of commitment doesn't it?  Is it to much to ask to strive to walk closer to God?

I'll see you later.

The Cruise!

Well, let me start by saying that I never thought I would ever go on a cruise and that at first it did not appeal to me at all.  However, hind sight is 20 20 as they say!

It was great.  Everything about it was wonderful.  We traveled with two other couples from church and had more fun and relaxed more than I believe I have relaxed in years.  To lie in bed with the door to the balcony open so we could sleep to the sound of the ocean was more than I can describe.  Then on our second night out of port to stand on the deck of the Triumph Cruise liner and see nothing but water on any side was awesome.  It was also humbling.

I serve a God that has  allowed me to go half way around the world to Europe and Africa.  I have now been in the Yucatan of Mexico and I am so looking forward to going back.  I am so thankful to have had this opportunity.

Now, let me also say this.  I would never have done this on my own. My beautiful and loving wife made the decision to go on this cruise and set it all up.  She paid for it and planned it and I am so thankful that she did. It was great.  (In fact, when we got in the car to come home she immediately started looking for other cruises for next year. She is hooked.)

Thanks Lisa for a great week and Christmas.

I love you.

I'll see you later!

Gun Control

Okay, I am going to say this as clearly as I can.  I do not think that guns are evil.  Guns are inanimate objects.  They have no ability other than being manipulated by the hands of man.  There is no one in this world who feels any worse about what has happened so many times in our country when it comes to innocent children losing their lives at the hands of evil people.  But that is the problem, evil people.  No inanimate object can be evil in and of itself.  It can be used in an evil way, or it can be used in a useful and productive way.  It is the mind of a man that takes and turns something into a tool of evil.

Now, do there need to be restrictions?  Yes.  I am all for making our public safer.  Do we need to make it more difficult for evil people to acquire weapons like those used in Newtown?  Yes.  I believe we do.  We also need harsher punishment for selling weapons without registration of those guns.  This goes against a lot of the conservative thinking but I am all for making it more of a crime to use any weapon to kill another human being.  It isn't the weapon that killed it is the person wielding the weapon that cause the fatality.  We need to be more strict in acquiring guns.  But, it does not need to punish those who are law abiding and caring citizens by banning any weapon. 

Stricter applications and licensing for all guns is perfectly fine with me.  But, you will take my guns out of my home under major protest, and major being I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of those who walk up to my home to take my guns.  As long as I am alive, I'll be the last one in America to have their guns taken away.

I am sorry for the tragedy we have seen over the last week and the 69 other school incidents involving guns and schools since 1994.  It saddens me and makes me ill to think that anyone would hurt another human without provocation.  I am reminded daily of a personal situation in my life where no guns would have allowed someone I thought a lot of to live.  However, the evil of the other person allowed them to steal the gun they used to kill with.  Evil in a person turns a gun against the innocent, not the gun itself.

I'll see you later.

Holidays

Bah...Humbug! 

Yes, that is the way I felt for years about the holiday season.  I didn't dislike the holidays as much as I realized how many times in my life that was the time that I felt so inadequate as to what and how to treat this special season.

I have always enjoyed giving gifts and seeing my children open their gifts has always been a wonderful experience.  Now seeing my grandchildren doing the same thing also brings a special feeling of joy.

My problem has always been the world's view on the "commercial aspects" of Christmas and the entire holiday season.  When this time of year is motivated by the purchasing of items and the guilt they spread for not purchasing the "best gifts" for those you love.  I am not good at picking out gifts.  I guess that is one of the things I inherited from my dad.  He always gave credit to "Nay", JoAnn,  his wonderful bride of over 30 years.  And he is right in doing so.  She is the gift picker for that family and does a great job.

My wife also does most of our gifting.  I am thankful that she does.  She is good at it and can filter some of the things I feel are special for the season and special for our children and grandchildren. 

I love giving gifts, but there is an underlying aspect I want you to think about.

My greatest gift has never been as important to me as it is now.  The greatest gift I have ever received I was given by God.  His Son!

I want Jesus to be the gift I share with my family above all other gifts.  I want to keep Christ in Christmas. I want more than anything to see my children and grandchildren be faithful loving children of God so that they may receive the gift of an eternity in heaven with God.  If I can give that gift to my children I have given the best gift I believe has ever been offered.

Then it will truly be a holiday and it will last through all the season.

I'll see you later.

I Can't Do It!

Have you ever said the words, "I can't do it"?

I have, and it hurts my pride, ego (whats left after 53 years) when I have to admit that I can't do everything. 

I don't know it all! Now that should grab my children's and my family's attention.  But I admit it.  I have come to realize that not only do I not know everything, I can't know everything.  I can't do everything.  There are limits that are on me as an aging adult with many flaws that keep me from being able to believe I can do anything.  Knowing and doing are just as important in the realm of knowing to admit "Can't" as fighting the hatred I carried for those few words all of my life.

I hated admitting that I couldn't do it all.  I refused to make the statement that I didn't know something.  It was a war in my life that I, admittedly, still have to fight on occasion. 

But there is one thing I do know.  I know that because of the grace of my God and the sacrifice of my Lord Jesus, I have eternal life within me.  I know that there are no spiritual boundaries in my spiritual walk with the God I love.  I am not perfect and I get angry when I choose to sin, but I know my God is a forgiving God who searches our hearts and minds to know us and lead us toward Him.

When someone says that they "can't" do something, I am not as critical anymore.  When I hear someone say "I don't know" I am not as flippant about their remark as I once was.  I have a lot more patience with others and myself as I have matured (term used in expectation).

When you find yourself not knowing, it is okay to admit it.
When you find yourself not being able to do, it is okay to say, "I can't do it!"

Just make sure that when you are faced with the spiritual challenges in your life that you say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"   Philippians 4:13

I'll see you later!

Black Sunday

I found the following article and just had to share it with the family here.  Be blessed.

Wow! I found the best deal ever and I want to share it with everyone I know. Forget about “Black Friday!” Forget about “Cyber Monday!” The REAL deal is something most people haven’t figured out yet. I am about to give you the best savings tip ever! I promise you will not find a deal this good at any retailer. Just read a bit further to find out about this amazing deal!

We’ve all heard about Black Friday. It is a day that retailers look forward to all year. It has the name Black Friday” because, traditionally, this is the day that many retailers go from being “in the red” (an accounting way of showing that expenses exceed revenue) to being “in the black” (revenue exceeds expenses). Black Friday, and the relatively new Cyber Monday (Internet sales), are generally the most profitable days of the year for many retailers. So why would you shop on a day that literally gets its name from the fact that companies are getting their greatest profit from YOU?

I HAVE A BETTER IDEA. Why not go somewhere that YOU profit from the expense of someone else! You see, the best deal isn’t Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but something we might call “Black Sunday.” About 2,000 years ago, Jesus went to the cross on our behalf. Corporate humanity was in debt for our sins. Rather than offering cheap deals, Jesus offered the most costly expense imaginable, His blood. And if that were the end of the story, then expenses would still exceed revenue and we would still be “in the red.”

But Sunday came, and with it, the greatest profit ever…the risen savior! Because of “Black Sunday,” we now benefit from His profit – salvation. That’s right. We get the profit, not some corporation! You don’t have to camp out all night or wait in line this Thursday. Christ rose on Sunday, and you can receive His gift TODAY! If you want to receive His “profit,” turn away from a life of sin, confess Jesus as the Son of God, and be baptized for the forgiveness of sin. Then begin attending a bible believing, New Testament church where you can learn more about walking in the light! What a deal! A true savings!  By Greg Wanderman.

 I'll see you later!