THE UNKNOWN PATH

Ever been somewhere you did not want to go?

Working the Tsunami in a village where many family members had died from the rushing flooding waters of the ocean. I was asked by a local lady that had 8 to 9 kids with her, to go look with them for others that had not been found. Taken back by this request, that they would want to go looking for family or neighbors that had not been recover.

The area was a rice field toward the back side of the village. The kids proceeded like they where on a school field trip. My thought and prayer was Lord I need help. First off I don’t believe these children need to see more death and I could not dissuade them to this type of field trip. Walking on paths that border the water soak rice field, looking for snakes or any other dangers, I start to pray with earnest to God that he would block our path or for us not to find any bodies.

God did!

Before the Tsunami the fields where open and no fencing was in place. Since then someone had placed new barb-wire fencing, which made it impossible to go further without getting totally soaked to travel the areas.

God had it planned out before I had gotten there to block this from all of us. Sadly, two days later adults did recover bodies in the area where we could not travel.

God will direct our paths if we trust in him. Psalm tells us that He will not forsake us if we acknowledge Him in all our ways.

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10

JUDGE NOT

I was shocked, confused, bewildered

As I entered Heaven's door,

Not by the beauty of it all,

Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven

Who made me sputter and gasp--

The thieves, the liars, the sinners,

The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade

Who swiped my lunch money twice.

Next to him was my old neighbor

Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought

Was rotting away in hell,

Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,

Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?

I would love to hear Your take.

How'd all these sinners get up here?

God must've made a mistake.

'And why is everyone so quiet,

So somber - give me a clue.'

'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.

No one thought they'd be seeing you.'

JUDGE NOT!!!

Remember...Just going to church doesn't

make you a Christian any more

than standing in your garage makes you a

car ..

Every saint has a PAST....

Every sinner has a FUTURE!!!

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Luke 6:37

RIPPLE EFFECT

Philippians 1:3-11 I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,.

As a kid was skipping stones across the surface of a smooth lake. Ripples would flow from the impact of the stone.

It’s like that with choices. Every choice we make creates a ripple effect on our lives as well as on the lives of others. The choices we have made throughout life determine where we are and what we are becoming. Choices are also telling.

What we really want, love, and think show up in the choices we make. It’s no wonder then that Paul urged us to make “excellent” choices—Excellent choices are the proof of a life that is deeply committed to Jesus and His ways, and they have the ripple effect of filling our lives

“With the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God”. (v.11)

“Our lives are not made by the dreams we dream but by the choices we make. Let’s make excellent ones!” — Joe Stowell

KNOWING HOW TO THROW THE NET

Living in the Low-Country for thirty years, one thing I had to learn was how to cast a shrimp net. Some use the over the shoulder technique, some use in the mouth grab. Both work really well, unless you have dentures!

"Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.John 21

Simon Peter knew how to throw the net, but like me he was having problem finding the catch. He had to take advice from Jesus on where to throw the net.

Are we willing to take Jesus advice on where to cast the net? Survey’s say it take 27 believers to lead 1 person to Christ. Sounds like their is a problem on where we are casting.

Are we casting where the fish have already been caught?

Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. "Mark 2:17

CAST YOUR NET ON THE RIGHT SIDE

ARE YOU PASSIONATE

Passion a strong feeling about a subject or person, usually of intense desire and attraction

Bible “NIV” version their are 7 times listed about passion.

Hosea 7:6 , Romans 7:5, 1 Corinthians 7:9, Galatians 5:24, 1 Thessalonians 4:5,
Titus 2:12

In these passages, passion is about emotions or urges that are out of control.

So why is it that we can be so passionate about something and it feels right and good? Righteous Passion, A passion that is without sinful thought or desire, but passion to love someone or something with Holy intent. To love one spouse with all the right reason, not about self, but truly caring for the others well being beyond our own.

Passion with intense desire to worship Jesus Christ, not for what He can gives us, but how we can serve Him in worship. God’s Passion was for His creations. US! He was so passionate, that knowing man with free will and sinful nature that He would sacrifice His one and only Son for US!

Passion is to share the message with others and not to keep it to ourselves. To have that burning desire, knowing we do not know the days that are left for any of us.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24

So live life with a righteous passion for Jesus Christ!

TRY SOMETHING NEW

When was the last time you tried something new --- a new taste, a new experience. a new road? And how did you respond to the challenge? Did you say “Why not?” Or did you back out with and “Uh, uh! Not me!”

Many people by their mid-thirties, have stopped acquiring new skills and new attitudes in any aspect of their lives. In reality, there is much to be said for hanging on to the tried and true. If it works, why Change?

"No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins. Mark 2:22

To stay as you where in flesh is to burst and be lost, to change is to pour your new life into Jesus Christ!

WHY DID GOD CREATE US

Assuming that you believe in Creation and not that we crawled out of a mirky soup.

And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done Genesis 2:3

When I got married some of the thing we worked out was how many kids we would have. She wanted 4 and I wanted 1, we settled on two. Having a daughter and son, we love them very much. I believe they love us also. It is a relationship that we work on everyday.

God create us to have that relationship with us also. We are so important to Him. We need to love Him, not because we must, but because he loves US.

And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered Matthew 10:30

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

HAVE A DAILY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

ABC”S OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Why would a person want to be accountable? Don’t we all want freedom? I know as a teenager, I did not want to be accountable to anyone especially to my parents. Then I joined the Marine Corps, whew was I accountable.

Accountability is a process and it takes time to develop and grow.

How is this accomplished?

Active listening is essential to developing trust.

James 1:19 "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."

Be non-judgmental attitude another essential element. Matthew 7:1-2 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Caring for each other is essential. 1 John 4:21 "And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

Accountability is encouraging each other to grow in their Spiritual Maturity!

LIFE'S AGGRAVATION

We can all get aggravated - see if you can related to these.

On their cell phones and driving

Gas prices that go up and never down

People that don’t return emails or phone calls

No toilet paper in public bathrooms

Rude and mean people

People that think they know everything

Loud music when I'm not playing it

So we can all get aggravated. The problem with aggravation is that we all tend to react.
We need to learn to respond - not react. Reacting to aggravation can quickly move into anger and anger can get us into big trouble.

Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

Proverbs 13:16 Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly.

To win over aggravation, then we need to do three spiritual things on a regular basis.

We need to immerse ourselves in God’s Word.

We need to exercise our faith in all situations.

We need to pray

ARE YOU A RISK TAKER

Ever jumped out of a perfectly good plane? Jump off a bridge with a rubber-band attached to your leg? Ever witness to someone you don’t know? Because we are Christians, we should be people of boldness - people of faith.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.Heb 11:1

Here are some of the well-known Old Testament characters being risk-takers

Noah - to build a boat bigger than a 747 in a world that never experienced rain

Gideon - He took on an army of 10's of thousands with an army of 300

Peter - He stepped out of a boat that was still in deep water

Moses - boldly marched back into pharaohs palace after running away 40 years

Today - missionaries all around the world are risking their lives to live in countries that are violently opposed to Christianity and the spread of the gospel.

Men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 15:26

Christians are to be risk takers, Share Christ!

“GOD, YOU AND I DANCE”

When I mediated on the word guidance, I see “dance” at the end of the word. Dancing is sometimes what we need to do in Life.

A time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance- Eccl 3:4

When two people try to lead in a dance, nothing feels right. The movement doesn’t flow with the music, everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. The dance takes surrender, willingness and attentiveness from one person, and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

I look back at the word guidance. I see the “G” I think of God, followed by “U” and “I”. “God, you and I dance” As I lowered my head, I become willing to trust that I would receive guidance about my Life.

Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance- Proverbs 1:5

Once again, I become willing to let God lead.

FOOLISHNESS

One Hundred Eighty-six times it is stated in the bible about being fools or foolish. Have you ever felt foolish in life’s decisions or actions? I know I have and usually when it happens, I know it with no doubt!

The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Eccl 9:17

When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools Pay what you vow! Eccl 5:4

As Christians we need to think before we act, not do that knee-jerk reaction. To be wise in thoughts and actions. In this we can reach people for Jesus Christ.

How from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2TIM 3:15-17

BE WISE IN SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS!

THE RABBIT AND THE ELEPHANT

Excerpt From the Book "The Rabbit and the Elephant"

“Imagine you take two elephants . . .” The audience perks up. They sense a story is coming. “For our purposes, they are a male and a female.” “And you put them in that room behind us”

(pointing to a tiny kitchen off the main room).

More laughter. They know you couldn’t possibly fit one elephant into that room, let alone two! “You give them plenty to eat and drink and you shut the door on them. Three years later, you come back and open the door. What comes out?”

“They say that three elephants come out. Mom, Dad, and a baby.”

“That’s good. In three years, Mom and Dad elephant have had one baby! Now, instead of two elephants, let’s pretend you put two rabbits in the room.”

They start to chuckle. Already they can anticipate what is coming.

“At the end of three years, when you open the door, you had better run for your life, because millions of rabbits will explode out of that door.”

Small House Churches can do the same!

BEYOND OUR ABILITY

What a blessing it is to live each day knowing that through Jesus, we have access to peace with God that is beyond our ability to understand. Our peace and confidence do not depend on our performance.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

Prayer: Lord, not only do You leave peace but You are peace - the Prince of Peace. May Your peace reign in my heart today so that I am overwhelmed by the sense of Your presence in the midst of life's storms. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

GOOD ENOUGH

I know like most we try to judge ourselves and others on how good we are. Are you good enough to be on my team? Are you good enough to work with me? Are you good enough to go to HEAVEN? Well, there are some out there that believe most are not good enough and if you don’t fit the mold you will not be Heaven bound.

Well, guess what? You will never be good enough! Yes, I said it, never! If we could be good enough, people could buy their way into heaven. We could do many great deeds and help many hurting people. The only way into Heaven is believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. That He died for our sins and only through Him can we truly have salvation.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only

begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not

perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not

his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that

the world through him might be saved. John 3:16-17

It is your choice to believe and follow Him for we are not guarantee tomorrow.

LIVE TODAY LIKE IT WAS YOUR LAST

Knowing it was your last days on earth how would you live?

Would you go out with a bang or a muffle pop?

Would you have a party that would make New Years/4th July look small in comparison?

Or would you really take a long look at what you have done in your life and want to set it straight?

From the view point of my BC days (Before Christ), I believe I would have started out wanting to make a big bang, but most likely it would have made a muffle pop.

I lived life one day at time, not caring what I did or said, but knowing that as long as I was happy who cares.

I wrote people out of my life as easy I as wrote them in.

My staircase to the top was on anyones back that I could step on, especially if they crossed me. It was all about me.

Live today like it was your Last days as an AC (After Christ)

I would tell everyone about Jesus and the love he gave me.

I would want to tell them about the change in my life, to treat people with respect and care, even if they crossed me.

That anything that I received in this life was all that God gave me.

That in my death that someone would get to know Christ or a seed was planted in His name.

That in the end I would go out not as a bang or muffle pop, but a light focusing on Him.

For God, who said, Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6 (NASB)

RUBBER NECK CHRISTIANS

Working accidents for a living, shows me how people gawk, stare, glare at the scene of wreck. Some might pray, some might slow down and drive properly for a short time, some don’t care and hurry up with their daily activities.

I think sometimes the church body is very similar to this. Rubbernecking through life. Watching the wrecks of people, praying it does not happen to them, trying to behave for a short time and of course some just don’t care. Today’s Christian need to do more than rubberneck. We need to care for each other for REAL.

This in it self will shine the light to others that Jesus Christ is alive in us.

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Philippians 1:27 (NASB)

CARE FOR THE ONE

One is the loneliest number. "Three Dog Night" Great song, but do we care for the one? The one that was part of a team, or part of your church or family? The idea of church is ministering to large numbers and for those few that leave out the back or front door do we not chase them? Most sheep that get away from the flock are still seeking something and many are receiving the world view.

So He told them this parable, saying, What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? "When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' Luke 15: 3-6

So seek and love the lost sheep!

LOVE BANK DEPOSIT OR WITHDRAW

Being married for 29 years, I made many withdrawals from our love bank. So many in fact I know it was close to being bankrupt....

We could have filed chapter 13!

Fortunately---God’s Grace and an over abundance of love on my wife’s bank held it together. I calculate that in those twenty-nine years, the first fifteen where only withdrawals. Not many business could handle such financial blunders.

In hitting rock bottom, believing there was no way up and on my knees praying to a God that I thought was for other people, he filled that bank with GRACE. Since that time I have learned slowly, but progressively that depositing into our LOVE BANK has many rewards and dividends. One is that we are able to share and enjoy all the surplus and hopefully encourage others on our way.

Now there are times we take a withdrawal from this love bank, but the cool thing is their is enough to cash the CHECK!

Man I thank God with giving that GRACE stimulus package and for the reserve LOVE that my wife had and has for me and for GOD!

Husbands(wives), love your wives(husbands), just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her/him by the washing with water through the word, and to present her/him to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands(wives) ought to love their wives(husbands) as their own bodies. He who loves his wife(husband) loves himself/herself. Ephesians 5:24-26

WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE

John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, "I don't get it!

You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"

He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood

I choose to be in a good mood."

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life."

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I lef t the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of re acting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

I saw him about six months after the accident.

When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins...Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared?
Did you lose consciousness?" I asked

He continued, "..the paramedics were great.

They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to anything 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity'."

Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude... I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.


Attitude, after all, is everything .


Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34.


After all today is the tomorrow
you worried about yesterday.

UNITED IN MIND AND HEART

Help me not be some kind of -ite, -ist, or -anian. Keep me from misplacing my loyalties with this man or that! Some say they are Paul or some from Apollos or from Cephas, but I say I am of Christ.

1 Cor 1: 12-15

What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized intothe name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.

We think of the church body as a small congregation that we attend, but the real deal is we are in the church body of Christ. With this word we as believers should be able to encourage and love each other, knowing who we are for, CHRIST!

TO GO OR NOT TO GO TO CHURCH

Why should I go to church? Why can’t I just do devotions on my own?” Good question! It’s true that God values personal devotions. In fact, He even commands us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). But “going to church” is about more than personal devotion. For Christians, going to church is the gathering together of a family, or as the apostle Paul described it, uniting the members of a body:

“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Rom. 12:4-5)

FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND OTHERS EVERYDAY!

NEVER LONELY WITH CHRIST

“We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone.”

Orson Welles

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

( Revelation 3:20)

Today's culture is fast pace, between facebook, twitter, and all the other multiple interfacing, connecting web magnets available. The reality is that many are lonely when the computer shuts down. We as humans want and need to connect, but not just in a web-reality but a real deal with people. As Christians we need to connect also with our Father. Churches with the glad handed approach are missing out on this real deal for connecting people with each other and also to Christ. Be real and loving, break bread and share time with each other and share God's Love.

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

( John 15:12-15)