Realities

So often we talk about things that have very little importance. We discuss TV reality shows as though the carried some real value and don’t talk about the more important issues in our lives. People wind up searching for answers to life’s questions in all the wrong places. We get diverted by people who want us to fear their opposition.

All of our lives are a search for meaning and understanding. It is both a physical and a spiritual search for truth. What if we were to focus on our relationship with God and apply spiritual truth to our physical living? If we explore the wonders of faith and creation as a unified reality the impact would be awesome. If we were to talk about the things God does our lives people would be drawn to us for direction in their answers.

Plastic Money

Plastic money is certainly handy to have but its allure leads many people astray. It is so easy to charge it to the card and not think about what it will cost a month later. Even worse is that you can make a minimum payment and that is what the credit card companies what you to do. The rates they charge for that can have you deep in debt in short order. We all need credit and we need to be wise about our credit. At the end of the month I always like to make sure my bills are paid in full.

The allure of pleasure can also lead us into a sin deficit until we are in way over our heads. This is why I also spend time in prayer every morning and night confessing my sins and asking for forgiveness. Jesus has provided the way for our eternal credit to be kept in good order. We dare not leave home with out having made our hearts right with God and our account registered as “paid in full” by the Grace of God though Jesus the Christ.

Water, Rice and Dirt

A friend of mine who is a priest referred to “Water, Rice and Dirt Christians.” I said, “What’s that?”

His response was that they were only in church for their baptism, wedding and funeral. Yes I have known people like that. I once started a new church in a small town and thought that at least for a while we would be a church that did not have any inactive members. I was wrong! A couple joined the church on the first Sunday and never returned. They had been inactive members of a distant congregation of my denomination and wanted their inactive membership to be local, just incase they needed the church for a funeral. They already had the baptism and wedding.

The really sad thing is that these people miss out on so much of what the church can offer. Of course that could be a good thing if they belong to a dysfunctional congregation. For most of us a rich faith life shared with other Christians is a tremendous blessing. This morning I am praying for all the water, rice and dirt church members. 

What a Week-End

I have just returned home from a truly awesome week-end. Every year on Presidents Day week-end the Kentucky Regional Men’s Chorus meets at a state park or a convention center to sing. This year 92 men met at Jenny Wiley State park to rehearse and fellowship.

It is an awesome sound when that many men raise their voices in song and celebration. We put on three concerts this week-end: Pikeville Medical Center, First Christian Church of Pikeville and the Mountain Arts Center.

My voice is raw but my spirits are high. I am also exhausted but in a very good way…..

My Own Anger

I learned a hard lesson as a young man in Texas. When I get angry enough to be out of control I lash out with abandon and create havoc in the world around me. This havoc would often come back to haunt me and cause me grief. I decided that my anger needed to be managed.

This was before the days of “Anger Management Seminars” so I was left to fend for myself in finding a solution to my fits of peak. My best example was my mother who had plenty to be angry about but always seemed calm. I sought her advice and she said to pray about it. Well that was her answer for everything as she is a lady of great faith. At that time prayer did not come easy for me because even though I could say the words I didn’t have a feeling for it and it was just words.

Then I experienced a spiritual awaking and found the power of a daily prayer life. I read in Daniel 6:10 that Daniel prayed three times as day to put himself in the presence of God. When you put yourself in the presence of God you are doing more than just saying words. Now I am having a conversation and it puts my anger at others in perspective. Prayer becomes my source for patience, gentleness, self control, and a sense of power.

Now havoc no long rules and I am at peace even during the storms around me caused by other peoples anger. 

Trusting in Grace

When I retired in 2007 I entered the realm of relying on Social Security, the church pension fund, and investments for my personal income. {I also have the advantage of a darling wife who is six years younger and who still works full time.} Some thirty years ago a wise friend strongly suggested that we start an addition retirement fund in a Tax Deferred Annuity. We were sharing a single position so to be Co-Pastors we were half time each. We did not see how we could afford to have part of our meager salary sent to an annuity. He said that we could not afford not to do it. I do believe that God sent him to us at just the right time. When I retired my personal income went up.

While the market crash affected the growth of our annuity it did not change how much we are receiving. Still I was reminded by that scary market crash that life is always in flux and we could loose everything as many people did. If I did loose all my worldly possessions it would change how I live from day to day but it does not matter: I know in my heart and soul that I still have the love and grace of God on my side. 

Male OR Female ???

Understanding Gender Differences

A Spanish teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine.
 "House" for instance, is feminine: "la casa."
 "Pencil," however, is masculine: "el lapiz."

 A student asked, "What gender is 'computer'?"

 Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether "computer" should be a masculine or a feminine noun.

 Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.

 The men's group decided that "computer" should definitely be of the feminine gender ("la computadora"), because:

 1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;

 2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;

 3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and

 4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.


 The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be Masculine ("el computador"), because:

 1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;

 2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves;

 3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and

 4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.
 The women won.