Many ministers begin their sermons with the 14th verse of Psalm 19, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."
Of course we want all that we do to be acceptable in the sight of God. You could even say that some people desire to go beyond simply pleasing God. Our whole purpose for being the church is to be pleasing to God with our worship, prayer, service, stewardship, and in reaching out to others with the Gospel. I know of no one who follows Jesus who would want to displease God in any way.
How will we please God? Will everything we say and do to be acceptable to God? How will we do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God? As stewards of the Christian faith our actions in every field of ministry is open to reconsideration of these questions. Both as church and as individual Christians our actions in the love of Christ expresses our commitment to please God in every part of our living.
I invite you to pray the prayer of Psalm 19:14 as you are contemplating your living out God's word in your life today. Will every word you say today please God? Will every action you take today please God?
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Can You Avoid Future Regret
I usually mute TV ads because they are too loud and annoying. Last night I was distracted and left the sound on so an ad caught my attention. You may have watched this ad for a gold coin.
It starts off showing a US government fifty dollar gold coin using the form of a buffalo nickel as the form. The announcer stress in loud tone that the coin is minted in .9999 percent pure gold, and limited number because the mint ran out of the special gold blanks. In truth the coin had a limited production because it was struck for the collectors market.
The announcer then switches coins. He is selling what amounts to a counterfeit coin. In softer voice he says that it is a non-monetary gold clad replica. Clad means that there is a very thin 14 mm gold layer of unknown purity. It is being sold for $9.95 so it can not be the .9999 percent like the real coin. Again in a louder voice he stresses that this offer is for a limited time and you can purchase up to five coins per order.
At the end he invites you to avoid disappointment and future regret so buy right now call the number. Well I always want to avoid future regret and experience tells me that most of the time if I purchase a too good to be true item I will regret spending the money on it.
So I am avoiding future regret by NOT buying the coins.
How often in life do we fall victim to the falsh of a con artist? They are everywhere and often tell us we would be a fool to pass up the limited time offer. I do not like being called a fool so I end the conversation. Once I reached retirement age the special too good to be true offers have been pouring in with greater frequency. We have to be alert all the time.
It starts off showing a US government fifty dollar gold coin using the form of a buffalo nickel as the form. The announcer stress in loud tone that the coin is minted in .9999 percent pure gold, and limited number because the mint ran out of the special gold blanks. In truth the coin had a limited production because it was struck for the collectors market.
The announcer then switches coins. He is selling what amounts to a counterfeit coin. In softer voice he says that it is a non-monetary gold clad replica. Clad means that there is a very thin 14 mm gold layer of unknown purity. It is being sold for $9.95 so it can not be the .9999 percent like the real coin. Again in a louder voice he stresses that this offer is for a limited time and you can purchase up to five coins per order.
At the end he invites you to avoid disappointment and future regret so buy right now call the number. Well I always want to avoid future regret and experience tells me that most of the time if I purchase a too good to be true item I will regret spending the money on it.
So I am avoiding future regret by NOT buying the coins.
How often in life do we fall victim to the falsh of a con artist? They are everywhere and often tell us we would be a fool to pass up the limited time offer. I do not like being called a fool so I end the conversation. Once I reached retirement age the special too good to be true offers have been pouring in with greater frequency. We have to be alert all the time.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Reading Is Fundamental
From a very early age I taught our daughters to love reading. I did this by reading to them before they could understand so they would know that reading a book was an important thing to do. We have a large family library at home so they grew up with books all around them. They also observed Melanie and I reading all the time, which set the example for them to follow. I still remember the day our youngest stated that she was tired of being the only one in the family who could not read and she set out with determination to learn that day.
I was very please that both daughters graduated from collage and now my youngest daughter is working on a masters degree in "Information Technology" at the University of Michigan. That makes me a very proud daddy. The education of our children starts at home by our reading to them and teaching them to read before they go to school. Reading at an early age is fundamental for their ability to be successful in this world.
Teaching our girls to read encourages them to teach their children to read at an early age. The educational level of the world is raised when we as parents take the time to give our children the real value of an education both formal and informal. I learned much of what I know from my own personal reading all my life and I still do. We should all work to enhance the reading ability of all children all over the world. That would make the world a better place.
I was very please that both daughters graduated from collage and now my youngest daughter is working on a masters degree in "Information Technology" at the University of Michigan. That makes me a very proud daddy. The education of our children starts at home by our reading to them and teaching them to read before they go to school. Reading at an early age is fundamental for their ability to be successful in this world.
Teaching our girls to read encourages them to teach their children to read at an early age. The educational level of the world is raised when we as parents take the time to give our children the real value of an education both formal and informal. I learned much of what I know from my own personal reading all my life and I still do. We should all work to enhance the reading ability of all children all over the world. That would make the world a better place.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Our Assumptions
All of us assume things from our own point of view. It is a natural process that can get us into trouble. A man told me he was in the army and was working base security. I wrongly assumed that he was Military Police and said so to another man who checked it out. I was most embarrassed to discover that I was wrong.
We simply assume that the way we see things is the way they really are. Often we assume that this is the way they should be. Many of our attitudes and behaviors grow out of these assumptions. A Republican experiencing a health funding issue might assume that the “Obama Care” affordable health care law is the problem and will state it that way. A Democrat having the same issue is the problem of insurance companies getting every last cent out of the consumer.
On facebook both the left leaning and right leaning posters produce some of the most outlandish lies about the other party. Because those who agree with the post assume it is correct and repost it on their own time line. Often a simple check of the facts reveals the misrepresentation. There are some extreme true believers who simply don't care if it is a lie as long as it supports their point of view.
Our theory for how things should be is only as good as our assumptions. If the premises are false, our theories have no real scientific status. The only fair criterion for judging the validity of our theory is with the examination of the facts not assumptions. Our ability to confront our own assumptions is not an easy thing to develop and it takes time, effort and dedication to the truth.
Have you checked the facts about your assumptions lately?
We simply assume that the way we see things is the way they really are. Often we assume that this is the way they should be. Many of our attitudes and behaviors grow out of these assumptions. A Republican experiencing a health funding issue might assume that the “Obama Care” affordable health care law is the problem and will state it that way. A Democrat having the same issue is the problem of insurance companies getting every last cent out of the consumer.
On facebook both the left leaning and right leaning posters produce some of the most outlandish lies about the other party. Because those who agree with the post assume it is correct and repost it on their own time line. Often a simple check of the facts reveals the misrepresentation. There are some extreme true believers who simply don't care if it is a lie as long as it supports their point of view.
Our theory for how things should be is only as good as our assumptions. If the premises are false, our theories have no real scientific status. The only fair criterion for judging the validity of our theory is with the examination of the facts not assumptions. Our ability to confront our own assumptions is not an easy thing to develop and it takes time, effort and dedication to the truth.
Have you checked the facts about your assumptions lately?
Saturday, July 11, 2015
The Purposes of Government
The preamble of the US constitution states clearly the purpose of the federal government and we all need to remember that it covers more than one thing.
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Form a more perfect union - At the time the articles of confederation was not working well so the object was to make a more perfect national government. Not a perfect but more perfect. I think we are continuing to work on that idea as we are not perfect yet.
Establish Justice - One of the objectives of the federal government is to provide a level playing field through equal justice for all our citizens.
Insure domestic tranquility - Keeping the peace between citizens is never easy and that is usually been left up to the states and local governments but there have been times when those failed and federal troops had to be sent in to keep the peace.
Provide for the common defense - Some people focus on this provision as the main focus of the federal government and it is important to keep us safe from outside threats.
Promote the general welfare - Some people focus on the "general welfare" as the main effort of our government and this too is important but not more important than all the others.
Secure the blessings of Liberty - Individual liberty is an important part that is often over looked. We have the liberty to make our own choices as long as we do not obstruct the free choice of another. My right ends where the other persons nose begins is the old motto for personal liberty.
All of these proposes for the federal government are equally important and often have to be balanced one with the others. While our "Union" is still not perfect it is the best in the world. Let us keep working to prefect it.
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
Form a more perfect union - At the time the articles of confederation was not working well so the object was to make a more perfect national government. Not a perfect but more perfect. I think we are continuing to work on that idea as we are not perfect yet.
Establish Justice - One of the objectives of the federal government is to provide a level playing field through equal justice for all our citizens.
Insure domestic tranquility - Keeping the peace between citizens is never easy and that is usually been left up to the states and local governments but there have been times when those failed and federal troops had to be sent in to keep the peace.
Provide for the common defense - Some people focus on this provision as the main focus of the federal government and it is important to keep us safe from outside threats.
Promote the general welfare - Some people focus on the "general welfare" as the main effort of our government and this too is important but not more important than all the others.
Secure the blessings of Liberty - Individual liberty is an important part that is often over looked. We have the liberty to make our own choices as long as we do not obstruct the free choice of another. My right ends where the other persons nose begins is the old motto for personal liberty.
All of these proposes for the federal government are equally important and often have to be balanced one with the others. While our "Union" is still not perfect it is the best in the world. Let us keep working to prefect it.
Friday, July 10, 2015
Our Anxious Thoughts
Anxious thoughts and a worried mind create troubles of their own. We live in some fast paced times that can cause turbulence in our daily living. Physicians and psychologists tell us that stress is one of the leading causes of illness. Anxiety is rampant in our society. With all the political double talk and the wars and tropical storms and tornado out breaks coming one after the other, is there any wonder we are anxious? There is stress in school, at home and in the work place. I even find that there is sometimes stress in church of all places.
In the Gospel of Luke chapter twelve, Jesus teaches us not to worry about our lives. Now Jesus is not encouraging sloth or living in a shiftless, reckless way. More to the point he is saying do your best and trust in God to take care of the rest. For some of us this is hard to do, if we didn't have anything to worry about, we would worry about not having anything to worry about. Life is way too short to worry about mistakes of the past so that we get bogged down and never move forward. We can learn from our mistakes and then move on to a better life.
Jesus says to fill your soul with great care, seek first the Kingdom of God and all the things that once filled you with worry and oppressed your soul will seem small and petty and of no great concern. Seeking first the Kingdom of God in your life puts everything else in perspective. Read Luke twelve and open your mind to trust in God and feel the love of God in your life. Seek first the will of God for your life and set aside the anxiety over past mistakes and focus on the powerful possibilities for the future. What ever we are right now is just that no more and no less. What ever we are right now is God’s starting place for what we will become.
In the Gospel of Luke chapter twelve, Jesus teaches us not to worry about our lives. Now Jesus is not encouraging sloth or living in a shiftless, reckless way. More to the point he is saying do your best and trust in God to take care of the rest. For some of us this is hard to do, if we didn't have anything to worry about, we would worry about not having anything to worry about. Life is way too short to worry about mistakes of the past so that we get bogged down and never move forward. We can learn from our mistakes and then move on to a better life.
Jesus says to fill your soul with great care, seek first the Kingdom of God and all the things that once filled you with worry and oppressed your soul will seem small and petty and of no great concern. Seeking first the Kingdom of God in your life puts everything else in perspective. Read Luke twelve and open your mind to trust in God and feel the love of God in your life. Seek first the will of God for your life and set aside the anxiety over past mistakes and focus on the powerful possibilities for the future. What ever we are right now is just that no more and no less. What ever we are right now is God’s starting place for what we will become.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Rebel Flag?
Growing up in Lamesa, Texas I do not remember ever seeing a confederate battle flag flying anywhere.
The first time I remember seeing someone display the rebel flag was in the navy. A radioman from Georgia had them sewn in the lining of his uniform. They were hidden from view until he rolled up his cuff. He was at once a very patriotic American who would willingly die in the service of the United States of America if we went into battle. He was also a true son of Georgia who railed at Sherman's march to the sea as though it happened yesterday. This walking contradiction could not see the irony.
Today I understand the feelings of some people who distrust the federal government and feel the need to rebel in some visible way. The banner of the defeated army of northern Virginia becomes the way to do that. It is a statement of free speech to display that flag and express anger. Individual citizens have that constitutionally guaranteed civil right to display any flag they desire. In our homes we also have the right to display religious symbols as well.
As a mayor I know that there is a big difference between what an individual can do and what a government can rightly do. A government must represent all its citizens equally and not favor one over the other. Doing what is right and fair is not always easy.
The first time I remember seeing someone display the rebel flag was in the navy. A radioman from Georgia had them sewn in the lining of his uniform. They were hidden from view until he rolled up his cuff. He was at once a very patriotic American who would willingly die in the service of the United States of America if we went into battle. He was also a true son of Georgia who railed at Sherman's march to the sea as though it happened yesterday. This walking contradiction could not see the irony.
Today I understand the feelings of some people who distrust the federal government and feel the need to rebel in some visible way. The banner of the defeated army of northern Virginia becomes the way to do that. It is a statement of free speech to display that flag and express anger. Individual citizens have that constitutionally guaranteed civil right to display any flag they desire. In our homes we also have the right to display religious symbols as well.
As a mayor I know that there is a big difference between what an individual can do and what a government can rightly do. A government must represent all its citizens equally and not favor one over the other. Doing what is right and fair is not always easy.
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