A Shot at the Title

Adrian: Can I ask you a question?

Rocky: Absolutely.

Adrian: Why do you fight?

Rocky: Because I can’t sing or dance.

I watched the original Rocky movie yesterday. I hadn’t remembered it being so striking (no pun intended). The franchise produced 5 or 6 or 100 Rocky movies, I don’t remember. I got bored with them after a while because it was the same story placed in different circumstances, over and over and over. So for me, like most people, the Rocky movies became a caricature of the original and the greatness of the first film was lost in the sea of mediocre sequels.

The first movie was really great though. Sylvester Stallone actually wrote the movie himself and then convinced MGM to let him star in it. It was a brave move and one that paid off for them, garnering Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director in a year that also produced “All the president’s men” and “Taxi driver”. Not too shabby, huh?

The greatness of the film is in its story. The underdog. The nicest, sincerest guy you ever want to meet who’s had nothing but hard luck his whole life suddenly gets a shot at the heavyweight championship title. And although he ultimately loses the fight by decision, he showed the world that a nobody could be a somebody if he really tried hard. The “American dream”.

That was 30 years ago, and the message seems to have changed a bit these days. Now the American dream is getting what you want right now by grabbing easy cash loans and credit cards. It’s carrying a mortgage and 2 car payments that eat up most of your paycheck so there isn’t anything left to save. It’s working 50+ hours a week and not having a relationship with your spouse or children.

You have to ask yourself, is it worth it? The fact is, getting a “shot at the title” is defined by what you consider important. Is it fame and fortune? Or family and friends? What I have found is that being focused on making a career didn’t make life better for my family like it was supposed to. It only separated me from them and from the one thing that is most important: serving God.

My life feels much better now that I’ve identified what the source of true happiness is. I still work hard, but my focus is on my relationship with Christ, and my family. Work is just a means to get money to do God’s work. If I kept it I’d just blow it on stupid stuff anyway, like the complete Rocky library, and I already know how they all end… Rocky wins, and since I found Christ, so have I.

“God, don’t ever let me forget that all things come from you, and all that I have belongs to you. Amen.”

All In!

Have you ever watched poker on TV? It’s the latest craze in reality TV, watching a bunch of people sit around a table playing “Texas Holdem”.

One of the coolest things about this game is that at any time you can bet everything you have by calling “All In!” It’s an interesting concept. It means you are so convinced that you have the best hand that you’re willing to put everything on the line.

This is how we should lead our Christian lives. We know the truth, and we have to let everyone around us see that we believe it with all our heart and soul and mind. And part of having the best hand is arming ourselves with the Word.

Knowing the Bible is an important part of Christian life because people will ask you questions, and if you don’t have the answers you’re left “bluffing” your way through a conversation that may end with the other person walking away either more confused, or more convinced they don’t need Christ.

Being “All In” means you know you have the best hand, not just because you’re saved, but because you live your life as a Christ Follower in every way, which includes having a strong testimony ready for when people have questions.

So how about it? Are you All In?

“Father, sometimes I think there isn’t enough brain in my head to hold all of the information I need to answer all the questions. So I ask for your guidance to help me arm myself with what you know I need in order to help someone who needs your Son begin to search for Him. Amen.”

The most quoted book in the world

Do you know what the most quoted book in history is? The Bible, of course. You quote it all the time and may not even know it. There are sayings we use every day in our society that came from the Bible. Here are a few examples:

"A house divided will fall" Luke 11:17
"A man after his own heart" 1 Samuel 13:14
"Apple of my eye" Deuteronomy 2:10, Zechariah 2:8
"At my wit's end" Psalm 107:27
"Blind leading the blind" Matthew 15:14, Luke 6:39
"By the skin of our teeth" Job 19:20
"Can a leopard change his spots?" Jeremiah 13:23
"Eat, drink, and be merry" Ecclesiastes 8:15
"Eye for an eye" Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, Deuteronomy 19:21 Matthew 5:38
"You can’t take it with you" 1 Timothy 6:7
"Good Samaritan" Luke 10:25-37
"He gave up the ghost" Luke 23:46
"He who is without sin may cast the first stone" John 8:7
"The writing on the wall" Daniel 5:5
"How are the mighty fallen" 1 Samuel 1:19-27
"Letter of the law" 2 Corinthians 3:6
"Many are called, but few are chosen" Matthew 22:14
"Man shall not live by bread alone" Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4
"More blessed to give than to receive" Acts 20:35
"Out of the mouths of babes" Psalm 8:2
"Pride goes before a fall" Proverbs 16:19
"Salt of the earth" Matthew 5:13
"Strait and narrow" Matthew 7:14
"Suffer fools gladly" 2 Corinthians 11:19
"Sweat of your brow" Genesis 3:19
"The blind leading the blind" Matthew 15:14, Luke 6:39
"The love of money is the root of all evil" 1 Timothy 6:10
"Twinkling of an eye" 1 Corinthians 15:52

These are just a “drop in the bucket” (Isaiah 40:15), there are more. My challenge to you as a Christ follower is to know as many of these as possible. Make it a "labor of love" (1 Thessalonians 1:3), so the next time you hear someone who hasn’t found salvation quote one, you’ll have the perfect said-way to a conversation about the Bible.

"And the truth shall set them free" (John 8:32)

“God, it’s amazing how much of your word is ingrained into our society. It only continues to prove how much of You was put into making our world. Thanks.”

Out of the mouths of babes

A friend sent this to me. It's a powerful video about a young man who called a radio station one day to tell them that God had told him something. Get out your Kleenex.



"Just remember that when you lose a loved one or a pet, always remember that God gave His Son too, and He understands. He will always understand. He will always... just run to Him."
- 13 year old Logan Henderson

Driver's Education

For a lot of Christians one of the hardest things to do is to have a Christian attitude every second of the day. And although it is not required that we be perfect, we should always strive for an even temperamental keel as we go through our day.

One of the greatest teachers I’ve had for learning to apply my faith is traffic. We’ve all been there, going down the road and suddenly everything comes to a crawl. Then some inconsiderate person comes whipping around the traffic and tries to shove their way into your lane and you find yourself flipping a mental coin to either let them merge or make them find another place to get in line because they don’t deserve to be in front of you.

I’m guilty of letting "Tails" be on my coin too many times. Traffic is aggravating and sometimes down right infuriating. I used to hate my drive to work because I always got into a competition with everyone, as if we were vying for the pole position at the Indy 500 or something.

But as Christ becomes more personal to me I find my attitudes changing. I don’t have the mindset of “I have to be in front of everyone” when I drive anymore. Well, 90% of the time. Like I said before, I’m not perfect.

But I’ve found a great sense of satisfaction in letting people into traffic when it’s really not their turn to merge. I know that I’ll get where I’m going, and letting this person in isn’t going to change that. In fact, it may even make their day better.

I also appreciate those very courteous drivers who wave when you let them in. It’s a small gesture of gratitude that I’m sure everyone appreciates.

So as you’re driving down the road this week, try two things:

1. When you see a blinker aimed at your lane, go out of your way to let them in. That's right, let everyone get in front of you. It’s a humbling act that will change you.
2. Wave every time someone lets you merge. It’s an appreciative act that might change them.

Have an interesting week!

“God, thanks for the simple lessons you’ve taught me that continue to change me into the person you want me to be. Amen."

A 3D Life

I was home alone this past weekend because my wife went to Vegas on an impromptu holiday with a girl friend. Spending several days without her always makes me realize how much my life sucks without her. She is everything that I am not, and I thank God daily for bringing her into my life.

(The preceding was an unsolicited display of affection and is in no way a suck up because I didn’t put up the Christmas tree this weekend like I was supposed to.)

Ignoring the “honeydo” list for the weekend I decided to go to a movie and I found the feature was offered in regular and 3D formats. I was intrigued so I decided to pay the extra 2 bucks and see the 3D version.

I was excited as I sat down and slid the 3D spectacles on my face, and it was worth the money. I was amazed as the previews started and it was like I was standing in the movie. Everything had depth, and the things that were supposed to be in the foreground actually looked closer. I’m officially starting a movement to have all movies made in 3D. It was awesome.

Our lives are a lot like the movie I watched. No, not full of dragons and knights, I’m talking about the 3D part. The things that mean the most to us are always in the forefront of what people see when they meet us. Think about it. What do people know about you? You may be into music or sports or some other hobby, but do people know you’re a Christian? If you want people to know the most important thing in your life is Christ then put Him in the forefront of everything you do, and let the viewers of your life have a 3D experience.

“God, in all that I do, I do for you. Let my life be a reflection of your loving, saving Grace. Amen.”

The Day

Remember when sporting events weren't named after a company? Of course not, you were probably born after 1980 and never knew a world without cable television or MTV.

Well, back in the day, company's just showed their commercials during the football game or basketball game or what ever it was they were sponsoring. I remember when the Super Bowl was called the Super Bowl, not the Bank of America Super Bowl.

I also remember when sporting arenas weren't named after corporations; they were named after people, important people who either meant something to this country or to the game being played inside. What a crazy concept, eh?

It's a shame we've traded our heritage for corporate sponsorship. Big companies sponsor every aspect of a game from the Chili's Halftime Report to the Degree Antiperspirant Play of the Game.

So what's next, the Oreo Cookie Free Throw? Mmmmm... Oreos.

The Great White North

Greetings from Seattle, Washington. We made it here safely Wednesday night. It took a little longer than anticipated because of flight delays and because we were redirected from L.A. to Denver.

The first thing I noticed as we landed in Denver is that they have something we don't have in Texas... the NORTH! It was cold. Really cold. 25 degrees! And there was strange white stuff all over everything.

I walked off the plane without a coat thinking I was just going up the boarding ramp to the terminal, how cold could it be? Oy, now I know why I live in the South. I got to the end of the ramp and immediately stopped and pulled my jacket out of my backpack, and it's been on ever since... even in bed!

Denver's airport is pretty big. We walked through the terminal foraging for food and saw signs saying the restaurants were upstairs, so we walked to the escalators where something interesting was happening. Apparently the escalator that was supposed to carry people to the second story was broken. People were literally standing around looking at the motionless stairs like they didn't know what to do. You could almost tell what was going through their minds by looking at the expression on their faces, "I don't understand, it's not moving? What do we do now, how will we get upstairs?"

My wife and I excused ourselves through the crowd and began walking up the stairs. As I reached the top I looked back only to find that one other couple had decided to brave the manual task of walking up the stairs. Sheesh, we're seriously becoming a lazy society. This was highlighted even more as we walked around a mall in downtown Seattle yesterday. I saw a kid who was probably 10 years old and weighed about 100 pounds go zipping by on wheels that were built into his tennis shoes. I thought "That's perfect, the kid's health is already in serious danger, so let's put wheels on his shoes just to make sure he doesn't accidentally get some excercise by walking."

Anyway, we've been having a nice visit in Seattle. The weather has been clear, but cold, and tomorrow my wife will run her marathon. I wonder if anyone would notice if I installed wheels on her running shoes?

"God, thanks for the safe trip and a wonderful Thanksgiving. Be with everyone running the marathon tomorrow. Let their legs be strong and their will to finish get them home. Amen."

Of skyways and marathons

I’m a nervous flier. Which begs the question: “Why am I getting on a plane tomorrow, the day before Thanksgiving, to go somewhere!?” Well, it’s because my wife likes to run.

I’ll let that swish around in your head a minute…

Ok, that’s long enough. My lovely wife is one of those crazy people who participate in the most hurtful sport I’ve ever witnessed. No, not cage fighting, worse than that. She’s a Marathon Runner.

I’m not a long distance runner. Sprinting from my couch to the fridge to grab a snack during a commercial is my limit on endurance. But not my wife, she runs marathons. 26 miles, 385 yards. The reason for the odd distance is because Queen Alexandra of England in 1908 wanted the best seat at the Olympics for the race, so the normally 26 mile run was extended to end in front of the box where she sat, adding the extra 385 yards. For some reason it’s been that way ever since.

So marathons are 26 miles and 385 yards. They just call it 26.2 miles now; I call it insanity in tennis shoes. I support my wife at all her marathons though. I’m the guy at the finish line with a beer and a hotdog yelling “Run honey run!” But I have to say that in the 4 years I’ve been watching these races I have yet to see one person cross the finish line with a smile on their face. I would estimate that being dragged behind a tractor by their toes the entire 26.2 miles wouldn’t produce an expression any worse than the agony I’ve seen.

Anyway, back to flying. My wife is running in the Seattle Marathon this weekend, and since we have friends there we decided to go up for the holiday and spend it in the mountains north of the city. It’s beautiful. You can see pictures of our last trip to Seattle by using the link under Travelog on the right.

Flying, however, isn’t my favorite mode of transportation. I’m ok with being in the air. In fact I love the act of flying. It’s the loss of power to the engines and hitting the ground at 600 miles an hour that I’m afraid of. I know flying is a pretty safe way to travel though, but I’d rather be the person doing the flying. It’s a guy thing I guess. I don’t want the difference between flying and falling to be some guy I don't even know having a bad day.

I’m sure it’ll be ok, and when it comes down to it I rely on God’s will. I’m not really afraid of dying because I know Heaven will be wonderful. The main reason I don’t want to die though is because of my daughter. I love her, but more importantly I’m not done embarrassing her. I figure I have at least 6 more years of hearing “OH DAD!!!” whenever her friends are around. It’s a gift all men possess. The embarrassment gene. We use it on our wives too.

So barring any high-speed decelerations, I’ll probably be back to blather some more next week. I hope all who read this blog have a great Thanksgiving, and don’t forget to be thankful. I need to run to the store now and get some Dramamine.

“God, I have so many things to thank you for this Thanksgiving. Most of all, your saving grace. Thanks for everything you do. Don’t eat too much on Turkey Day, and let the Cowboys win. Thanks!”

Thanklessful

* They travel miles in the heat.
* They risk their lives crossing a border.
* They don't get paid enough wages.
* They do jobs that others won't do or are afraid to do.
* They live in crowded conditions among a people who speak a different language.
* They rarely see their families, and they face adversity all day every day.

I'm not talking about immigrants; I'm talking about our troops!

Serving in the United States Armed Forces is a thankless job. Let's change that. Thank a Veteran today.

"God, be with the men and women of our armed forces as they continue to serve in dangerous places around the world, protecting the freedoms we enjoy in this country. Give them strength as they march into harms way, protect their families who anxiously wait for them to return, and give comfort to those whose have lost loved ones. Amen."

Tis the Season... already.

I went shopping today and everywhere I went there was Christmas music and Christmas decorations. Yes, gird your loins; the holiday season is upon us.

The holidays are a very hectic time for most people. There’s a lot of pressure to find just the right gift for everyone on your list, and even more pressure to ensure everyone is on your list. Miss one person and you’re sent to Santa jail for a time-out. But, if the person you forget is your wife, well let’s just say there’s a 911 call involved.

Christmas has become a lot easier now that my daughter is grown up. Cash is king in her world, so I don’t have to burn most of my brain cells trying to find a good gift for her. Christmas is also easier since the invention of the gift card. I love these things. You can get them at just about any store you can imagine and most people enjoy getting them because it saves time returning stupid things they don’t want.

My wife isn’t too keen on me getting gift cards though. She knows that if I get a $50 gift card for Home Depot I’m probably going to spend at least $100 more by the time I’m done. Hey, can I help that there are tools on sale?! Back me up here guys.

The season is hectic, but fun too. I love giving gifts but I never forget that Christmas is about the birth of my Savior, and that’s the most important thing. The enemy has worked very hard to distract us from Jesus’ birth by changing Christmas into a retail holiday where some jolly fat dude in a red suit flies around the world in one night giving presents to all the good boys and girls.

I’m not saying take Santa out of your festivities, I’m just saying to teach your children about the true meaning of the holiday as the foundation of Christmas, and then throw in a gift or two, or ten.

“Jesus, thanks for coming here and giving us the best present anyone can get: salvation. Let us not forget that Christmas is about you, and help us to not be distracted by the glitter of gifts and trees and decorations. Help us to always keep in mind the true reason for the season. Amen.”

Hating to Love

I read a news article this morning about a church in Kansas who went to a military funeral with anti-gay picket signs to tell everyone that our soldiers are dying because God is mad at America for tolerating homosexuality. The article had a picture of them holding signs that said things like “Not blessed just cursed” and “God hates you”.

Words can not begin to say how it saddens my heart to see stuff like this.

If you are reading this and are not a Christian, I want to assure you that these people do not represent what a Christ follower is. God does not “hate” anyone. I’m sure he is saddened by the conduct of his children, just as any father whose kids have gone astray would be. But He still loves us.

I believe in what the Bible says: God created a man and a woman to be with each other. But just because I don’t agree with the gay/lesbian lifestyle doesn’t mean I’m going to stand on a street corner with a sign spouting hate towards them because of their choice.

The only thing I’m interested in is their relationship with Christ. These people with their signs don’t seem to be interested in anything but creating an environment where Christians are given a bad name.

The enemy has a lot of tricks, and he uses people like this who can’t see past their hate to discredit the true followers of Jesus. It creates mistrust in people who may be searching for the truth.

Jesus spent his time here on earth hanging out with the people who needed him most: criminals, adulterers, liars, prostitutes, etc. He didn’t tell them they were going to hell; he didn’t even tell them they were bad. He concentrated on what was important, their salvation.

So on behalf of those who truly follow the teachings of Jesus, I’d like to tell the family who laid their soldier son to rest that I’m sorry for their loss and that they had such a solemn moment infected by the hate of those hypocrites who have probably made God sadder than the people they were protesting.

“God, why do people who should be spreading the love of Jesus spend their time spreading hate and lies? Lift my aching heart to see past this travesty and continue your work. Amen.”

Being a Double-headed Coin

How's it going today? Are you having a good day, or a bad day? Is your bad day being caused by other people? You know who I'm talking about, the people in your office that never seem to have anything good to say, or ever had anything good happen to them. It's always something. They complain about the work, the people, the weather, their pay, etc. It's a wonder they can get anything done!

Having a good day is really your decision. You make the call when you wake up. A mental coin is flipped in your mind and "heads" it's a good day, "Tails" it's a bad day.

The secret is having a double-headed coin. Wake up and allow yourself to have a great day no matter how anyone else acts. Don't let the hopeless complainer in your office spoil your day. Simply say to yourself "God put this day here for me to excel, to grow, to praise Him, and to let my good day rub off on others."

You'll be surprised how the attitude of the people around you will change if you show them it's possible to love life. Be the double-headed coin!

"Realize that there are no hopeless situations; only people who take hopeless attitudes." Norman Vincent Peale

"God, thank you for this day. Help me to make the best use of my attitude so I can show others how to smile in the face of adversity, love people who hate, and carry joy in their hearts. Amen."

Dying to Change

It’s interesting how we change over time. The things I liked in my youth aren’t necessarily the same things I like now. Take broccoli. As a kid I’d have stuck my tongue on a flaming piece of jagged glass before I’d let broccoli go in my mouth, but now I like it. I don’t know why.

A year ago my wife and I lived in another house. It was in a newer neighborhood so our mailbox was one of those tiny cubes in a large box of other cubes where everyone in the sub division got their mail. I checked the mail, every day. It was an obsession really. I had to look in there to see what treasures had magically appeared in the small box. Would I get a new catalog? Or maybe a TV Guide? Or maybe Ed McMahon had finally mailed my check!? I had to know!

My wife on the other hand didn’t check the mail. Ever. Getting mail out of a 4X6 cube next to several hundred other 4X6 cubes didn’t interest her at all.

Then we moved, and now we have a mailbox right in front of our house. A real mailbox with a door that swings down and everything. But I don’t look in it. I don’t know why but since we moved 11 months ago my wife checks the mail every day and I’ve looked in the mailbox maybe 20 times. Odd, huh?

The biggest change I’ve seen in myself the past few years has been who I’ve become as a person. The things that interested me before I found Christ don’t interest me now. It isn’t because I’ve “made” myself act like a Christian though, and at first I didn’t really understand why I had simply lost interest in doing the things I had done before.

As I’ve grown as a Christ follower I’ve come to understand that it’s about dying. When I gave my life to Christ I died and was reborn a new person. I know it sounds corny but I can tell you it is a real phenomenon. I simply don’t have the desire to do the things I used to do, because they have been replaced by Christ living in me.

It’s interesting how we change. I think I’ll go check the mail.

“Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice on the cross. Thank you for saving me and moving in to the neighborhood of my heart. It’s a much better place to live now. Amen”.

Let 'em ride!

My wife and I took a motorcycle ride yesterday to a sleepy little town about an hour away that has some very interesting shopping. It’s been a while since I’ve ridden a long distance, so the wear on my derriere was substantial, but worth it.

I love riding. There is a freedom in tooling down the road in the open air that a lot of people won’t ever experience. For some of the men I know it apparently has something to do with their wives. They tell me “my wife won’t let me buy a motorcycle”. This always produces a crinkling affect on my forehead that I’m sure will ultimately result in lines the size of the Grand Canyon across my head when I’m older.

I count myself lucky because my wife doesn’t fear motorcycles. I don’t know how that discussion would have gone down if she did, but I’m certain she would have never tried to “tell” me I couldn’t have a bike. Men are wired differently than women, and we like doing a lot of things that women don’t like doing. We’re dare devils by nature. We can’t help it, we like living outside the lines. Luckily for us we have women to reign us in and keep us alive. Women are nurturing like that, and men appreciate it.

Personally, I’m not afraid of death. I don’t look for ways to die, but I’m not worried about it because the life waiting for me after this world is going to be way better. I think some wives should take that to heart. Not necessarily for themselves, but for their husbands too. They need to realize that when God decides it’s time for you or your husband to check out it’ll happen whether you have a motorcycle or not, so why take that small joy away from him?

Wives, let your guys enjoy this life. Let them have a motorcycle if they want one, and get on the back one time for a ride in the country. I guarantee you’ll see things differently.

“God, my life belongs to you and I can only hope I use it in a way that honors you. Thanks for simple things, like experiencing nature on a motorcycle. I really enjoy your world. Good job!”

Affirmation

When someone we know dies, we usually bounce back by finding life in the things around us. I had a much needed life affirming experience tonight by going to a church near Austin to play at a youth event.

Youth events are fun. Kids have an enthusiastic way of celebrating life that is invigorating. They jump up and down, they sing, and yell, and clap and laugh. The kids tonight seemed to get it too. They raised their hands and praised God as we played our praises to our king. They really seemed to get it.

Afterwards something happened that has never happened before; kids came up to me to talk. This never happens. I’m a drummer. Drummers sit in the back, out of the limelight. Usually people want to talk to the lead singer, or the cool guitar player. Not the drummer. But there they stood, two young girls who told me they were in the drum line at school. We talked for a bit and they thanked me for playing at their church. It was nice.

If that wasn’t odd enough, I actually had 4 people ask me for my autograph. Whoa! That was kind of strange, writing my name on something so they could keep it. Would it end up in a scrap book, or a frame, or maybe the trash? I suspect the last choice, but I’m not used to people wanting my signature unless it’s on a contract or a traffic violation.

However, the event was fun. The kids and adults all had a great time. God was praised, and hopefully those who were only visiting with friends we impacted by the event and will begin to seek God.

“Father, thanks for the gift of music you have given me. I love using it to praise you. Please let my meager talent help inspire others to begin questioning what You’re all about, and hopefully find the salvation that I have. Amen”.

Humor really is the best medicine

It’s been a sad few days around here, and I’m in desperate need of a laugh, so here goes:

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales and said that Jonah had been swallowed by one.
The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.
The little girl reiterated that Jonah was definitely swallowed by a whale.
Irritated, the teacher said again that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".
The teacher barked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".

Aaaaah. I feel better.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

In Memorium

Bubba was remembered at my church tonight. You can tell how many lives someone has touched by going to their funeral. Bubba had apparently touched a lot of lives, there looked to be about 500 people there.

People got up and talked about Bubba. Their stories were funny, some were sad, most were uplifting, all were heartfelt. You could tell everyone in that room was going to miss Bubba. I’ll miss Bubba.

There was a common theme to what everyone said: Bubba loves Jesus. He had been changed into a new person when he gave his life to Christ, and everything he did was to glorify Him. People admired Bubba for that, but he couldn’t understand what the fuss was about, in his mind that’s how everyone should act.

Following Christ wasn’t something he felt he had to do. It was something he couldn’t stop himself from doing. That’s what having a real relationship with Jesus is all about. Going to church on Sunday and reading your Bible every day might get you into heaven, maybe. But you have to ask yourself, what have you done to seek out others who need Jesus’ grace? Is Christ really living in you or are you just playing religion?

Having a personal relationship with Jesus isn’t hard. It’s not rocket science or complicated. It’s simply letting Him in, like Bubba did, 110%.

“God, give Bubba’s family and friends strength this week as they lay him to rest. It’s a sad day down here, but I know it’s a great day in heaven with Bubba up there, showing the Angels how to ride a Harley.”

Bubba

We lost one of our own today. Bubba Pruett, a brother in Christ and my friend, passed away today after a motorcycle accident two nights ago. Bubba’s story is one of transformation and the redeeming power of Jesus’ blood. Bubba was into a lot of bad things in years past that led him to prison. He found something there he wasn’t expecting: salvation.

Bubba was a true Christ follower. A big, barrel chested man who rode a Harley and could scare the stripes off a skunk if you didn’t know he had a saved heart. He always had a big bear hug for me when I saw him at church because we were both bike riders and probably the only two Houston Texans fans in this city.

He was an inspiration to me, as well as everyone around him. He preached at church one day. He began his sermon by riding his Harley from the parking lot into the Sanctuary and up to the stage. He wasn’t burdened by ego; he just loved Jesus and never hesitated to tell people about it. And after he had said everything he wanted to say in his sermon he simply looked at the congregation and said “That’s all God wanted me to say”, and he walked off.

My heart is sad that I won’t see him at church any more, but even in my grief I’m happy that Bubba knew Jesus as his Savior and he is with Him now.

“God, I pray for those that have a giant hole in their heart where Bubba used to be. Give us strength in this time of pain as we are reminded that life on this Earth is short, and that there is a new life waiting for us when we pass from this one thanks to the sacrifice of your Son. Amen.”

“Oh, and say hi to Bubba for me. Thanks.”

An Unblurred Life

I’m a motorcycle rider. It’s the best form of transportation ever invented, in my opinion. I love the breeze blowing around me as I thunder down the road with nothing in-between me and nature. No windows, no roof, nothing.

Bikers are a different breed. They know it takes a special kind of person to drive a vehicle that affords no safety in an accident. They show their respect for one another by giving each other a small wave as they pass by another biker. I’ve always thought this was pretty cool, this camaraderie of the 2 wheeled family.

I’ve gotten pretty good at handling a motorcycle over the years. There’s just one thing that continues to be a problem: changing lanes without running over the little reflector bumps in the road.

It’s true, ask any biker. Even though the reflectors are only 4 inches square, and about 10 feet apart, it’s almost impossible to change lanes without running over these things!

The reason is focus. I keep running over the reflectors because I’m staring at them trying to avoid them, but where ever I’m looking is exactly where I end up going.

It’s the same with our relationship with God. We should take time to analyze where we’re placing our focus. Are we focusing on God, or have we let that connection blur?

Matthew 14:23-32 tells us about Jesus walking on water. In this account, Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on water with Jesus until he took his focus off of Him, then he sank. But as soon as his focus was placed back on Jesus he rose out of the water and walked on it again.

This is a pretty clear indication of what happens when we let our focus become blurred. Luckily for Peter he regained his focus before he drowned.

Focusing is important, and we hear references about it all the time. Take baseball for instance. How many times have you heard the phrase “keep your eye on the ball”? It means wherever you’re looking is where your bat will go when you swing. It’s the same in life.

I’ve found that when I’m focused on God, when I’m praying and reading my Bible and talking to God all day long, I’m happy, patient, and kinder towards others. I feel better about my life.

It’s all about focus. If you focus on this world, that’s where your life will go. But if you truly focus on God, you will see what living an unblurred life is really like.

Where is your focus today? On God, or the bumps in the road?

“God, sometimes I let the things of this world blur my sight of You. Help me to be stronger. Stronger for me and for my family, so my focus will always be on You, and not the trappings of this world.”

Oh say, can you see?

I’ve been retired from the military for 4½ years now. I live far enough away from the local Air Force base that I don’t ever go there. However, I recently decided to go back to college and I chose one that just happens to hold classes on the base. So once a week I go to class and I get to see military life once again.

Today I got to class early and was sitting in my truck when I heard a trumpet blowing over the base’s public address system. It was the same sound that plays on every Air Force base in the world at 5PM every week day. The ditty played by the trumpet signals the end of the duty day, and right after it finishes the National Anthem is played.

What happens then is something everyone should see. The base stops. Literally, everything stops. Every person outside snaps to attention and faces the music. Those in uniform present a sharp salute while the music plays. Civilian clad people put their right hand over the heart. Every vehicle pulls over to the side of the road and the passengers sit at attention.

It's incredible to witness.

It’s a daily ritual for those who live and work on base. But for someone like me who hasn’t seen this in many years it was a reminder of the love our service men and women have for this country. Their reverence for our National Anthem is nothing compared to their willingness to defend the freedoms we all enjoy every day.

It’s not a game to them, or a political statement. It’s defending the Constitution of the United States and the principles it sets forth. They are willing to die for this country because they know our way of life hangs in the balance, and if they didn’t do what they do, America would be a very different country.

Good or bad, for better or worse, the United States of America is truly the greatest, smartest, bravest bunch of people on planet Earth. And the reason we’re so blessed is because we founded this country on Biblical principles, and as we see those principles slowly removed from our schools and legal system and television and movies, we can only expect the greatness of this country to slowly go away with them.

“God, thanks for blessing this country so much. Please help those of us who are still working to keep it great, and protect those who are fighting to keep it safe. Amen.”

What's in a nose?

I have to make a confession. I have an addiction. I didn’t think I did, until tonight, but it’s true. I am addicted to… Breathe Right strips. Whew, I said it. I wasn't sure I could admit it.

It’s true; I am completely dependent on these little things to sleep at night. I have a deviated septum, which in layman’s terms means my little brother took a poke at me when I was 15 and bent my nose. I haven’t been able to breathe very well since then.

The bad part about having a defective shnoz is that I invariably snore. Loud. No, really loud. Thunderously loud actually. An A-bomb going off in the next room would make less noise. The only thing that keeps my wife in the same bed with me is the fact that she cranks up just as many decibels as I do. Sorry honey, I’m not going down alone.

I realized how much I rely on these things tonight when I was getting ready for bed and suddenly realized I was out of them. Panic set in. How was I going to sleep? I’d be waking myself up all night snoring loud enough to rattle the shingles… on my neighbor’s house!

My wife told me to look in my travel bag to see if there were any left from my trip last week. I tore into the bathroom and ripped open the cabinet where my travel bag lives when we're at home. I unzipped it and began digging through the contents: travel sized shampoo and conditioner, tooth paste, mouth wash, floss, comb, Q-tips, etc. Then, there it was, on the very bottom. A Breathe Right strip! Salvation had arrived and civilization was once again safe.

I put on the strip and copious amounts of air whooshed into my nostrils unabated. AAAAH!

It was then I realized I was addicted to them, and knowing that the first step was to admit it, I went to my office and wrote this.

Do you think there’s a 12 step program I could get in to? I know, I know: steps 1-11: stop being a shmuck. Step 12: stop using the strips. Ha ha, very funny.

I'm going to bed now.

The Long and Winding Road

It’s been a few days since I’ve written. I travel at times for business, which I enjoy. There’s something about staying at a hotel that appeals to me. Perhaps it’s arriving back at my room after a day of grinding my nose to find a neatly made bed and fresh towels in the bathroom.

It’s a simpler life on the road; an early morning buffet breakfast, and a short drive to the job site, lunch on the company and then back to my room where dedicated house keepers have whisked away the mess I created the day before. Another meal on the company and the evening is mine to explore the city I’m in or just relax in my room and watch a movie.

I know, rough life, right? I try not to lose sight of what’s important when I travel to these places and live the pampered life. I think about Paul, the consummate road warrior and how he spent years traveling to many countries planting churches and spreading the Good News.

He lived by the goodness of others, inspired by Christ and motivated by a Savior who gave him a mission he didn’t take lightly. He didn’t have his bed made for him every day, he didn’t have an expense account, he traveled coach and he never knew if his arrival would be met with compassion, or stones.

There are still people like Paul on this Earth. People who don’t need, or ask for much. Their desire is to spread the Gospel by any means possible.

These people are my heroes, and when I travel I always do my best to tell at least one person about the saving grace of Jesus. Because we can all be road warriors, even if it’s just crossing the street to talk to our neighbor.

“God, thanks for the work you’ve given us. Give us the courage to talk to others about you, even when we’re not at home. Amen.”

Hello, Information? Can you tell me where my phone is?

I lost my cell phone last weekend. For anyone who has ever done this you know what a traumatic experience it is. I hadn’t had the phone very long, and although it wasn’t an iPhone or anything, it had a camera and an MP3 player and all the necessities for mobile communications. Plus, I had customized it with a Spurs NBA logo background and downloaded tunes that I would now have to pay for again.

However, the biggest problem in losing one’s cell phone is the loss of phone numbers. Like most people I completely rely on my phone to be my phone book and had long since forgotten the phone number of every friend and relative I have, so this was a devastating blow.

I lost my phone at a gas station. I was returning from working on my church’s 15 year anniversary project, a Habitat for Humanity house. It had been a long, hot, sweaty day laying decking material on the roof and I was tired and ready for a swim in Satan’s Bathtub.

I stopped at a gas station to fill up and the phone must have dropped out when I got out of the truck because it was gone when I got home. At first I thought I’d left it in the truck because I had called my wife before I stopped for gas. So I called the phone in hopes it would ring from under the seat or something.

It didn’t ring. It went straight to voicemail which meant it was turned off.

This was a bad sign. If it fell out of the truck and hit the ground maybe the battery popped out, then I could see it being shut off, but if someone found it and turned it off on purpose that meant they had no interest in returning it.

I went back to the gas station and it wasn’t lying on the ground anywhere, and the people inside said no one had turned one in. I went home and resided myself to the fact that it was gone.

After an hour or so of morning my loss (read: complaining to my wife that I had lost my stupid phone), I went to the cell phone store and bought another one. They turned off the old device and turned on the new one in about 15 minutes and I was on my way again, numberless but still mobile.

The next day was busy. My buddy Mark Swayze, an awesome Christian and incredible musician had invited me to play drums for his band at a youth event at a local church. I love playing these events because youth rallies are usually high energy and loads of fun.

Well, during the performance I felt my new phone vibrating in my pocket. I looked real quick just to see if it was important, like my mom calling or something, but it wasn’t a number I recognized. That wasn’t saying much though, I knew no numbers! And since I hadn’t retyped any of my numbers back in yet it could’ve been anyone.

I waited until the rally was over before I checked my voicemail. What I heard blew me away, it was a guy saying his kids had found a cell phone on the other side of town at a Wendy’s drive-thru. He took it from them and found the number inside and called to return it.

I couldn’t believe it; someone actually took the time to investigate the phone and try to return it!? I called the gentleman and he even volunteered to meet me anywhere I wanted.

I was ecstatic! My phone! My awesome phone with all of my phone numbers and Spurs background and downloaded tunes was safe and sound and being returned to me! I could barely contain myself the rest of the night!

The next morning I went to the meeting place we had agreed on and he showed up without a hitch. No strings, no requirements, no demands; just “Here’s your phone”. I wanted to show him my gratitude, so I offered to give him some money for his trouble (because I thought kissing him in public might not sit well with him). He said no, but I insisted that gas was expensive and he should let me give him some cash. He very reluctantly accepted and we parted.

With my faith in humanity renewed I trekked over to the cell phone store and had my phone reactivated. All was right in the world again. Well, world hunger and a war in Iraq not-withstanding. At least I had found hope here in my home town with one very honest, humble person who went out of his way to simply do the right thing. If we would all act that way towards one another there would be no war, no poverty, no crime, no hate. It’s possible.

All we have to do is one good deed at a time.

"God, thanks for moments like this when goodness triumphs over the bad in us. I needed that".

70 Virgins

I hear the terrorists talk about their holy war and it really makes me sick. They think if they blow themselves up and kill everyone in the building they'll go to heaven to be with 70 virgins. What kind of logic is this? Their reward for murdering innocent people is to do something that is a crime to them while they're here on Earth?! Seriously, they have very strict moral standards, but if they can destroy an "infidel" the rules change? What kind of God is this that doles out multi-partner sex as a reward for killing yourself and others in his name? Oh, yeah... Satan. Well, let me save you the trouble of building your bombs, here are the 70 virgins that are really waiting for you.

Misdirection

It’s like a minefield being a Christian sometimes. You have to find your way through some pretty difficult terrain. I get asked a lot of questions about the Bible and sometimes it’s a difficult discussion because the person I’m talking to has a great deal of knowledge about “religion” and thinks they know it all. I talked to someone not too long ago who said there are texts written during and after Jesus' time that were left out of the Bible because they would give people real knowledge about the things that happened back then, and the church didn’t want anyone asking questions because then the Bible would be proved to be false.

Hmm, so you believe the email that’s been going around about Bill Gates giving everyone money if you forward the email. I mean, it was written by a lawyer who said it’s a legal document and Bill would get sued if he didn’t pay you, right?

Or maybe you believe the one about little Timmy who desperately needs some kind of operation and would you please help?

Oh, or maybe the one about some guy who went to a party and woke up in a tub of ice with a scar on his belly because they drugged him and then removed one of his kidneys to sell on the black market. Luckily they were nice and wanted him to live and they were also very skilled surgeons. Whew!

And then there’s my favorite, the bazillionaire family in some foreign country that is under siege and the only way to save their fortune is to deposit a few million dollars in your bank account and then get it later, so if you send them your bank account number you can keep half of it for your trouble!

Sheesh.

The fact is that Jesus’ time is no different than our time. There were people back then just like there are people now who make up stuff and try to pass it off as factual. The old writings that are being passed off as real are called Pseudepigrapha. They’re fakes, made to seem real to do what idiots today do, mislead you.

Putting together and translating the Bible was originally done by the smartest, most conscientious people of their time. They went through great pains to ensure the Bible was translated perfectly and the books in it were real and important.

They used processes like Form Criticism, Textual Criticism and Higher Criticism to look at all of the writings of the time. They knew that what they were doing was important and they were almost militant about getting it right. They came up with criteria that made sure the right books were published and they prayed and studied and prayed and studied. Their processes were brilliant and God-led.

So the next time someone tries to convince you that there was a big conspiracy to leave out certain texts, do some real research and find out why. And also ask yourself why you’re so quick to believe anyone who would say the Bible isn’t real, perhaps it’s just because it’s the easiest way to ignore the truths in it.

"Father, the enemy is smart and has been working hard to mislead people. Help us as we try to show them the truth, so their eyes might be opened to the wonderful life of your Word."

Hope

“God, it was 6 years ago today that the lives of everyone in America, and most of the world changed right before our eyes. I pray for those who lost loved ones that day, give them strength and solace. I pray for our leaders, that you will guide them in the decisions they make as we continue to fight for the safety and freedom of this country. And I pray for those who think that killing innocent people is doing their god’s work, that you will move in their lives and show them what being a child of a loving God can be like. Amen.”

How I Wasted My Life

I was talking with someone a while back who asked me, “What if you spend your whole life going to church and everything, and then die only to find out that there really isn’t a God. How are you going to feel knowing that you wasted your whole life?”

The answer was simple, “Ok, let’s say I’m on my death-bed and my life flashes before my eyes. What I’ll see is a man who lived his life helping the poor, the sick and the infirmed; who gave money to organizations (including the church), who used it for programs that among other things, fed and clothed the homeless, and supported missionaries who spent their lives helping people in other countries who had less than nothing. I didn’t lie, cheat, steal, kill, treat others badly, backstab, backbite or harm others. I took time to participate in programs to help the homeless, the abused and the orphaned. I fought injustice and untruths. I voted for people who I believe had good moral standing and hopefully a relationship with Christ. I stood tall in what I believed and because of the presence of His Holy Spirit in my life, whether real or perceived, I was happy every day. I didn’t go through life with a scowl on my face and a disgruntled attitude, I didn’t sweat the small things and I found good in everything.“

“How exactly did I waste my life?”

The fact is the Bible doesn’t teach us to be religious. The Bible is a roadmap of how to live a good life. A life of spreading love and doing good things for those around us. If you strip out the parts of the Bible that pertain to God and Christ, what you have left are the basics of living a good life. You also have the very laws that we live by: don’t kill, don’t steal, etc.

So if I live my life according to the Bible, how could I go wrong? And the bonus is that I also found salvation and when this life is over, there’s going to be an even better, eternal one waiting for me.

“God, I know that you’re real. I see you every day in everything around me. Please continue to give me opportunities to show others of your existence and give me the wisdom to introduce you in a way that will be undeniable to them. Thanks.”

Baby Got Bible

I never thought I'd post videos on this blog, but this is the bestest, funniest Christian video I've ever seen!


For more go to godtube.com

The Way We Are

At church this past Sunday our Senior Pastor talked about men and women working together with the common goal of serving God. He said each couple should have a purpose statement to help define where the family was going. Good idea.

He also talked about the roles each gender has. It’s always an interesting subject because trying to tell a strong, independent woman in 2007 that she has to be the man’s “helper” is like trying to pick up a turd by the clean end.

The Pastor said that the man is responsible for the spiritual well being of his family, which I believe. He said that even though it was Eve who ate the apple first, it was Adam who bore the mantle of responsibility in the end.

My wife and I talked about the sermon later that night; she liked the part where the man is ultimately responsible for everything. My response was “well then stop making me look bad in front of God”. That kept her laughing long enough for me to come up with a real answer.

It’s not rocket science, really. Men and women are different. We act differently; we think differently, we view life differently. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. The world wouldn’t go ‘round any other way.

“God, thanks for making men and women so different. Bless us as we continue to try and figure each other out! Amen”

Politics as Unusual

I saw a video today on a news site that showed a foreign country’s Legislature brawling over politics.

This amazes me that the people making the laws of that country settle their debates by duking it out. And they call the U.S. a violent country.

Hmmm, you know, maybe they’re on to something? This might make passing a Bill easier and faster. Line up the Democrats and Republicans on the Senate floor and let them go at it until there’s only one person standing. Bill passed.

Can you imagine what our Senators would look like? We’d be voting for Stone Cold Steve Austin instead of Edward Kennedy. And we wouldn’t have to worry about term limits either because you’d be lucky to live through your first year in office.

Our law makers would all be young, in-shape body builders and they’d clean house, I mean “The House”. HA.

I’ve got an even better idea, when someone throws their hat in the ring to be President, make them step into the ring with their opponent!

LLLLLLLLLLLET’S GET READY TO FILIBUSTER!

Can you imagine seeing Rudy Giuliani square off with Hillary Clinton? HA! My money would be on Clinton, I think she’d fight dirty. She’d start by emasculating him verbally, and then finish him off with sucker punch, proving once and for all she’s the best man.

It’s a thought anyway, but voting is less hazardous to your health.

“God, bless our government officials. In these very difficult times of war and social corruption, we need leaders with a clear vision of the future and firm grasp on their spirituality. Give them wisdom, and a good left jab. Amen”

The Salvation of Hypocrisy

One of the hardest things about being a saved person is that people like to single you out and ridicule you in order to prove your “religion” is a crock. Unfortunately we make it pretty easy for them because we make mistakes; and when we make those mistakes they call us hypocrites.

No one is perfect. Well, actually there was one perfect person but He had the advantage of being the son of the creator. The rest of us are human, and being human means we have the undesirable quality of being sinful. We’re born of sin, the original sin of Adam and Eve. We’re predisposed to it. That’s not an excuse, it’s a fact.

Women got the short end of the stick here. Man was created first and then woman was made from the flesh and bone of the man, so the sinful flesh of man was used to build woman. So it isn’t really a surprise that Eve ate the apple. Then she gave it to Adam, who at this point has no excuse. He knew better, but he gave in to the feminine wilds of Eve. She used the same tactics every woman in history has employed at one time or another… “Do as I say or I’ll cut you off!”

Poor Adam never stood a chance.

Anyway, we’re sinful. It’s unfortunately part of our DNA it seems, and becoming a saved person doesn’t change that completely. There will be a lot of changes in your life. The desire to do the wrong things seems to go away. Not completely though. You still have to make decisions about good and bad, you just have to allow Christ to work in your life and remember that you’ve been released from sin.

Let’s face it though, the world is corrupt and you’re blasted with it all day long. Just about everywhere you look there is something promoting sin.

Unfortunately Christians are held to a standard they can’t possibly live up to. We are not perfect. I get mad sometimes and lose my cool. This sometimes results in words I’m not proud of. When I calm down I feel horrible. It’s a great trick of the enemy to make you feel guilty, and when you feel guilty you don’t feel you deserve salvation, and when you don’t feel you deserve salvation you give up. When you give up, Satan wins.

The truth is you get salvation whether you think you deserve it or not because that’s how much God loves you.

Christians will always be called hypocrites because we’re not perfect. It’s compounded by bozos who are put in charge of mega churches and then they turn around and have long standing affairs with women who are not their wives, and sometimes other men. It becomes even worse when you see these Catholic “priests” abusing small boys. Oy. It makes me sick, but it’s a fact that the forces of evil are constantly working to break down those who represent the church.

When I mess up and someone says “how can you call yourself a Christian when you sin?” I tell them I’m not a hypocrite because I sin; I’m human. If I consistently lived a sinful life then I would be a hypocrite. Making an occasional mistake, like saying a swear when I hit your finger with a hammer, doesn’t make me any less saved, it just means I’m flesh. It also serves to remind me of how incredible Christ’s sacrifice was. Even though I’m so imperfect He still loves me! Even when I’m weak, He remains strong. Even when I’m ashamed, He still claims me. So even in my hypocrisy, I still have salvation.

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself”. 2 Timothy 2:13

It’s a long climb to perfection… and I’m still trying to find the ladder.

“God, I’m sorry I sometimes act like an idiot. I don’t mean to, and I don’t want to. Please give me the strength and wisdom to overcome those times when Satan tries to get a victory. Amen”

Now you see me, now you don’t

I served for 21 years in the military not making much money. God led me to a great job after I retired and I was able to use my retirement pay for something fun. So I treated myself to a retirement present and leased a Jaguar.

This was my first foray into high end luxury, and what a great choice. I didn’t know cars could be so nice. I enjoyed the car but after 3 years the lease ended and I decided to purchase a vehicle rather than lease one. I saw one I liked one day, a 325Ci convertible BMW. I knew Bimmer made a good car, and it looked really cool, so I called my wife and told her about it. She asked “Have you ever had a convertible?” I said no, and she replied “Well then you better get it now because if you get any older you’ll just look stupid driving it”. Ha! She cracks me up. So I drove the car home.

I loved driving the car, but it didn't take long before I started to notice something. People treated me differently on the road. I started getting cut-off a lot and blocked out of traffic and people wouldn’t let me merge. I kept wondering what I was doing wrong to make everyone around me so mad.

A friend put it in perspective when he said that people view Bimmers as a Yuppie car, and people who drive them as stuck up, rich, pompous asses. He said it’s an almost unconscious attitude. He said that since I’d told him a few weeks earlier what was going on he paid particular attention to his own attitudes while on the road. What he found was that if a car did something stupid, like cut him off, his reaction depended on what the car was. If it was a Mercedes or BMW he got mad, but if it was a Buick or something he’d blow it off. Even the tiniest infraction like not using a turn signal would get his ire up if it was a fancy car.

I was amazed at this revelation of societal intolerance towards expensive cars. My friend told me it all has to do with coveting, which is actually two sins in one. You want someone else’s property because you don’t feel they deserve it.

It bothered me a lot that people treated me this way on the road. I didn’t want to be seen as some pompous ass. I’m a very courteous driver. I make mistakes though just like everyone else. The straw that broke the camel’s back was about a year later when one day I was stopped on a four lane road trying to turn left into a restaurant. There were two lanes of traffic to cross, and the lane closest to me had cars in it stopped for a red light. They parted to let me through, which was a surprise, and I didn’t see anyone in the far lane so I began through. As I crossed the first lane of traffic into the second I suddenly saw an SUV coming at me. Instinctively I hit the gas and shot through to the restaurant parking lot. The SUV blared its horn in disgust and I chalked it up to a mistake but no one got hurt.

Wrong, it wasn’t over. The woman driving the SUV decided I must have drove all over town looking for her so I could pull out in front of her and inconvenience her day. She pulled into the parking lot and followed me until I stopped, then yelled out her window “You don’t own the whole road you know! You and your stupid little Bimmer!!”

I tried to apologize. I told her I didn’t see her and that I was very sorry. Her response was “Well you didn’t act like it!”

Huh?

Anyway, I’d had enough. I’d been thinking about getting rid of the car for a few months. Not specifically because of how I was being treated on the road, but because I realize that I was over it. I didn’t need a BMW. There were a lot of things I could do with that money besides buy a car. I’d helped feed homeless people who live under bridges downtown and saw first hand that people need help, and help costs money.

I realize now God had been nudging me for a long time about this subject. He gave me a great job and he doesn’t mind if we have nice things, but seriously, does anyone need $45,000 car?

I traded in my BMW last Saturday for a two year old Dodge pickup truck. Now people don’t pay attention to me on the road. They let me into traffic and I don’t get cut off or yelled at. I blend in again because I drive a plain-Jane single cab pickup truck. Well, not completely plain I guess, it has a 5.7 liter Hemi engine. Hee hee. Hey, I’m still a guy, you know!

“God, thank you for your many blessing and lessons. I will strive to be a better steward of your money and use it to help those who can not help themselves. Amen”