Equality?

Did you hear about the flooding in Iowa? Maybe a little? It didn’t get a lot of news coverage, not like the flooding in New Orleans. This flood almost wiped out an entire state, so I have to ask some questions:

Where are the Hollywood celebrities holding telethons asking for help in restoring Iowa and helping the folks affected by the floods?

Where are the FEMA trucks (and trailers)?

Why isn't anyone asking why the federal government hasn't solved the problem?

Where is the hysterical 24/7 media coverage, complete with reports of cannibalism?



Where is our sense of true equality and justice for all?






I was just wondering.

Circle of Life

We’re witnessing the circle of life at our house. My wife went out to water the fern hanging on our front porch and found a bird has made a nest in it. So I decided to chronicle this wondrous event, and I’ll be posting pictures as our little bird family continues to grow.

So far things have been moving quickly, last Saturday the nest was discovered, and this Saturday there are 3, cute little eggs in it. I tried to get a picture of momma birdie sitting on the nest, but she’s apparently camera shy and she takes off any time we get close to the fern. I don’t blame her, we’re probably scary giants to the little bird.

I’ll keep you posted.

Plagiarism

I read a story online about a large rock slab that was discovered that had ancient writing on it from way before the time of Jesus, and it foretold of a Messiah who would come and be killed and would rise in 3 days.

I thought this was interesting because it shows just one more account of what Jesus was going to do, long before he ever got here.

Well, some “Professor” from somewhere decided to write a paper on how this proves that the story of Jesus isn’t true because the people who wrote the Bible were just using a story that had already been told. That because the story of Jesus wasn’t original, it was just an old story plagiarized.

Oy, it never ceases to amaze me how the enemy works. And to make it worse there was an online discussion thread where people could put their comments. A lot of them were from believers who saw the obvious, which was that it was another prophecy in a long line of prophecies about Jesus. But then there were a bunch of people who said it proves that Jesus was just a story and religion was bad and made the world bad.

It’s frustrating to have to read such opinions, and it seems that the people who scream the loudest about how the Bible isn’t true are the ones who have never opened it.

As an American, I believe everyone has a right to an opinion and a right to believe what ever they want, so it bothers me that these people say they’ll defend our freedoms to the death, right up until you want to talk about Jesus, then suddenly you’re not allowed to have an opinion and you’re a bad person.

I look around the world and I don’t see followers of Christ doing bad things. Not real followers of Christ, that is. They aren’t blowing people up, or taking away their rights, or forcing them to believe what they believe. Christ followers talk about loving one another, and peace, and believing in something that is bigger than all of us. So it saddens me to read how these people think we’re the cause of the world’s problems.

I guess all I can do is to continue to try and affect the small world around me, and I challenge you to do the same. Tell someone that Jesus loves them today.

“God, I know the enemy has deceived many, and will continue to do so until you end his reign. Any chance it could be soon? Please.”

Free Ride

I was driving to an appointment today and it occurred to me how compartmentalized we’ve become. Our cars are a complete world within itself, each with its own little eco system. We whiz down the road in comfort with air conditioning, a nice stereo for listening to our favorite tunes, lights for driving in darkness, navigation to help us find our way, and Bluetooth connectivity so we can call family and friends with the utterance of a simple command, “call wife.”

It’s the same living with Christ. The life of a Christian is its own little world that sustains itself. Our churches are the eco systems that help make our lives comfortable. The Bible helps us navigate our way through life, even in darkness. Through bad weather we are protected by His grace and mercy. We even have our own form of Bluetooth, the prayer, which gives us direct connectivity to God, who unlike my family and friends, always answers the call.

Before Christ was in my life, I felt as if I was traveling in an old jalopy, ready to break down at any moment leaving me on the side of the road, with no insurance.

Now I feel protected as I whiz down the road of life, knowing that no matter what comes my way I have the best AAA program there is.

What are you driving?

“God, thank you for your presence in my life, and for protecting and guiding me through this lifetime. Tell your son thanks for paying for the ride before I ever started driving. Amen.”

Finding a new normal

My wife and I went to the theater tonight to see Spamalot. It’s an interesting show because it’s a spoof on a movie that was a spoof on the story of King Arthur. It was hilarious from start to finish. Well worth seeing.

On our way home I saw a billboard advertising a local radio station. There wasn’t a lot of info on it, just the logo of the radio station and several names of bands that the station plays. Simple, effective communication.

But at the bottom, in very big letters it said “Go _ _ ck yourself!” It didn’t spell it out; it actually has the two blank spaces on the sign.

The funny thing is that at first I didn’t know what the letters were that went in the blanks. Seriously, it probably took 20-30 seconds to realize that it was the “f” word!

I have to tell you that this was an interesting turn of events because I spent 21 years in the military, 14 of those years as a mechanic! The “f” word was used as a comma in every sentence I spoke for many years. So it was weird that it took me so long to fill in the blanks.

What I’ve realized though, is that since I gave my life to Christ I have a new normal. No, I’m not perfect and sometimes I say dumb things, but it’s not normal any longer to know that the “f” word is the first response.

I have no idea what the point of the billboard was by telling passersby to go have sex with themselves. I realize that in our secular world that kind of statement is normal. Shocking people is “cool” and saying the crudest thing possible is considered hip.

I see more and more as Christ sets up shop in my heart that the normal behaviors of this world are no longer mine. The cool thing is that it's not me trying to make myself into a different person, Christ is changing me from the inside out in ways I never thought possible.

I think I like my new normal. What’s yours?

“God, thank you so much for saving me and living in my heart. Life is so much clearer now, and I love that my normal is so different than it used to be. Thanks!”