Leaving Your Mark

This week we said goodbye to a very dear family friend. Mike was always known for his big smiles and warm heart. I knew that the calling hours would be full of people but the lines of people were truly amazing. There were tears and laughter as people shared memories of Mike but one thing was for certain, Mike left his mark on their lives. Things might have been very different if Mike had not become a Christ follower  some years ago. He had really become a changed man and the crowds of people were there to attest to it. Mike Loved Jesus with all of his heart and it showed in his relationships with others.

This makes me wonder, what mark will I leave? Will people know me for who I am now or who I was before I became a Christian? Does the love I have for my Heavenly Father show through me?

We only have but this one life to touch and effect others and that life is speeding past us at a unbelievable pace but you and only you can stop it long enough to effect someone else. It is time we put others above ourselves and leave our mark!

Life Stands Still

Today life stands still for one family that lost a loved one. I find it interesting how the world seems to stand still for those that grieve while it moves at a hurried pace for others. The trivial things of life seem to disappear during a time such as this, nothing else seems to matter for the moment, disagreements seem to fade away.

Why do we wait until tragedy to love on our friends and family? Why do we let stupid things keep us preoccupied and separated from others?

The one thing that the person(s) grieving will tell you, DON’T WAIT UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE! Love one another while you can, you are not promised tomorrow.

Wearing My Sunday Best

Yesterday was Easter, I dragged out my suit (that I could not wear just a few months ago) and decided to dress up for church (for my wife). As I looked in the mirror I saw what looked like a very respectable man (and good looking if I say so myself). It got me thinking about “wearing your Sunday best” to church. I have heard this for years and for the first 10 years of going to church I religiously wore a suit thinking it would be what God wanted.

Lately I see things a bit differently, since I normally am unseen during church (working in the production booth) I don’t “dress up” too often. I have also heard people say that they don’t have nice enough clothes to attend church. This is the thinking that changed my mind about the “Sunday Best”

If what I wear to church makes me look good and others look/feel bad than there is a problem, especially if I am wearing something just to make ME look good to others. Church is not about how good we look, it is about how we can uplift and encourage others. Wearing a suit does not make me a good Christian it just makes me “look” good. Just think about a person on trial in a court room, they are dressed in a suit to make them “Look” respectable even though they may have killed someone.

In my final thoughts is the scripture in 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV) The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

I am a Jerk

I was thinking the other day about how people might view me or what they “REALLY” think of me. Nobody likes to think that they are disliked, after all everyone wants to feel loved. I have come to the understanding that I can be a jerk and for that matter you probably have been too. When I think back at some things I have said and done and how I have reacted to situations I can see how people could have a bad impression of me but that is not really me. I am not really a jerk, or at least I don’t want to be, I am still learning to react better and watch what I say. I find it helpful to own the fact that at times I can be a jerk because this helps me to examine myself and my actions to try and learn from them so maybe next time I won’t be. If we continue to go through life thinking that everybody loves me, then we will never be able to grow from our mistakes. Let me say this to you, if I have left a bad impression or acted like a jerk to you, PLEASE contact me so I can apologize to you and both of us can move forward and grow from it. Thanks for being a part of my learning process and thanks for understanding.

Imagine

John Lennon once wrote a song called “Imagine”, in the song he asks that you imagine an almost perfect world. I remember that when this came out Christians were all upset because one line in the song said “Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try, No hell below us, Above us only sky”

What I found odd about the Christians response to the song was this, if the secular world is looking for the perfect world or Nirvana then why not show them the way to Jesus? Granted the world is not perfect because of sin, but Jesus is perfect and sinless.

Along the same lines of thinking, if Christians truly follow the Bible and try to be just like Jesus, I believe that the secular would would want what we have.

It is time that we as Christians come out of battle mode and into the Love that we are told to share in 1 Corinthians 13 “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” Ephesians 6:12.

If you are not a Christian and you are looking for the perfect world, you may not find it here on earth, but there is a place called Heaven that is far better than our minds could ever imagine. 

Where are the Dreamers?

We just celebrated Martin Luther King Day and the most famous words to his speech “I have a dream” rang out across every tv and news program and I have to wonder where are the dreamers? The ones who grow up with a driving passion for their future, the ones who knew what they wanted to become and accomplish in life before they graduated high school. I have seen a vast amount of teens without a clue as to what they want to become and therefore wander through life aimlessly with only the desire to make it to the next day. This saddens me. I believe we are all created to do great things, to be an asset to our country and not a liability.

Parents, please pay attention to your children, help them realize their talents and encourage them in their talents as well in their dreams (even if they seem unattainable).

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 22:6: ⁶Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it. Amplified Bible (AMP)

Let’s help the next generation fulfill their dreams and quite possibly change the world just as Martin Luther King did.

What? I am obese??

As many of you know I have decided that it time for me to get serious about losing weight. Yesterday I stepped on the scale for the first time in over 6 months and was shocked at the weight I had put on. So it was decided, I was going on (and I speak with trepidation) a diet. So I downloaded an app for my  smart phone and entered my weight and I was shocked when it told me I was ……. Obese! In such a politically correct society couldn’t they come up with a nicer term? That really hurt! I am sure when they came up with the word Obese, it was not to hurt my feelings but to make me aware that there is something that needs to change in my life or it could be dangerous for my physical health.

Along the same line of thought,  I was listening to my good friend Christopher Hopper singing “Feel You” on my phone this morning and the words hit me that says: “What do you see inside the windows of my soul?” Then I realized when I take communion at church the scripture tells us: A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 1 Corinth 11:28.  I have to ask myself, do I really want to know what kind of sin lurks about inside my soul? There could be lust, gluttony, gossiping and all kinds of nasty things that I don’t like to think about, But the scripture is there to give us warning, there may be things in our spiritual life that could be a danger to us and it is time to get serious about it and make necessary changes.

Won’t you join in my quest, what things in your life need to be changed so that you can be in better physical or spiritual health?

Friends are Friends Forever

I have been thinking a lot about friendship and what it means. I have been blessed over the years to have some really great friends, people who would be there for me if I am in need, people to encourage me when I am down.

During Christmas my Mother was approached by a lifelong friend that had no place to go for Christmas and of course my Mother invited her to come and stay with them even

though she would have a house full of family, because that what friends do.

I really don’t remember anyone setting me down and explaining the difference between friendship and a acquaintance but I do remember leaving high school fully understanding the difference.

I admit to you that I have had people that I thought were true friends that have never reached out to call or even facebook me and it really makes me wonder if they were really a true friend at all. All that to say, I cherish true friendships and If I consider you my friend, you are a friend for life, no matter where you live, no matter how far apart or how many times we see each other, I will always be your friend and I am confident that when we do see each other again we can pick right up where we left off like we were never apart. If you have a friend that you have not seen or talked to recently, give them a call, e-mail, text or send them a facebook message and let them know you are thinking about them today, it will make their day.

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”

Regrets, I Have a Few

I had some time to sit and think about my past, things that I have done right and things I have done wrong. I grew up in a great home with a very close nit family. I have so many great memories growing up but along the way I made some major mistakes. I always had the philosophy that I would not change a thing because it made me who I am, but now that I have grown older and a bit wiser I realize the flaw in this line of thinking……others were hurt along the way. If I had it to do over I would certainly do it differently. I wish I could take back all of the awful things that came out of my mouth because of my anger and temper. I would treat people different especially old girlfriends, their parents, teachers and others in the position of authority. I am completely embarrassed at the way I treated them (and if one of you might be reading this I am sincerely sorry).

James 1:10 states: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

If you are just starting out on your journey of life, please keep this in the back of your mind, one day you will have to face the stupid things you do in your youth, it might be years down the road but at some point you will have to face it. It is much easier to be cautious about the things you do and say now that face them in the future.

A New Year to be Thankful

This morning on my way to church I made a quick stop at McDonalds for breakfast since I was running late.  As I drove away with my food I started to eat as I drove. I had realized that I never asked the Lord to bless my meal, something I always do. I at first thought “no big deal ” then the thought hit me that I am so fortunate to be able to pull into a place and grab a quick meal, not something everyone has the means or ability to do. So this day, New Year’s Day, I resolve to give thanks for all the blessing in my life. How about you, What are you thankful for this New Year?