TURNING RIGHT

Jo Anne and I travel some in our camper and when Sunday rolls around we just stop at the nearest church and go in.....Believe me we have been in some ” Interesting” churches, met some “Interesting” people, and heard some “Interesting” sermons...

Last week we went to a church we had never been to. When we got there the parking lot was confusing so we followed another car and ended up going in a back door. There was a nice lady who caught us as we entered and took us to the sanctuary. She even came and sat with us later...(Ten points for that lady)

But to get to the sanctuary we had to navigate a couple of halls and make a right and left turn. Forgetting we had to get back out to the car, I didn't pay much attention to each turn and hall way. However, I did notice that at the intersection of one hall there was a beautiful statue of Jesus.

When the service was over we started down one hallway and Jo Anne said, “Which way do we go to get out of here and back to the car?” Well, I was not too sure myself, but about that time I spotted the beautiful sculpture of Jesus and I said, “No problem, all we have to do is go to Jesus and turn right”. And suddenly I realized what I had said.”GO TO JESUS AND TURN RIGHT”. Bingo! I knew I had to write that in my blog.

Imagine, as we travel the maze of life, if we would just always “GO TO JESUS AND TURN RIGHT”, how many of the fears, uncertainties, and bad decisions, we could avoid. And they could all be replaced by the “Peace That Passes All Understanding”. The peace that comes by just going to Jesus and doing what is right.

Philippians 4:7....."And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

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“Lord, help me to day to know that I will never go wrong by doing what is right”

FORGET THE LEAP

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I think the craziest sport I've ever seen is Bungee Jumping. It is idiotic, but people of all ages are “leaping” into it. (Sorry about the pun) Did you hear about the man who jumped to celebrate his 100th birthday? I guess he thought after 100 years what difference did it make.

I even saw recently where they built a special bungee to hold a couple and a minister so they could say “I do” while taking the “leap of love”. Most couples have enough ups and downs without starting their marriage on a bungee jump.

Do you know why I would never Bungee Jump? There is no way I am going to throw my body into space and put my faith of the future into the integrity of a rubber band. Do so if you like, but I want to know that my life is anchored to something more dependable than a piece of elastic.

Does it sound like there is a spiritual application here? ....I THINK SO...

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Psalms 62:7-8 “in God is my salvation and my glory” The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.

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“Lord, help me today to keep my feet planted on the Solid Rock, Christ Jesus, my strength and my refuge.”

CASUAL?

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Numbers 18:29 (NIV)
"You must present as the LORD's portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you."

There is a church in our city that put up a large billboard with a picture of an old pair of ragged jeans on it....The billboard read “Our church clothes”......A message to come casual..As a matter of fact someone who visited there said the pastor behind the sacred pulpit proved it.... and even preached in a pair of flip flops...

Many pastors, today,  preach in an old pair of jeans and a casual shirt with the tail hanging out....They look like they just came from a goat roping!

I know, I'm old.......But so is the Bible!

Today's blog asks one question:

How many of the definitions below of  "casual"  fit our Christ, our spiritual experience, our Sabbath, or our worship?

cas·u·al    –adjective

1.
happening by chance.
2.
without definite or serious intention; careless or offhand.
3.
seeming or tending to be indifferent to what is happening; apathetic; unconcerned: a casual, nonchalant air.
4.
appropriate for wear or use on informal occasions; not dressy: casual clothes; casual wear.
5.
irregular; occasional.
6.
accidental.

Jo Anne and I was in a restaurant the other day and our table was next to a table with a nice family of six. The kids were teenagers. There was a rodeo in town and it was very evident that this family was a part of it...They were dressed the part complete with the big silver belt buckles won in rodeo events.
When they got their meal, they all bowed their heads and one of the young boys prayed one of the sweetest prayer I have heard in a long time...And it wasn't a short prayer....I complimented them on praying as a family in the restaurant.....

The point I want to make is this: When they go to church I would bet they wear jeans and western wear...They probably don't even own a suit and tie...But you know what?    I bet they wear the best jeans they have and the best shirt and blouse they have....I would further venture to say that they are clean and pressed and that the shirt tails are not hangingout.......... You see, they wouldn't be going to church casually......They would be presenting them selves into the presence of God in the very best they have.

*****God just wants out best! What ever that is... There is nothing “Casual” about the God I serve.*****

EXERCISE

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1 Timothy 4:8

“For bodily exercise profiteth little: But godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”

Don't you love this scripture? It is one of my favorites.

I bought a treadmill once thinking it was exactly what I needed to improve my health and get into shape. I put a T.V. In front of it and tried to convince myself that I could enjoy it. The truth is, “I hated the thing!” How frustrating to walk so fast and so long and get so tired without going anywhere. I now get most of my exercise jumping to conclusions.

But this old world does have a treadmill, and when we get on, it seems that it accelerates to a speed that makes it hard to keep up with the pace of life. As a matter of fact, I get pretty winded trying to keep up with the Jones' or staying ahead of the wolf that keeps nipping at my heals.

Now I have to admit that I don't think Paul is saying we shouldn't get physical exercise. I am sure he is just saying that though exercising the body will make us better fit for this world, exercising Godliness of heart and mind will get us in shape for the world to come.

How do we exercise Godliness? Well, the best I can tell is that since God is love, then exercising Godliness is actively sharing God by loving those around us.

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“Lord, help me to “break a sweat” today sharing your love with those I meet. Especially those I meet who are so unlovely

FOLLOW ME

I saw a bumper sticker the other day which read;

Don't Follow Me.....I'm Lost

Have you ever had someone say, “Just follow us in our car”, and then they end up getting lost? What a thrill! You end up turning left when you should have turned right, making U turns, going the wrong way down one way streets, or ending up on a dead end street. Actually, it sometimes get right down amusing.

Who is following us today? Our spouse? Our children? Our Grandchildren? Our friends? Can they follow us with the assurance that they won't be lost? Can they feel confident that we won't lead them down a wrong path or end up on a dead end street?

A man was walking through a cemetery and saw a head stone which read;

“As you are now, so once was I

As I am now soon you will be

So prepare yourself to follow me”.

The man pondered it a moment then took out a marker and wrote the following on the monument;

“To follow you I will not consent,

Until I know which way you went”

To be sure that those who follow us are not led astray, It is very important to be sure of who we are following....We are told in 1st Corinthians 11:1 to.....

 “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

Peter writes to us in 1st Peter 2:21 and reminds us that......

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps”.

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Lord, help us to follow you today, so that..... “Those who come behind will find us faithful”

PRESS ONE FOR ENGLISH

I have two pet peeves concerning the telephone, and here they are:
FIRST......
“Please press one to speak in English” .....WHY?.... If we have to press one to speak in English and two to speak in Spanish, why don't we have to press three to speak in french, four for Chinese, five for Russian, six for German, seven for Italian, eight for Japanese, and nine for Pig Latin?   

Actually, we shouldn't have to push anything to speak in the language of our country....If anyone pushes anything it should be the outsiders who refuse to learn English. Or better yet, if they can't speak English let them do without a telephone and guess what signs say until they learn.

If they want to enjoy the privileges of the greatest country in the world, let them prove it by becoming Americans and speaking our language.

Who knows, maybe someday we will once again experience the miracle of Acts 2:5-6 when everyone will hear everyone else in there own language. But until then............

SECOND.........
“Your call is very important to us” …..OH REALLY!.....If it is so important, why do you leave me hanging on the phone and listening to your stupid commercials for ten minutes? “I'm sorry I don't believe you, so I'll just hang up and call another company...(I know, the next company probably won't be any better.) Is my attitude showing?
I'll tell you what is fun. When they finally answer, just say, “Can you hold on just a moment?” Then lay the phone down and don't pick it up again for ten minutes.

BUT HERE IS THE BEST PART......
Aren't you glad that God always speaks our language and never put us on hold?   As a matter of fact, our calls really are important to Him and there is never a charge for long distance or roaming.  Notice what His word says about calling him....

Psalm 18:3
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalm 61:2
From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psalm 86:3
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long.

Psalm 86:7
In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me.

Romans 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

"Lord, thank you for my "Spiritual Cell Phone".  What a great confidence I have knowing that when I call, I will never get a busy signal and that you will instantly take my calls and answer my needs".

ONE GOOD BISCUIT

 Phillippians 4;8

“…whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure…think on these things.

When I was in college (back in the dark ages) I had a roommate that bordered on being a religious fanatic. He would not wear cuff links or a tie pin and he would never think of watching a T.V. show. Since I would do all of the above and more, living with me was a real thorn in the flesh for him.

One evening during a convesation, I said, “Jim, there are some good things on T.V.”. I’ll never forget what he said. He squared off, looked me right in the eye, and replied, “Dale, that may be true, But I’m not sticking my head in the hog’s slop bucket for one good biscuit.”

I laughed at him then, but as time has passed, I have come to appreciate what he said more aand more.

Today, television has more to do with breaking down the morals and undermining Christ in the homes of Ameicans than most of us want to admit.

I'm afraid today more and more Christians are becoming more and more content to feed with the hogs in hope of finding a good biscuit now and then.

“Lord, help me today to reach only for those things that are true, honest, just, and PURE.

HIDE AND SEEK

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"For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees under the whole heavens" Job 28:24

Boy, getting old is the PITS!  This thing about losing your memory is not a laughing matter....The other day Jo Anne and I decided to play Hide  and Seek....(It doesn't take much to entertain old folks)  I hid behind the couch and in just a minute or two I forgot why I was there.  I felt so embarrassed "hunkered" down behind that thing.  When I finally got up and found Jo Anne, she was standing in the kitchen with a blank look on her face. When I asked her what was wrong, she said, "I don't know, I came in here to look for something, but I forgot what it was."

Well, Hide and Seek may be a child's game but I am afraid more adults play it than wants to admit it. 

Some of us hide from responsibility and hope we're never found.

 Some of us hide from reality and don't want to be discovered. 

Some of us hide from the truth and think we can't be seen. 

Some people hide behind their insecurities and dread being exposed. 

Some folks hide in the closet of fear and hope no one opens the door. 

Some hide in darkness and are afraid to face the light.

But the saddest people who play the game are those who hide from God and think they won't be found!

If you, and I, would be so foolish to think we can hide from God, let us hear these words written to Solomon in the 28th chapter of First Chronicles.....

"And you, my son, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

"God , my prayer is that I will live today in such a way that I won't be afraid for you to see anything that I do."  As Will Rogers once said, "May I live in such a  way that I would not be afraid to sell the family parrot to the town gossip."  AMEN

IS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A CHRISTIAN NATION?

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.  1 Chronicles 16:8

Would  you define an empty bowl as a sugar bowl?  What if you fill it with peanuts? What kind of a bowl is it then?   You see, the kind of bowl it is depends on the contents of the bowl.   I had rather see it as a bowl of sugar than a sugar bowl or as a bowl of peanuts than a peanut bowl.....

What if one third of the bowl is filled with sugar and the other two thirds is filled with peanuts....Now, is it a bowl of sugar or a bowl of peanuts?  I think that it is a bowl of peanuts with some sugar in it.....

The question posed in the title of this blog asks whether or not the United States of America is a Christian Nation?  What do you think?

Now before we go there, let me pose another question.....Is the United States even a nation?

Do geographic boundries define a nation or do geographic boundries define a country?  what about the Nation of Islam?  What about the Jewish Nation?   Islam defines the boundries of it's Nation as the entire world.  There are Islamic countries but their Nation has no boundries....The Jews have always been a Nation, but was only  able to reestablish  a geographiclly defined country after the 1948 war...   The Christians have had a Nation for nearly 2000 years since they were first called Christians in Antioch.

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 So the United States of America is not a nation .  it is a country.  That being the case,  let's pose the question for the third time...Is the country of the United States a Christian country?

 I hope it is, but I am not sure.....Let's use the analogy of the sugar bowl that we started with. What is the "Bowl" filled with?   Well, we know that it is filled with just about every nationality, creed, color and religion in the world...If the majority of them are Christian, then we are a Christian country.    So are we?  I don't know.  To find out, you would have to count all of the Christians.  And before you can do that, you will have to define "Christian". 

Oh my,  my brain is tired!  So I am going to let you decide.  Is the United States Of America a Christian country or not?

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chdronicles 7:14

LET THE FREEDOM RING

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The heavens declare the Glory of God; the skies proclaim the works of his hands.Ps.19:1

How many of you are old enough to remember the Double Mint gum commercial that said, "Double the pleasure, Double the fun"?  Well, today is that kind of day.

We celebrate our freedom in Christ because it is the Sabbath and we celebrate our freedom as Americans because it is the 4th of July. "Double the pleasure, Double the fun".

Tonight the skies of our nation will come alive as we turn the darkness into beautiful displays of light from exploding rockets and breathtaking burst of artificial stars.

But, it  is just a short flash of grandeur that will only last about one hour.  Then, when the rockets are quiet and the sky is dark, There will still be a fabulous exploding display of stars, planets, and shooting meteorites that was set into motion at creation and is still there to remind all of the world that the greatest freedom we will ever enjoy, is the freedom that comes through Jesus Christ, who is the only true "Light Of The World".

God declares to us through His Holy Word that:  "I have come into the world as a light, So that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." (John 12:46)NIV

If the light has gone out in your life, why not declare this as your day of spiritual freedom as you let God light up your life and give your peace?

FREE FROM THE PERCH

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Galatians 5:1
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

We have a hummingbird feeder hanging on our deck. We hung it there for all of the birds to enjoy, but it has become the private property of one lone hummer. He is a mean, aggressive, selfish, domineering little Rufus with a nasty disposition.

Because the little fellow is constantly perched at the feeder to fight off his thirsty peers, he has no fun at all. He can’t flit around the neighborhood fellowshipping with friends or fly off to enjoy the nectar of nearby flowers or other feeders. HE IS IN BONDAGE TO HIS OWN SELFISHNESS!

Aren’t you glad that God frees us from the bondage of sin and self and that we don’t have to be consumed with sitting on the perch of our own possessions.

“Lord, help me today to live in such a way that a world in bondage will see me and seek the freedom that comes through you.”