CHANGE

It has begun. For better or worse is yet to be seen.
Change is an easy message to get across. For some it is scary unless life as they know it is so bad they need a change. Whether that be in religion, marriage or politics, change often will occur.
Our neighborhood, our city needs change!
Even though this is a fact, seeing the "Hope" around our neighborhood when the word "Change" is thrown around saddens me.
Our neighborhood's plan for change is placing hope in a man. I call him the Obamanator. The same was true a few years ago when our neighborhoods plan for change was in the mayor.
I can understand our desire for a man of stature like the Obamanator to lead change, and I agree that change is needed. But what exactly is that change that our neighborhood needs?
How about the unchangeable? Hebrews 13:8

Missions

I recently wrote this for our Ohio District Mission page. I thought I'd put it on here also. It is for those who may be interested in going on mission trips.

Be warned! The smells, the foreign diet, and the eerie body odors are not for the faint at heart. But these fade into the background after you experience what I have on mission trips. The senses of your body fade and you find a new sense pulsating from your heart. Your stomach will weaken when a naked boy from southern India skips to be by your side for he knows you carry something special. The odors of Haiti fade when your sweat-drenched hand grasps a 7 year old girl whose body is like an ice cube due to malnourishment, yet her smile proclaims, “God is with us.” It all fades when you land back home and realize you were on a trip that changed your life and possibly another’s.
Be warned! Witnessing the Church burst open into flames on foreign soil changed my life, it may yours!

Dante

8 1/2 Years and Dante is dead. We think he died of something similar to his brother, Tristan. He was not able to go to the bathroom.
Death, no matter how dark it is always seems to bring a glimpse of reality. All things will end. Maybe it is this reality that we struggle with. We can hang on and hang on and hang on, but ultimately we will lose our grip and be forced to let go.
I guess, so goes the saying, "Let go and let God."

Revelation 22:7
1 Thessalonians 4:16
Soon and very Soon! Soon and Very Soon!

Afraid

And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:10)

But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.” (Genesis 18:15)

And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. (Exodus 3:6)

I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. (Daniel 4:5)

And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. (Matthew 8:26)

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)

Why am I afraid? What is it that causes fear?
My youngest daughter is proud that she is braver than her sister, but she still fears.
"I don't want to die daddy, I don't want to die!"

Why am I afraid?
There is much to be afraid of...I suppose.
Death...
Deceit...
God's wrath...
Thoughts in our heads...
Nature...
Being led astray...
Losing one whom you loved...
Why am I afraid?

Psalm 27:1; John 6:20

Stealin' Homework

This was kinda funny the other night. I was sitting down with a child named Steve and he was doing some homework. He only had to write out his spelling words 3 times each. He handed me the sheet after he was done and I said,
"Good Job! Now let's try to spell them." I flipped the page over and saw a different name on the paper. I was a little perplexed because I thought his name was Steve, but the paper had E.J. on it. I asked,
"Is your name E.J.?" He gave me the weirdest look and then saw where I was looking. He coughed a little and then said,
"Ya, that's me."But I knew who E.J. was and this was not E.J. So I continued to ask,
"Is this your homework?" He stuttered a little and said,
"E.J. gave it to me to do for him." I thought,
"This E.J. is a smart kid." Then Steve continued,
"I wanted to come to tutoring and the rule is that we have to bring our homework. I didn't have any homework and I really wanted to come. It is boring at home!"
I fell back in my chair almost dying in laughter.
He took E.J.'s homework to be at church. Wow!

Leapin'

Leap Day!

My girls are so excited! Probably by the time anyone reads this the day will be long and gone. Another 4 until we see her again.
What ever will we do with another day?

The ultimate reason we’ve got this extra day is the same reason we have any days. The Creator has given each day to you and me. Maybe it is "Leap day"…every day.

What makes each day special is knowing full heartedly that we are the Lord's because of Christ. How good to awake and know that the new day is a gift that will focus us on God’s goodness for our eternal good. “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

It's Soooo Dirty

Ash Wednesday...a powerful ceremony. To stand in a gigantic quiet church and say over and over and over again: "Remember, that you are dust and to dust you shall return" while smearing them with ashes in the shape of a cross, is to have our mortality slap us in the face.

That is why I hate putting the ashes on my children. I do not like marking them for burial. The reality of it all causes me much pain. They too shall suffer. They too shall die. And I don't want to bury them. Can't we just run. Can't we just quit and say, "I quit you death. You cause me too much pain."? Run my friend...run as you always have but...

It's soooo dirty. The crosses are smeared. The ashes are falling down the faces, on the nose, into the eyes.
It's soooo dirty. Bearing the cross. Hurting through life following him in His Word and Truth. At times it would be easier to run.
It's soooo dirty. Death. This is a sign of death. And everyone is highly conscious of the sign. It makes the wearers slightly uncomfortable. They want to scratch, but know they shouldn't because it will make it worse. They can see the cross on others and see how each is different, some crooked, others dark and bold, and still others no resemblance of the cross at all. Sloppy. They don't know what theirs looks like, but they secretly hope it looks "nice." Isn't that what we all want? A nice life where there isn't struggle and pain. It sure would be easy to run and quit this silliness.
And when we finally see it, we're always disappointed. It turns out death is never pretty.

It's soooo dirty. I think I like it. The crosses have the pastor's thumb print in them. This is a cross that has been placed upon them by the Man Jesus Christ. They have been marked for burial, for a return to the dust, but they have also been marked in the sign of a cross. They will follow Christ through death, through the grave, and into life.
Why run? It's messy for sure...but the assured promise is worth the reality of the mess.

A Prayer for Difficulties in the Family

Almighty God, I need the sanctifying influence of Your presence in our family. I confess that we have not always lived according to Your Word. I am ashamed of my conduct, for I have sinned against my family and against you. Forgive me my transgressions.
I pray You, come into our family even as we are separated. Keep us aware of the perfect example of Your unselfish love and service. Make us eager to follow that example in our life with one another. Help us to be willing to forgive and to forget, even as You have done in Your mercy by forgiving us our sins and washing them away remembering our sin no more. Direct us to live according to Your Word that every experience may serve to draw us closer to each other and both closer to You. Hear my prayer through Jesus Christ. Amen.