Things I've Learned From My Three Year Old (2)

Things I've Learned From My Three Year Old (2)

Sometimes we get so focused on the destination we fail to enjoy the journey. We are so rushed. So much to do. So many things to accomplish. So many problems to solve. Life can be one big blur. I teach in the same school my 3 year old attends. Every morning we travel together. I soon began to notice that even though we were going to the same destination, we were experiencing the journey differently. "Why is there a bridge here?" "Where do the deer stay at night?" "Where does the sun go when the clouds come?" His incessant questioning tries my patience but I do my best to answer each one. For him, it has not been so much about the destination as it has been about the journey, the "daddy time". As adults, don't we sometimes diminish our quality of life by allowing feelings of anxiety to fester. Worry can be so destructive.Those who suffer from thantophobia, the excessive fear of death, can attest that focusing too much on a future task or event can really spoil the journey. The journey would be so much more enjoyable if we would take Paul's advice to the Philippians, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

The Gospel According to Allen Iverson

During a recent interview connected with the NBA All-Starr game, Allen Iverson was asked about charity giving. He said he gives generously but doesn't really care to talk a lot about his giving. Romans 12:8 says when "contributing to the needs of others let him give generously." Allen should certainly be commended for his giving.Iverson revealed in the press conference that he has been contemplating heaven and hell. “I’ve done a lot of good things in my life and done a lot of bad things in my life so I don’t know. I hope the good things outweigh the bad things. . . . I don’t want to go to hell.” He should also be commended for giving serious thought as to where he will spend eternity.Unfortunately, he seems to perceive that our entrance into heaven will be determined by a scales that measures our good deeds against our bad ones. Scripture certainly encourages us to good works, in fact, it clearly states that good works will result when converting to Christ. But no where does scripture teach us that our own efforts at goodness will unlock the gate of heaven. Eph. 2:8-9 declares our salvation to be a "gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Thinking seriously about his eternal destiny and declaring "I don't want to go to hell" is surely a move in the right direction. I pray that Allen Iverson will come to a full realization that “The free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

A Little Whine With Your Cheese

As a high school teacher for nearly 25 years I have observed a very disturbing trend. Parents are much more concerned about providing rescue for their children rather than teach them responsibility. Our society is infected with a sense of entitlement. When our founding fathers established this country, it wasn't about who you were or what was owed you...it was about how hard you were willing to work. Students whine because the work is too hard. Employees whine because they don't think they are being treated fairly. Citizens whine because the government isn't doing enough for them. My father was so right when he told me repetitively, "Life is not fair" and "Nothing comes free in life".We now give our children participation trophies. You don't really have to excel to get a trophy. We have dumbed down our grading system in our schools so badly that our students are sensing we have no real academic expectations for them. Our college students now expect a passing grade because they were present. No effort required. Now we have a government that is floundering in bankruptcy because its citizens are demanding entitlements. Dad was right when he taught that fairness isn't always possible in this life. In an attempt to be 'fair' and to please all of our whining citizens we've successfully destroyed our economy. Rolling up our sleeves and putting our noses to the grindstone is what built this great country. Sitting in our easy chair with our remote control, pretentiously waiting for the government to send us our next check is what is destroying us.

Proverbs 12: 11 "Hard work brings prosperity; only a fool idles away his time."

Men Never Need Directions

Men Never Need Directions

One of the great mysteries of life is the fact that men don't like to admit they need directions. We always know where we are and we always know where we are going. It is a mystery to us when our wives lack confidence in our uncanny ability to find our way. It would be devastating for us to ever, ever admit we were lost. I'm not sure who invented GPS. It was probably a woman who thought her husband would more readily listen to a computer than to her. I'm almost sure of this because the voice is nearly always that of a woman...with a British accent. The voice always sounds so intelligent and confident. "Setting route, please wait". The typical male doesn't want someone else 'setting route' and he certainly doesn't want to 'please wait'.So he unplugs the machine and off he goes on his own to make a real mess of his trip. His wife thinks getting lost is second nature for him. Tension fills the car. The kids get restless. He can read his wife's mind, "Biggest mistake of my life." Eventually reason reigns and he humbly plugs in the GPS. The confident British lady tells him what to do and he finds his way. We're so like that in our attempt to follow Jesus. We sometimes think we don't need to listen to the voice. Or if we hear the voice it just doesn't seem to feel right to us. Or we are just arrogant and stubborn and think our way is always the best way. When we have made a total mess of the whole trip he is always waiting for us to listen. He doesn't say, "I told you so." He reaches out in grace and gently leads us back on track. "Come, follow me", Jesus said.

Black Toilet Paper

Black Toilet Paper!!

More doesn't always mean better. We certainly have access to more music today than at any other time in history. It doesn't mean its better. We are deluged with news from a multitude of sources but it doesn't make it better. American's are infected with a very contagious disease. Affluenza, is the empty feeling we get when we expend exorbitant amounts of effort trying to keep up with the Joneses. We can now buy customized m&m's with our name and picture on them for $100 a bag.An oil Sheik in Saudi Arabia owns a car made of silver. (is this an urban legend?)Thomas Pinnau works for Mars Candy Company: His title is VP of Indulgence. (Honestly)A company in Tasmania, the island off the southern coast of Australia, catches rain water that formed while crossing Antarctica and 10,000 miles of ocean and they sell it for $25 a bottle.Upscale New York restaurants and clubs provide Renova Black for their customers. Its black toilet paper that sells for $15 per roll. Everyone is selling us things we don't need and no one is selling us what we really need., We should take some advice from the greatest economic genius to ever live. No, not Warren Buffet. Not Barack Obama or even Bill Gates. Jesus said more about economics in his ministry than any other topic save the kingdom of God. He put it all in a nutshell for us.Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

Things I've Learned from My Three Year Old (1)

Things I've Learned from My Three Year Old (1)

Psalm 51:5 "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." This verse teaches us that we are all born with a sinful nature. But why do so many assume that because we are born with a sinful nature we MUST sin?? The carnal nature we are born with assures we have a propensity to sin but it does not teach the necessity of sin. If we must sin and have no free will in the matter, how are we responsible? How can we be accountable for something we cannot control? Would a just and loving God send us to an eternal punishment over something we have no control of?My son, Kameron, is only 3 years old. He is living proof that we are born with a rebellious nature, a propensity to sin. When he disobeys, when he is defiant, when he insists on doing what he wants instead of what his father wants a call for discipline is in order. I would never correct him or send him to "time out" were he incapable of determining right from wrong. He doesn't deserve discipline if he is not responsible for his choices. This is why we have a different standard of discipline for those who are mentally or emotionally challenged or for those who are adolescent.Norman Geisler says "Sin in general is inevitable but each sin in particular is avoidable--by the grace of God." If sin were unavoidable and we had no free will to choose between sinning and not sinning, how could a just God punish us for something we can not be held accountable for. Our sinful nature makes sin inevitable but God's gift of free will makes sins avoidable by the grace and power of God. (1 Corinthians 10:13) "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

An Open Apology From My Generation to Yours

Open apology from my generation to yours

I would like to present an apology to my children and future grandchildren. It was my generation who got us into this economic mess. We were very unwise when it came to managing money. I'm sorry that you will eventually suffer the brunt of our failure. I'm sorry we had to use you retirement, social security and healthcare in order to satisfy our own selfish desire to maintain an unsustainable standard of living. I'm sorry that your generation will likely be the first American generation to experience decline in their standard of living. You won't live in a house as nice as your parent's nor drive a car as nice as theirs. Your income will be overtaxed to pay for our excesses. The Bush and Obama stimulus packages will assure this for generations to come.Thank you so much for being so passive about us stealing your future from you. A couple hundred years ago they threw tea in the Boston harbor but your generation has been mesmerized by easy living and excessive entertainment. Why, most of you reading this letter may not have the slightest idea what this apology is all about. Your minds have become numb by years of "MTV" and computer games. In closing, we hope you the best as you try to solve the problem we created for you. You will certainly have to be more ingenious and brilliant and disciplined than we to solve a problem we gave up on. I must say we feel just a tinge of guilt living high on the hog at your expense and we're not too thrilled about going down in history as the most selfish generation. But...we always believed it was best to eat, drink and be merry. Live for the day and let someone else worry about the future.

Sincerely,

A Generation of Hedonists

The Devil Made Me Do It

The Devil Made Me Do It???

Its a phrase I often hear that contradicts my perception of the free will of man. Do we somehow perceive that our sinful actions are a result of our sinful nature alone? If we inherited our sinful nature from Adam and it is the cause of our sin...are we accountable for sins committed? We have no control of the fact that we have brown or blue eyes. It is predetermined in our genes. If our nature is the sole cause of our sin, are we personally responsible for sin? Its just in our genes.If our nature alone is the cause of our sin....what was the cause of Lucifer's sin? Lucifier wasn't created with a sinful nature. What was the cause of Adam's sin...he wasn't created with a sinful nature? We attribute all of our decisions to do good as having originated in God himself. He is the first cause of all good. But, aren't we mistaken when we attribute all of our decisions to do evil to Satan. He becomes our first cause for all evil. Where did Satan originate? Was he not created by God? Therefore, is not God the first cause of all evil? IMPOSSIBLE!! The holy and pure nature of God would be compromised. He can't possibly be the author of evil. God didn't create the devil. God didn't create hell and he can never be the source of any evil act that is ever committed. So, what is the answer??God gave us a wonderful gift of free will. ("you are free" Gen. 2:19) This gift was given to Lucifer. God made Lucifer, a good angel, but Lucifer made the devil by abusing his free will. God made Adam and Eve pure and holy (Ezek. 7:29 "God made man upright." ) but they made themselves into sinful beings by abusing the gift of God's free will. Our sinfulness is not predetermined by a loving and holy God nor was it the devil that made us do it. We abuse God's gift of free will when we sin and we alone are accountable for it.

The Lie

The LIE

Marianne Williamson on the Oprah Winfrey Show was asked, "“Do you think that Jesus is the only son of God?” She replied, “Hogwash. I believe we are all the sons of God and our destiny is to be like Jesus. There is only one soul. To say there is only one begotten son does not mean that someone else was it and we are not. It means we are all it. There is only one of us here.”“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Tim 4:3-4)"They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie” - 2 Thes. 2:9 THE LIE = exaltation of man

Plato's Problem

Plato's Problem

If God does not change...and is perfect....How does his incarnation and his life of humanity coorelate with his perfection and changlessness? Perfection signifies perfect self-sufficiency. He was not perfectly self-sufficient in all stages of his humanity. Perfection denotes perfect self-satisfaction. How can one love someone perfectly without sacrificing self-satisfaction? Can God experience joy, sorrow, anger...do these not require a change and are they not traits of imperfection? Plato struggled with these concepts. Building theology on deductive reasoning is not always a wise thing to do. Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. I think that the fact we can't understand in no way diminishes his deity, rather, it reaffirms it.

PLATO

It Is Too Difficult

Its not too difficult.

It must be in our nature to always look for an easier way. Jesus made so clear to his disciples that the way would be difficult. Indeed, almost all of them were martyred. G.K. Chesterton said, "“The problem with Christianity is not that it has been tried and found wanting, but that it has been found difficult and left untried.” There is little comfort in realizing the difficulty of living for Christ....but there is great comfort in the words of Paul to the Corinthians "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

What is emerging from THE SHACK??

What is emerging from THE SHACK??

My wife was reading The Shack when she suddenly put it down and said, "I can't read anymore of this.the author portrays God as a woman swinging her hips to funky music." I began to investigate some on my own and discovered that Young portrays God as three separate human beings instead of three distinct persons with one divine nature. God was never human nor was the Holy Spirit ever human. Only Jesus took on humanity but he did it without ever putting aside his divinity.The Shack seems very much like Emergent Church stuff. A desperate attempt to connect with the current, secular culture and if necessary, sacrifice the proven doctrines of Christianity along the way.p. 119 - "I am not who you think I am, Mackenzie. I don't need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside.Ezekiel 18:2 "the soul that sins shall die." Romans 12:19 "the wages of sin is death."God's justice will demand that he punish unconfessed sin. I haven't read the entire book yet...but what I have read is troubling? Can anyone help me with this??See Norman Geisler's review of The Shack. www.normgeisler.com

I'm Not Drinking the Kool-Aid

I'm not drinking the Kool-Aid

"Now is the time for unity. Everyone get on board, we must support our new president!!" is what I'm hearing from every direction. I followed the campaign, I know his policies, I know what he stands for: Abortion, gay marriage, global government, elastic constitutionalist, etc. I can't support a man who promises to promote an agenda that is 100% contrary to God's word! I don't want Obama to succeed because his success means our culture will embrace a worldview that contradicts what Christ taught.Matthew 15:14: "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."Isaiah 9:16: "For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed."

Thank You, Mr. President

The biased, blathering media heads have made some pretty ridiculous accusations against you, 'W'. They say you're stupid, one of the worst five presidents ever, etc. But, the history books will record the facts and your going to do pretty well. So, before you start cutting down those cotton woods, would you accept thanks.-- Thanks for 7 years without a terrorist attack-- Thanks for quick action following 9/11...you locked down borders, eavesdropped on terrorists and took the war to them...there are probably thousands alive today that otherwise wouldn't be because you took these actions.-- Thanks for doing business in Iraq. You thought you would find an evil, oppresive dictator, his rapist sons (Where were you, NOW), mass graves, torture chambers. Sure enough, you found all of these. If you didn't find WMD, don't feel too alone in your assessment: Russian, Chinese, British and Israeli intelligence reported WMD in Iraq. The surge was a smashing success. Iraq's GNP is 30% higher since we invaded.-- Thanks for neutralizing Libya (did this even make the evening news?)-- Thanks for fighting AIDS and malaria in Africa-- Thanks for rescuing abused women in Afghanistan from the Taliban (where were you, NOW?)-- Thanks for waterboarding Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, one of al-Qaeda’s top dogs. He spilled his guts with enough information to enable us to save hundreds of lives. -- Oh yes, thanks for getting a higher GPA at Harvard than one of their 'geniuses', John Kerry

George W Bush

Wake Up, People!!

WAKE UP, PEOPLE!!

Obama smiled in approval as Rev. Joseph Lowery prayed these words: "Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around -- when yellow will be mellow -- when the red man can get ahead, man -- and when white will embrace what is right."Compare to Reagan's prayer in 1986:... It is time to realize that we need God more than He needs us... We also have His promise that we could take to heart with regard to our country, that "If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."I don't know how to interpret Rev. Lowery's prayer. Is it racist? Is it irreverent? Is it immature (He's 87 years old, for crying out loud!!) Its disturbing.I saw millions listen to Obama and Rev. Lowery. They looked like sheep. Following blindly. Reacting to rhetoric and failing to search for substance. History teaches us that during difficult times people tend to follow blindly one who can mesmerize them with eloquent words.That Pepsi commercial is so appropriate here: WAKE UP, PEOPLE!!!!!www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpP_cSgnEJk

Its More Than a Fashion Statement!!

Its more than a fashion statement!!

The Cross -- It is a symbol of a pure Christ in humble submission to the Father presenting himself for the most horrendous torture and suffering one could ever imagine as payment for the penalty of sin we all deserve. It is a symbol that deserves reverence and respect. I love to see the cross and I'm stirred with wonder everytime I see it.It adorns ears, it is hung around necks and it is tattooed on brawny arms.But more and more I'm seeing the cross in places I'd rather not.Has the cross lost its true meaning in our society? Instead of a symbol of God's everlasting love for fallen man it seems to have become nothing more than a fashion statement for many.Today I saw the cross of Christ hanging around the neck of Madonna while she presented a provocative pose for her album "Hard Candy" and I felt like I was seeing the cross in a place it shouldn't be." I love that old cross where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain."

The "Change" He Promised

The "change" he promised.

Always watch what your government officials do on Friday afternoons, especially preceeding holidays. They sign the most controversial bills: Congressmen always sign themselves a raise on Friday, Presidents address the most controversial issues on Fridays..."I never had sex with that woman". True to form, President Obama overturned the controversial "Mexico City Policy" which had been implemented by Reagan. Obama's move assures that your tax money will go to assist in the abortion of millions of international babies in the name of "women's reproductive healthcare". The Friday signing is in hopes that the American people will be so busy watching football, golfing, shopping, etc. that by Monday morning it will be old news and unnoticed.God can't continue to bless a country that chooses to abort the world's innocents?"It is my conviction that taxpayer funds should not be used to pay for abortions or advocate or actively promote abortion, either here or abroad," George W. Bush (2001)We got the president whom we wanted. (Obama to disgruntled Republicans, "But, I won.") Every choice has its consequences.Psa. 106:15 "And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul."

It May Be Already Happening

It may already be happening...

John boarded the Manhattan Subway South for the NYU Medical Center as he had done every work day for years. The subway was very crowded as usual during the morning rush hour. John read the sports page as he held onto the hand grip above his head. He was startled when the man next to him turned abruptly toward him and sneezed in his direction. He certainly wasn't a typical looking American. He issued a cold apology and turned away. John felt a wave of disgust as he wiped a bit of spittle from his face.Time passed and John had nearly forgotten the incident. Two weeks later John felt a discomfort in his armpit. Days passed. Seeping boils appeared on his neck and groin area. John remembered the incident on the subway. He suddenly realized what had actually happened. He felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead and a gut-wrenching nausea as he reached for his medical books. His sweaty hands flipped unsteadily through the pages. How much time did he have? His eyes fell on the words he was looking for...Pneumonic Plague. He could hardly grasp the fact that he was victim of a terrorist attack. How many treacherous travelers were out there? How many other victims had they infected?

Obama's Message of Despair

Obama's message of despair

Americans have revealed something very encouraging about themselves. They have moved beyond the days of discrimination and have proven it by electing America's first black president. The African-American community must now feel a depth of hope they have never felt before in this country. Surely, Obama will be very good for African-Americans!Will he?On January 22nd, pro-life groups congregated in Washington as they have every year for the last 36. George "W" made it a point to address them every year. Obama refused the invitation. In fact, just hours after his inauguration the whitehouse.gov website was updated to reveal his unwavering support for radical abortion groups. Is Obama aware?-- that even though African-Americans make up 12% of the U.S. population, 37% of all abortions are black babies.-- 512 of every 1,000 African American pregnancies end in abortion.-- in Pennsylvania, 10% of the female population is black, 45% of black females abort their babies.-- abortion has cost 13 million African-American livesAlveda King, MLK's niece said, "...there is no greater injustice than that suffered by the 4,000 babies, 1,400 of them black, who die on any given day at the hands of abortionists."Rev. Clenard Childress said, "the most dangerous place for an African-American to be is in the womb of their African-American mother."Mr. Obama, give us the type of positive change you promised. Give us hope. Preserve life.

God Uses Sheep

God uses Sheep

Have you ever asked God, "What are you doing? What are you waiting for? Where are you???"Moses thought surely at age 40 that he was prepared to answer the call of God and lead the people out of Egypt. Our plan and God's plan hardly ever seem to be the same plan! God took Moses out into the wilderness of Midian where he tended to his father-in-law's sheep - for 40 years. Do you think this could have been a man tired of seeing sheep? After 40 years did he not know all there was to know about sheep? Did he feel sheepish? After all those difficult years, if Moses felt any pride or grandeur for having been chosen of God, he was surely cured of it.Finally, God opened the door for Moses to complete his mission. What followed was another 40 years in the wilderness with another kind of sheep. "All we like sheep..." The first 40 years was a great preparation for how he would handle the next 40 years. There are lessons to be learned:1. Young man, be patient. It won't come as fast as you think or you'd like.2. For those in mid-life...we shouldn't get too anxious if we haven't yet 'done great things', God will surely complete a great work in us but he'll always do it on his time table, not ours.3. For the older man, why did it take God so long to do a great and mighty thing in your life? Sometimes its because it takes that long for us to empty ourselves of ourselves. His Spirit can only work through empty vessels, through those who are totally dependent on Him.

What's Happening to Us

What's happening to us??

Have you ever asked the question: Were previous generations infected with the same immoral social diseases we struggle with today? Is it worse now than it was 50 or 100 years ago? When you consider the following it certainly seems so...Violent crimes have tripled in the last 50 years.Children murder their parents and teachers. Parents murder their children. (Caylee Anthony)One in four teenage girls now have a STD. The stats are depressing.Human nature has always been the same. We are depraved. We are all born in sin. "We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."So, why does it seem like it is worse today than it was several decades ago? Our sinful desires and passions are kept in check by our ability to say 'no' by God's grace. We learn from history that a society who fails to instill self-control within their children will breed generations of citizens who are self-indulgent, narcissistic, and lack the ability to say 'no' to their own passions. They will steal, murder and cheat because we have been taught, or permitted to be defiant to authority figures and to be self-indulgent. We seem to think self-gratification is an entitlement.If we are to save subsequent generations, should we not place more emphasis on self-control instead of self-esteem in our children? Should we not guide our chldren to think more of God and others instead of themselves?

Please Don't Show Me Lord

Please don't show me, Lord.

When you're young you want so much to just go to youtube.com and type in MY LIFE and see a clip of what God has in mind for your life. If an 18 year old asked to see their future spouse would they not be troubled if God chose to show them at the age of seventy-five instead of 18? God favors us when he withholds knowledge of the future from us.When you get older and you've climbed some pretty awesome mountains, groped through some pretty dark valleys, forged some pretty turbulent rivers you feel very grateful to God for not showing you the whole picture. Would Moses ever have embarked on his journey had he known what lie ahead...40 years in the wilderness? Would the disciples ever have thrown down their nets and followed Jesus if they could have seen themselves crucified on one of Rome's crosses? Would David Livingston have said 'yes' to God had he known he would disappear and finally die deep in the dark continent?Had I known my future I don't think I would have had the courage to step into it. If I could see what's around the corner and over the next hill I would probably be tempted to pull over and park the car.Romans 11:33 "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"

Dream

Dream

“Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not.”

Joel 2:28 "It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.

Passing the Baton

Passing the Baton

August 21, 2008 was a nightmarish night for American Olympians in Beijing. Both the men's and women's relay teams were disqualified when they dropped the baton. A win can only be achieved with a successful transfer from one runner to another.As Christians, our mission must be to successfully pass the baton from one generation to the other. What is the baton? ""I am the way... no one comes to the Father, but by me..." John 14:6. The baton is the gospel, the good news that has been passed from one generation to another.But our track is not circular. We can't pass the truth to the next generation and insist that they run exactly like we did. The track in straight and linear. They will pass through things we never did. They will experience things and see things we never dreamt of. Their track is a different track but the baton always remains the same.The fear of every generation is that the next will look at the baton and say, "Whom, pretty ugly, we could surely improve on this. We can change it to suit us better." There is a stark warning to anyone who would make changes to the baton in Revelation. If anyone adds to the words or takes away from the words of this book of prophecy he will be surely cursed.Psalms 79:13 "Then we your people... will praise you forever; from generation to generation..."

Things I Learned from Forest Gump

Things I learned from Forrest Gump

"If it is possible, let this cup pass from me..." Matt. 26:39 How could a God who is holy allow Christ to suffer so? Why does God allow us to suffer? Why does he allow evil n this world? How can we explain wars, accidents and deadly diseases? God doesn't simply surrender the world to fate nor does he rob us of our ability to make free choices. Most of us have been taught that it is either choice or chance that determines what happens in our lives. Most people believe that the consequences of our lives are determined either by what we choose or a fatalistic roll of the dice.Forest Gump struggled with this when he visited Jenny's grave, "Jenny, I don't know if Momma was right or if , if it's lieutenant Dan. I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time."What was happening to Jesus was certainly no accident. God had a reason for his horrible suffering. When you are struggling and life turns hard be mindful who is in control. It is not necessarily a sign that we are out of God's will. It is a fallacy to assume that when life is smooth you are in God's will and when life is difficult you must be out of the will of God.I heard a message recently by Dan Boone, President of TNU, referring to these matters. He said, "We have two choices in life: you can either float around accidental like or you can put your life into the hands of the destiny maker" Trust God, he wants only good for us.

We've Changed

We've Changed

"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country" - Nathan Hale's last words before he laid down his life as an American spy to British soldiers in 1776. Our country has changed alot since then. Would Nathan have said this had his execution taken place in 2009?

Nathan Hale

? and Wide

Leonard Ravenhill in response to the shallowness infecting the modern church: "People say the church today is 'growing and expanding'. Yes, it's ten miles wide now -- and about a quarter-inch deep."