Archive for March, 2007

A friend of mind sent me this devotional the other day and I want to share it with you guys.

Did you ever long for something that you felt would make you intensely happy and then get? It feels so fantastic at first but after a time the satisfaction fades. It doesn’t quite itch the spot you thought it would.

Ah, yes, but you must be talking only about worldly pleasures you say. No, I mean other things too. Even the very richest blessings of God which we experience here on the earth don’t fulfill us completely. Wonderful relationships, safety and security, dreams come true – wonderful as they are, they don’t of themselves satisfy the core of our being.

Well, they aren’t suppose to! There is only one thing that qualifies: God himself. “Thou dost open Thy hand, and dost satisfy the desire of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:16) The blessings of God and the natural satisfactions of life remind us of God and point us to God and make us grateful for such a good God. But when we have God himself, then we have everything.

It is worth it to work past all that we want and want only him. That’s tough because it is easier to deal with what we can see, hear, touch taste and smell. Yet when we consider that everything except him will ultimately yield disappointment, why settle?

Enjoy life to the fullest and gratefully receive God’s blessings every day as long as you live. Just don’t have any illusions. Listen to the prayer of St. Augustine: “Thou hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in Thee.”  [Hannah's Cupboard]

The other day I saw some people that had a shit-poo. Yes, that’s actually the name of a cross breed of dog (shitzu and poodle) -so I’m not cursing. This got me thinking that most of us are denominational mutts when it comes to churches. Most people church shop with no real clue what each denomination means they just go because one serves them better than the other. It’s like choosing between McDonalds or KFC.   

So my question is what kind of church mutt are you?

I’m a method-matic-southern-non-square-ptist.

I was sprinkled into the Methodist church, then my mom went spiritual and dragged me to a charismatic church. Then for most of my life I was raised southern baptist. I worked for a non-denominational church, then a non practicing foursquare. Now I work for a para-church and attend a conservative baptist northwest church.

So what are you? 

I’m so not ready for this! Yesterday, I was driving Aida home and she informed that a boy asked her to marry him. Now, Aida is only 3 years old, but still!

I knew it was trouble when last week in AWANA she lost at musical chairs and this little beau offered her his seat to stay in the game. Then comes this week…. (as she tells it) he walks over to her during juice and crackers and asks her, “are you married?” She replied “No”. Then he said, “we should be married.” Aida luckily didn’t respond.

Next week, I’ll make sure to ask him his intentions with my daughter while I clean my shotgun and sharpen my knife. She may only be three, but as a father… I’m not ready for this!

Okay , so let me tell you a crude, but poignant story. I once knew a man who was older and began to have problems using the bathroom. He ate all sorts of fiber, took medicine and nothing really helped. Eventually they had to remove part of his intestine and attach a bag for him to deficate. [Notice my choice use of words to describe 'poop']

So, when I have a great bowel movement. I praise God. Sounds funny? Well, it is, but none the less, when I use the bathroom I thankGod. Whether big or small I praise Him because he is good and always provides (sometimes twice a day).   

I know my Mom praises God for good parking spots at the grocery store.  

What about you? What are some funny or odd things you find yourself praising God for?

Okay I want to tell you all a story and depending on your beliefs it either involves: a demon or an evil clock.

I’m in my office Friday talking with a friend. My friend was sharing with me how discouraged he had been lately. While he was telling me this, my computer alerts me that I have a new email. I turned around to check my email and someone had sent me an devotional about discouragement. Coincidence? I think not. Then, I felt the Lord leading me to read this to him. And as soon as I started to read it. The clock in my office falls off the wall, hits my laptop and splits the screen in two. I’m not kidding.

I’ve had that clock on the wall for 2 years and it has never fallen before. And on top of that, the nail that holds it to the wall was still in place and unmoved.

Demon? Evil Clock? You tell me.

But for me, I don’t believe in clocks.

[For more on the demon debate go here]

Friday I was asked to speak for a chapel at a local Christian school. I spoke with a group that was kindergarten to sixth grade. They were a real fun bunch, but any time you talk to kids from any private school (Christian or otherwise) you find that they’re a bit sheltered in their world view (which isn’t always a bad thing).  I spoke on conquering fears using the story of David and Goliath. I also commented on how I got into a fight, that resulted in stitches (in public school). The talk went well, then I opened up the floor to questions – to which I found out is something that’s never really been done with this group.

First off it became a hilarious session of kids raising their hands to share with me how they got stiches or were in some sort of bloody accident. It was awesome.

Then when I cut off the bloody show and tell… they started asking questions not about the talk, but about me (and the fact that I didn’t attend Christian school).

 The best questions I heard:

“If you didn’t go to a Christian School… then how are you a Christian?”

“How were you able to know about Jesus if you went to a public school?”

“Okay, if you were a Christian, why didn’t you go to Christian school?”