I am actually agonizing my way through an episode of the Real Housewives of Atlanta. Folks, lets be clear on a few things. Apparantly it isnt enough that we have the entire nation looking at the South as a bunch of back-woods swamp monkeys...but now we have to exploit the fact that we have the same (if not worse) spoiled, irresponsible, money-tarts that all the other big cities have? I turn on the show and the blonde (dont know her name, think its Kim) is sitting in a convertable with her 15-16 yr old girl and they are talking abstinence. In this shot "mom" who had her daughter at 19 is sitting there with what God and the plastic surgeon gave her hanging out for all to see. How does she talk her daughter into remaining a virgin? Lets go and buy JEWELRY! Are you kidding me?? You dont want your daughter to have sex and you BRIBE her? How about this, just going to take a stab at it. Maybe raise your daughter up in the way she should be instead how you came up?? Maybe teach her to not walk around dressed like YOU.
I will say plenty of times that I am not the perfect father. I did alot of things I am not proud of. But a person can change and I have. I raise my children to have respect for themselves and to cherish what innocence they have. Sex is a special thing that God has given men and women to share in MARRIAGE! Not as a play toy. But the fact that we have TV shows and movies that glamourize fornication is ridiculous! Morality has become a bad word. People know what they do is wrong, but who cares right?
This is my "people better get some Jesus" speech. Yes, Jesus is coming back folks, and he will divide those who follow Him and those who dont. I set my sights on God, you should too.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Living the Saved Life (from another blog, October '10)
Blogging, like a diary right? So this is my first blog and it is the going to be the inaugural posting to what I hope to be many interesting things. The subject is “living the saved life” and it was brought about by a decal I have seen on a few vehicles in my area. The decal I am referring to is the decal that says “Salt Life”. My first thought was ocean water, the beach…you know those things that are salty but bring joy to your life. Well, when I saw this decal, I was in traffic so I got plenty of time to ponder this thought of the “Salt Life”. I was thinking about Matthew 5:13 and how it talks of being the “salt of the earth”. After a long drawn out thought process, I brought my thoughts to an end with just “thats a cool sticker”.
So after I get home I look up this “Salt Life” and find that it was started by some folks down close to the beach in Jacksonville Florida. These folks were spear fishing and thought what a grand life it is to be on the ocean, in the ocean, on the beach living the Salt Life. I agree. I love to be close to the ocean. I love the salty sea air. I love the atmosphere of sitting on a beach and looking at Gods creation and feeling so small, yet a part of something so huge.
I was taken back to Matthew. I was thinking how we are to be the salt of the earth and how we should not lose our saltiness. We should always be that bit of spice in someones life that helps to make it a little better. If we arent, we lose our saltiness. Thus brought about my thought of living a Saved Life. What I hope to write about are the good things that come out of bad situations. I want to bring about good news as God has prescribed it.
You have probably heard someone say they were SAVED. This generally means they went to a church building, went up to the preacher or an elder and gave a confession or let the preacher or elder know that they did not want to live a life of sin any longer, they wanted to be saved. The great thing about being saved is that God is always there waiting on us to come back when we stray. His main focus is to save us from the wages of sin. In our bible study tonight we studied on the word “Hope” as it relates to Christians and the bible. We defined hope as “waiting of something to happen” more or less. We always hope for better even when hope may not be an option. What I am trying to get at is that God is the ultimate master of Hope. He patiently waits for us to come to Him or come back.
In my day life I help customers. I dont really like the service industry, but I am good at it. I see some great people come in and I see some jerks. The great people are the ones you want to come around the corner and give them a hug. The jerks…well lets just say we cant wait to see them leave because they just ring my small little store down. To live my Saved Life, I will need to find things in my daily life where God can be pointed out and presented. Please pray that I wont offend and that I can come up with some GREAT blogs!
So after I get home I look up this “Salt Life” and find that it was started by some folks down close to the beach in Jacksonville Florida. These folks were spear fishing and thought what a grand life it is to be on the ocean, in the ocean, on the beach living the Salt Life. I agree. I love to be close to the ocean. I love the salty sea air. I love the atmosphere of sitting on a beach and looking at Gods creation and feeling so small, yet a part of something so huge.
I was taken back to Matthew. I was thinking how we are to be the salt of the earth and how we should not lose our saltiness. We should always be that bit of spice in someones life that helps to make it a little better. If we arent, we lose our saltiness. Thus brought about my thought of living a Saved Life. What I hope to write about are the good things that come out of bad situations. I want to bring about good news as God has prescribed it.
You have probably heard someone say they were SAVED. This generally means they went to a church building, went up to the preacher or an elder and gave a confession or let the preacher or elder know that they did not want to live a life of sin any longer, they wanted to be saved. The great thing about being saved is that God is always there waiting on us to come back when we stray. His main focus is to save us from the wages of sin. In our bible study tonight we studied on the word “Hope” as it relates to Christians and the bible. We defined hope as “waiting of something to happen” more or less. We always hope for better even when hope may not be an option. What I am trying to get at is that God is the ultimate master of Hope. He patiently waits for us to come to Him or come back.
In my day life I help customers. I dont really like the service industry, but I am good at it. I see some great people come in and I see some jerks. The great people are the ones you want to come around the corner and give them a hug. The jerks…well lets just say we cant wait to see them leave because they just ring my small little store down. To live my Saved Life, I will need to find things in my daily life where God can be pointed out and presented. Please pray that I wont offend and that I can come up with some GREAT blogs!
the little things
My family consists of me, my wife and 5 children. Five spirited, loud, obnoxious, lovable, sweet, kind children. I want to be a better father to them always. I was talking to H tonight on our way back from picking up his girlfriends birthday gift. He told me that he was going to be a great dad, but not as great as me. I told him I hoped that he is a better dad than me because even though I love my kids and would die a million times for each of them, I am flawed. I have matured over the last 19 years of being a dad, but it came at a hard price. I had to stop being such an over bearing father and start just being a father. Something that is hard to do when you have been saved.
The problem I face is that I am now walking with Jesus. I want my family to walk with Jesus. If they are constantly straying, I worry about their soul. That brings out the worst in me and I tend to lash out. I take things so personal sometimes. But to keep living the Saved Life, I must put away those feelings and keep my head looking upward. God has never failed me and His promise sustains me.
A few days before I met my wife, I was struggling with being a newly single dad. I had dropped the boys off at school and was off from work. I went home to an empty house, walked into my dark bedroom and hit the floor in prayer. I asked God if He would only bring my family back together, I would be His servant. The feeling I got gives me chills to this very day. As I mentioned, the room was dark. The shades were pulled and there was no light in the room. At that moment of me totally opening myself, my soul to God it was then that I got the most powerful rain of emotion. It made me bawl. It was like God was telling me “no my child, I will not let you go through the life you have been living any longer. You are not strong enough to follow me and bring your family. I wont bring your spouse back to you and you will have to do this on your own for awhile. However my son, I will be here always and at the right time…I will give you peace”. It was like the whole room lit up with His presence. My heart broke but was healing at the same time. Two days later, I met my wife. And with the help from God, she Saved me.
We cherish the moments that make us who we are. The little moments of walking by one another and touching hands for a second. That fills us up. I will always cherish the little things.
The problem I face is that I am now walking with Jesus. I want my family to walk with Jesus. If they are constantly straying, I worry about their soul. That brings out the worst in me and I tend to lash out. I take things so personal sometimes. But to keep living the Saved Life, I must put away those feelings and keep my head looking upward. God has never failed me and His promise sustains me.
A few days before I met my wife, I was struggling with being a newly single dad. I had dropped the boys off at school and was off from work. I went home to an empty house, walked into my dark bedroom and hit the floor in prayer. I asked God if He would only bring my family back together, I would be His servant. The feeling I got gives me chills to this very day. As I mentioned, the room was dark. The shades were pulled and there was no light in the room. At that moment of me totally opening myself, my soul to God it was then that I got the most powerful rain of emotion. It made me bawl. It was like God was telling me “no my child, I will not let you go through the life you have been living any longer. You are not strong enough to follow me and bring your family. I wont bring your spouse back to you and you will have to do this on your own for awhile. However my son, I will be here always and at the right time…I will give you peace”. It was like the whole room lit up with His presence. My heart broke but was healing at the same time. Two days later, I met my wife. And with the help from God, she Saved me.
We cherish the moments that make us who we are. The little moments of walking by one another and touching hands for a second. That fills us up. I will always cherish the little things.
Things I look forward to
I can see that fall is finally here. The mornings are crisp, the air is moist and the chill is refreshing. Makes me thank God for the seasons. I look so forward to fall and the holidays. Halloween is a great kick off to fall. Pumpkins, candy and meeting the people in your neighborhood. The kids are ready to find that perfect costume (even though its always something princess or fairy like) they cant wait! We will stroll the neighborhood as night falls and start knocking on doors. There will be the older couples where the lady of the house will answer the door and yell “come here Herb and look at this adorable witch!” Words you just wont hear any other time than Halloween! Then there is the house where the “guy” went all out to have a fright-fest in his front yard. My 3-M’s will all be looking at me as if to say “daddy, we really want candy, but will you knock on this door?” And the night will end with the ceremonial pouring of the nights bounty onto the floor and watching my next dental bill shoot through the roof.
Thanksgiving is on the way. Dad is the turkey…man. I probably spend too much time on my beloved butterball, but after 10 years, no one has complained about the succulent, always gobbled, gobbler. I take out said bird the night before, place it in hot water in the sink and let it thaw. I usually cant sleep because I am afraid that the frozen foul will cool off the water too quickly and will not thaw properly. So I usually go down and refill the sink with another batch of fresh hot water. The next day I heat my over (as butterball.com instructs me too) and I begin the last massage my bird will ever have. I stuff it with bread crumb dressing that my lovely wife has made, tie up the feet and begin the olive oil bath. I could use a whole BOTTLE of olive oil on one of those turkeys. I LOVE extra virgin olive oil. With turkey well bathed, stuffed and neck and gizzards removed, he/she is placed in the oven. I baste the plumper every 30 minutes to an hour while the family and I watch the Macy’s Day Parade and “It’s A Wonderful Life”. We usually try to get in a “Home Alone” as well. This time with my family is so precious and I will love it all the more when my kids bring their spouses and kids to our house for the same tradition.
CHRISTMAS! On Target, on Wally-World, on mall and outlets! All I can really say about Christmas is that I am so blessed to have a family who appreciates sitting around a Christmas tree and loving one another. We hang lights, trim the tree, and T puts out her Christmas Village. I break out the cinnamon and apple smelling candles and the whole house comes alive with the spirit of Christmas.
But none of this would be possible if I were not living my Saved Life. God so loved the world that He gave…GAVE as in gift…His only begotten son so that we could live and never die in sin. If there is nothing after this life, then what is it all for? My journey ends in Heaven and the the Alpha and the Omega wait for me to come home
Thanksgiving is on the way. Dad is the turkey…man. I probably spend too much time on my beloved butterball, but after 10 years, no one has complained about the succulent, always gobbled, gobbler. I take out said bird the night before, place it in hot water in the sink and let it thaw. I usually cant sleep because I am afraid that the frozen foul will cool off the water too quickly and will not thaw properly. So I usually go down and refill the sink with another batch of fresh hot water. The next day I heat my over (as butterball.com instructs me too) and I begin the last massage my bird will ever have. I stuff it with bread crumb dressing that my lovely wife has made, tie up the feet and begin the olive oil bath. I could use a whole BOTTLE of olive oil on one of those turkeys. I LOVE extra virgin olive oil. With turkey well bathed, stuffed and neck and gizzards removed, he/she is placed in the oven. I baste the plumper every 30 minutes to an hour while the family and I watch the Macy’s Day Parade and “It’s A Wonderful Life”. We usually try to get in a “Home Alone” as well. This time with my family is so precious and I will love it all the more when my kids bring their spouses and kids to our house for the same tradition.
CHRISTMAS! On Target, on Wally-World, on mall and outlets! All I can really say about Christmas is that I am so blessed to have a family who appreciates sitting around a Christmas tree and loving one another. We hang lights, trim the tree, and T puts out her Christmas Village. I break out the cinnamon and apple smelling candles and the whole house comes alive with the spirit of Christmas.
But none of this would be possible if I were not living my Saved Life. God so loved the world that He gave…GAVE as in gift…His only begotten son so that we could live and never die in sin. If there is nothing after this life, then what is it all for? My journey ends in Heaven and the the Alpha and the Omega wait for me to come home
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