Not sure what you enjoyed about high school, but when it came to classroom discussions, I loved History and Civics Class. These two subjects provided for great conversations regarding current events and lively discussions.
English was a favorite subject of mine. I loved all the plays and to be taught their value has greatly increased my understanding of life, people and situations. Imagine, I learned that in school? Laughing with a smile is always good.
The discussion of current events in History Class one is able to find evidence for what we believe, even if we don’t want to admit the chances are our interpretation will not be the national average opinion. Civic Class and the discussion of government, her role in our lives and our responsibility to be active and participate will bring out the worse in some people even today.
Currently our Country has a lot of questions racing through minds of folks that think and wonder. Some will give up and not even address some issues because they don’t believe any thing will come of it, while others will hold to their position and fight to the very end wanting concessions of victory. I’ve been writing about the church and issues, so I need to add some current events so folks won’t believe I am old fashion in my thinking and stuck in some decade past.
Michael Jackson has died, and his death is due to drugs. Some want to put the blame on doctors but the best words I heard about this came from one individual in the Jackson Camp. Michael is responsible for his own death, no need to blame any one else, they said. I agree, but is personal responsibility something we really believe in? My heart has long grieved for individuals misusing drugs and who are addicted, but help begins within. Yes, outstretched arms for those steps are ours to extend, but it takes two to walk side by side.
Listening to the Confirmation Hearing of Sonia Sotomayor makes me wonder why some Districts elect the Senators that they do. Justice should be blind but it’s not. Every individual I know relates life to their experiences. It’s the learning from our experiences to help others that makes the lessons of life teachable from any position. I expect our Supreme Court Justice will use their backgrounds for rulings. We however hope that they will be opened minded to learn and view things from all points of view.
There is so much to discuss and so much to debate that I could write for days. But what is the answer to the real question of life when asked, what is really important. Michael is dead and based upon what he did with Jesus Christ, there in is the answer. We may have the first Hispanic Women to serve on the US Supreme Court shortly, but law with out mercy and grace is barbaric.
Not sure what all the answers are, and I am glad to have an opinion to share but there is always a bottom line. In all our Country’s events, we are moving toward a coming day when the sky’s shall unfold, trumpets will sound, and even the dead will rise. The only problem with that moment and those events will be that it will be to late to make a decision. I would respectfully suggest you start begin your decision of conversation now. You don’t want to be late!
Until then
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
The church is busy, so what will you do?
The creation of the personal computer has really changed our lives. Computers were first created for the government and then big businesses needed computers, or given time, value was seen for that application, and finally they worked their way down to us, the individual user. Do you know of any business today that doesn’t use computer technically?
There have been many side expansions because of computers. Excel spread sheets now replaces the once books that contained all the figures and notes one would keep in operating a business. I have a smile on my face thinking about my Great-Grandfather Nasby Mills. He would write down his notes and I.O.U.’s on card board boxes (By the way, I.O.U. stands for, “I owe you” for those who are to young to understand such outdated information)
I recently receive two emails that the electronic world calls “spam” that offered great deals. The first email said that I could have all I needed in life for the cost of a pizza a month. I had to read that email so I could discover my secret to success. The deal was simple. Purchase an insurance policy at the cost of a pizza a month and I would be set! Sounded good, but I’ve been wondering how that money will benefit me when I am not able to collect and deposit that money? Not wanting to be totally selfish, but I love pizza, and when I weigh in the balance those options, well, I guess you can figure which I am selecting correct?
The second email came with a great heading: “Millionaire shares $100,000.00 Secret”. Had my attention immediately! The only problem was the millionaire was selling his secret and since my cash flow is at the $10.00 mark, I am 99,990 thousand away from that secret. Knowing people, I assume the millionaire author of the email has made hundreds of thousands in letting out his “secret”.
It is amazing what we like to believe in. Now I like believing, I like exercising confidence, but something must be said for the obvious, no way to be true. Mountain folks understand firmly, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”.
One could answer 100’s of emails a month like the two I received and described and see nothing for their effort. Flip the coin and exercise that same effort in Faith in Jesus Christ and see what happens. No, a $100,000.00 will not fall from the sky, nor will Pizza’s just start being delivered at your door once a month. Faith in Jesus Christ will provide you with the things I have discovered money cannot buy. Things like confidence that no matter how difficult the challenge I am never alone. Faith yields answers for questions that I have long sought and peace to press on when no answer arrives.
One truth that you can trust is that Jesus has paid it all for me and for you. It is hard for some individuals to believe in Jesus because they have never met Him personally. Another truth I can guarantee you is that if you reach out to Him, you will discover Him reaching back to you.
Until then
There have been many side expansions because of computers. Excel spread sheets now replaces the once books that contained all the figures and notes one would keep in operating a business. I have a smile on my face thinking about my Great-Grandfather Nasby Mills. He would write down his notes and I.O.U.’s on card board boxes (By the way, I.O.U. stands for, “I owe you” for those who are to young to understand such outdated information)
I recently receive two emails that the electronic world calls “spam” that offered great deals. The first email said that I could have all I needed in life for the cost of a pizza a month. I had to read that email so I could discover my secret to success. The deal was simple. Purchase an insurance policy at the cost of a pizza a month and I would be set! Sounded good, but I’ve been wondering how that money will benefit me when I am not able to collect and deposit that money? Not wanting to be totally selfish, but I love pizza, and when I weigh in the balance those options, well, I guess you can figure which I am selecting correct?
The second email came with a great heading: “Millionaire shares $100,000.00 Secret”. Had my attention immediately! The only problem was the millionaire was selling his secret and since my cash flow is at the $10.00 mark, I am 99,990 thousand away from that secret. Knowing people, I assume the millionaire author of the email has made hundreds of thousands in letting out his “secret”.
It is amazing what we like to believe in. Now I like believing, I like exercising confidence, but something must be said for the obvious, no way to be true. Mountain folks understand firmly, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”.
One could answer 100’s of emails a month like the two I received and described and see nothing for their effort. Flip the coin and exercise that same effort in Faith in Jesus Christ and see what happens. No, a $100,000.00 will not fall from the sky, nor will Pizza’s just start being delivered at your door once a month. Faith in Jesus Christ will provide you with the things I have discovered money cannot buy. Things like confidence that no matter how difficult the challenge I am never alone. Faith yields answers for questions that I have long sought and peace to press on when no answer arrives.
One truth that you can trust is that Jesus has paid it all for me and for you. It is hard for some individuals to believe in Jesus because they have never met Him personally. Another truth I can guarantee you is that if you reach out to Him, you will discover Him reaching back to you.
Until then
Saturday, July 11, 2009
The Church has options....
Having written in last weeks column that it appears the church has a plate full of issues to address, discuss and consider, the next step in a positive course of action is to evaluate the plate full.
I have been to many a buffet line in my day and I have always often been amazed by those that join in the food service line. The most shocking witness my eyes have observance was a women who was making repeated trips to the breakfast food bar, removing bacon, and putting the bacon in a zip lock container she was obviously taking home. Other amazing sights at the buffet bar have to do with the amount of food individuals put on their plates. The one thing it appears some miss is the stacked plates that are just sitting there waiting to be filled; but rather, we will pile food on top of piles of food to build a mountain of food on a single plate. Why not go through the line with two plates? Maybe it is to show off ones food pile engineering skills? I assume the reason for one big plate is to get all you want in one trip so you don’t have to move again until you leave.
Whatever the reasoning behind our buffet standards of selections and food assembly on our plates, we all know from experience when we have a plate full. Another observation would be that often times we never work our way to the bottom of the plate, we just skim off the top the food that looks good after sitting at our table. Now to be fair, it could be that a plate full is a chicken leg, a spoon of corn, mashed potatoes and a biscuit or roll. But that’s normally not the case. We generally ask, “Is that all you are getting”?
We seem to like over load in stead of thinking out a plan or considering options. Over load seems to be the standard of the day and an acceptable answer when heard. We respond normally with “I understand” or “I know what you mean”. It maybe true that we do understand as we too feel overwhelmed, overworked, and yes, under paid of course.
The Church today is in an interesting position. On one hand, the church is unique and is a perfect place to serve as a re-fueling station for weary travelers on life’s road. I always had a goal as a servant to be a leader offering encouragement, support and a challenge. The goal in preaching was to provide solutions and different ways for the considerations we each must make. On the other hand, the church is not unique, her burdens are heavy and some individuals are broken down because of the loads they have carried for whatever reasons.
The great challenge is not balance, the great challenge is focus. From the buffet line of life we often try to balance and juggle, and often it’s too much. I am in full favor of helping and volunteering. I believe strongly in being involved and active. I like questions and seeking solutions. The uniqueness of the church still stands. We offer a Savior, Jesus Christ as Lord. The ordinariness of church is also true if we don’t focus. Our focus should be on telling Good News in bad times. Loving people, after all scripture says faith and hope were 2nd and 3rd to Love according to I Corinthians 13:
The Church is filled with fellow travelers who, maybe not exactly like you in your travels, but exactly like you in your needs. The focus must be in making a re-connection with Jesus and doing what He would do.
Until then
I have been to many a buffet line in my day and I have always often been amazed by those that join in the food service line. The most shocking witness my eyes have observance was a women who was making repeated trips to the breakfast food bar, removing bacon, and putting the bacon in a zip lock container she was obviously taking home. Other amazing sights at the buffet bar have to do with the amount of food individuals put on their plates. The one thing it appears some miss is the stacked plates that are just sitting there waiting to be filled; but rather, we will pile food on top of piles of food to build a mountain of food on a single plate. Why not go through the line with two plates? Maybe it is to show off ones food pile engineering skills? I assume the reason for one big plate is to get all you want in one trip so you don’t have to move again until you leave.
Whatever the reasoning behind our buffet standards of selections and food assembly on our plates, we all know from experience when we have a plate full. Another observation would be that often times we never work our way to the bottom of the plate, we just skim off the top the food that looks good after sitting at our table. Now to be fair, it could be that a plate full is a chicken leg, a spoon of corn, mashed potatoes and a biscuit or roll. But that’s normally not the case. We generally ask, “Is that all you are getting”?
We seem to like over load in stead of thinking out a plan or considering options. Over load seems to be the standard of the day and an acceptable answer when heard. We respond normally with “I understand” or “I know what you mean”. It maybe true that we do understand as we too feel overwhelmed, overworked, and yes, under paid of course.
The Church today is in an interesting position. On one hand, the church is unique and is a perfect place to serve as a re-fueling station for weary travelers on life’s road. I always had a goal as a servant to be a leader offering encouragement, support and a challenge. The goal in preaching was to provide solutions and different ways for the considerations we each must make. On the other hand, the church is not unique, her burdens are heavy and some individuals are broken down because of the loads they have carried for whatever reasons.
The great challenge is not balance, the great challenge is focus. From the buffet line of life we often try to balance and juggle, and often it’s too much. I am in full favor of helping and volunteering. I believe strongly in being involved and active. I like questions and seeking solutions. The uniqueness of the church still stands. We offer a Savior, Jesus Christ as Lord. The ordinariness of church is also true if we don’t focus. Our focus should be on telling Good News in bad times. Loving people, after all scripture says faith and hope were 2nd and 3rd to Love according to I Corinthians 13:
The Church is filled with fellow travelers who, maybe not exactly like you in your travels, but exactly like you in your needs. The focus must be in making a re-connection with Jesus and doing what He would do.
Until then
Saturday, July 4, 2009
4th of July - American!
A Celebration of our American Freedom’s has arrived for an official celebration of our Nation’s birth this weekend. If you had to list your top 10 reason why you love the United States of America what would you put on your list?
Maybe you would take a funny approach and list things like: I can spit sunflower seeds on the ground and not go to jail; You can smoke a cigar—opps, sorry that one is limited, ha, ha, Maybe your list would be serious and show your political colors: You believe in abortion and believe the right to choose is the answer; You believe that every legislative house in America should open in prayer and in the name of Jesus; Maybe you would just include things like; You love the Dallas Cowboys and believe the Cincinnati Reds and the Cowboys are America’s Teams; How about a list of comparisons of America with other country’s to feel a sense of appreciation for the Red, White and Blue?
American is a diverse country filled with double standards and great debates about life, liberty and the pursuit of both!
I was recently at a community festival and there was a booth promoting separation of church and state and just two booths down was a local church promoting their faith and handing out information. Interesting that on the same row one could see such a difference in opinions. I guess the organizers of that part of the festival didn’t think about what the individual booths were representing and if they did and still placed them next to each other I assume the hope was for a fight between opposing views. Maybe the best way to describe that would be only in America.
Only in American we are permitted to do a lot of things. We can disagree and agree; We can vote against something and march around with banners if we like. Only in America can you say bad things about people and find a way to call it freedom of speech. Only in America can you say you don’t believe in Jesus, God, or any religion and still have all the same rights that everyone else enjoys. Only in America can you be sentence to death and it take 30 years to see the sentence carried out, if ever. You see in other countries when you are found guilty and sentenced to death, they do it immediately.
There are a lot of reason to get mad, be upset, and be hateful over policies here in America, but there are more reason I believe to celebrate and love this land moreover.
Having traveled in other parts of the world I easily love America. However, I didn’t have to leave America to love it. I learned to love America in Arjay, Kentucky. Simple life or complex life I can easily see reasons why I proudly say the Pledge of Allegiance, sing the National Anthem and place my hand over my heart in honor of my Nation in pledge of my services.
As you celebrate the 4th of July think about why you really love America and then I would strongly recommend you do something to make it a better place. Myself, I will pray for my Nation. I will seek to do good when and where I can, and even at my own cost. I will honor the service of those men and women who have fought to make the freedoms I enjoy real and I will always love this land.
Until then
Maybe you would take a funny approach and list things like: I can spit sunflower seeds on the ground and not go to jail; You can smoke a cigar—opps, sorry that one is limited, ha, ha, Maybe your list would be serious and show your political colors: You believe in abortion and believe the right to choose is the answer; You believe that every legislative house in America should open in prayer and in the name of Jesus; Maybe you would just include things like; You love the Dallas Cowboys and believe the Cincinnati Reds and the Cowboys are America’s Teams; How about a list of comparisons of America with other country’s to feel a sense of appreciation for the Red, White and Blue?
American is a diverse country filled with double standards and great debates about life, liberty and the pursuit of both!
I was recently at a community festival and there was a booth promoting separation of church and state and just two booths down was a local church promoting their faith and handing out information. Interesting that on the same row one could see such a difference in opinions. I guess the organizers of that part of the festival didn’t think about what the individual booths were representing and if they did and still placed them next to each other I assume the hope was for a fight between opposing views. Maybe the best way to describe that would be only in America.
Only in American we are permitted to do a lot of things. We can disagree and agree; We can vote against something and march around with banners if we like. Only in America can you say bad things about people and find a way to call it freedom of speech. Only in America can you say you don’t believe in Jesus, God, or any religion and still have all the same rights that everyone else enjoys. Only in America can you be sentence to death and it take 30 years to see the sentence carried out, if ever. You see in other countries when you are found guilty and sentenced to death, they do it immediately.
There are a lot of reason to get mad, be upset, and be hateful over policies here in America, but there are more reason I believe to celebrate and love this land moreover.
Having traveled in other parts of the world I easily love America. However, I didn’t have to leave America to love it. I learned to love America in Arjay, Kentucky. Simple life or complex life I can easily see reasons why I proudly say the Pledge of Allegiance, sing the National Anthem and place my hand over my heart in honor of my Nation in pledge of my services.
As you celebrate the 4th of July think about why you really love America and then I would strongly recommend you do something to make it a better place. Myself, I will pray for my Nation. I will seek to do good when and where I can, and even at my own cost. I will honor the service of those men and women who have fought to make the freedoms I enjoy real and I will always love this land.
Until then
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