Debt Crisis is the word for those of you who have been traveling outside the United States and had no contact with any news source for the past two months. Now that we have that dreaded day in August arriving all the politicians seem to be in a mad rush to get something done. There is no doubt that Washington D.C. is in a three way battle. The Republicans, Democrats and the Tea Party make up our modern day fiscal war. Yes, I specifically left out the President of the United States because my academic civics taught me that Congress is responsible for writing laws, passing laws, and creating and passing budgets. It seems easy to pass the buck in today’s political climate, and seems like our elected officials only know that process. While this Debt Crisis issue roars I am sure Congress will continues until the last minute and then each party will take credit for sparing us of the crisis. True is, this crisis will not pass come August 2nd. This crisis will not pass until the government of the United States lives within her means. Overwhelming debt can be quite a burden and it can leave you feeling totally helpless or at least feeling as if you will never see the “light of day” again.
There is in each of our lives a debt crisis that requires our personal attention. That battle involves only us and the outcome is based totally upon our actions and decisions. While passing the buck seems to be the system to know, understand and practice, it will not work in our personal debt crisis as a solution. In our personal lives we like to explain our actions with a phrase that we hope changes the subject and removes our responsibility. We love to live by the expression personally when doing wrong, “the devil made me do it”. Yes, let’s blame it on the devil! He is the perfect guy to give the credit too…oh sorry forgive me, She is the perfect girl to give the credit too…oh no, who do I blame this on and be politically correct? Now I have a real battle on my hand. Is the devil a guy or a girl? Attempting to be politically correct is not easy. Maybe I should just quite writing because I will surely make someone mad with every stroke of the pen.
Just as I have done in this article, it is easy to get side tracked and off in left field without staying focused on the issue at hand. Yes, our Nation has a debt crisis. We are spending more than we are bringing into the storehouse and eventually this will stop and our government will get on a plan that can turn the situation around. Personally, we are each in a debt crisis of sin also. No we don’t want to talk about this nor do we want this making the headlines either. Who wants to talk about a sin debt? Who wants to talk about being stuck, who wants to admit they are not a light of hope, or like salt is to flavor? The good news is that there is an answer! We are not stuck, we are not without hope, we are not without help. Yes, the debt is too big for us to pay off, yes, the debt requires more than we have in our personal assets or could pool together with others. Our sin debt can only be resolved through the shed blood of Jesus Christ as our Personal Lord and Savior. It is only through Him that we are able to find relief and a new beginning with complete and total forgiveness.
I am not sure what will happen with our Nations debt crisis, but I know what I have done to take care of my personal debt crisis. I invited Jesus into my heart and I surrendered all I have and all I will have to Him. Accepting His actions as the perfect plan was the first step in my recovery and trusting Him no matter what comes my way is step two. Unless you are a member of Congress you will not have a specific vote on our Nations Debt Crisis but you are fully in charge of your personal debt crisis, and Jesus is the only answer. Acts 4:12.
Until then
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Carnes Family Reunion - Walker, Ky
History here in the Mountains of Kentucky has always been an instrumental part of who we are. Two things that have slipped away from old heritage with our modern day families would be work longevity with one company and a big family. Most of our forefathers were farmers and for those that had other jobs they went to work for that company and worked their entire lives as a loyal employee. They were also proud to say, “I’ve been here 35 years”…something that you just don’t hear from our generation when we talk about our employer. Those in the field of education have best chance of making that statement, but the rest of us will see 7 to 12 career changes in our life time, so the statistics say. As for big families, well, I’m smiling as I type this thinking about all the families I know. Particularly I am thinking about the one child families I know. No family heritage in that size family in Kentucky. I often share with folks that our grandparents, great-grandparents and great great-grandparents all had been families because they needed workers on the farm.
This Saturday, July 16, 2011, my family is having a big reunion at the Walker Baptist Church in Walker, Kentucky. Directions are simple, just drive up Stinking Creek and stop at the church. Walker, Kentucky is home to the Carnes’ and I am most thankful for the heritage our family represents. George Carnes, Sr., was my great-grandfather and Mossie Carnes, or “Big Mom” as she was affectingly called. My grandfather we simply called “Pap”. A name I love myself and when the blessings of my life tell me they love me, I transfer some of that love to “Pap” and the meaning he had in my life. He and my great-grandmother had 10 kids, and they raised them all on Stinking Creek.
My grandfather, Alonzo Carnes was the oldest of the Carnes Children, followed by my uncles Cloyd; McCoy; Flem D; George Jr; Lee Roy; and the baby was Uncle Raymond. My aunts were Edna, Dorothy, and the baby on that side is my Aunt Evelyn. Ten (10) children is what I would call a big family and if you could still see the house where they were raised you would have asked how? There is something to be said for the generation of my great-grandparents and there is something that must also be said for the generation of my great aunts and uncles too. They had a determination to serve our Country in time of war and they became teachers, farmers, working in factors and they all left home at some point to help support the family they left behind. Jobs in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio were necessary and whatever it took, they were willing. Those family traits are not easily seen in the families of today, but they were back then.
When you look at the off-springs of these 10 children you can see how our families have also mirrored in part the heritage that was passed down to each of us. Personally, family has been and will always remind a vital part of my life. We’ve all got a few cousins down the line that we would like to change or fix. If you are thinking, not me, then I might suggest you look a little harder at your family line…yes, I’m smiling and laughing and guessing you are to. The truth is the truth, and as folks often say, that will stand when the worlds on fire. I was taught by my parents to love my family. After all we moved from Michigan to Kentucky so we could get to know our family heritage and to the best of my abilities I have tried to know and cherish each and every one of my immediate and extended family members for who they are.
It is not always possible to make every family reunion, but it is certainly possible to love your family when you see them and as opportunity presents itself to make you best effort to not forsake the assembling of oneself at that special occasion. Some extended family members are thinking, “no one will know me if I show up, but I would sure like to go”…well, there is no time like the present and don’t worry about remembering everyone’s name that you meet….that’s what name tags are for. Happy Reunion to my family and yours!
Until then
This Saturday, July 16, 2011, my family is having a big reunion at the Walker Baptist Church in Walker, Kentucky. Directions are simple, just drive up Stinking Creek and stop at the church. Walker, Kentucky is home to the Carnes’ and I am most thankful for the heritage our family represents. George Carnes, Sr., was my great-grandfather and Mossie Carnes, or “Big Mom” as she was affectingly called. My grandfather we simply called “Pap”. A name I love myself and when the blessings of my life tell me they love me, I transfer some of that love to “Pap” and the meaning he had in my life. He and my great-grandmother had 10 kids, and they raised them all on Stinking Creek.
My grandfather, Alonzo Carnes was the oldest of the Carnes Children, followed by my uncles Cloyd; McCoy; Flem D; George Jr; Lee Roy; and the baby was Uncle Raymond. My aunts were Edna, Dorothy, and the baby on that side is my Aunt Evelyn. Ten (10) children is what I would call a big family and if you could still see the house where they were raised you would have asked how? There is something to be said for the generation of my great-grandparents and there is something that must also be said for the generation of my great aunts and uncles too. They had a determination to serve our Country in time of war and they became teachers, farmers, working in factors and they all left home at some point to help support the family they left behind. Jobs in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio were necessary and whatever it took, they were willing. Those family traits are not easily seen in the families of today, but they were back then.
When you look at the off-springs of these 10 children you can see how our families have also mirrored in part the heritage that was passed down to each of us. Personally, family has been and will always remind a vital part of my life. We’ve all got a few cousins down the line that we would like to change or fix. If you are thinking, not me, then I might suggest you look a little harder at your family line…yes, I’m smiling and laughing and guessing you are to. The truth is the truth, and as folks often say, that will stand when the worlds on fire. I was taught by my parents to love my family. After all we moved from Michigan to Kentucky so we could get to know our family heritage and to the best of my abilities I have tried to know and cherish each and every one of my immediate and extended family members for who they are.
It is not always possible to make every family reunion, but it is certainly possible to love your family when you see them and as opportunity presents itself to make you best effort to not forsake the assembling of oneself at that special occasion. Some extended family members are thinking, “no one will know me if I show up, but I would sure like to go”…well, there is no time like the present and don’t worry about remembering everyone’s name that you meet….that’s what name tags are for. Happy Reunion to my family and yours!
Until then
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Illustrations you can use.....from your driver's seat
Illustrations in life are most often easily understood by those listening but not always discovered that way. If you want to test this position, just think of a topic and select a story or object to illustration your point. This can be a quite a challenge when you want your words to have impact and relevance. Speaking, and attempting to motivate audiences and groups has always created nervous moments for me. I wish at some point I would grow out of this, but I don’t believe that is going to happen. One thing I am thankful for is that fact that I have always seen lots of illustrations throughout life.
In ministry I prefer to use real moments that have made a difference instead of finding some “Google” story to illustrate my point. Early in my ministry training I was given the advice to preach what you know and tell people what you understand. If you get outside of that range you will find yourself in a mess no doubt. For me, ministry has always been simple. Jesus loves you and me so much that He was willing to die in our place, if we would only accept His forgiveness for our sin. The second aspect of ministry is that you and I are to help others discover that He has a plan not just for my life but for theirs too.
When it comes to life a couple of illustrations I enjoy sharing are from an automobile perspective. When you are sitting in the driver’s seat of your auto, what do you see? Folks will answer with things like the dashboard, and if you ask what else, they will begin to get very detailed about what they see. They will list the different parts of the dashboard and console, all the while missing the biggest thing they see from the driver seat, the windshield. It is so obvious what we see that we over look it immediately. There is only one thing that is attached to a windshield, and that is a rearview mirror. This little tool is valuable. We use it to check what’s happening behind us and if we are driving backwards it is the main key to successfully parking or driving in that direction. The point of illustration is that with these facts being undisputable, why is it that most folks will spend most of their lives looking in their ”rearview mirror” instead of looking out the big wide open unobstructed windshield to move forward? I am suggesting that the best way to advance is to see and look ahead and instead of focusing on what’s behind all the time.
Another driving illustration I like to talk about is road signs. They are there for a reason and if we take notice and are observant they are of great assistance. The issue most of us have with road signs is that while we are driving we are not looking out far enough in advance. We are no longer in scanning mode seeing what’s happening around us or what could happen if someone else is not paying attention. A curve sign that is marked 35MPH is because that is a safe speed to safely make the maneuver and a safe speed to also stop in the event that became necessary. My favorite sign of all signs is a stop sign. When you see a stop sign up ahead or maybe you don’t see the sign but you’ve traveled the road enough to know that a stop sign exist, you are preparing to stop as you approach. The one life lesson from every stop sign is that throughout our life’s journey we are going to be stopping a lot, and we need to be prepared now to also go again. I know a lot of folks that just want things to stop without any thoughts about starting again.
Life is not easy. There are many moments in which we will be shifting gears, changing lanes, and even taking a highway exit to re-fuel, check our tire pressure, or even our engine fluid levels. All a part of the experience we call life. Today is a perfect day for you to make a decision about what you see from the driver seat of your car. It is also a perfect day to ask yourself, are you ready to go when you see the next stop sign? Being confident that God has a plan for you will help you as you move forward and looking out at life can also be an encouragement if you will attempt to see God speaking to you in all that you see and in all the places you go. Find your own life illustration today, and share it with someone you know that needs to hear a word of encouragement on their journey.
Until then
In ministry I prefer to use real moments that have made a difference instead of finding some “Google” story to illustrate my point. Early in my ministry training I was given the advice to preach what you know and tell people what you understand. If you get outside of that range you will find yourself in a mess no doubt. For me, ministry has always been simple. Jesus loves you and me so much that He was willing to die in our place, if we would only accept His forgiveness for our sin. The second aspect of ministry is that you and I are to help others discover that He has a plan not just for my life but for theirs too.
When it comes to life a couple of illustrations I enjoy sharing are from an automobile perspective. When you are sitting in the driver’s seat of your auto, what do you see? Folks will answer with things like the dashboard, and if you ask what else, they will begin to get very detailed about what they see. They will list the different parts of the dashboard and console, all the while missing the biggest thing they see from the driver seat, the windshield. It is so obvious what we see that we over look it immediately. There is only one thing that is attached to a windshield, and that is a rearview mirror. This little tool is valuable. We use it to check what’s happening behind us and if we are driving backwards it is the main key to successfully parking or driving in that direction. The point of illustration is that with these facts being undisputable, why is it that most folks will spend most of their lives looking in their ”rearview mirror” instead of looking out the big wide open unobstructed windshield to move forward? I am suggesting that the best way to advance is to see and look ahead and instead of focusing on what’s behind all the time.
Another driving illustration I like to talk about is road signs. They are there for a reason and if we take notice and are observant they are of great assistance. The issue most of us have with road signs is that while we are driving we are not looking out far enough in advance. We are no longer in scanning mode seeing what’s happening around us or what could happen if someone else is not paying attention. A curve sign that is marked 35MPH is because that is a safe speed to safely make the maneuver and a safe speed to also stop in the event that became necessary. My favorite sign of all signs is a stop sign. When you see a stop sign up ahead or maybe you don’t see the sign but you’ve traveled the road enough to know that a stop sign exist, you are preparing to stop as you approach. The one life lesson from every stop sign is that throughout our life’s journey we are going to be stopping a lot, and we need to be prepared now to also go again. I know a lot of folks that just want things to stop without any thoughts about starting again.
Life is not easy. There are many moments in which we will be shifting gears, changing lanes, and even taking a highway exit to re-fuel, check our tire pressure, or even our engine fluid levels. All a part of the experience we call life. Today is a perfect day for you to make a decision about what you see from the driver seat of your car. It is also a perfect day to ask yourself, are you ready to go when you see the next stop sign? Being confident that God has a plan for you will help you as you move forward and looking out at life can also be an encouragement if you will attempt to see God speaking to you in all that you see and in all the places you go. Find your own life illustration today, and share it with someone you know that needs to hear a word of encouragement on their journey.
Until then
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