School at last!

Today was the first day of school for our kids. My daughter is a 7th grader starting today, seems like I can remember her being just a little baby. My son is in 4th grade and my other daughter is in 1st grade.

Why is it that kids are up early on the first day of school? Is it the new pencils, backpacks and notebooks? Or is it a sense of being nervous and little afraid of the unknown. I tend to think that it is that they are nervous.

I know that my kids will do great in school, I'm just not sure that they know this is hard on parents. Don't get me wrong it is nice to have a more structured schedule for my kids, but don't they grow up too fast? Since we can't slow down their growth, we can grow along with them.

One of the things that I have noticed is that I have grown as a Father over the years. Am I a candidate for Father of the Year? Depends on who you ask.

Could I challenge you to enjoy your kids while you have them, it seems they grow up too fast.

How Do You Remember It?

I love the passage of scripture found in Genesis 41:51. Listen to it. "Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: 'For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house.' I want to focus on three words, made me forget.

This post is for my J.S.B.C. friends.

My college experience is something that has a lot of good memories. The friends that I made, the things we experienced ,etc. I would not trade it for the world. All of it was perfect except for a season of that time. I experienced various emotions, and saw things that I wished I would never have seen. I saw what someone referred to as a "meltdown". The things that I had experienced were all very helpful, but also very hurtful. So what do you do when everything around is shaken?

That is a question I have had to ask from time to time. I not sure I have always answered it right, but let me share with you what has helped me.

For a long time after I graduated I felt as though I had been lied to, and used to further someone's agenda. I was mad, and I was hurt. Was this the way things would be? Then little by little I began to sift through the raw emotions and find the fingerprints of God through my experience. It was not easy, but I began to see that it was worth it. All of the pain and the tears, and all of the confusion before, during and after this situation. I also began to realize that it was time to move on and start living my life without this excess baggage. I realized I was not responsible for one man's fall, nor was I responsible for everyone reactions. I was only responsible for what I did with this situation. So let me ask you a question, how do you remember your years at J.S.B.C.?

Let me tell you how I handle it. When the subject comes up I talk about all of the Pastors and Missionaries around the world that are doing something for God. I also talk about my friends in every area of business or commerce who are living for Jesus whatever they do. I like to tell people that I was a part of something that was very special, and could never be reproduced. It was a time when God brought us all together for one purpose so that He would do some incredible things in our lives. Let me finish.

I won't be at the reunion in Baton Rouge coming very soon. Not that I don't want to, but I am starting my classes that weekend. My heart is with my friends, and faculty that poured into my life. I can say like Joseph "the Lord has made me forget." How about you?

Not on My Job Description

Just added another of the many things we were not trained to do in Bible College. Here it is hedge trimming. Sounds easy you say, just try it. All you are supposed to do is make everything even and sort of shape the bush right. Well what happens when you "take too much off of the top?" It looks like a haircut gone bad! LOL!

The first or hedge I trimmed was kind of "bald" in places, the second one was not terribly even and by the time I got to the fourth hedge I was perfecting my method. Just think I still have several huge hedges to do today! Why am I telling you about my experience (or inexperience some might say) with yard work? Because it reminds me how God looks at us.

Listen to what I Corinthians 1:26 "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called." This gives me hope, I don't have to know how to do everything. I do need to know how to do some things. "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called." God is looking for you to open up your hands and use your talent, or be willing to learn something new. Embrace that challenge for your life today.

It was not on my job description to trim hedges, but I will gladly do it. Why? Because they will eventually grow back! LOL! Seriously because I serve the Lord. Blessings.

Getting Ready for School

School starts for me on the 4th of next month, and my kids start on the 31st. Our house has been a clearing house for #2 pencils, paper, erasers, etc. It is a very active time for us right now.

Today I have spent a good time trying to read requirements for academic papers and downloading tutorials on Microsoft Office 2007. Yes I know, it is about time. I can still remember when we used typewriters and white out! LOL! How antiquated is that? Things are changing rapidly and time marches on, but surely there is something that will remain constant?

The good news my friends is that God never changes! It is nice to know in a world of learning curves, and information overload that God's message is still the same. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." This is good news.

So as you and your kids are hurrying around getting ready for the first day of school, remember the greatest lesson you could ever learn is how much God loves you! Be blessed!

Harvest

I was in St. John riding shot gun with my nephew as he was driving the truck to the grain elevators. Here is one thought that occurred to me, everyone talks about harvest. Have you stopped to think about what harvest means? Here are few thoughts.

• Hard work



• Long days



• Careful preparation



• Much oversight

Could it be that everyone wants harvest, but we haven't counted the cost?

I Will Post Later Today

Sorry I haven't posted lately. Things were pretty busy here. I will share with you later about harvest. I was riding with my nephew in a farm truck in St. John WA yesterday. TTYL

Brethren in Unity

How good it was to see good friends when I was in Dallas. I enjoyed seeing Tito Gonzalez and Ronnie Diaz.

I don't think that any of us understood when we were all in college how good it was to be in the same place at the same time. Looking back now I see the providence of God in our lives. How would any of us know what would be going on in our lives or how we would need to be refreshed by those who have been through similar trials.

Here's the point. Life is just too short not to have friends to share the journey. The Bible puts it this way. "O How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." To my friends in Dallas and abroad, I am better man because I met you. Thank you.

A Message of Hope

I have been thinking about this one thing. What happens to those who were once in the ministry, and through no fault of their own are no longer in the ministry? Where do they go, what do they do? I am forced to admit then I have been guilty of writing off those who have failed. Oh, not that I don't care; but it hurts too much to think about what has happened to friends and ministry partners. There is no easy answer to my questions, but might I suggest a course of action?

If someone has fallen, let us restore them in an attitude of meekness. Please understand that restoration does not always mean a return to ministry as usual. It is not my job to pass the ultimate judgment on those who have fallen, but it is my job to love and pray for those who are needing hope.

I want to challenge you today to reach out and "help" those who have been forgotten. It is the job of the Body of Christ to heal the hurts of those who are wounded.

In Dallas

We just landed in Dallas about an hour ago. We have been flying since about 11 am, not an extremely long day. Today was nice, but it is hard getting acclimated to the humidity and the two hour time difference. We are here for a U.D.E.T.C. which stands for Under Age Drinking Enforcement Training Conference. We will be here for the next two days and we leave on Saturday.

Here is what I am realizing. I have had more opportunity to talk about my faith when I am on these trips. I had a really good conversation with one of the guys who is from our local. Forget about trying to talk to a total stranger on the plane, that is difficult Instead put yourself in your community, and get involved with people who are good neighbors, but need to know how much God loves them.

This is where the rubber meets the road.

A Good Report

With the passing of Roosevelt Hunter, I thought I would share a message that he preached in New Iberia, La. His message is powerful not only because it is true but because he is living it. I pray that this message will encourage you to "believe the report of the Lord."

God is Faithful

In the last few days that statement has been proven true once again. I remember my wife and I praying for something and God provided. I also mentioned to my wife about needed money for school clothes or something and it is amazing how God keeps providing. The more I recognize the faithfulness of God the more I realize that God is always faithful, but a lot of the times I am faithless. Let me explain.

It has occurred to me that sometimes I trust my credit card more than I trust God to provide my need! (ouch!!). I have been trying to trust God more than I have in the past, but it requires patience and understanding. I must not come to God and demand that He do things a certain way, because He is God and I am not. My lack of faith stems from a seed of doubt that says "you can't ask God for that, you are on your own." Has this ever happened to you? Here is what I recommend to you the next time that you are tested to believe God will provide for you.

1. Remember how God provided for you last time (His past performance will dictate His present faithfulness)

2. Don't rush into making decisions: Pray about these things, and take them to the Lord.

3. Believe that God has your best interest at heart: Know that you are loved by God!!

When it comes down to it trusting God is much harder and takes much more time, but in the end God is faithful.

Teamwork

We just finished our Community wide Vacation Bible School. I could not imagine trying to do it without the help from a whole lot a people. I can't tell you what a great blessing it is to work together with other churches to reach kids for Christ.

Our theme this year was "Paul and the Underground Church". The kids who came got a taste of what it might have been like in 1st Century Rome, especially for Christians. It seemed a bit surreal as we talked about persecution in Rome. Think about this, more people today are being persecuted for being Christians than in any other time in history! Let that sink in. Watch this video.




How can we forget our brothers and sisters who are suffering all around the world? We can't, let us work together to share the love of Jesus. That is the best kind of teamwork.

What Measure Are you Using?

There was a man that was given a job by his Father to cut boards for a fence. His Father told him to measure the rest of the boards by the first board that he cut. The son didn’t use that board as the measure and at first it was unnoticeable, but as the fence boards were put up they were at least two inches shorter than the first board!

Can I ask you a question? Are you using God's Word as a measure for your life? If not you may be able to go unnoticed but after a while you will notice that you are the one who is left on the short end of the board.

Here's the point, always use a reliable measure for guiding your life.

Let Us Drown Evil

In preparation for preaching Romans 12, I read that we are to conquer evil with good. Huh? How does that work?

Have you ever thought maybe that was a misprint? Surely if we want to get ahead in this world we have do whatever it takes to get ahead, right? Wrong. That is the problem, we need to be the servant of all to be the greatest in the Kingdom of God. Let me explain.

There is so much evil that resides in me because of the sin nature, much less the evil that is talked about on the news. We are going to have people that will oppose us, we should expect that response to our living for the Lord. But we must remember that God's prescription is to do so much good in response to the evil that is done to us. The literal translation is to "drown the evil in good."

Here's the point, it is much easier to trade insult for insult. But how about practicing blessing others when they are cursing you? That is tough isn't it?

Now allow the goodness of God to fill you so that when you are provoked kindness comes out of your mouth.

Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?

Last night my Father in law and I were pondering this question. He asked me if the Jewish people had everything that they needed to approach God, then why did Jesus come? I said He came to give people life (John 10:10). But here is what my Father in Law said.

Jesus came to give people hope! Have you thought about where you would be without hope. The hope that there is a better life than this one? Have you stopped to consider that because of the resurrection we have hope?

Yes Jesus came to deliver us all from sin, but after that to give us hope that He would make things better on the other side. And that friend is something that you can take to the bank.

What do you think? I would like to hear your comments.