Sometimes There Has To Be An Oops

I wanted to take this time to explain something. I read my post and I believe I left myself open to interpretation beyond what I like to express. I've always enjoyed the business of politics and have always had opinions that I didn't mind sharing. But I really can't do that on this health care issue. I see positive and negative parts to it. The included in the middle deals, such as the so called "Louisiana Purchase" gets a little under the skin. I mean, what was the amount paid for the original purchase. Ha ha. But certain things that I heard that I considered positive were the "pre-existing condition" and the child staying on parent insurance to a later age.

Why do I consider these as positive is that we have dealt with that in the past because our oldest daughter had cancer as an infant and even employer insurance gave us a hard time. Also, I believe that having insurance on our families until they can establish themselves in the workforce is necessary.

I said come election time, voices can be heard. Shout your voice, toot your own horn. Don't matter to me because I ain't running.

But its my responsibility as a servant of our Lord to express that no matter where we stand, we should reflect Jesus Christ. Hold back on the negative talk, name calling, threats and the likes. Politics is politics. Every other year we get to hear the same mess over and over. But praise God, he is the same today as he was yesterday. And we as Christians are his representative.

P.S. Can't help it but I still love politics but I have learned to stay further out of public view.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Bobby

Political Woes

I don't know what to say. There was a time when I would be so out-spoken about politics. Especially situations that are going on right now in our federal government. But to be honest with you, all the discussions, comments on the computers, casual conversations I'm hearing, and other avenues of releasing one's opinion is really discouraging me. Those who knows me on a more personal level knows my political views and know that I can be very critical of activities carried out by our elected officials, whether federal, state, or local. But I believe that most of those I hear ranting and raving are less informed that I am and are just going along with the crowd.

I admit that I know little of all the fine print involved in the recent health thingy, but it was obvious that the public was not for it and that elected officials went against those who voted them in to represent them. Come election time they will be out there with all kind of reasoning why. And that is when the voices can be heard. But beyond that subject, how can we as American Christians confront this?

My suggection is this. Be a representive of Christ. Allow Christ to shine through you. Refrain from hate talk, speaking of things we don't know as facts, and be encouraging to one another. Negative talk brings about negative response. I don't know about you but I believe that there is enough negativity in this world. Why add to it.

Be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Jesus said so. Do yourself a favor. Take a kid fishing.

In His Service,
Pastor Bobby

Imagination

We to often forget that it's not about us. We seem to have lost our ability to see past what we want or think we want. We lost the ability to see what isn't there. We lost our imagination.

As a child, we walked through the world with our eyes wide open. We saw that the trees and grass were green and flowers had different smells and the petals on the flowers felt silky. A dirt clog in my hands was a powerful hand grenade and a bamboo reed was a sword fit for a musketeer. My bicycle was a powerful motorcycle made to jump the biggest hills and out run all competitors. And we saw all the wild creatures of the world hidden amongst the clouds as we laid on our backs in the wheat fields.

I had a favorite tree in the woods near the trailor park where we lived. It was the tallest tree you could find and still climb. On this tree, were branches that separated at a perfect angel, side by side. Here, I took a board and nailed it to these limbs and had myself a seat. When you sat on that board, leaned back against the tree and stretched out your legs, that tree was no longer a tree. It transformed itself into an Apollo Rocket which carried me anywhere I decided to venture.

With childlike imagination, there was nothing we couldn't do, no one we couldn't be and no where we couldn't go. I believe we should find again; child like imagination. To find the ability to again see what isn't there. The ability to take a yellow crayon and green crayon and discover the color blue. The ability to open our minds up to the world around us and realize that just because we don't see it, doesn't mean it's not real.

We sing to God, praising him for making us stronger, lifting us up, for washing away our sins. But we didn't feel him tightening the muscle of our heart and mind as we traveled life's journey. Or did we? We didn't feel his hand grab ours and lift us out of life's dungeons. Or did we? We didn't feel our bodies become clean and fresh when we accepted Christ. Or did we?

With my eyes open, I can't really see God. But, I know he's there because when I close my eyes, there he is and when I raise my hands to worship him, there he is reaching for my hand to hold me, to lift me up, to say, "I love you!"

Find your child like imagination and let your mind see what isn't there but is there.

In the Service of my Lord,
Pastor Bobby

I Can Feel It !!

Paul tells us that to carry eachother's burdens is the fulfilling of the law of Christ. Have you ever experienced being in the presence of those who were suffering? Whether it was those you were with who was physically hurting or they were the loved ones of the physically suffering, doesn't really matter. But did you notice that you felt pain? Did you sense a physical drain? Every nerve, every inch of your skin, perhaps even the hair on your head ached in an indescribable way.

The first time I felt this, I didn't know what I was feeling except an emotional pain. I was driving from a hospital where I was with people that I love like family, and everywhere around us there were hurting people. I took the opportunity to pray for these once strangers. But I screamed out to God: "Lord!! Why am I hurting like this. I have absorbed these people's pain." I immediately felt a sense of relief and understanding as if the Lord reached down and place his hand on my shoulder and said, "That's what I told you to do."

Blessed are you who absorb the pain and hurt of those around you.

Pastor Bobby

Rest in the Shadow

Because He first loved me. Isn't it amazing that we so often forget that we are loved? I mean, we carry on day by day going through the grime of time and just when, for whatever reason, you feel lonely; there's God. I truly believe that we find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Have you ever been out in the yard on a sunny day and all of a sudden, a shadow comes over you? You not only see it, you feel it? That's my God. When I least expect him, he's there. I may forget about him at times when my mind is full, but thanks be to God, he doesn't forget about me.

May you rest in the Shadow,
Pastor Bobby

Yeeeee Hi

I love bringing excitement to the people I love. So today I take two church members with me to Raleigh for a seminar and guess what? No, that's not it. Try again. Nope. A high speed car chase goes right past us. And the suspect car was a large bright pink car with big thin tires. Like it could had gotten away. Channel 5 had it on video from their helicopter.

Help Me Figure This Out

I need anyone who reads this to make a comment. And if you can make a comment, let me know how you do it. If you can't, give me a call if you know my number or if you can, call me and let me know what you did.

Thanks,
Bobby