Always Be Prepared

  A while back during a rainstorm I was traveling on the roadway behind other vehicles. Like I always do, I gave myself plenty of distance between myself and the van that was ahead of me. All of a sudden the van’s brake lights came on and it was obvious it was an emergency braking occurring as it began a little fishtail action. I began braking and due to the rain and the speed, the anti-braking system was not producing the braking needed to avoid a collision with the van.

  During my time as a law enforcement officer I completed a number of emergency driving courses. Preparedness and Reaction. Preparedness and Reaction. These are words that were always embedded in your mind in any emergency driving courses, whether it was a basic emergency vehicle driving course or pursuit driving course. You were taught to always maintain a level of preparedness for the “what-if”.  Thinking beyond the “now” and into the possibility of the “next”, and always remember to breathe.

  For example: I see a car backing out of the driveway a distance ahead of me. Instead of thinking that the driver sees me and will wait until I go past before backing onto the road, I start thinking that the driver doesn’t see me and will back onto the road right in front of me. How will I react? I’ll slow down, look in my rearview and side mirrors to make sure my path is clear and ease in the clearest direction and if time permits I will blow my horn, and always breathe. Or, if the path is not clear and an accident is inevitable, what is the route of the least possibility of serious injury and damage, whether or not to head for the ditch or run into the vehicle, which is sometimes the best and safest course of action.

  I avoided the collision with the van by lifting my foot off the brake and reapplying and easing to the right knowing I would not stop in time. I came to a stop a few inches past the bumper with just enough room between the van and the ditch to avoid an accident. Thankfully the car ahead of the van who decided to turn into a driveway without giving a turn signal was not struck either.

  We can’t always be prepared, but we can try. None of us were prepared for the pandemic. We were caught totally off guard. It took us a little while, but we settled down and we took a breath, we regrouped, we adapted, and we started moving forward the best way we could. We haven’t been prepared for all the other events that have divided our country and our world, but we stopped and breathed, and we’re moving forward. When we realize there is nothing else that we can do about a particular situation we find ourselves in, then we breathe and we pray.

  The Bible references preparedness many times. Be reminded that it also tells us to prepare our minds. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (NIV). The devil is real and he prowls around in search of ways to attack us, to weigh us down and devour us. Be prepared through scripture, worship, and prayer. Through your preparedness you will be able to react and avoid the devil’s attack from whatever direction it may come.

We Never Know

  I'm watching an episode of Anthony Bourdain - Parts Unknown. It's a episode I haven't seen before, where he's in West Virginia. His time with the coal miners was real touching. I really enjoyed watching his show, listening to him speak. To me, it was really as if you were there with him experiencing what he experienced minus the taste of the food or the odors in the air. 
  There are times, and sadly only when they are no longer amongst the living, that we realize that we have a friend who we never met and never would have, but yet they made an impact on us in one way or another. Maybe that's the lesson for each of us: remember that no matter who we are, what we do, where we are, that we have an impact on someone. Let's make it a good one that will bless them.

Something Lost

  I love watching, and listening, to Mayim Bialik's vlog (I believe that's the correct term). I get a lot out of most of them, some not so much because I think simply I'm not a woman. She is so smart and also funny. She covers many topics from personal to professional. The one I am sharing with you today I believe will touch the hearts of many. Take a little time to yourself, find a quiet place, a private place, and watch. Maybe you will find a little of yourself that you have lost.
  I encourage you to go to Bialik's social media sites to follow her vloggings Blessings to you.

 www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPA11Y7uPTU&t=17s

Thank God in the Rain

I don't know about you but I'm ready for some dry days. I love this time of the year, the warm weather, the opportunity to do more outdoor recreational activities. All these rainy days has sort of taken the fun out of that and often too many cloudy days can take your smile away.
But when the clouds finally part and the sun shines bright it easy to remember that rain is one of the precious gifts of life.

"Are there any among the idols of the nations who give rain? Or can the heavens grant showers? Is it not You, O LORD our God? Therefore we hope in You, For You are the one who has done all these things." - Jeremiah 14:22

When the day doesn't seem to be going your way, the pressure is heavy on you, worries are working overtime on your thoughts, remember that God will bring the sunshine, and that the rainy days are a part of the gift of life. It helps to make us stronger, better able to remain standing when the ground becomes soggy again because our roots have grown and strengthen. Thank God in the rain. - Bobbyology

What Are You Waving Today?

I thought that I would share the opening words of my sermon manuscript for Palm Sunday 2017. I wish I would think more often of the opportunities I have to add to my blog. So many opportunities slips past our eyes. Hard to get them back. Oh well, may you be blessed by this opportunity I have grabbed:

   Today is Palm Sunday, the Sunday we celebrate the entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem as he is finishing his journey to the cross. Sounds strange doesn’t it, that we would celebrate an occasion that we know will lead to death. But we who are Christians are not so much celebrating in the journey that led to death, but the journey that leads to life because of the defeat of death by Jesus.

    Today also mark the beginning of the Passion Week, or Holy Week. As Lent draws to a close, we turn our thoughts to Jesus’ final days before his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

    Today is also known as Passion Sunday. So in different services throughout the world today, many will hear of two different readings; one being the scriptures detailing Jesus entering into the city, and for others they will hear the telling of the arrest, trial, torture, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. What would be your choice today if you had a choice on what I prepare to read? Would you be in a celebratory mood today and want to cheer with the crowd “Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!”, or more of the mobbing mood and join the chorus of “Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him!”. Choices, choices, choices! Why so many choices? The agony of having to chose.

    But yet, that is exactly what we have to do. We have a choice to make, today, in life. Now or later, the choice is yours.

A Little Dolly Told Me

I've always loved Dolly Parton. Her songs touches the heart and stirs up so many memories of our own lives. She also can preach through her songs. I borrowed this video from a post on Facebook so I sure hope you can see it.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1813196372226412&id=1530237350522317

Dang Butterflies

Some have heard me preach using the theoretical physics "Chaos Theory". Chaos Theory is the theory basically of one event or action results in consequences totally a way and separate from the original action or event. An illustration example would be the "Butterfly Effect". In the Butterfly Effect, a butterfly flutters its wings in China causing a disturbance in the atmosphere around it which continues causing a disturbance as it spreads, eventually causing a tornado to touch down in North Carolina which causes massive destruction. I've always loved butterflies and thought they were some of the prettiest of creatures, but if I could find that butterfly from China today I would probably rip its wings off. I have a feeling that others have felt this way in moments of their lives also. Thankful just the same.

Details

Isn't it amazing the details the Lord puts into the beauty of a flower. If he cares this much for the flowers, just rejoice in how much he cares for you. As I saw these flowers outside the office today I could not help but to be reminded of the words of Matthew 6:28-30. A little Bobbyology for the road.

Beulah Landers

Allow me to tell you about one of the churches I serve. Beulah United Methodist Church is a small congregation church located just out of Salemburg, N.C. It has been serving the Lord as a church since 1900 and was greatly influenced by the Azusa Street Revival as the Holy Spirit swepted across America. I've read the history of these early days of Beulah but I'll save that for another time.

From the first Sunday that I preached from the pulpit at Beulah I have felt the mighty present of the Holy Spirit there. I know what everyone is thinking as you read that, that the Holy Spirit is everywhere and in every church as well. I understand that and know that, but what I'm saying is that it's as if its different, as if the Holy Spirit is waiting for me to walk in to sit me on fire each morning that I walk in. You walk in knowing that you are in a special place of refuge, where nothing can bother you, where you are in a different dimension than the world you just stepped out of. You can walk in with the weight of the world on your shoulders and as you step through the door the weight is lifted off and you do not feel that heaviness any longer. It's a God place, a Thin Place, whatever word one may use to describe a place they know that they are in a special place where you feel an especially closeness to God. Doubt if you must, but though I may not use fancy words, I know what I am talking about.

And the people! This small but powerful group of people are used by the Holy Spirit to be an extension of His arms. I have seen it time after time after time people who came through the front door who has never been inside before act as if they have known everyone there all their lives. The people of Beulah, all of them welcome everyone as if they are family. Almost everyone who comes will not leave without a hug from somebody. I learned that on my first Sunday there.

Over the past nine years since I've served as the pastor, we have experienced many ups and downs in the numbers during worship. We've had many who have moved into the area who came and then moved away, many who still stay in contact with members. We have a saying that "once a BeulahLander, always a BeulahLander". We've had many who went home to the Lord. We've had some who have left and we've never heard from them again. We've had as many as 40+ in morning worship and as few as 10+. Up and down, up and down. Sounds familiar? But we've never stopped praising the Lord.

The music and singing is amazing, full of the Spirit. Many times I have seen people start crying during the opening songs because the Spirit is using Sue Fann, our worship leader, and her gift of playing and singing to touch our hearts. When you come to Beulah, you don't what is going to happen.

Everyone, is a family when they come through those doors. We laugh together and we cry together. We rejoice with each other's joy, and we suffer with each other's suffering. We worship even at meetings. If we think one of us need prayer, we don't wait to see one another, we pray on the phone for one another. Beulah is just a fun place to be!

At the presence time, Beulah is experiencing a low in attendance since we have had many who have moved on in their journey. We pray that many more will come, knowing some like many before them will be there for a season in their spiritual journey. We pray for those who are going through trying times in their lives who are searching for a place of refuge where the burden will be lifted. We pray for families who decides that they need to bring their children to church to plant the seed of Christianity so that when it comes time for those children to decide for themselves whether they will continue their journey in faith, they will know they have given their children a special gift. We pray for those husbands and wives who needs to find a place they believe will give them something to have in common to give their relationship a sense of peace it has been missing. We pray for those who are seeking a church home. We pray for those who are looking to re-connect with the God they once knew. We pray for those we have never met, the stranger, who will be a stranger no more. We pray for you, and we pray for our church.

At Beulah we gather for Sunday morning worship at 9:45. Morning worship is over most of the time by 10:45 and then some will stay for Sunday School. Some leaves and heads to some of the local eating establishments, beating the 11 o'clock church crowds. I always like telling people that. It also gives more time for folk to spend more of their day visiting or traveling to see family or going on special drives. Whatever they like to do. Like I said, Beulah is just a fun place to be!

If you would like to come and experience Beulah, we're located at 4610 Corinth Church Rd., Roseboro, N.C. We're only a few miles down the road from Salemburg, but have a Roseboro address so don't let that confuse you. We look forward to meeting you. If you have questions give us a call at 590-4372. Come and let us worship with you.

If you have a special memory of Beulah, please leave a comment.

Beyond the Possibilities

Seeing beyond the possibilities and believing in what we can't see is the faith we have when we say, "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord."--Bobbyology

He Heard Me The First Time

Having just returned from a mission trip with a team to Nicaragua I have many things to write about from the experience. But I'll save that for later. There's no better place to begin a story than at the beginning of the story so this is what I will do.

I have not flown in a very long time and I have grown into certain fears over the years, including the fear of heights. I used to love flying, especially helicopters having flown many times while in law enforcement as well as small planes. But as I said, I have grown into certain fears and this was playing somewhat on my mind as the time approached. Approached it did, and there I was sitting on the plane waiting for the moment when we would roll down the runway and lift up toward the wild blue yonders. Didn't have to wait long.

I began praying before we even started rolling and when we finally lifted up, I just kept on praying and praying and praying. No matter how high we were getting I just kept praying the same prayer asking for protection. It didn't take long before I realized this and thought to myself that at this rate I would call out to God and ask for his protection somewhere in the count of a billion before we landed. It finally came to me that the Lord was probably holding his hands over his ears saying to one of the angels, "I knew I shouldn't had allowed that boy to fly."

I thought how silly I was being, after all do I not trust God, and if I do trust God, why would I keep praying the same prayer over and over as if He did not hear me the first time. So I took in a good deep breath and prayed one more time, though this time I started by asking for forgiveness. I then said to my Lord, "Lord, I know you heard me all the way up here, I'm not worried about it no more, you have it." And that was it, no more worries, no more praying, no more doubting, no more fear.

I often picture Jesus and Jairus standing side-by-
side as the crowd came up to Jairus and said those horrifying words, "No need to bother the teacher anymore, your daughter is dead." I see Jesus laying his hand on Jairus' shoulder and with that reassuring hand of God in the flesh upon his shoulder, Jairus hears those amazing words of instructions and love, "Do not fear, only believe."

Somewhere around 37,000 feet above the earth, I felt the hand of Christ upon my shoulder, and yes, I believe.

Stand Up Speak Up

  Sitting down reading "The Story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer" by Michael Van Duke and found the following excerpt captivating. Bonhoeffer is talking with Bishop Bell. I'll start with the words of the bishop:

"Perhaps the heaviness you feel comes from the weight of the prophet's mantle across your shoulders?"
 Dietrich replies, "I do not aspire to the prophet's role. I only want to be a good disciple of Jesus Christ."
 The bishop sighed. "Yes, but the shame nowadays is that, even in the Church, anyone who makes such a statement is laughed at and treated as a fool. Insincerity is automatically assumed."
  "Do you think I am a fool, George?"
  "Of course I do," the bishop said, smiling back. "But we could use many more fools like you."

  These words rekindle in me the words I shared in my sermon this past Sunday as I stated that as Christians we have allowed ourselves to be pushed so deep into the corners by society, that if we do not stand up and speak up when we need to, then will we become the next human torches of Nero's garden parties. We must become the disciples that we have been called to be, commanded to be. - Bobbyology

We Remember

Today we remember. We remember that day that for many Americans became the day we lost our innocence. We lost that thinking that something so horrible carried out by other human beings against another was something we only saw on TV or read about in the paper or magazines that occur thousands of miles away across vast expanses of water. America was changed by the tragic event that took place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on April 19, 1995 at 9:02 am.

Timothy McVeigh detonated a bomb filled truck outside the Federal Building in OKC killing 168 people, including 20 children and injuring more than 600. The world never seemed the same after that. Never again would we be able to say that we, as Americans, were immune to the happenings we only saw on TV.

The image that comes to my mind when I hear about the OKC bombing is the picture of firefighter Chris Fields carrying baby Baylee Almon who would die a just after the picture was taken. That picture haunted me for a long time after the bombing. I kept a copy of it on a table behind my desk as a sort of memorial I guess, and as a way to keep myself from forgetting the horror that man can inflict on another. As a law enforcement officer at the time, I felt it was important for me to remember that.

It was also a reminder to myself to do everything humanly possible to protect my family at all cost. My oldest daughter Brittany wasn't quite a year old when the bombing occurred and Baylee reminded me so much of Brittany. Brittany even had a small pair of yellow socks just like Baylee was wearing in the picture. For days after I got the copy of the picture I would tear up whenever I looked at it.

I don't want to imagine what the people of OKC went through following this terrible event. I just pray for them to carry on even after twenty years, the scars, both physically and mentally are carried bravely. I've read many articles over the past few days. One was an interview with firefighter Fields and Baylee's mother, who have remained friends over these past twenty years. It is a blessing to know that Mrs. Almon began a non-profit in memory of Baylee which aids families in dealing with the effects of disasters, both natural and man-made disasters. Fields will be retiring within the next three years he said in the interview. He suffered PTSD and received counseling and remain in the fire service with the strong support of his wife.

May God continue to watch over those people of the OKC bombings wherever they may be today. and may God continue to bless America and may we continue to become stronger and more united as we face continue attacks as a country and as a people.

An Orange for Christmas

 

Like so many other pastors, my sermon was focus on the theme of the third Sunday of Advent; Joy. As I prepared to begin my sermon a strange thought came to my mind. It was really a simple thought. It was the thought of an orange. Yes, I said an orange. What does an orange have to do with Advent or joy? I guess it was the thought of simplicity.

As a young boy I thought oranges and apples were a luxury that was something that you mostly got on Christmas morning. I can't really remember having them any other time. I'm sure there were times when we may have had them, maybe on occasion at school. In those days you didn't pick what you wanted on your tray. You just went down the line and the lunch ladies would put on your tray whatever was on the line that day. Maybe a friend had them in their homes and I may have been offered one, but the only time I remember having an orange is on Christmas morning right there by the Christmas tree along with whatever else Santa brought us during the night. Man they were so good! Even now when I eat an orange, it's like tasting Christmas.

Over the many Christmas' that I've been a part of, I'm sure I got some nice gifts. But I can't really remember any gifts that stands out now, more than those oranges. So maybe it really is the simple things in life that brings us the most joy. It's the simple things that last forever in our minds and in our hearts.

I can't think of a simpler thing than a manger that brought this world the most joy.

Heroes Aren't Born

Heroes are not created, or born. They are reactionaries. Reacting to a particular situation in time and space, putting the life and well-being of others ahead of their own. I give thanks to God for the heroes who been there for me, and for all those heroes past, present, and future, who reacts when God puts you where you are needed. - Bobbyology

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10200528069718181&pnref=story

One of 'Those'

Lynn, David, Owen, me, Mom, Mark, and Dad. And
J.D. and Lewis would come alone a little later.

October 31 is one of those 'things', one of those 'days', one of 'those' that some of us rather at times forget. Or, it could be one of those 'things', one of those 'days', one of 'those' that you cannot stand not to remember. Sometime 'those' are painful and sometime they are memories that you don't really know how to explain other than to say they are parts of our treasure chests of yesterdays.

You see, October 31, 1972, Halloween, was the day that the life of our family made a dramatic turn that would never find round-about, make a U-turn, or go in reverse. This was the day that my mom left my dad. This was the day that brothers and a sister were separated, some with my dad and some with my mom. I was taking with mom.

Mom and Dad in 2004 family gathering

Like I said, it was one of 'those' days, one of those 'things', it was just one of 'those'. Of course I hated it, we were all hurt, we all suffered, but we as a family persevered and never lost our love for one another. Mom and Dad even becam
e best friends through the years. They died less than a year apart and are buried together. Of course our family relationship with one another has seen better days, but that's a part of growing older and having so much responsibilities and busyness.

Me, Owen J.D., Lewis, David, Lynn, and Mark
in 2004.

So as one of those 'days' that one rather not remember but others cannot help but want to remember, Oct. 31, is just that. I'll never forget, at times wish it never existed, but then again, I cannot help but to want to remember it. For it gives me the opportunity to remember the last day that I was a part of a whole family with my mom and dad, all my brothers and my sister, at least until around 3:30 that particular afternoon, right after I got off the school bus.

But hey! If we want to, we can all dress up real funny and make the best of it. Why not? It's one of 'those' days.



The Herring clan in 2004. David Jr. was home on
from Iraq and we were all able to get together for
time in over 20 years. Been a few more added
to this great family since then.

What Advice Would You Give to Self?

  Recently my niece, Felicia, who is a wonderful representative of beauty inside and out, posted a question on her Facebook page. It was one of those questions that most of us have had the occasion to contemplate at one time or another.

"If you could go back and give your younger self advice, what would you say?"

  At last count she had 30 comments. Some of the comments were somewhat funny, but the majority were serious comments. You could tell that many of those who commented had already thought about this question long before Felicia posted it, or at least a similar question.

My niece Felicia. She is definitely all Herring

  Here are some of the comments:

"Go to college right after high school while everything is still fresh."

 

"You don't always have to be so strong. Weakness is a sign of strength."

 

"Join the military."

 

"Don't let what others say keep you from attempting the things you want to try and go after your dreams."

 

"Be closer to your sister, she'll be your best friend one day..."

 

"You're not worthless. You ARE good enough. You're smart. Stay true to who you are and know that you can do the things you want to do. You're beautiful the way you are."

 

"You are worth so much more than what you think and are told!! Your past will not define you! It will make you stronger. Promise! I would tell her she's so beautiful and make her believe it, and smart and hug her for the longest time until she felt loved and at ease."

 

  All the comments gave good advice. I commented also. I, probably like most, didn't have to think hard about it. like I said earlier, most had already thought about it before. This is how we humans are. We can't help but to think about the "what if" question.

Felicia competing in 2013 Mrs. Alaska competition

 

  What if we could go back in time and change something about ourselves or a change a life circumstance that has haunted us for a life time? Would we do it? I honestly believe that most would, including myself on some things. Who wouldn't want a better life? Who wouldn't want an opportunity to go back and correct a bad decision in life?

 

But...

 

  In physics there is a theory called Chaos. Chaos Theory declares that tiny changes in circumstances can have major ramifications later on.

 

  Although the idea of the Chaos Theory has been around since the late part of the 19th century, its study came into full swing in the 1960s by Edward Lorenz, an American mathematician and meteorologist, and with the development of computers.

 

  The thought, or main idea of the Chaos Theory is often referred to as the 'butterfly effect', taken from Lorenz's idea of a butterfly flapping it's wings and causing a tornado.--"Tiny changes in circumstances can have major ramifications later on."

 

  One of the example in human form, given in the book I gleaned this information from, is from the 1946 film "It's a Wonderful Life", starring Jimmy Stewart. In it, the main character George, played by Stewart, is shown by an angel how miserable his town would've been if he hadn't been born.

 

  The angel says to George, "You've been given a great gift , George: a chance to see what the world would be like without you." George finds out that because he had been born, he had saved a boy from drowning years before and that boy named Harry grew up to be a war hero.

 

  "Every man on that transport died! Harry wasn't there to save them because you weren't there to save Harry! You see, George; you've really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to throw it away?"

 

  Life is a journey without caution lights and sirens that warns us of future 'accidents'. It's easy to be sitting in the presence, whether its in the gloom or the happiness, and look back over our journey and see all the cross-roads, man-made obstacles, and wrong turns. We eventually find ourselves saying "If only I...".

 

  The problem with that is we can keep thinking about "if only I..." so much that we begin living only in the past and forget where we are now. There are many blessing in the "now". I have no doubt that there are persons who are living a life of suffering because of the events of the past. But here I'm referring to the people who has overcome the past in such a way that the blessings has overpowered the events of yesterdays.

 

  In the controlling world of "If only I...", it is easy to overlook the blessings. Many of the blessings we have now exists because of the brokenness, mistakes, crossroads, and wrong turns or other events we rather not remember.

 

  I am extremely thankful that Felicia posted her question. It stirred many personal thoughts and feelings which I have stored in the locked chest of my mind. It was obvious by the comments she received that I was not alone. It also gave me comfort to be reminded that we are not perfect, but we are blessed. It also gave me comfort and reassurance that we were given a promise by the Lord that He would never leave us nor forsake us.

 

  To all of Felicia's Facebook friends who responded I would like to repeat what Meghan Trainor sings in her hit "All About That Bass"; You are perfect from the bottom to the top!

 

 

 

 

 

A Safe Place (what I discovered when I didn't expect it)

On Saturday I returned from the Red Bird Mountain of Kentucky. I had been one on a team of twenty-one persons from NC to travel to Kentucky to work with the Red Bird Mission of Appalachia. It was a great trip filled with many blessings. But it was totally different than I had planned on, which was a good thing, and it was a God thing. I shared in my sermon on Sunday of how what I was looking towards was not what I ended up seeing and that is because God knew what I have been seeking all Summer.

I shared a link below that is an audio recording of Sunday's message. I hope that you will listen to it and if you do I pray that you will be blessed through it. I guess I would title it "Safe Place" because of what one of my teammates and new friend, Jimmy Kennedy said during our closing worship service on Friday night.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5n76aennmj61vu5/A%20Safe%20Place%20-%20Red%20Bird.wpl?dl=0

 What he shared was also how the trip was going to be different than what he was expecting when he signed on, but he too realized that God was answering his prayers also. Of course those simple words of mine gives no justice to the passionate way in which Jimmy shared it with all of us that night in Beverly Church. As soon as he said what he said the brightest gate opened before my eyes and I immediately realized that God was speaking to me through Jimmy, because he said the same thing that I was feeling but couldn't discern what I was feeling other than I knew I was safe and I was happy.

Another blessing of this trip I would like to share with you is that each night a core group of us would gather at the camp fire there at the Work Camp. Each night we shared God stories, life stories, stories, and we shared laughter and a few times we shared tears. We grew together as we realized that we have became a community, we became a family. Some find it at a table, a church, or on a team, but we found it all just gather around a camp fire.

I am glad that we had no cell service at Red Bird. I don't believe that we would have experienced all that we experienced if we had kept looking at our phones every second.

I share a special word with those who are now the Citizens of the Campfire Community; I am so blessed to have spent so much time with you all, and to have been honored to hear so many of your stories, and to have shared some of mine. I love you and hope that someday we can gather at a camp fire again.

Worry vs Cocern

"Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" Matthew 6:27 (NLT)

  Two years ago while in a church meeting I experience one of the most excruciating pain begin in my back (no jokes please)  in the area of my right shoulder blade and travel right on through. No matter what I did the pain would not go away. Over night it eased up somewhat and my initial thoughts was a pulled muscle. However, a day or so later, I began coughing up blood. Having x-rays done found a spot on my right lung and the PA examining me shared his thoughts that he believed it was cancer but that I would need to follow up with my doctor.

  Thus began a period of immobility. The thought of cancer totally brought me to a standstill. As soon as the PA said "cancer", my worrying began and the worrying was so over-powering that I couldn't think clearly, I couldn't talk clearly, and basically I couldn't function clearly. The worries took control of my life, or a better way of saying it is that I allowed the worries to control my life. In a way I would be willing to say that the 'worry' became my little "g" god; something we allow to be at the forefront of our lives, to take the place or to shadow our big "G" God. Yep, I ate my own words.

  Now my wife, Donna, went down a different avenue. She didn't let the worry control her or us. She was concerned of course, but she allowed her concern to move her into action. So while I was waiting on phone calls from doctor offices to let me what to do next, she was busy on the computer trying to get me an appointment with a lung specialist, which she did.

  Donna's actions got me going again and focused on finding the problem and hopefully a solution. Long story short, after many tests, some extreme, the specialist decided it was a lung infection which damage one of the air-sac thingy in my lung.

  I'm sharing this to remind us that Jesus told us not to worry about those needs that God has promised to provide. Should we be concerned about certain things and certain situations? Sure, we can be concern. But worrying will not help the situation if it brings us to a stand still and unable to function. It'll become our worship. As a commentary I read puts it: "Here is the difference between worry and genuine concern--worry immobilizes, but concern moves you to action."

  A fellow pastor once preached that you can pray and not worry, or you can worry and not pray, but you can't do both. I understood that clearly, but I still stumbled, but God did not.

Grace and Peace

Surprise Surprise Surprise

As we read through the Bible we sometime find ourselves having a special connection with the people in the stories. The story of Peter's escape from prison is such a connectional place for me. it begins with Peter being arrested and thrown into prison to await trial in the very near future by King Herod, who had gotten his kicks recently by having James killed which pleased the crowds. He was hoping evidently to entertain them again through killing Peter.

We are told that the church (the Christians) were praying earnestly to God for Peter. The Lord heard their prayers and he sent an angel who freed Peter from his bonds and led him out of the prison. When Peter realizes he's free he heads to John's momma's house, where a bunch of the believers had gotten together to pray. Then story gets sort of funny.

Peter knocks on the gate, and a girl named Rhoda came to see who was at the door.  She recognizes Peter, was so excited, she didn't think to open the gate, but instead ran back inside and told the others that "Peter is at the door!" But instead of believing her, these earnestly praying folk said, "You're out of your mind." That's the funny part. She keeps insisting that Peter is at the door, so they finally go to see who it is themselves and when they see that it is Peter they are flabbergasted, shocked, amazed, and any other synonyms that goes alone with the New International Version's word "astonished".

Now lets backtrack a little. We were told early in the story that after Peter was thrown into prison that the church was earnestly praying for Peter. Well that earnestly have some special meaning here.

Look up the word earnestly and you will find that it means:  Serious in intention, purpose, or effort; sincerely zealous: showing depth and sincerity of feeling: Seriously important; demanding or receiving serious attention. Full seriousness, as of intention or purpose: to speak in earnest.

What I'm trying to get across to you is that they were praying like crazy! They were praying like they wanted God to save Peter. They were praying like they believed that God would save Peter. They were praying like they knew God was hearing them. But when Peter showed up at the door, their jaws fell to the floor. As the old saying goes, "Been there; done that."

As you would imagine, I'm a regular prayer and I know the Lord is listening and I believe that he answers our prayers in his own way, in his own time, and not always the way we want them answered. But what about those times when we are praying for special intervention on a particular issue and BAM! Everything you asked for is answered and everything falls into place. Are we flabbergasted? Well, yeah, sometimes. At least I am.

What does that say about me? To be honest; when it happens like that I feel a little ashamed and I lower my head in the presence of the Lord. I know if I pray for God to get involved, then I pray with earnest passion knowing that God is hearing me and believing that he will get involved. I may slip and when I do I also believe that God giggles at me.

I am glad that I worship my great and almighty God; a God of surprises.