Promises

I love going through promises the Bible gives us when we go through what could be anxious times; one of my favorites is in Isaiah 41:10-

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

It's just amazing just how many people are going through some tremendous stress in there lives. I hear story after story, but there is some good news.

I grew up to the sounds of my dad magically touching the ivory's of an 1800's finely tuned Steinway Grand piano. To get to the point where it sounds it's best requires a good 11 tons of pressure and stress in order to get it to it's sweetest sound. The stress causes the wood to mold and transform to the makers desire for it.

For us it's the same. Our Maker looks at each of us as a fine-tuned Steinway Grand. All of us begin as rough wood that He desires to transform and tune. Many times, these experiences stretch our faith, our families, our frame. Many times it may feel like we just can't handle the stress, and that's when the anxiety sets in...just know it's part of the process and dwell on the promises we've been given.

Guilt or Grace

My ears are still ringing.

Last night we went out to celebrate a friend's birthday. She had gotten a dozen of us had VIP seating to the Santana concert. So there we are enjoying the sights, sounds and the smells of BC days...If I was to visit Starbucks after the concert, I'm sure someone would comment about the essense of marijuana shampoo I must have used. Yeah, it was the prevailing smell. It had been a while since going to a concert reminiscent of the liberal 70's.

After a few songs, Mr Santana very casually starts talking about God, Guilt and Grace; the choice to live life under grace and faith vs one under the weight of guilt. He talked about living as a child of God and choosing to make right choices...

I don't know anything about his belief other than what he presented last night. The thing is many people raised eyebrows listening to his message. I quite enjoyed the whole experience; great seats, good friends, good vibes, good times. Who knows, maybe it opens up the door with our friends with conversations about living under grace...

The Great I Am

So I'm dropping the kids off at school this morning, and again, I have a song stuck in my head that I'm singing over and over again. I go to youtube and plug in words that I think may be the title. After several attempts, I find the song. As I listen, I start reading the comments beneath and one catches my eye...
"I came to the church, scars on my wrists, emotions filled with pain, on a road to suicide. I begged for a prayer, something to show there was reason to live. I left, No scars remained all burdens lifted, and for once...I felt forgiven."

Enjoy the song...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGv5d8EE34k

Trilogy

My older son keeps watching "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy over and over. One time it's at our house, the next at a friend down the street. I'll occasionally sit in and watch bits and pieces of them...Set in the fictional world of Middle-earth, the three films follow the hobbit Frodo Baggins, as he and a Fellowship embark on a quest to destroy the One Ring, and thus ensure the destruction of its maker, the Dark Lord Sauronn. In a sense, the trilogy mirrors to some extent the greatest trilogy of all time...Nightmare on Elm Street 1, 2, and 3!

Kidding!

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created..." Then came the fall and the perpetuation of continually falling short and missing the mark of what God had initially set in motion; evil and our bondage to it. The second part showed us how are attempts to reach God fell far short, but that good news of Hope was coming. The third part is that Jesus came to offer us a future and a hope, and at the end of the book- we win with the "Return of the King."!

Remember the scene in Braveheart where William Wallace has a couple great lines- "Every man dies, very few truly live." "A life without cause, is a life without effect."

There is a greater picture for all of us if we choose to embrace it. For some it might be from making money to making a diference. For others, maybe choosing to leave an impact that outlives ones self. In this gray world one thing is true-- the lines between black and white are becoming more and more blurred. Don't know who said it but "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."

My Father-in-Law who has been in the local school system here for decades, sent me this quote from another colleague in Tennessee; thought I'd pass it along...

"It has always been the custom at Roane County High School
football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to
honor God and Country.

Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that
saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I
understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility
to approve of sexual perversion and call it "an alternate life
style," and if someone is offended, that's OK.

I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms
and calling it, "safe sex." If someone is offended, that's OK.


I can even use this public facility to present the merits of
killing an unborn baby as a "viable! Means of birth control." If
someone is offended, no problem...


I can designate a school day as "Earth Day" and involve students
in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess
"Mother Earth" and call it "ecology.."

I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom
that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian
convictions as "simple minded" and "ignorant" and call it
"enlightenment.."

However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM
to Bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then
Federal Case Law is violated.


This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical.
Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone,
except GOD and HIS Commandments.

Nevertheless , as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and
students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily
agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and
at worst, hypocritical. I suffer from that affliction enough
unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional
transgression.

For this reason, I shall "Render unto Caesar that which is
Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time.

However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank GOD
and ask HIM,in the name of JESUS, to Bless this event, please
feel free to do so.. As far as I know, that's not against the
law----yet."

One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held
hands with one another and began to pray.
They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They
prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer's
Box!

The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the
United States of America- the Seat of "Justice" in the "one
nation, under GOD."

Soul Surfer

It was great seeing my college buddy again after 30 years. He and his wife stayed with us over the weekend and did a little catching up. Come to find out , his daughter was one of the Producers of the surf movie Soul Surfer. I figured we should watch it since we had an affiliation with it.

Not a dry eye for family movie night. If you haven't seen it, go rent or buy it. It's one of those you want to keep in the family library of films. Then you get to the end credits and Brit Nicoles powerful song comes in..see the youtube link

...enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmxiNN-GLkg

Enjoying Today

One of the things I very much enjoyed both as a kid spending my summers in Minnesota, and living in the south the past three years was the feeling of being close to God and in His presence. How? Just by being on the lookout all around me.

Sometimes we are just to enjoy today, together with Him enjoying both the pleasures and enduring the pain today’s difficulties bring. Learn to enjoy everything he’s prepared for us; stunning scenery, winds of adventure, nooks for resting when you get weary and so much more.

He is our guide, our constant companion, and He knows every step we take on the road ahead. As long as we stay close to His side, we are on course. Don’t worry about what is around the corner, just concentrate on enjoying His presence and staying in step...