Give Thanks Always

Why should we give thanks always?  Does that mean ALWAYS?  Even when things go wrong?  Even if things don't go as planned?  Even when loved ones die?

We can give thanks always.  God expects us to give thanks always.  Yet, He understands our weaknesses and our thinking. 

The death of Jesus was not something that his followers expected.  Yet, it was a good thing and in fact, it was Gods' will.  We all benefited from His death and resurrection.  We give thanks for that all the time.  Giving thanks to God 'always' is an act of faith, of love, trust and obedience.  It is submitting to His will and trusting that He is in control of all things.  In control of all things when we are living and when we die.  Through life and through death.  He is there for us.  "Though I may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for THOU ART WITH ME".   That is what we can always rejoice about and be thankful for, He is always with is.  He will never leave us or forsake us.  We are in His hands, whether we feel it or not.

When challenges in our lives come our way, and they will, we can always rejoice and be thankful because He is there for us, through life and through death.  Through the storms, not around them. 
"Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord".  What a great promise.  We BELONG to the Lord.  No one, or nothing can take us away from Him.  We belong to Him. 

Keep your eyes on Jesus.  Watch and pray.  He is with us.  He loves us.  We belong to Him in life and through death.  He will not let us go.

Seeking the American Dream

"What am I doing here?"  This is a question that Dr. K.P. Yohannan asked himself as a young Pastor in Dallas, Texas in 1977.  Dr. Yohannan is the founder of Gospel for Asia and the author of the book Revolution In World Missions.  He was convicted by the affluent life style he was living, in comparison to the poor brothers and sisters he left behind in India.  He was convicted that there were so many lost and dying without ever hearing the name of Jesus Christ.  As I am reading his book, I am convicted too.  What AM I doing here?  What is the focus of my life, of each day.  I find too often I am serving myself and am concerned about my own hopes and dreams.  Ah, dreams.  Our American culture has immortalized the perception that 'following our dreams' is the greatest goal in our life.  Or as the Disney movies so often put it, 'follow your heart'.  That is not the message of the gospel.  That is not even close.  Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him lay down his life and follow after me".  He said to lay down your life!  Jesus never said anything at all about following our dreams.  That is a lie from the pits of Hell.  It is self serving and self seeking.  It is a deception we need to weed out of our hearts and minds.  It is a lie we need to protect our children from.

     So, the question is, "What am I doing here?"  What are you doing here?  The way we live our life is an example of our faith and our beliefs.  That is convicting.  I need to repent and follow after Him.  I do not want the 'American Dream'.  That is a deception also.  I have fallen into that myself.  There is nothing wrong with wanting to take care of our families and to work, that is godly, but our focus should not be on pursuing the elusive dreams of our heart.  Jesus said "Life is not measured by how much you own".  Wow!  We can add to that and say that 'Life is measured by how much you give'.  I need to do a better job with giving.  I need to do a better job with putting my focus on the Kingdom of God and not the kingdom of Dan.  I need to lift up my eyes toward heaven and ask God what is important to Him.  I need to give more to those that do not have food and clothes, like the millions in India that are in poverty.

     Gospel for Asia is an excellent group that gives directly to their native missionaries.  They give directly to poor children so they can go to school and have food and clothes.  If you want to check them out go to gfa.org

Love, Do Good, Bless, Pray for, Give....

Jesus said;

• "Love your enemies".
• "Do good to those who hate you""
• "Bless those that curse you".
• "Pray for those that hurt you (or, despitefully use you)
• "Give to anyone who asks".

Jesus said each one of these to us as a direct command, not a suggestion.  Jesus demonstrated these to us by the way he lived.  I prayerfully thougt, 'Lord, you condemned the Pharisee's, how did you show love to them and how did you do good to them', and I felt the Holy Spirit answer me and remind me that Jesus died on the cross for all who are willing to recieve his free gift of salvation.  On the cross, Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do". 
On the cross, Jesus:

• Loved his enemies.
• Did good to those who hated Him.
• Blessed those that cursed Him.
• Prayed for those that hurt Him.
• Gave everything He had.

We have no excuses.  We are too love our enemies.  We are too do good to those who hate us.  We are to bless those that curse us.  We are too pray for those that hurt us.  We are to give to anyone who asks.

Lord Jesus, help us to follow your commands today, with no excuses.

Love Your Enemies

Jesus is so good.  He is 'the Word made flesh'.  He is the God "I Am".  He came to explain and to demonstrate what all the scriptures are about.  Jesus told the Pharisee's "You search the scriptures because you think you will find eternal life in them, but the scriptures point to me!  But you refuse to come to me to recieve this life".  The Pharisee's had it all wrong, they put the focus on the written word and the law.  They missed the Messiah who was walking right in front of them.  Not only did they not recognize Him, they were intent on killing him and eventually did. 

Jesus said "I only say what I hear the Father say" and "I only do what I see the Father doing".  Jesus said "to all who are willing to listen, love your enemies.  Do good to them that hate you.  Bless those that curse you.  Pray for those that despitefully use you".  That is direct teaching from Jesus, telling us what He heard from the Father.  This is His command.  This is what we must do.  We should not filter and reason with what Jesus is telling us.  We must learn to listen and obey.  I must learn to listen and obey.  He goes on to say, "when someone asks for something you give it to them.  Give without expecting to get it back".  Wow!  That is true religion.  I need to get better at that.  Much better.  Lets all try to read the words of Jesus without filtering them.  To be like Him, we need to listen to Him and follow His commands.  He said "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and not do what I say?"  Lord Jesus, help us to listen and to obey and follow your commands and teachings without filtering them with our own reasoning.

Follow Me

Jesus hated dead religion.  When He came to the World, the World received Him not.  Not only did they not receive Him, the hated Him and killed Him.  The religious institution of His time was the Pharisee's.  They were the 'experts' on the Holy Scriptures.  They were the pastors and theologians.  Yet, they searched the scriptures and still did not recognize the Messiah walking in their midst.  Not only did they not recognize Him, they were so far off, they hated Him and killed Him.  "He came onto His own and His own received Him not".  What a paradox.  Jesus brought a simple message of "forgive and you will be forgiven".  Jesus said simply "follow me".  Jesus said all the laws and all the commandments are wrapped up in these two things, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself".  The Pharisee's made following God a heavy burden.  Jesus said "my burden is light".  The Pharisee's were happy to execute judgement on the women caught in adultry, Jesus had mercy.  We can be glad that we serve a loving Lord.  We can be happy that we serve a forgiving God.  He loves you!  He "came to save", not to judge.  Jesus forgives you and loves you just as you are right now.  Right at this minute, He accepts you as you are and welcomes you into His family.  All you have to do is "follow me", follow the Lord Jesus Christ.  Once you come into His family He will never kick you out. 

Jesus said "I only do what the Father shows me to do" and "I only say what I hear Him say".  He was and is a direct representation of who God is.  When you think of God, think of Jesus.   He came to explain the scriptures and to show who God is.  Do not think of that picture of a giant and mean God in Heaven.  Be thankful that when we wonder what God is like that we can look at Jesus, loving, forgiving, accepting, healing, protecting, against dead religion, for reconciliation and an eternal friendship.  Jesus said "I came to do what the Father told me to do" and now we are to continue that.  Now, we say what we 'hear Jesus saying' (what He said) and we follow Him, and his example.

Lets make sure we are following the example of Jesus and not the Pharisee's.  Lets enjoy this day that the Lord has made.  Lets lift our hands to heaven and thank Him for being who He is.  He loves you.  He loves you right now just as you are.  If you love Him and want to follow Him, tell Him that right now.  Start to follow Him today.  Find a local Chrisitian Church for Christian friendships.  Pray for God to help guide you and bring people into your life who will help you to follow Him and start living your life as Jesus did.

Jesus Said:

I have been reading from the book of John where Jesus kept saying "I only say what I hear the Father saying" and "I only do what I see the Father doing".  As the chapters continue, Jesus starts to say things like "My disciples follow my commands".  He starts with the example of His own life and then as He is teaching the disciples (and us) He turns it to teach us that we need to 'say what He tells us to say' and 'do what He shows us to do'.  Those are two very important lessons for us, what we SAY and what we DO.  I am praying that He will help me to follow His example without any excuses or filtering or reasoning with His commands.

God is good all the time!

The passing of Pastor David Wilkerson

I was shocked and saddened to find out that Pastor David Wilkerson died in a auto accident on April 27th of this year.  He was a spiritual giant.  A spiritual father of sorts for me.

For those not familiar with David Wilkerson, he is the author of the book "Cross and the Switchblade".  All of the information can be found at worldchallenge.org.  They have his whole life story and a video of the memorial service from Times Square Church in New York City.

The school year is over for me and I hope to be posting on a more regular basis through the summer.  It was a challenging and rewarding year at school.

God is good ALL the time!

THIS is the Day the Lord Has Made

This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

"Yesterday is history (can't do anything about yesterday)
Tomorrow is a mystery (can't do anything about tomorrow yet)
Today is a gift." (Lets be glad for today and bring glory to His name)

Lets rejoice and be glad and be thankful right now, today.  Lets not worry about tomorrow.  Lets not think about what we could have done.  Lets show God we love Him by what we do today.  Not just in words but in action and in deeds.  Lets bring glory to His name by doing things His way.  Lets keep our eyes on Him and trust Him that "His grace is sufficient" for us today. 

God Is Good All The Time

God is good all the time.  Even if we can't see it in our present circumstances.  Keep your eyes focused on the Lord and on doing things His way.  "All things work together for good" but we don't always see the immediate results of that.  Hang on.  Don't give up.  Jesus said to Peter, "Are you going to leave me also" and Peter responded "Lord, to whom else shall we go, you have the words of eternal life".  How true.  Sometimes being a Christian is hanging on.  Sometimes faith in God means hanging on.  Don't give up.  He loves you and cares for you and has his eyes on you.

God is good all the time.  Lets thank Him in the middle of adversities and challenges.  Paul sang praises in prison and the walls literally came down.  We praise Him because we love Him and He loves us.  We don't praise Him to try to get anything from Him.  We praise our Lord because of who He is and we trust Him with His answers to all our prayers and thank Him for His decisions.

How Great Thou Art!

If you haven't seen the beautiful song of praise that Carrie Underwood recently sang, "How Great Thou Art", I am providing you with the link;

http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/ourcountry/94317/carrie-underwoods-how-great-thou-art-moves-the-masses/

It speaks for itself.  The only thing that was missing was having the whole crowd bow to their knees and raise their hands in the air and give God all the glory!

It is awesome.  Take a look and let me know what you think.

I Will Go Wherever You Want Me To Go

"I will go wherever you want me to go and do whatever you want me to do."

Those are the words of surrender that I told the Lord back in June of 1982.  I was in the jungle on the Island of Panay in the Phillippines.  I was with a group of 20 Christian teenagers and 4 adult leaders.  We were there for 30 days building a block church for the local believers and the Christian Missionaries.  My surrender was sincere and heartfelt.  I was by myself and I felt the loving presence of the Holy Spirit as I willingly gave my life to Him.

As the years followed I decided to stop going to college to become a teacher and instead spent two years at home with my parents praying and seeking the Lord in trying to decide how I should serve Him.  One time while I was at home praying and reading the Bible and seeking the Lord for direction, I fell asleep.  I woke up and heard a real voice saying "Daniel, Daniel, your tools are here."  I had fallen asleep with my Bible on my chest and my hands around it.  I knew that God was calling me into full-time ministry.  In 1985, I went to Christ for the Nations Bible College in Dallas, Texas to prepare to become a missionary.

It is now some 26 years later and I have not gone to the mission field and become a missionary.  Or have I?

This is my 18th year in Education.  I am currently teaching Physical Education at Rancho Viejo Middle School in Hemet, California.  I teach approximately 350 students in seven classes each day.  Since all of the students on campus have Physical Education every day, I see all 1,500 students out on the P.E. fields.  God has brought me here to do a work for Him.  This was not my idea of a mission field, but it is God's mission field.  Remember, I told Him "I'll go wherever you want me to go and do whatever you want me to do."?  Our ways are not God's ways.  His ways are higher than our ways.  It just didn't fit into my original thoughts of what He wanted me to do.  I have struggled with this over the years and prayed and asked God "Is this really what you want me to do?"  I grew up in Minnesota and went into teaching because I enjoyed my schooling and the school environment in Minnesota.  The California schools are much different than the school I went to in Minnesota.  Schools are over-crowded here and there are a lot of students that struggle because of broken families.  But, I surrendered it all too Him and it is His plan and not mine that matters.

I started out teaching at a Christian school for my first five years of teaching.  That was easy to feel I was being used in a real full-time ministry.  Since then, I have been teaching in the public schools.  Guess what?  You don't have to be a Pastor, Missionary, Worship Leader or even work in a church to be in a full-time ministry.  The fact is, the moment we surrendered to Jesus Christ, we went into HIS full-time ministry.

I accept where God has sent me.  I still struggle with it at times and ask for His guidance and am open to other jobs if He leads me there.  But for now, I do my best to serve Him each day by being a light of his love to all of my students.  I can share things that Jesus said like "Forgive and you will be forgiven" and "If you give mercy you will be given mercy."  I can talk to kids about their families and church and tell them about mine.  I can't try to lead any of them to salvation.  That's O.K.  God knows what He is doing and where He has sent me.

How about you?  Do you know you are in a full-time ministry?  If you are a Christian, you are a full-time minister of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Open your eyes and look around you (and I will do the same), the harvest is ripe and ready for the touch of the Lord.  Let's let Him lead and do our best to follow and be ready to plant a seed or water one that has already been planted.

I am adding the words of Jesus as even He struggled with the will of the Father and then surrendered even to death on the cross:

³¹ Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:


      ‘ I will strike the Shepherd,
      And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’^[d]
 32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
³³ Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
³⁴ Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
³⁵ Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”
And so said all the disciples.

The Prayer in the Garden

 
³⁶ Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” ³⁷ And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. ³⁸ Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
³⁹ He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
⁴⁰ Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? ⁴¹ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
⁴² Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless^[e] I drink it, Your will be done.” ⁴³ And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
⁴⁴ So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. ⁴⁵ Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

Faith Is the Substance of Things Hoped For...

When we surrender our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, we are not guaranteed a life without problems and challenges.  We are not promised a life of ease.  The promises we are given go much deeper than that.  This life is temporary, this World will not last forever.  As the old christian hymn says, "This World is not my home, I'm only passing through."

Jesus said, "I will never leave or forsake you."  He also said, "I go to prepare a place for you that you can be with me always."  His promises to us are for now and for the eternal.

Many good christian people have difficult challenges in life.  There are some circles in Christianity that try to insinuate that if you have enough faith you will never have any sickness or any problems.  We know that is not true and that God's word teaches the opposite.  "In this life you will have many trials."  Difficulties and trials are not caused by a lack of faith, rather, they are the testing ground for our faith.  Real faith in God says "Lord I will trust you and love you and follow you no matter what."  Job said, "Though God slay me, yet will I trust Him." 

I read today about Pastor David Wilkerson's challenges.  His daughter Debi just had surgery for cancer and his 29 year old grandson Brandon is having chemotherapy for stage 4 cancer.  His wife and family have had multiple trials with cancer.  For those that might not know who Pastor Wilkerson is, he was the young Christian believer that walked the dangerous streets of New York City about forty years ago and lead gang leader Nicky Cruz to become a Christian.  They wrote the famous book (and movie) "The Cross and the Switchblade" based on their experiences.  I am including a excerpt from one of Pastor Wilkerson's messages in 2005 that gives more details about his families challenges;

Dearly Beloved:
May the love of Jesus shine on you.
As we read Paul's epistles, we often find him sharing very personal matters with his audience. Please bear with me as I share a few personal things with you.
My wife, Gwen, is now recovering from a knee replacement—her twenty-first operation (five for cancer). She told me this was the most painful operation of all. She is recovering well and will soon be able to travel with me to ministers' conferences around the world.
The Lord has seen us through deep waters of affliction over the past years. Both of our daughters, Debbie and Bonnie, are also cancer survivors. God has graciously delivered Gwen from a cloud of guilt she carried for a long time, thinking she had “passed on cancer” to them. Doctors called it a cancer cluster. Today, Gwen, Debbie and Bonnie are all doing well. God be praised.
Two years ago, our twelve-year-old granddaughter, Tiffany, died of brain cancer. This was especially difficult for Gwen, who had to fight off the same old accusations from Satan that Tiffany's cancer was also hereditary. The Holy Spirit has been so faithful to comfort and heal the hurt. We know God always does what is best for all concerned.
Many of our readers have written asking for information about our family, and that is why I am sharing a few personal tidbits. Gwen and I have four children and ten grandchildren. My oldest son, Gary, is a seasoned minister and travels with me for ministers' conferences. Greg is a youth evangelist and producer of Christian films. Debbie, our oldest daughter, and her minister husband, Roger, have a full time outreach to street children called Father's Love. Bonnie and her minister husband, Roger, founded “Front Porch Ministry” at a Pennsylvania farm, where they minister to young people from the inner city of New York.
As I look back over fifty years of ministry, I recall innumerable tests, trials and times of crushing pain. But through it all, the Lord has proven faithful, loving, and totally true to all his promises. Our ministry is debt free and we have not had to beg or plead for finances. We have faced huge burdens, both personal and ministry related, but we have come through them all with joy unspeakable.
From the beginning, this has been a faith-based ministry. We have “prayed in” all our finances and we still do. Never once has God failed to meet all these needs. We boast only in his faithfulness.
Your prayers and support are needed and much appreciated.
In Christ,
DAVID WILKERSON

Pastor Wilkerson has followed the Lord through all the trials and challenges.  Being a Christian does not make us immune from difficulties.  Being a Pastor does not stop the challenges of this life.  Even God's own Son Jesus had tremendous trials and challenges.  He suffered a horrible death to save us from our sins.  He had his mind set to follow the will of His Father no matter what.  He suffered real pain and agony.  Even the Son of God had to suffer. 

Put your faith in God and trust Him through all the good times and the challenging times.  This life is temporary.  Our time here is short.  Lets put our complete trust in our loving Father and His son Jesus.  They will not let us down. 

Homemade Solutions To Stop Snoring

Homemade Solutions To Stop Snoring

1. Place a sock in your husbands mouth
2. Tell him you heard someone knock on the front door and lock the bedroom door
3. Elbow him accidentally
4. Sound the fire alarm
5. Convince him that there is going to be a nuclear attack and he needs to wear a gas mask
6. Call the police and say you heard a loud scary sound
7. Push him off the bed and tell him their was an earthquake
8. Spray him with a water bottle and tell him it was a hurricane
9. Place a pillow over his face yell "Marshmellow attack!"
10. Float the sheet over him and yell "Pull the parachute cord!"

(the list above was an attempt at humor.  If you hurt yourself laughing, write a comment.  If you fell asleep with boredom, write a comment.)

Real Snoring Devices Being Sold On Amazon

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Zzoma for Snoring

Food & Clothes

I just finished watching the television show Secret Millionaire on ABC.  I have to admit it, I feel like crying every time I watch that show.  "Why do I feel like crying every time I watch that show?", I ask myself.  The answer is, not only are they donating to people in need, they are also affirming the people who are volunteering and reaching out to the poor and the homeless.  They are encouraging them by telling them that their hard work is important and valuable.

Food and Clothes.  John the Baptist told the new believers to prove their faith by giving their own food and clothes to the  hungry and the poor.  Jesus said "Feed the hungry and clothe the naked."  I am crying when I watch that show because I am not doing my part for the Lord.  I am not reaching out to the poor and the hungry and the naked.  I have plenty of excuses and they all stink.  "If you love me, do what I say", Jesus said.  No excuses!  I need to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.  They are all around me but I chose to ignore them.  I need to open my eyes and do what the Lord told me to do.  Period!  No excuses.

Are you feeding the hungry and clothing the naked?  Food and clothes.  That's pretty basic stuff.  Especially if you don't have it.

Lets not pray about it, lets start doing it.

Prove By The Way You Live

"When the crowds came to John for Baptism, he said, "You brood of snakes!  Who warned you to flee God's coming wrath?  Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.  Don't just say to each other, 'We're safe, for we are descendants of Abraham'.  That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones."

The Crowds asked, "What should we do?"

John replied, "If you have two shirts, give one to the poor.  If you have food, share it with those who are hungry."

(Luke chapter 3)

Wow!  That is very convicting.  Here's John The Baptist talking to a group of people who are trying to do the right thing.  His words cut right to the heart.  To paraphrase, John is saying, 'Don't come here and play the game.  If you mean what you say, if you really want to do God's will then prove it by the way you live.  Give what you have to the poor.  Give them clothes and give them food.  Let your faith be shown by the way you live."

Our words are meaningless if not verified by our actions.  Our faith is empty if not shown by our deeds.  Saying that I care about the poor and seldom giving them anything proves that I really don't care too much about the poor.  We spend too much time talking about our bills and not giving to those in need.  We waste too much time thinking about how we can make more money and not how we can give more.  I'm guilty of this.  I don't give enough.  I have plenty of food and clothes and I need to share it with the poor.  No excuses.  Writing this does nothing for the poor.  Talking about it and even praying about it does nothing for the poor.  If I love Jesus, I must DO WHAT HE SAYS!  Being baptised in water is a good thing.  But John takes it a step further and says don't just get baptized in water as an empty religious exercise, PROVE that you have repented and turned from doing things your own way by doing things God's way.  Give clothes and food to the poor.  This is not symbolic or a nice idea, this is to be taken literally.  I make too many excuses for myself.  I see someone asking for money and I immediately think 'con-man, don't give him anything'.  That may or may not be true.  There are definitely many people in America who are pan-handling and playing the con-game.  But there are also many people in need.  Giving through a church ministry or an established non-profit is the safest way of giving.

I challenge you (and me) to give to the poor today and to be committed to giving everyday.  Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice when He gave His very life.  We need to follow His example and lay down our lives, die daily, and give unto others.

Let me know what you think?  Tell me what happens when you give to the poor.

"Why Did You Search For Me?"

This morning I read the account of Joseph and Mary leaving Jerusalem only to find out later that their son Jesus was not in there group.  They had been traveling all day with their friends and relatives and had to go all the way back to find him.  It took them 3 days to find him.  Like any good parents in their situation, Mary and Joseph were frantic and worried about their son.  Just think of the thoughts that were racing through their minds for those 3 days.  Jesus was only 12 years old and they could not find him.  He was in a big city.  So big that it took them 3 full days to find him.  When they found him Mary said, "Jesus, why have you done this, don't you know your Father and I have been frantically searching for you?"  And Jesus said, "Why have you been searching for me, didn't you know I would be at my Father's House?"

Jesus said, "Why did you search for me?"  For Mary and Joseph, that had an obvious answer.  Any good parent would say "I searched for you because you are my son and I love you and I want to make sure you are safe".  Jesus was being sincere with his answer, he was not being disrespectful with his answer.  But I want to pose the same question to you and me, "Why did you search for me (Jesus)?"  Why did you search for Jesus?

What caused you to search for Jesus?  How did you find Him?  Did you look at his Father's House?  Where did you find Him?  Are you searching for Him today?  Are you looking for Him today?

Lets make it our goal today to search for Him.  We will search for Him today because we need Him, we love Him and He loves us.  We want to please Him, to follow Him, to worship Him, to honor Him.  We will search for Jesus today because, as Peter said, "you have the words of eternal life".  We search for you today Lord Jesus because You are the word made flesh, the first and the last, the light of the World, the Lamb of God, the soon and coming King, the Creator of this World, the Messiah, the only begotten son, God with us, and our Prince of Peace.

Road To The Resurrection

I am posting a link to Pastor Greg Laurie's website about an event they are starting called "Road to the Resurrection".  I heard him talking about it briefly on the radio this morning.  I love listening to Pastor Greg when I am in my car at 8:30 when his show is on 107.9 KWAVE.  I am always challenged and encouraged.

Here is the link for "Road to the Resurrection"
http://www.harvest.org/risen/?utm_campaign=RoadToTheResurrection&utm_source=risen.harvest.org

His idea is to make a bigger deal out of celebrating Easter, our Lords Resurrection.  I think it's a good idea.  Talking about it ahead of time and building the anticipation of it like we do for Christmas. 
Let me know what you think.  I will try to implement this with my own family and get on board with remembering and celebrating this season with thanksgiving.

It will also connect you directly with http://www.harvest.org/ where you can find all kinds of uplifting and challenging material.  It also lists there church service times.

May God bless you today!

Dan

A Father's Perspective On The Wars

The following was sent by Michael Jorgensen (my older brother) in reply to the story "Bring Our Men and Women Home".  His son Matthew Jorgensen served his country bravely with several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Date: Sunday, April 3, 2011, 4:41 AM
 I took some time to think about this
 one. Here's what I came up with. While I think that our
 goals in Afghanistan may have been in defense of our
 country.(Osama and the Taliban) I don't believe they were as
 clear, ever in Iraq. Now as witnessed by the recent events
 in Afghanistan, we need to remember that these are a warring
 people who have been doing that for thousands of years. So I
 doubt that just because we come in and say "Here, try a little
 democracy", will change that. Now we also need to remember
 that there were certain factions in these countries that
 asked for our help. Now does that mean we need to do that?
 Probably not. So after all that, I do agree that it is time
to bring our young men and women home, immediately. I wish
 this was one promise President Obama had kept.

Use Your Blinking Turn Indicator!!!

This is not spiritual nor godly, this is just a rant of mine, stick with me and let me know if you agree or disagree with my observations.
I have had it with people who refuse to use their blinker light when they are making a turn or changing lanes.  I cannot believe how many people do not indicate which way they are turning.  It is very aggravating.  Time and time again, I am sitting at an intersection, waiting to make a right turn , I see a car coming from the left, there is no blinker flashing so I assume they are going straight, then, right before the intersection, they slow down and take a right.  I stare at them, they look back with no idea what is going on.  I can't pull out in front and take a right because that is when the car will be going straight ahead and run right into me.  It is rude.  It is thoughtless.  It is selfish.  What can I do?  Nothing.  In this day and age, honking the horn at someone can get you shot.  I am just dumbfounded.  I know this sounds like a shallow rant, but it is very annoying.  It is unsafe.  Can I call 911 and report this?  Of course not.  I just have to deal with it.  It is teaching me patience.  It is teaching me to slow down. 

I watched cars today and estimated that only 25% of the vehicles I watched were using their turn indicators.

I guess I can concede their are much bigger problems in the World and just deal with it and get over it.  Jesus said pray for those who persecute you, this is not even close to the type of persecution He was talking about.  So, I will do my best to pray for every person that refuses to use their blinkers and hope that somehow they will figure it out on their own.  Until then, Use Your Blinking Turn Indicators America!!!

Terry Jones Should Repent and Apologize

Terry Jones (I will not call him 'Pastor') is an example of someone taking the name of the Lord in vain.  To call yourself a Christian and then do the opposite of what Christ represents and in fact demonstrated when He was on the earth is taking His name in vain.  It is comparable to the Pharisee's, the self-righteous religious fanatics that put Jesus on a cross.  Terry Jones does not speak for Christians and he surely does not represent Jesus Christ.

Terry Jones should not call himself a Christian.  What he has done and is doing has nothing to do with Jesus Christ.  Jesus said to "love your neighbor" and Jesus said "pray for your enemies".  Jesus came to save sinners.  Jesus was sent to save people and not condemn them.  While Jesus was being crucified on a cross, with nails through his hands and feet, he said "Father forgive them for they know not what they do". 

Terry Jones can be forgiven for his ignorant acts of hatred but he should be put in jail for provoking these murders and hostilities.

Bring Our Men & Women Home!

I've had enough.  I'm tired of these wars.  We need to speak up and let our Representatives and our President know that we have had enough.  Bring our men and women home!  Bring our brave soldiers back to the United States, back to their communities, back to their families.  Ten years of fighting is enough!  Ten years of bloodshed and innocent lives maimed and destroyed is enough!

I'm a proud citizen of the United States of America.  I still think this is the best country in the World.  But I'm tired of being lied too and misled.  The U.S. attacked Iraq and Afghanistan in reaction to the 9/11 bombing of the Twin Towers in New York.  It was justified to go after the Terrorist camps in Afghanistan but there was no justification for attacking and invading Iraq.  We were told that they had weapons of mass destruction.  That turned out to be a lie.  We were told our military was going into Iraq as liberators to set the people free, that they would be dancing in the streets.  Well, we know the dancing lasted for a few hours and then the bloodshed continued.  We did not liberate them, we killed their brutal leader and bombed their countryside.  They killed our young men and women and we killed them.

I live in Southern California.  I like going to the coastal cities of Oceanside and Carlsbad.  Recently when I was in Carlsbad, I saw several young military guys walking around with prosthetic arms and legs.  I saw some with scars on their face and arms from their injuries of war.  Young men permanently maimed for their sacrifice to our country.  It made me mad.  I respect the soldiers but I hate the way our leadership has misled our country into these wars.  When is enough, enough?  What is the goal of these wars?  Is it really worth the sacrificing of our young men and women?  I know they have done many good things for the people of Iraq but was it worth the sacrifice of their lives?  Was it worth the permanent mental and physical disabilities many of them will suffer with for the rest of their lives?  We honor them for their brave service and sacrifice for our country.  Now, we should honor them by bringing them all home.

I have heard several well meaning people say "they (the soldiers) are fighting for our freedoms".  I hate that saying.  It is misguided at best and a complete lie at its worst.  They are not fighting for our freedoms---that war was fight many years ago---they are fighting for our government and at they are fighting for the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, and now for Libya.  What freedoms could we possibly gain from these wars?  Lets be honest with each other, these wars are being fought for former President George W. Bush and the congress he had, and now, to my dismay, they are being fought for President Obama, the anti-war President, and the present congress.  President Obama promised to end these wars and bring our soldiers home.  He has given no indication at all that he is going to do that anytime soon.  But we are at fault as well.  In this democracy "by the people and for the people", we are supposed to speak up if we don't like something.  It is time to speak up.  It is time to get mad.  It is time to demand that they bring our men and women back home.  It is time to say 'quit wasting those billions of dollars on war and destruction and put it to use for people in this country.  Quit sending billions overseas to other countries in aide (to buy their allegiance) and spend that money on our country's people'.

Bring our men and women home!

Laying Down Your Life

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself , take up his cross daily and follow after me."

Those are the words of Jesus.  People were asking Him what they needed to do to be with Him.  He went on to say, If you try to hang onto your life, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.  Amazing.  These are the words that I read when I was 22 years old that really made it all clear to me.  Christianity isn't raising your hand and wanting to 'be saved'.  Being a follower of Jesus Christ is a commitment, it is making a concrete decision to surrender everything and follow after Him.  It is giving up complete control of your destiny, of your life.  It is putting all of your hopes and dreams into His hands and saying not my will but yours.

I was in the Philippines in July of 1982.  I went on a short terms missions trip with a group of 22 christian teenagers and four adult leaders that I had never met.  We all signed up independently of each other with a group called Missions Outreach Incorporated in Bethany, Missouri.  We met up with a missionary couple on the island of Panay which is south of Manila.  While there we helped to build a church for the missionaries.  The conditions were pretty primitive but it was one of the best experiences of my life.  While I was there, I made a commitment to God that with the rest of my life I would go anywhere and do anything that He wanted me to do.  Looking back at it, I was surrendering the rest of my life to Him, my hopes, my dreams, my goals, I willingly laid it down for Him to try my best to do things His way from then on.  That has been my goal, although I fall short of that many times.

I have a friend who is a missionary in New Zealand.  He and his family have already served as missionary pastors in Germany for nine years.  They have been in New Zealand for one year.  While there he met the husband of a woman that attends their church.  She is a christian, her husband is not.  Her husband's health is failing and he needs a kidney.  My friend, the missionary, has volunteered to give him one of his kidneys.  I was astounded when I heard this.  I wrote him yesterday and asked if he was really sure he wanted to do this.  He responded today and quoted Jesus as willingly laying down His life for us.  He said that is what has inspired him to do what he is doing, namely, laying down his life for another.  He is giving a stranger one of his kidneys.  This has challenged me to dig deeper and examine my own heart and motives.  I want to do a better job of laying down my life on a daily basis. 

When I surrendered my life to Jesus in 1982, I thought that He was calling me into traditional full-time ministry like a missionary or a pastor.  I had no idea what God had planned for me.  I went to a Bible school in Dallas, Texas, called Christ for the Nations.  I graduated with an Associates Degree in Theology and was ready for ministry.  To make a long story short, this is my 18th year in education.  I am currently teaching Middle School P.E. in Southern California.  God has reminded me time and time again this year to be content with what I have been called too.  God has challenged me to accept what I am doing.  Whether  or not I like it, or understand it, I feel like this is where He wants me to be.  I have approximately 350 students every day in my 7 classes.  I see all 1,500 students every day out on the P.E. fields.  My ministry right now is to do my best to show all of them the love of Jesus.  My challenge right now is to willingly lay down my life everyday.  My challenge right now is to take up my cross everyday and follow after Jesus.
That is my ministry.  That is what God has called me to.  That is where He has directed me to serve Him.

What is your challenge today?  What is God calling you to do?  Are you laying down your life and ambitions to follow after Him?  Are you doing things His way or your way?  He wants you to surrender the way you do things to do things His way.  He wants you to deny yourself and follow after Him.  His way is the way of being a servant.  His way is the way of giving.  His way is to lay down His life completely for others.  His way is to forgive.  His way is to heal.

Laying down our lives is a daily decision.  We choose to live for ourselves or to live for Him.  Laying down our lives is a sacrifice.  A sacrifice includes a certain level of pain or discomfort.  When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane he asked God if there was another way other than the cross.  Jesus was suffering.  He was in such pain and turmoil that He was literally sweating blood.  He saw the huge sacrifice He was about to make.  He chose to submit to His Father in Heaven and lay down His life.  He said Not my will but thine be done.  He made the ultimate sacrifice.  To follow Him, we must be willing to lay down our lives for others.  He is asking us to take up the cross daily and follow after Him. 

When All That Can Be Shaken is Shaken...

What are your thoughts concerning the horrific earthquake and tsunami in Japan?  Did you think about the individual people and families that were devastated?  Did you wonder what it was like to be shaken by this violent earthquake that lasted, by some accounts, for over 4 minutes?  Did you think about the helplessness of those overtaken by the swarming wall of water?  It all happened in a moment.  No one knew it was coming.  The Japanese people are better prepared for earthquake safety than any other nation in the World and they still could not withstand the force and destruction of this earthquake and tsunami.  Whole cities were washed away.  Houses were literally blown apart.  All of this happened in a matter of moments, minutes and seconds.   An earthquake, a tsunami and the ongoing tragedy of the nuclear facilities exposing thousands to radiation.  All of this in a matter of moments on a day like any other day.  No one knew this was coming.

For those of us who live in California the question is not 'if that could happen here', the question is 'when will that happen here?'  We seem to have the attitude here that we are too good for something like that to happen to us.  It happens in far away places like Haiti or New Zealand or Japan but not here.  We feel we are somewhat prepared for this kind of an earthquake but are hoping it will never happen to us.  Of course, that is foolish thinking.  We need to be fully prepared.  On a deeper level, the question for everyone is are you prepared for the earthquakes in your life?  Is there a way to really be prepared for this kind of unexpected tragedy in our own lives?

I have heard reports that George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, is convinced that the World will end in December of 2012.  I don't remember the details but I think he is basing it on an ancient Mayan calender that ended in December of 2012.  Usually it is Hollywood that is making fun of people claiming that the end is coming.  They usually show some nut carrying a sign with that slogan on it.  The fact is, the end is coming for each one of us and the question is, are you ready?  The World may not end in 2012 but, the World will end for each of us at some point.  Am I ready?  Are you ready?  There is an excellent website at http://www.endoftheworld2012.net/ that answers all of those questions.  I happened upon it one day when I was researching what I had heard concerning George Lucas and 2012.  I recommend you check out the website for yourself.  It is VERY interesting and very well done.  It includes the fact that Jesus actually said that no one knows when the end of the World will occur, not Him, not the angels, only His (our) Father in heaven knows.

Jesus said the following words which were recorded by his disciple Mark in the 13th chapter and verse 8;

^"8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles.^[a] These are the beginnings of sorrows."

The beginnings of sorrows.  It sure feels like that.  There has been an increase of earthquakes, wars and famines during the last century.  Jesus also said that "the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in heaven will be shaken."  He said this over 2,000 years ago.  Are you ready?

Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me."  There is another verse in the Bible that says "Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord (Jesus) shall be saved."  Jesus promises us also "I will never leave you or forsake you".

There is a way of escape from all the calamities in life.  There is a way to be fully prepared for any disaster.  It's not by building stronger buildings or bigger retaining walls next to the ocean.  It's not by storing up canned foods and water supplies.  The only safety is to surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ and to follow Him and his teachings.

The King of Kings

As the World around us seems to be falling apart and Wars continue to rage, we can all look forward to the time when the King of all kings will rule.  The governments of our World will continue to disappoint us with corruption and greed.  There is no good government on this Earth.  There is no perfect form of government.  The democratic form of government is the best this World has to offer and we can all see that it too has many flaws.  Our debt continues to rise, our education system is weakening, unemployment is rising and care for the poor and the sick is lowering.  I don't want to focus on the negative, just on the truth. 

Our only real hope for lasting prosperity and health is the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of all kings.  He is the President of all of the presidents.  As promised in the Bible, one day He will return with the loud sound of a trumpet and with thousands of angels.  This is no fairy tale.  This is not make believe.  This has nothing to do with Santa or the Easter Bunny or other folk tales.  He is the way , the truth and the life.  There is no other name, given among men, whereby we might be saved.  This is called the great and terrible day of the Lord.  It will be great for those He returns for and terrible for those who have rejected Him and mocked Him. 

Jesus is a historical person.  He really existed.  He walked on this Earth.  The World would have you ignore Him or brush Him aside as a religious pretender.  As Josh Mcdowell said in his book "Evidence That Demands a Verdict", Jesus was one of three things;  He was a phony, or, He was deceived, or, He was who He said He was, the only Son of God.  He was not just a great teacher.  Read His own words.  Jesus said He is the Son of God.  Read the Book of John (his friend and disciple) and decide for yourself.  This is too important to just brush off.  Or, you can read Mcdowells book ("Evidence That Demands a Verdict").  Mcdowell used to debate against Christians vehemently until he looked at the evidence and the facts himself and became a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The eternal government of the Lord Jesus Christ, our soon and coming King, will be the only good and perfect government that we will ever know.  I want you to be a part of it.

"For God so loved the World, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life"   John 3:16



The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict Fully Updated To Answer The Questions Challenging Christians Today

The United States of Hypocrisy

Libyan leader Ghadaffi is villainized as being cruel and heartless to his own people.  I agree that he has been cruel to his people.  Yet, the United States is unwilling to examine the acts of cruelty that go on in our country everyday.  Is there another country with more violence than ours?  Is there another country where guns are more easily accessible?  Is there another country that is promoting wars as much as ours?  Is there another country that is selling more weapons for war to other countries than ours?  Is there another country that has legalized the killing of over 50 million babies and given finances to other countries promoting the killing of more babies? 

We need to take an honest look at ourselves.  Being the richest and most powerful country in the World does not justify all of our actions.  We are a democracy...we are in this together.  I am not pointing the finger and putting the blame on others...the blame is on all of us and that starts with me.  It's time to speak up and be honest about where we are at.  I need to change my ways...we need to change our ways.

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall turn from their wicked ways and repent, I will hear their prayers and heal their land"

Faith Of My Father

This is the birth of my blog, March 20th, 2011.  I want to honor my birth Father and my Father in Heaven.  I want to encourage others to think and act with an open mind while using the Holy Word of God as our template of truth.

I am appalled at the continual war-mongering of the United States.  I voted for President Obama with the hope that he would do more to reach out to the poor and the down and out and to bring the troops back home.  But, as I write today, I honestly do not see a difference between the last President and this one.  I voted for W. Bush the first term because I believed what he said concerning the unborn in this country.  He did nothing to stop abortion, the killing of innocent babies.  As I write today there have been reports of over 50 MILLION babies killed in this country since it was made legal.  We ought to hang our heads in shame.  We ought to repent individually and as a nation.  God have mercy on us and help us to repent and change our ways.