Ahead By A Nose!

Having had my nose broken four times in the past 40 years has left me with some interesting breathing problems, not to mention an extremely enlarged proboscis(did I spell that right?)! I never give it too much thought, it's just out there in front of me most of the time and it's great for inserting into other people's business(that's one of the reasons it got broke), but the past few years the pressure from not having my "drain" thing working right has given me some cause for concern. I suppose we all have our physical things we would like to get fixed one way or another. That's what gave rise to these thoughts today! How easy it is to focus entirely on what we see on the outside of people instead of looking where it really matters, on the inside! That's one of the great things about God! He doesn't worry about how we are on the exterior, He likes the inside of us to be straight with Him even when our noses aren't. The skull news piece was on Yahoo today and I couldn't resist looking and reading simply because I do think about my nose problem at times. Thankfully I submit that after reading the article I feel greatly relieved, looking in the mirror, that there may be some way to fix the "thing" without major surgery to correct all of the flaws. It's that way in our lives, too. God can look at us in an instant and see the minor defects that we have and correct them immediately through the insertion of grace into our beings and belief in His Son, my Savior, Christ. As Easter approaches I would encourage each of us to look at our insides and see if there are flaws that we might be able to correct with the simple insertion and infusing of the Holy Spirit in our day to day lives. In essence, we might allow God to fill us up and drain off some of that excess baggage we carry with us everywhere we go. At any rate, I love the imagery. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

All Gone Astray?

It was reported by the Associated Press that last July, near the town of Gavas, eastern Turkey, one sheep among a large flock walked to the edge of a cliff and jumped to its death. A second sheep quickly imitated the first, also leaping off the cliff to its death. Then a third sheep followed. Then a fourth. Then a fifth.
"There is no such thing as a sheep that possesses leadership qualities-all are born followers." I'm quoting David Kirkwood, and although I doubt deeply that he has ever spent any time with sheep, has shared some interesting insights concerning people. I was "farm" raised. Growing up one of my duties was to tend the sheep. That was before I was given the free rein of a horse and cattle to watch over. It's a thing you deal with knowing that more responsibility will be given you when you have "grown up" a little more.
David is right about much. When it comes to sheep they are flat out stupid! Did I mention that he was writing about people? Much of the "christian" world is in the same pasture as the shepherds were as they watched their flock go over the cliff, one at a time! Quoting Mr. Kirkwood again he goes on to say, "Sadly, we'll follow just about anyone who appears to know what he is talking about." Have we by default of some sort, or excuse making, given over our reason to people who have not a clue as to where we're going? Somehow I would like for this to not be the "fact of matters" but am beginning to become convinced that people do not really want to see the cliff, or hear the implications that come with jumping off it! (1,499 sheep can't be wrong, can they?)
Our world today is filled with folks that want to share their truth with us. People! It is not their truth you need to concern yourself with. It is yours! You and I need to work through our salvation with all of our strength, all of our intellect, and every resource that is available to enlighten us as to where it is we are going.
I have to quote David one more time, "Sheep are dumb, and I mean d-u-m, dumb. They are easily misled and so are we. As hard as it may be to admit, we generally tend to be followers who let others do our thinking for us. Sadly, we'll follow just about anyone who appears to know what he is talking about." Did you hear that last part? Yup, I reapeated it because that is what has us acting like sheep. Instead of searching for the truth we let others do it for us, and then repeat it as though it were our own. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT, follow every path, act, move, made by someone else or on behalf of someone else. Seek first for what God has called you to do, be, say, give, live, believe, and all the rest that goes with it. Then, and only then can you be certain that you are following the true "Lamb of God!" In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Readin' & Ridin' & Rythmatic

Did I get the "Three Rs" spelled rite? I pray so! This is so cool! They've got a ride coming up that I need to be on but life is attacking our home in so many ways it is unbelievable. My wife is on a heart monitor right now, she had severe difficulties as a result of a new health product that she wanted to believe in. That's my personal spin on how things are today, and other opinions may vary depending on who writes them.
The thing about the ride is real. With tongue in cheek(the entire HD family is predominantly christian to the core depending on how you view walkin' the walk)have brought us, via the HOG(Harley Owners Group)an opportunity to visit some fantastic landscape. Not to mention the fellowship and camraderie that accompanies every venture into the unknowns of life. I've covered most of the routes they are going to ride and have to agree it is spectacular! Most of all I would like to agree with the use of titling. "Saints to Sinners" is the label stuck to this one. How appropo that it runs from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Las Vegas, Nevada. I'm still laughing over this conjecture of oxymorons. I'm not knocking the territory, I'm enjoying it. Reriding in my mind the highways and cities as they were the last time I was there. In addition to that I'm enjoying the company of the folks that are brothers and sisters spread all over the place. One of my buddies(now quite successful)started a church in his home in Las Vegas after retiring from the ministry at an early age due to theological differences with his denominational affiliations. The guy(Jerry)is not pleasant to look at! He fits better in the biker circles than in the ecumenical libraries, but his life is in Christ. I've got to E this one to him, so he can be ready. Back when all we had was snail mail and the occasional conversation on the phone(land line), I shared with him the agony of birth. Little did we know 25 years ago that Las Vegas would be the most fertile of fields in which to begin planting the seeds of salvation. My hat is off to the HOG heads. You came up with a good one and I will be sharing this with everyone. "Saints to Sinners!" Puts me in mind of Paul when he moved to Rome. Write it as a title and it becomes a book written to help others. Write it as it is being promoted and it should be a cause for common celebration during this wonderful Easter Tide. How? Why, of course, we are all "Sinners to Saints" in the eyes of He who holds the future. He even knows what we will become. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

It's Great To Get Away

This shot was sent "tongue in cheek" from Canada this past week. It seems that some experiences of church camp are not what they're cracked up to be. The blessing isn't shown in the picture. There was no body home! This occurred during breakfast. The most amusing thing about the photo were the accompanying anecdotes and descriptions of people's thoughts on why things happen as they do. We never really know why things happen when they come from the "accidental" realm of our human existence. That is, unless we have a persistent tendency toward the spiritual unseen world that surrounds us at all times. I used to get a kick out of people that were always making something out of nothing. I do know now that there is much more than meets the eye when it comes to little things that just seem to happen in people's lives. Can you imagine the distress the angel holding that particular tree would have been in if the folks in the tent had decided to sleep late? Protection is afforded us in so many ways, and yet we don't really see it as such. Perhaps that has something to do with the need to avoid any pretense of superstitious leanings. We pick them up so quickly that we are really not aware of the baggage they bring into our lives that must accompany us for years. The thing about not walking under a ladder, or black cats crossing one's path, and heaven forbid I should ever break a mirror and be subjected to 7 years worth of misfortune. And it swings the other way, also. We ate out at a casino last evening for the simple reason that it was convenient(half way between us & them)for us to gather there for the absolutely wonderful quisine and the interesting atmosphere. Talk about a place where "luck" is in everyone's back pocket or carried on a key chain. I watched many of the games with a sense of wonder. In particular I was impressed with the manner in which one young man of about 24 years became irritated with a machine that he was feeding $20 bills into. It didn't want to take them all. I thought he was going to say something to the dealer who was an onscreen image, but he refrained. Amazing to watch! All in all it was a wonderful gathering and an opportunity to see a side of humanity that I don't get around much anymore. They're still the same, though. Just as willing as always to rid their pockets and purses of undesirable cash. Ya know, it makes me wonder if I'm not safer sticking to campgrounds! It's a pretty good bet that the tent will be safe from trees falling. Certainly a better way to bet than on a screen similar to this one where the odds of getting three trees in a row is astronomical. Maybe that's why folks refer to it as gambling. How about that eternal bet? I would wager that many folks have no clue if their tent is going to be secure in the next world, that one not made with human hands but existing eternally. The best way to do it is place your faith in the Lord you can know and trust, with your life. He will not desert you, or abandon you, or cause calamity to strike in your life. He is there only to help and preserve that which has been His since He created all of it. In Christ's Love(don't take any wooden nickels), Preacher

Guy In The Sky

How do you envision God and His Son, my Savior Christ? Do you see them as real and visible to the naked eye? Some would interpret all they see around them as the handiwork of God and thus see Him. That is true to the extent that it is correct, but it goes much further than this simple interpretation. For those of us of the Christian ilk I would submit that we see God's presence in all things seen and unseen. To be very specific we have to be able to look at ourselves and others around us and "see" the goodness that God has provided for each of our lives as they relate to all creation. Still, that is not very specific! Therefore, perhaps we can't "pinpoint" anything as tangible proof of God's existence in our lives other than what we can see through the eyes of faith. Now that for me is painting a more vivid picture. Through the eyes of faith is where we must begin if we are to see God. For some this is impossible, for others, impractical! My Native American brothers and sisters believe! That is their starting point! For many in our western world this is the great stumbling block. That which you cannot see with your eyes, feel with your hands, taste in your mouth, smell in your nostrils or hear with your ears is just as real as the senses we have been gifted with as part and parcel of our humaness. It is in the transcendence of the physical that we meet God in the fullness of a reality that is greater than ourselves. If you have not "found" God in your experience of life it very well could be that you are making it harder than it actually is. I often ponder on the statement, "We need God far more than God needs us." Would you like to "see" the guy in the sky come alive in your life? All one needs do is ask in all sincerity and He will become a reality. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Laughing At Ourselves

It's been a long day in my "personal" studio. Recording stuff doesn't take a lot of time. Getting it "right" takes forever! At last count I believe my grand daughter and I came up a total of about 20 hours on the newest song. It has left me partially brain dead, and I'm praying that rest and relaxation will bring me back to the way I was(whatever that might have been)before the necessity of creating what I call "Christian Rock Opera" and my wife tells me that is not a choice for categories. Most important, though(at least for me), was having the project complete. Back to a little light reading and I found the following: "Most of us have been born in what might be called 'Christian environment,' such as Christian homes, Christian churches and Christian schools. Unfortunately, however, not all of us are 'Christians.' It is truly shocking to recognize that the Christian environment has produced some atheists and anti-christ-activists. The misguided mind negatively reacts to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christian environment(even though it is good)does not and cannot make you Christian. We humbly admit and confess to the world that we have failed. The enormous problem seems to the church's failure to proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ." This was published by a servant of our Lord who has spent as many years in ministry as I have in living. His name is Mr. (Chaplain) Tsukamoto. We come from two very different worlds and yet I heard his spirit as I read his words. My first thought was how firmly on the head he had struck this particular nail. For some this would mean taking a defensive stance in support of the effort being made in America to reach the "unsaved." I can't do that for the simple reason that I don't see it happening. Even the folks who profess to have become "new creatures in Christ," (II Corinthians 5:17)are not following the Savior's most fervent desire for God's children. Is it little wonder that church membership is on a downward spiral that has most leaders in ecumenical circles tearing their corporate hair out? My thought is this....no matter how we see ourselves in the light of Christ's influence in our lives, if we are not working for the Great Commission to reach completion then we are working against it! I don't want to offend anyone, but I can't say this without it hitting "home" where many feel they are doing everything in their power. None of us is putting out 100% for Jesus, for sure! The tasks of the kingdom that we have left "undone" far outweigh the number of tasks we have completed. Until we come to a fullness of understanding of what has been happening the past 50 years in the US we are not going to move forward. Statistics can prove anything. Numbers can be manipulated(ENRON)to show whatever is "pleasing" to the eye. The gut level reality is that America the Beautiful is becoming to a greater and greater degree something less! You can choose your label, but you cannot change the circumstances unless you are ready to stand in faith. An old preacher used to say, "If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything." In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Playing The Keys

Whoosh! I've got only one direction I want to go with my thoughts this evening, and they all are tied up in keys. The last 4 weeks have been entwined in the black and white realities of my instruments. Music, music, and more music, shared with a lot of folks, my wife, and several really fine players. It seems like this is the part of living that makes the most sense in regard to what God would have me doing with my life. Faith is a big part of that reality, that and the desire to share the Gospel message every way possible, including in song. I like to see people smiling for real. You know the kind of smiles I mean! When their eyes are sparkling and they are laughing out loud even when I can't hear them. Sometimes we just bubble on the inside and no one really hears the laughter in our hearts from the sheer enjoyment of the moment.
It's really easy to get caught up in the music of life to such a degree that we miss the magic as it happens right in front of us. I'm not referring to the "busy" stuff we do. There are a lot of things we "have" to take care of, and they do require a bit of our time, but there is more! This is strictly personal, now. I get the most pleasure out of life when I realize without a doubt that I'm doing what God would have me do. The smiles and enjoyment in people(not to mention all the other emotions that accompany our lives)is so good that I would love to have everyone experience that joy found in living every day. Lately I've been reading a lot of other folks thoughts, and talking with them even more than usual. What I have rediscovered is the key to happiness that works for me. Maybe what I've done is over simplify, but I don't think so. Probably the nicest thing I could ever imagine anyone saying about me is that the world was a better place for my having been here. I'm not saying that I've got the key for everyone, 'cause I can be as big a patoot as anyone. The thing is, I can see with absolute clarity the truth of what we have been given in Christ for living in wholeness. For me it's very black and white(pun intended)!! Whatever the reason you think you're here on this earth, think again. God's purpose for you may be ever changing. Everyone has different tastes when it comes to music. Everyone has thoughts about their mortality. Everyone has an opportunity to impact the lives of individuals every day, for better or worse. It's pretty black and white, good versus evil in our world, and if we aren't busy about intentionally making our world a better place we need to be held accountable. We will be one day, for sure! It may not be tomorrow, but it is coming, that time when we'll have to face up to how we lived the gift we were given. It's good to know that when we make mistakes musically we can go back to the woodshed and practice. It's better to know that our mistakes in life can be forgiven. It's best to know that even at our very worst we are still helping somebody out there to have a good laugh.
In music finding the right key for a song is truly important. In life finding the right keys for living begins with faith in God. In Christ's Love, Preacher.