Military Service…

On some air bases the Air Force is on one side of the field and civilian aircraft use the other side of the field, with the control tower in the middle.
One day the tower received a call from an aircraft asking, “What time is it?”
The tower responded, “Who is calling?”
The aircraft replied, “What difference does it make?”
The tower replied, “It makes a lot of difference.
If it is an American Airlines flight, it is 3 o’clock.
If it is an Air Force plane, it is 1500 hours.
If it is a Navy aircraft, it is 6 bells.
If it is an Army aircraft, the big hand is on the 12 and the little hand is on the 3.
If it is a Marine Corps aircraft, it’s Thursday afternoon.”

Someone asked the question “what would you do if you found a scorpion in your tent?” to members of different branches of the military, and these are the responses he got.

Army said, “I’d step on it.”

The Marine said, “I would crush it with the heel of my boot.”

The Ranger said, “I’d smash its head, cut off its tail and eat it.”

Then Air Force said, “I would call room service, tell them to take it away, then ask why there is a tent in my hotel room.”

Some photos from our service…

Well, not us but our friend Bruce from Denver Colorado. Bruce is a legend in Colorado racing circles and a member of the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame. Any form of two wheels you can think of, Bruce has raced it, and some four wheeled vehicles also. He is a great Christian Brother. Bruce can also fix and or repair anything with a motor, build houses, do detail work and make it all look easy.  We had so much fun, vintage racing is so cool. Like senior rodeo, guys that can hardly move, limp, groan, look old, or otherwise look bad physically. They are transformed when the bikes come off the starting gate. They joke around, care for each other, fix each other’s machine, congratulate each other. We followed Bruce to his home, watched the sun set over the Rocky Mountains, had a very quiet night and good fellowship over morning coffee…

I found this a while back and liked it…Thought I might share it…

“I am a Christian and I don’t drink. I am also a pastor and ex-alcoholic. I need to make that disclaimer right up front.  Although it makes me biased, it also makes me an expert on this hotly debated issue.

Some of the worst “shudder moments” of my life have been under the influence, and as a pastor, some of the worst “shudder moments” I have witnessed in the lives of others have been because of alcohol. You have come too late to tell me it’s God’s best for a Christian to drink.

We are living in a church age where drinking has become “hipster” for some.  Christian young adults post pictures of their signature drink on Facebook. Middle-aged Christian women name drop their favorite brand of Pinot Grigio to impress their wine snob friends. Churches send direct-mail postcards that read, “Give our church a shot!” featuring an edgy shot glass graphic. Even some pastors drink. Not this one.

I stopped drinking when I became a Christian 26 years ago. No one told me to abstain. I just knew it would be contradictory and self-defeating to my relationship with Christ. I had given my life to follow Jesus and nothing was going to hinder my walk. For me, it was a no-brainer.

This article is not a theological defense on the topic of Christians and alcohol (another article for another time), but it is a heartfelt plea. I humbly ask you to table any knee jerk, pro-alcohol, fight-for-my-right-to-drink arguments that you have ever heard, or made, and prayerfully consider this list.”

50 reasons why I don’t drink:

1. I can’t be sober-minded if I’m not sober.
2. Alcohol has an assignment: destruction.
3. Alcohol is a depressant. Anything that depresses should be avoided at all costs.
4. I don’t want to make my brother or sister stumble in the name of exercising my “Christian liberties.” My choice to drink could lead to someone’s demise.
5. Alcohol skews my judgment.
6. Alcohol leaves me worse, not better.
7. What I do in moderation, my children will do in excess.
8. Even the unsaved know I shouldn’t drink. Bible in one hand, beer in the other — any lost person could point this out as a confusing contradiction.
9. Alcohol doesn’t bring others closer to the Lord when they see me drinking, but farther away.
10. Alcohol doesn’t bring me closer to the Lord when I drink, but farther away.
11. I want to be fully awake and ready for the return of Christ, not drowsy, sluggish and fuzzy.
12. Show me a family where alcohol has made a positive difference in their lives. You won’t be able to.
13. I have never heard anyone say, “Wow, that gin and tonic made me feel so Christ-like!”
14. I want to avoid all appearances of evil.
15. Alcohol makes it much harder for me to practice the fruit of self-control.
16. Alcohol causes me to lose my filter.
17. Alcohol is a mind-altering, legal drug.
18. Alcohol is addictive.
19. Alcohol is a numbing agent for pain and sorrow that only Jesus can heal.
20. Many regrets are associated with alcohol. (I can give you a whole bunch!)
21. No one has ever said, “If only I had taken a drink, things wouldn’t have gotten out of control.”
22. Alcohol causes me to act in ways I normally wouldn’t.
23. Alcohol kills brain cells.
24. Alcohol is a counterfeit, and provides a false peace.
25. The Bible says that no drunkards will enter the kingdom of God. Being drunk starts with one drink. I don’t want to see how far outside the lines I can color when eternity is at stake.
26. Alcohol is a waster – money, gifts and talents, destinies, etc.
27. Alcohol leads to really bad behavior. It is a factor in 50% of violent crimes.
28. Alcohol distracts and derails you from living the the victorious life for which Christ died.
29. Wisdom is the principle thing that I need to pursue at all cost; alcohol makes me stupid.
30. Alcohol has ruined many, many marriages.
31. The only influence I should be “under” is God’s.
32. The Bible tells me to be alert; alcohol delays my reaction time.
33. If I don’t start drinking, I’ll never have to stop.
34. Alcohol severely tarnishes my testimony.
35. Don’t want your teenagers to drink? Yep, same reasons apply to you.
36. God is holy; alcohol is not.
37. Alcohol and prayer don’t mix.
38. Alcohol and Bible study don’t mix.
39. Alcohol lowers my resolve to resist temptation.
40. Alcohol = Brokenness (broken lives, health, dreams, etc.)
41. When the world sees us drinking, it sends the message that Jesus isn’t enough.
42. Moderate drinking? How about moderate pornography or moderate heroin use or moderate lying or moderate adultery?
43. Christians are called to live a life of total surrender and separation from the world.
44. Alcohol makes me forget. It can make me forget that I am married, that I am saved, etc.
45. “I don’t get drunk. I only have one or two drinks.” If they didn’t affect you, you would drink soda.
46. I should never look to the glass or bottle for joy, which can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ.
47. Alcohol fills my mind with impure thoughts.
48. If it could hinder my faith walk, love walk or dishonor the lordship of Jesus Christ, I need to forsake it.
49. Alcohol doesn’t help me run the race that Jesus has marked before me to finish with more accuracy. It does the polar opposite.
50. For any argument that tries to justify Christian drinking, there are at least 50 other reasons not to. The writing is on the wall. It’s not God’s best for Christians to drink.

I have been pondering these issues for some time now and thought I would write about it. Norm and I have been observing photos posted on social media sites, the dressing of some of the younger women in our own fellowship, our recent week spent at youth camp, and our visit to a local church in Edmond Oklahoma. Just this morning we read an article posting of the same subject on crosswalk.com regarding cleavage in church. We posted it to our FB site. At youth camp we explained and asked our girls to not dress inappropriately and they complied. But, they were also quick to point out the mega amount of girls that did not. We did not need the girls to show us what we could see for ourselves. I attended the morning briefing for all of our leaders every morning along with leaders from 21 other church’s. On day two, the camp leader said, “Dress code! Do I need to say more?” At which I replied firmly, “Yes, you do!” None of our adult leaders liked the fact that we had to point out the obvious to other church’s kids. After years of attending camp, the problem is getting worse, not better.

At church service this past Sunday, probably a couple thousand (?) in the service we attended. I mentioned to Norm, if I took a photo of some of the outfits that ladies wore and showed them around, and asked where do you think these were taken, I’m thinking church would not be on the short list. A lot of the men seem to have the opposite attitude. Making a minimal effort to dress at all. I have a theory that this is a road that Christians (?) have been travelling down for quite a while. The Bible no longer holds a special place in our hearts or our homes. We no longer have a reverence for God inwardly and it shows with our dress and our attitudes outwardly. Worship is also in question. Loud music, light shows, songs that are hard for older generations to sing. Our worship service yesterday was very much like the week at youth camp, loud, lights, and a Gospel message. I have no idea if this kind of service is honoring God. It seems that lots of professions of Faith are made, I wonder how many of those new believers go on to serve the Lord? I also ponder the thought of youth camps (lights, loud) services (called Worship) are the reason the college age kids leave the church. I know our service cannot compete with camp (lights and loud).

Just some rambling thoughts, and lots of pondering…

Little girls are the nicest things that happen to people. They are born with a little bit of angel–shine about them and though it wears thin sometimes, there is always enough left to lasso your heart—even when they are sitting in the mud, or crying temperamental tears, or parading up the street in mother’s best clothes.

A little girl can be sweeter (and badder) oftener than anyone else in the world. She can jitter around, and stomp, and make funny noises and frazzle your nerves, yet just when you open your mouth, she stands there demure with that special look in her eyes. A girl is Innocence playing in the mud, Beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot.

God borrows from many creatures to make a little girl. He uses the song of a bird, the squeal of a pig, the stubbornness of a mule, the antics of a monkey, the spryness of a grasshopper, the curiosity of a cat, the slyness of a fox, the softness of a kitten. And to top it off, He adds the mysterious mind of a woman.

A little girl likes new shoes, party dresses, small animals, dolls, make–believe, ice cream, make–up, going visiting, tea parties, and one boy. She doesn’t care so much for visitors, boys in general, large dogs, hand–me–downs, straight chairs, vegetables, snow suits, or staying in the front yard. She is loudest when you are thinking, prettiest when she has provoked you, busiest at bedtime, quietest when you want to show her off, and most flirtatious when she absolutely must not get the best of you again.

She can muss up your home, your hair, and your dignity—spend your money, your time, and your temper—then just when your patience is ready to crack, her sunshine peeks through and you’re lost again.

Yes, she is a nerve–racking nuisance, just a noisy bundle of mischief. But when your dreams tumble down and the world is a mess, when it seems you are pretty much of a fool after all, she can make you a king when she climbs on your knee and whispers, “I love you best of all!”

Alan Beck.

This is an interesting article. I would love some feed back. What do you think about the “Done’s?”

The Rise of the ‘Done With Church’ Population by Thom Schultz

John is every pastor’s dream member. He’s a life-long believer, well-studied in the Bible, gives generously and leads others passionately.

But last year he dropped out of church. He didn’t switch to the other church down the road. He dropped out completely. His departure wasn’t the result of an ugly encounter with a staff person or another member. It wasn’t triggered by any single event.

John had come to a long-considered, thoughtful decision. He said, “I’m just done. I’m done with church.”

John is one in a growing multitude of ex-members. They’re sometimes called the de-churched. They have not abandoned their faith. They have not joined the also-growing legion of those with no religious affiliation—often called the Nones. Rather, John has joined the Dones.

At Group’s recent Future of the Church conference, sociologist Josh Packard shared some of his groundbreaking research on the Dones. He explained these de-churched were among the most dedicated and active people in their congregations. To an increasing degree, the church is losing its best.

For the church, this phenomenon sets up a growing danger. The very people on whom a church relies for lay leadership, service and financial support are going away. And the problem is compounded by the fact that younger people in the next generation, the Millennials, are not lining up to refill the emptying pews.

Why are the Dones done? Packard describes several factors in his upcoming bookChurch Refugees (Group). Among the reasons: After sitting through countless sermons and Bible studies, they feel they’ve heard it all. One of Packard’s interviewees said, “I’m tired of being lectured to. I’m just done with having some guy tell me what to do.”

The Dones are fatigued with the Sunday routine of plop, pray and pay. They want to play. They want to participate. But they feel spurned at every turn.

Will the Dones return? Not likely, according to the research. They’re done. Packard says it would be more fruitful if churches would focus on not losing these people in the first place. Preventing an exodus is far easier than attempting to convince refugees to return.

Pastors and other ministry leaders would benefit from asking and listening to these long-time members before they flee. This will require a change of habit. When it comes to listening, church leaders are too often in the habit of fawning over celebrity pastors for answers. It would be far more fruitful to take that time and spend it with real people nearby—existing members. Ask them some good questions, such as:

1. Why are you a part of this church?
2. What keeps you here?
3. Have you ever contemplated stepping away from church? Why or why not?
4. How would you describe your relationship with God right now?
5. How has your relationship with God changed over the past few years?
6. What effect, if any, has our church had on your relationship with God?
7. What would need to change here to help you grow more toward Jesus’ call to love God and love others?

It’s time to listen. Even as I’m writing this today, another high-capacity lay leader emailed me with his decision to leave his church. He’s done. Like many others I know, he’s also a nationally known Christian leader. But he’s done.

Your church, even if it’s one of the rare growing ones, is sitting on a ticking time bomb. The exodus of the Dones, the rise of the Nones and the disappearance of the Millennials do not look good for a church afraid to listen.

It’s not too late to start.               

When I stand before the throne

Dressed in beauty not my own;

When I see Thee as Thou art,

Love Thee with unsinning heart;

Then, Lord, shall I fully know-

Not till then-how much I owe.

C. H. Spurgeon.

Continue reading “Random Photos….”

“By forcing on mankind more and more lethal weapons, and at the same time making the world more and more interdependent economically, technology has brought mankind to such a degree of distress that we are ripe for deifying any new caesar who might succeed in bringing the world unity and peace.” Arnold Toynbee.

“The Antichrist will come disguised as the great humanitarian. He will talk peace, prosperity, and plenty, not as a means to lead us to God, but as ends in themselves. He will explain guilt away psychologically, make men shrink in shame if their fellowmen say they are not broad–minded and liberal. He will spread the lie that men will never be better until they make society better.” Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.

“The passage in Revelation does not interest me a bit as to what the number of the Beast is or who he is or anything about him, but it makes me want to know Jesus Christ more, because my plan is to be with Him—not because of who I am or what I have done, but because Jesus Christ died for me on the cross, and by His grace I will go into His presence.” Dr. J. Vernon McGee. 

Warning: Do not attempt to study Revelation without a good working knowledge of the other 65 Books of the Bible. There is a reason it comes at the end…

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1)                                                                              

“I love this- “be strong in grace.” My friend, if you think that you can grit your teeth and go out and live the Christian life on your own, you’re in for a great disappointment. If you feel that you can follow a few little rules or some clever gimmicks to make you a mature Christian, then you have fallen into subtle trap of legalism. Paul gives no rules, and the Word of God has no rules to tell the child of God how to live the Christian life. We are saved by grace, and now we are to live by the grace of God and be strong in that grace….When I hear Christians say, “I don’t do this, and I don’t do that, and I am following a set of rules,” I immediately recognize that they know very little about the grace of God. They are trying to live the Christian life in their own strength. But Paul says, “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”  Dr. J. Vernon McGee.

What a great surprise yesterday when I got a call from my good friend Heath, an active duty solder. I smiled through our conversation as Heath filled me in on all that he has accomplished and his plans for the future. The fellowship of connecting with another man of God is like a breath of fresh air. Please take the time to pray for Heath and other men and women in our military that they can perform their duty safely, and stand for God. I give thanks to God that He has allowed me to share His love and enjoy the friendship of a man like Heath.

Heath, one of the 300, an elite, special warrior! Love you Brother… 

^{Judges 6} And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.

⁷ And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man to his place.

Every year my trip to Zona includes a two hour stop at Malcolm Smith Motorsports. This year I had a special bonus as Jibrael, known to me as “J-Man” went with me to see the mecca of motor sports. A better companion I could not have asked for. Intelligent, polite, good looking and above all, a Born Again Child of God. We had some great theological  discussions as J-Man helped me most of the week as I performed my Zona Camp duty. Thanks, J-Man, for showing, and living with me 1 John 1:7, ” But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” I really enjoyed our fellowship!!!

Love is patient, love is kind… it is not self-seeking… Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. –1 Corinthians 13:4

I have to pause in my Zona Camp/Riverside/Beach blogs to relate what a great time I had today climbing Vulture Peak, located just outside Wickenburg Arizona with my good friend Josh. Actually, he carried me part of the way, well, almost.  The hike is just under three miles with a gain of 1,000 feet in elevation. Most of that increase in altitude comes in the latter part of the hike. The trail ends in a saddle and you have to scramble (rock climbing without ropes) to reach the top. The views are definitely worth the effort. Fun times!

If your a man and you don’t spend time with other Christian men, you are missing out on all the benefits from the verse above. In this alien world we need to stay connected to other men that love the Lord and all of His ways. Josh was kind to me, he did not gloat over the fact that he had to carry me part of the way, he avoids evil and loves the truth, he protected me (I was looking to see what kind of bird was making that strange noise, not realizing the sound was coming from a rattlesnake that was in my path), he always gives me hope to carry on and he bought me breakfast! Thanks Dude…. 

I have been studying this like a crime scene investigator, this photograph, ever since our son’s boss, Jay, shot it.  Normally, I would not have given myself a second glance since I am just featured as the oldest of three generations and Paul and Leo are much better looking then me, but then I heard this thing on the radio. This thing about ears. The fact that someone, around twenty years ago, decided it was a good idea to study ears. Normally at this point, I would write about how the government can waste money giving grants to study useless or in this case, depressing things, but the studies were done in Japan and Great Britain. It appears, after much scientific research that ears grow, over a fifty year time span,  just under a half inch. Men have significantly bigger ears then women do. I can hear wives saying size means nothing about hearing better. Ladies ear’s grow the same, but no one notices that. I started out with big ears and now they are growing. Now when we are out and about, I am looking at the size of ears. I know, sounds kind of sick. If I think too much about it, it makes me feel ill. As a person gets older, there are things they should never hear or research on the internet. I feel somewhat at ease about it though, now that I found out I can have a procedure to fix them, a “lobe job.”