Are you prepared?

After over 4 decades of life, there are a few lessons I have learned. One of the most important is - storms will come in life! You will experience hard times because of external situations. You will encounter difficulties because of internal failures. Problems will come! The main question is, are you ready for them?

In recent days, I have had the chance to experience the "body of Christ" as it should function. Seven of my closest friends gathered together to help one of our group. Each member of the group has faltered at one time or another, and each time, the group has rallied around the members. Sins are exposed and dealt with. Failures are displayed for the group, and together choices are made to strengthen the fallen. There is safety, but not devoid of honest evaluation. The friends speak truth to each other, no matter how hard it is to hear. Reconciliation is the ultimate goal. Maturity of each individual, as well as the whole, is the primary concern.

I share this to ask - are you ready for the storms of life? Had each of us been without the others as we walked through our hard times, we would have been destroyed. Most of us tried to deal with our sins and failures apart from the group, and to the extent we did, we suffered for it. It was when in humility (many times forced as a result of obvious failures) we turned to the others that healing began. Storms will come. You will fail. However, that does not need to be the end of the story. Find some true friends. TRUE FRIENDS. Ones that will speak truth regardless of how much it might hurt. Friends that will stick with you even when you hurt their feelings. Friends that will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. Friends that will walk with you into recovery.

By the way, this comes only by being that kind of friend! Do it!!

Doing The Work

On my way to work this morning, I was thinking about my responsibilities at work. I am a missionary by title. It is my job. What should a missionary be like? What should a disciple of Christ be like?

The thought began to work on me - or maybe it was the Spirit - anyway, shouldn't a missionary/disciple of Jesus be primarily concerned with the spiritual end of others? Shouldn't my heart bleed constantly for the millions of people who are living without Christ? More importantly, shouldn't my heart yearn for the salvation of the people in my immediate circle of influence?

Don't get me wrong, I love people, and desire that they know Christ - but if I am honest, it does not consume me! As a missionary, I am required to raise support - sometimes that consumes me. As a disciple (and a Sunday School teacher), I desire to disciple others - sometimes that consumes me. As a husband and a father, I desire to minister to my family and lead them spiritually - sometimes that consumes me. As a man, I desire to care for my health - sometimes that consumes me. As a typical American, I need to pay my bills - sometimes that consumes me.

I need to pray more - for the salvation of people in my immediate influence and for the people of the world. I need to pray more - for the Lord of the harvest to send forth more workers. I need to pray more - for the workers that are already working. I need to pray more - for the disciples of Christ to live as He would. I need to pray more - for God to do a work in my heart to soften in again to the real needs of the world around me (both close and far off). I need to pray more.

Pray for the Men/Women in Uniform

Yesterday, I was able to see our men in blue in action. I went to court and to jail. No, I was not in trouble, I was taking a tour of the courthouse and the Hamilton County Jail where some of our men and women from the Sheriff's office serve everyday.

I implore you to pray for these men and women who serve daily by dealing with people that have made poor choices and are "suffering" the consequences. These officers see the worst of society, and then have to respond appropriately. We understand how difficult it is to do right when others around you are doing wrong, but what these officers face daily is the need to act and react right in spite of depravity around them.

Pray for safety. Pray for wisdom. Pray for strength of character. Pray for thier families to be strong.

And then after you have done that, thank an officer as you have opportunity!

Just How Out Of Touch Are We??

Haiti has an earthquake! Thousands are dead, thousands more are injured, millions are affected. We watch and listen from a few hundred miles away, and we wonder how they will cope.

I was looking this morning for some more information about the event, and I found this website. I just thought it was interesting that right beside a video of major destruction and devastation, we find helpful health tips. Look at them. Anti-wrinkle cream, mineral makeup, and dealing with damaged hair. These are primary concerns for Americans.

Haitians feed their children dirt cakes just to put something in their stomach. They drink polluted water. They have stripped their land of most of it's vegetation to heat their homes (for those that have homes). Eighty percent live in poverty, 50 percent live in abject poverty. Health concerns?? Eating food. Drinking clean water. Human/animal waste treatment and disposal.

Next time you think about your wrinkled or dry skin, or about your damaged hair, take some time to put it into perspective.

And then say a prayer for Haitians.

Do you ever feel overwhelmed?

This time of year brings much reflection and anticipation. As I look back, I tend to see opportunities missed, and as I look forward, I see possibilities available. I realize I did not do all I would have liked to do last year, and determine to do better in the coming year. It can become very overwhelming as I try to do more than possible, so that I do not miss out on something that I would like to accomplish.

Sound familiar??

I have learned (and continue to be reminded) that I am responsible for now. What am I doing with my time right now? What am I doing with my finances right now? What am I doing to improve relationships right now? Right now is all I have. I cannot fix what I broke yesterday. I cannot live tomorrow in the present. I can only live today.

I write this now to remind myself to plan well for the future, but live today. So as I think, I guess I would like to encourage you to do the same.

Just a thought for the day...

Just spent the last 7 hours driving to Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio. As I traveled, I found myself keeping an eye out for the ones keeping an eye out for my speed. I drove very aware of my speed, especially when I saw the lights flashing.

Here's the thought - do you have people looking out for your "infractions" in your personal life? It is amazing how when you know others are looking that you are more conscious of doing right. For their benefit as well as your own. If you are a parent, your children are watching. If you are a sibling, your siblings are watching. If you are a worker, other workers are watching. If you are a leader, the followers are watching... In other words, no matter who you are, someone is watching you to see if you succeed, if you fail, if you live consistently, if you walk what you talk...

Find a way to get "flashing lights" in your daily routine to remind you that others are watching, because when we start to think we are an island with noone looking, we are bound to move a little faster than we should. And rest assured, when you go to fast, inevitably you will get caught.

Think about it.