Faith

Substance. Things hoped For. Risk. Blind. These are all words that describe faith. In all of life we are required to live by faith. To not know what tomorrow holds. We learn it through process, through life, mistakes, and or success. Understanding faith is impossible , yet operating in it is not. Moving mountains, praying for that unreachable thing. I am beginning to find in my own walk that faith is not what we see on the local Christian TV station. Where it can be seen is in that single parent that is raising a kid and holding 3 jobs. In the teacher who makes a small salary for an untold amount of dedication. The missionary in worlds not heard of. The kid who says no to peer pressure. The CEO who is ethical. Faith, I certainly do hope, risk and God knows I am blind at times. I just want to see what i am supposed too. Just a Thought.....

Mind Dump

I saw another pastor do what is called "mind dump" on Twitter. Once a week he will just empty his thoughts onto paper. So, in the spirit of that pastor - here goes......

Time is short.

Rest is hard to get.

Its getting harder to be romantic.

My dog is my best friend.

I have to go, again??

My kids are my heros.

I wish I could scream very, very loud.

I love Jesus with all my heart, yet sometimes I just want a cold beer (but I don't - because those other "preachers" might gossip about it)

I hate religion

I wish we had carpet instead of hardwood floors at home.

I want to sky dive.

I am self centered.

I love Jesus with all my heart, why do I get road rage?

Frusteration is a flaw of mine.

I will NOT please everyone, so why do I try?

Do all people have Drama problems?

Its hard to be commited to people with the lack of commitment.

I need to loose 50 lbs.

I joined a gym two weeks ago and have not gone yet!!!!!!

I am a hypocrite

I cant spell!!!!!!

I love Jesus with all of my heart, why don't I trust him most of the time

ahhhhhhhhhh, that is much better. Just a Thought.....

Others

In the Church you will find as many stories as there are people. As many people you will find, you will discover relationships. Unless, of course you are one of those narrow minded, self centered "Christians". The fact that we go to church every Sunday is for several reasons. First, to worship God. Then in this order, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry and then Evangelism. Did you notice the list of importance? Yes, God is FIRST! However, 4 of the 5 are about others. A sobering question that needs to be asked of ANY Christ following church every 3 months is, "when do we notice the "others". You know, those ones that are not in our inner circle. LOL, yep that includes the local church. The fact of the matter is this. The song "I just need Jesus" is a false doctrine that is taught in introverted Churches. Jesus not only loves people, he needs people. Not in the "needy" since, but in the since that He wants to involve us in His plan of helping others, through compassion and hands on love. Everyone has a story, and every story is unique and God wants us to hear it. Why?, well to quote a college history professor I had, "History is "His Story". Just a thought.....

sleep

As I set here at a desk in the baptist sleep clinic I have just concluded a sleep study done on me. With wires attached to my head, chest and legs and a "c-pap" (breathing instrument) machine around my head, I'm sure I looked like a cheap stunt double from a star wars movie! I feel really good this morning. Why? Because I slept! That c-pap gave me the proper air flow that my brain needed to get the sleep that my body needed. What stinks is I could avoid all this trouble by loosing about 30 pounds - but heaven knows that "aint no fun!" So I will leave here today and go get a new c-pap machine and starting tonight I will get some very sound sleep (minus the wires). Thus, bringing more peace in the bedroom at the wood house. Thus, making my wife happier, thus feeling a whole lot better. Yep, no more bed bugs for me! Just some good sleep as I dream about what I need to dream about. Just a thought.....

Sister blabsitall and the piano

There is an old story about a pastor who had just took a church that had not seen productive change in 43 years. After about 3 months of successful ministry he thought he would make some changes, only to be met with some up hill challenges. They didn't like the new paper towels in the kitchen. They didn't like the fact that he parked his car behind the church and not in the "pastors Parking". They didn't like the fact that he removed the "pastors parking" sign. And then the one that just about "quenched the spirit", you ready for this shocker?!.......... He moved the piano!!!!!!!!! Oh the shock!!! Oh the horror!!!! The piano player (who knew all of 3 songs) said "surly these are the last days!!" So, the pastor moved it back. But, as he pondered these new challenges, he thought of ways that he could make tiny changes that only would be noticed in tiny but curious ways. So, one day he began to move the piano 3 inches every Saturday night. Before the year would be out he would have moved the piano 12 feet. As the weeks rolled along he faithfully moved it 3 inches a week. Then, one day he saw sister blabsitall (the piano player) standing at the back of the sanctuary just staring and scratching her head. The pastor approached her and said, "sister blabsitall, is everything OK?" (he knew he was busted!) She said "yea, something is different... hmmmmm... " , "oh, i see, haha, so you think you can just come in hear and change everything about this house of the lord don't ya?" .... "well don't think you can pull the wool over my eyes pastor, I hear from the spirit every day. He talks to me ya know! As the pastor was getting ready to take a chewing for moving the piano, sister blabsitall said with a passion, "you not only tried to change the paper towels 12 months ago, now your trying to change the brand of toilet paper!!!" A sheepish grin came across his face and he responded. "Yes mam, I will see to it that we go back the the generic brand". She turned and walked to the stage too her seat at the piano bench and began to play one of the three songs she knew "changed in the twinkling of an eye". From that day forward the change slowly happened and the foundation was set. The pastor just caught the secret. Change is gooooood, even if its just 3 inches at a time. The next change? The flowers in the foyer! Just a thought.....