Tomorrow is the 4th of July. The day that we as Americans celebrate our Independence. It's one of my favorite holidays. I like the food, the family, and the flag. Here's what I like most. The fact that we are free, or at least a form of freedom.
When we declared our Independence from Britain, it sparked the revolutionary war. About 25,000 Americans died in that war. Over two hundred years later, we still have American soldiers that are fighting in wars, so that we can be free. Wars and the shedding of American blood has provided our freedom. We should remember that. We should honor that.
Our freedom is somewhat limited by the form of Government that we operate in, but its still the most free government around. Most people don't appreciate it, or enjoy it because they are oblivious to the fact that there were people before them that paid the price for their freedom.
The greatest battle that was won with blood, was the battle for your soul. It was won by Jesus Christ on the cross. His blood paid for your spiritual freedom!
Today as you're preparing for your weekend, or spending time with family, remind yourself that the freedom that you have was provided by two people- the Savior of the Universe, Jesus Christ, and the American soldier. Honor them both by remembering the price they paid for your freedom.
Ask yourself if you're honoring them with your life.
Have a blessed fourth. Be safe.
Matt
Friday, July 3, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Have You Ever Been Duped?
Billy Mays died this week. Do you know who he is? He's that famous pitch man from TV that got his first infomercial fame with the product "OxiClean". There is a funny rap remix of the product "Kaboom" that you may like here. It has nothing to with the blog, but I like it.
So anyway, when I was a kid, and I would be sick and home from school, I would lay in bed and watch TV all day.
When my mom would come home from work, I would literally greet her with a hand written list of all the products that I had seen on television that day that I thought that we should buy. Of course, she would say no, because she knew that probably 80-95% of the products were bogus, and wouldn't live up to their claims.
I was young, I didn't know any better. And apparently she didn't think that we needed to cook an egg faster, chop our food better, or get our windows cleaner.
What I should have known is that most people have mental filters that they use to determine what is real, trustworthy, and legit. As a child, those filters are not usually in place, so its easier to get duped.
Do you have good filters in place to ensure you're not getting duped? Do you believe every email forward you get? Do you agree with every person that comes into your life? Do you watch the news, or read the paper, or a book and believe it is all complete truth?
I am not saying that you should live your life as a skeptic as much as I am saying that at times it is beneficial to dig a little deeper into somethings to make sure that you or your family is not getting taken advantage of by someone or something that appears to have all the answers to you problems. Whether it is soap scum or spiritual development.
Check your filters today. Make sure they are clean and ready to use. Filters are what the Bible calls discernment. I like Proverbs 3:21 "My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight".
Use some of that grey matter between the ears today. Make sure you're not getting taken advantage of, or believing everything you hear.
Be blessed
matt
PS- We got one hit from Wyoming and South Dakota! Thank you! Now we still need Kentucky, Delaware and Rhode Island! Anyone got someone out there?
So anyway, when I was a kid, and I would be sick and home from school, I would lay in bed and watch TV all day.
When my mom would come home from work, I would literally greet her with a hand written list of all the products that I had seen on television that day that I thought that we should buy. Of course, she would say no, because she knew that probably 80-95% of the products were bogus, and wouldn't live up to their claims.
I was young, I didn't know any better. And apparently she didn't think that we needed to cook an egg faster, chop our food better, or get our windows cleaner.
What I should have known is that most people have mental filters that they use to determine what is real, trustworthy, and legit. As a child, those filters are not usually in place, so its easier to get duped.
Do you have good filters in place to ensure you're not getting duped? Do you believe every email forward you get? Do you agree with every person that comes into your life? Do you watch the news, or read the paper, or a book and believe it is all complete truth?
I am not saying that you should live your life as a skeptic as much as I am saying that at times it is beneficial to dig a little deeper into somethings to make sure that you or your family is not getting taken advantage of by someone or something that appears to have all the answers to you problems. Whether it is soap scum or spiritual development.
Check your filters today. Make sure they are clean and ready to use. Filters are what the Bible calls discernment. I like Proverbs 3:21 "My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight".
Use some of that grey matter between the ears today. Make sure you're not getting taken advantage of, or believing everything you hear.
Be blessed
matt
PS- We got one hit from Wyoming and South Dakota! Thank you! Now we still need Kentucky, Delaware and Rhode Island! Anyone got someone out there?
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Asking God The Tough Questions
I got a call yesterday from someone in our church who just got through beating cancer. She was at the doctor yesterday and found out that there are some new lumps in the other side of her neck. She's having surgery this Monday to have them removed and to determine if they are cancerous.
It's devastating. For her mostly, but also for me.
I believe that God heals people. I believe that God blesses people. I believe that God doesn't put sickness on people. I believe that God has a plan for everyone. But here's the difficult part- knowing all of that, how do I make sense of something such as cancer?
Where does it come from? Why does it exist? How does it fit into God's plan for humanity to have something that is apparently within all of us, that shows no mercy to anyone and can attack at anytime?
Here's the three most faith-filled words again. The words that get me through alot "I Don't Know". I wish I did. I wish that as a pastor when I get calls like that I had an immediate answer or scripture that provided instant comfort or relief of the pain of something as scary as cancer.
I think with alot of things like cancer, or other forms of evil that people can use it as a reason to not believe in God, or question if he exists or not. It doesn't really do that for me as much as it solidifies his existence in that in times like these I long even more to reach to something more powerful than I am. That knows the answers that I don't. That has the ability to see things that I may not understand and comfort me in the times of distress.
The big question that I think this raises is, does God make everything in the world happen, or does the world operate on its own freewill devoid of divine intervention? It's a tough question, I know, but its an honest one in times like these.
Sometimes the comfort is in knowing that he knows the answers, not knowing the answers myself. We all have a need to know, and in times like this I think its a feeling that is even stronger.
Pray for her today. I don't need to tell you her name. God knows it. She is a wonderful woman who loves God and people. She got through it before, she'll get through it again.
Don't be afraid of asking God tough questions. He can handle it. You can handle it. It doesn't change his nature, it doesn't mean He isn't love. Sometimes things are just beyond our comprehension.
Be blessed today.
matt
It's devastating. For her mostly, but also for me.
I believe that God heals people. I believe that God blesses people. I believe that God doesn't put sickness on people. I believe that God has a plan for everyone. But here's the difficult part- knowing all of that, how do I make sense of something such as cancer?
Where does it come from? Why does it exist? How does it fit into God's plan for humanity to have something that is apparently within all of us, that shows no mercy to anyone and can attack at anytime?
Here's the three most faith-filled words again. The words that get me through alot "I Don't Know". I wish I did. I wish that as a pastor when I get calls like that I had an immediate answer or scripture that provided instant comfort or relief of the pain of something as scary as cancer.
I think with alot of things like cancer, or other forms of evil that people can use it as a reason to not believe in God, or question if he exists or not. It doesn't really do that for me as much as it solidifies his existence in that in times like these I long even more to reach to something more powerful than I am. That knows the answers that I don't. That has the ability to see things that I may not understand and comfort me in the times of distress.
The big question that I think this raises is, does God make everything in the world happen, or does the world operate on its own freewill devoid of divine intervention? It's a tough question, I know, but its an honest one in times like these.
Sometimes the comfort is in knowing that he knows the answers, not knowing the answers myself. We all have a need to know, and in times like this I think its a feeling that is even stronger.
Pray for her today. I don't need to tell you her name. God knows it. She is a wonderful woman who loves God and people. She got through it before, she'll get through it again.
Don't be afraid of asking God tough questions. He can handle it. You can handle it. It doesn't change his nature, it doesn't mean He isn't love. Sometimes things are just beyond our comprehension.
Be blessed today.
matt
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