Going Alone to "Meet Your Maker"

In this country, we all seem to go through life with our "blinders" on. There are people here who actually feel that the world owes them a living. All these ridiculous occupy movements are making headlines everywhere. It doesn't really matter what it is they occupy, either. A street, town, park, beach or a government building, it doesn't make much difference. What these occupiers are really saying is...
"GIMME! GIMME! GIMME!"

I have visited parts of the world wherein it was the norm for parents to live in terror that their kids might starve near the end of every winter, simply because there was nothing left to eat. Those same children were considered lucky to find worn-out rags to wear. Many were simply forced to do without.

Do they have cars, cell-phones, computers, televisions or even a McBurgers restaurant in their neighborhood?

Nope, not a chance! And yet, God loves them, each and every one. How do we feel about them?

Is this even a "fair" question?

Let’s take an honest look at what we own... There are things we use and wear on a regular basis, and there are "special occasion" items, as well. But, what about the various things we've bought, just because they were on sale? Most of us also have "seasonal" clothes and jewelry we've never worn (and probably never will). A "spare" watch (now, where did I put it?), another portable videogame system, a (really neat) electronic gadget that hasn't even been turned on since the day after it was purchased. These are just examples of the "stuff" we use to pretend that we really are worth as much, as we like to think we are.

Whom is it we are trying to convince?

When the time comes for you to "Meet Your Maker," will He be impressed in any way with these trinkets? Somehow, I don't think so. You see, He's already made His position VERY clear.

..."Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'
..."Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'
..."Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'
..."And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Mt 25:41-46) mkj

-and-

..."Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, 'Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?'
..."So Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not bear false witness," "Do not defraud," "Honor your father and your mother." '
..."And he answered and said to Him, 'Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.'
..."Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.'
..."But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
..."Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, 'How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!'
..."And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, 'Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 'It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'
..."And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, 'Who then can be saved?'
..."But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.' "
(Mk 10:17-27) mkj

Look at this from God's point of view... He gave each of us a basket of "stuff." How big that basket is (and what is in it) has NO bearing on our responsibilities, except insofar as what God expects us to do with it!

A perfect example is a little child. He or she has absolutely nothing to give anyone, but love! Most very little children love with an intensity that amazes adults, but it is often all they have to share. With the passage of time, they begin to learn the deplorable attitudes of adulthood. They will begin to crave "stuff" as badly as we do. Is this our definition of "maturity?" Then, why do we miss the childlike innocence so much, when it is gone?

We all need to take a closer look at our personal "basket of stuff." Can anything there help any other to become closer to God? Is there anything there that takes our own focus away from God? Could we possibly wish that Our Lord refer to us as "You wicked and lazy servant" as He did to the one who would not choose to invest in His behalf (in Mt 25:26)?

All you can take to "Meet Your Maker," is yourself!

See you soon, in Paradise!

God's Choice - Love!

So, where does "love" actually begin?

What causes us to start loving?

Must "love" always fade with time, and if so, why?

What does this have to do with our relationship with God?

Every one who has ever had children, and loved them, has experienced the heartache that goes with seeing them begin to change, losing their child-like innocence and trust. Something has started an alteration that scares parents badly. Growing up ALWAYS brings about changes in our kids. I know I've spent a lot of time in prayer, begging and pleading with God that some way be found to keep these characteristics in the kids I love, and let them grow up without losing these traits. Please, God! Oh, please!

The bible tells us, "Behold now the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burthensome unto you. For I seek not the things that are yours, but you. For neither ought the children to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children." (2 Cor 12:14) drv

"Parents for the children." Hmmm... We also know that the Bible tells us to raise up our kids in the way we want them to go, and they will not depart from it.

But, we are also aware that children always change... always.

There are many kids I care a lot about. Some of them have "adopted" me as uncle or grandfather, one as a "best friend." I love each of them quite a lot. I worry about every one, and pray a lot for all of them.

They cannot just "stay kids." God never intended it to be that way. He has given them freedom of choice, just as He gave it to all of us. In the same manner that you and I have veered from God's chosen path, so also will our kids as they grow older, and it will always hurt us because of our love for them.

But, what started this love that we share with our children? Why does it hurt so much when these inevitable changes start to happen?

What is "love," anyway? Where does it start, and why?

A lot of men will find this to be disquieting, but a child's love begins with its trust in its mother. Knowing that mom will take care of them, no matter what, makes the infant learn to love. It takes a little longer with dad, but the process of developing a love for him starts in much the same way.

Our love for God is also based on trust. "As for God, his way is perfect; The word of Jehovah is tried: He is a shield to all that trust in him." (2 Sam 22:31) dar

"But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice, Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them. Let them also who love your name be joyful in you." (Psalm 5:11) web

Kids can only love those whom they trust. As the world erodes their trust, they begin to change. It is inevitable, and it is extremely heart-wrenching...

God feels about us in much the same way. His love for us is boundless. Good or bad, old or young, it makes no difference. He loves us all. He has proven, over and over again, that He is worthy of our trust, and our love. He hurts because of each and every one who has ever rejected Him. But, still He loves us, and always will... eternally.

"But you, O man of God, keep yourself from these things, and go after righteousness, religion, faith, love, a quiet mind, gentle behaviour." (1 Tim 6:11) bev

God doesn't want us to change, any more than we want our kids to do so. Trust Him, and love Him as your little child loves you. When worries seem overpowering, when life seems to be handing you more than you can deal with, when it all feels hopeless, turn to the only One who truly can make it all right again.

Oh, and make sure your children know beyond all doubt that they can ALWAYS trust you. You exemplify God's love to them.

Until we all meet again, in paradise.

Living in a hog-wallow?

Are you going to heaven?

Are you really sure?

Most, who consider themselves to be Christian, would respond like this... "I go to church when I can, I try to behave myself, and I think I look pretty good, well... compared to most people, anyway. I'm convinced I'm good enough to get into heaven."

This belief is fairly commonplace, and totally wrong!

"And now apart from law hath the righteousness of God been manifested, testified to by the law and the prophets, and the righteousness of God [is] through the faith of Jesus Christ to all, and upon all those believing, -- for there is no difference, for all did sin, and are come short of the glory of God." (Rom 3:21-23) ylt

Not one of us is anywhere good enough to get to heaven on our own; we're not even close.

Think of it like this...

Living in our world is a lot like hanging out in a hog-wallow. If you roll around in the filth you WILL get covered in it! The problem is that even tiptoeing through the sludge will NOT keep you clean! No amount of being careful will keep you clean. It cannot be done!

Worst of all, any amount of this world's foulness will keep you away from God, and out of heaven! Sin is NOT allowed in God's presence! Even the slightest trace of sin, no matter how small, will forever prevent you from entering heaven.

So, how can any of us get there?

God loves us enough that He made a way for us to get clean again! A way to get into heaven despite our sin... but how could this be possible? He sent His Son, His only Son, to pay the price on our heads, to redeem us, just so we could join him in heaven!

Look at it from your own perspective. How many people do you know, who've done terrible things to you... for how many of them would you be willing to sacrifice your own child's life?

Yeah, I know! I feel the same way! Yet, God thinks we are worth it! So, what do you need to do?

First of all, you must admit you are a sinner. Shouldn't be too hard, not if you are honest with yourself (and think about the hog-wallow).

Second, you must believe in your heart that Jesus' death on the cross was for your benefit. Even if you were the only one that He'd died for, He'd still have sacrificed Himself, just for you.

Lastly, you must tell others about it. God's gift of His Son's life for all of us is the most important news anyone could ever hear. Spread the word. Confess your faith!

These three steps are often called the "A-B-Cs of salvation."

Sometimes people wonder why it is that God placed us in a situation wherein we'd need salvation. The truth is, we did it to ourselves...

Imagine a beautiful place where heaven and earth came together, a wondrous place where the joy of being in the presence of God co-existed with the happiness of life among the incredible beauty of His creation. Such a place would be a garden of infinite delight, right? We call it the "Garden of Eden." Heaven on earth might also be a good description, don't you think?

Humans fouled it up, and brought sin into the garden. Remember that sin cannot be in the presence of God, so humanity had to be banished. We've never been back.

We brought it upon ourselves. We've all sinned, and we know it. God has offered us a way back into His grace, and yet He loves us so much that He will not even force us to take the necessary steps. He leaves that up to us.

Nobody has ever loved you so much!

Nobody!

Take the steps! Remember...

A - B - C

See you soon, in paradise!

The greatest of these is love!

Paul showed an amazing understanding of Our Lord's intent. God inspired him to write about many subjects that directly strengthen us and our faith. The following is from a letter of Paul's to the people of Corinth. I am quoting from the New Living Translation because I feel it better conveys the original meaning.

..."If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.
...Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
...Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in unknown languages will all disappear. Now we know only a little, and even the gift of prophecy reveals little! But when the end comes, those special gifts will all disappear.
...Its like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.
...There are three things that will endure - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love." (1 Cor 13) nlt

Amazing, isn't it? Every last thing we hold to be important in this life is useless without love.

"What kind of love?" you may be wondering. Jesus expressed it like this... "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the kingdom of God." (Mark 16b-17) nlt Is this, in any way, contradictory to what Paul says? Not at all! He is saying we should stop behaving like spoiled children. Put away the "gimme, gimme, gimme," and the selfish, self-centeredness, but never lose the simple love!

Love with the innocence of a child, and with the same kind of trust. Learn from your kids. They trust you to take care of them. Trust God the same way. He is Our Father!

"...and the greatest of these is love."

Every One a Child of God

If you have, or have had, children, I ask you to think back to the time when you first held your precious baby in your hands. Do you remember the lumps in your throat, the tears in your eyes, or even the amazement you experienced that God had entrusted such a precious child to you?

I am a father, and I remember these feelings well. When I held my first born, I was terrified that I might drop him. I was afraid to do more than support him with my hands, so sure was I that hands, like mine, toughened by years of hard work, might just accidentally cause bruises, in one so tender.

Love for your children, and joy in their existence, go hand in hand. It is natural, and it is an amazing gift from God.

I have always loved kids, all of them. Some are easier to love, some require getting past obstacles they've inherited. Some have learned to not trust others, and this makes getting to know them very difficult. But, all of them, every one, is a child of God.

It isn't just the kids, either. We are all children of God's. Every one, no matter the age, is still a child of God. Look around you... Can you see the baby that an older person was? God can! That is one of the reasons we are supposed to continually remind others of God's love. He wants those who've strayed from His flock to find their way back to His love!

I have been very blessed. God has arranged things so that I seem to be able to reach most kids at whatever level they operate on. I listen to what they have to say, try to explain things in a way they can understand, and do not expect them to always be perfect. As a result, I have been "adopted" by a number of kids. I have been an (adopted) uncle, a grandpa, and very recently, a best friend (to a 4-year old!). There is an emotional overload to this "adoption" that cannot be described accurately. I am constantly in awe that God has given this gift to me.

You see, I am not perfect, either. I am very aware of my faults, and know that there is not one thing I could ever do to pay Him back adequately for this incredible gift, so I just end up loving kids all the more, and thanking God constantly.

Thank-you so much, God!

Please remember that God loves all kids; those who are just born, those who've entered their "terrible twos," teenagers, the elderly, and those not yet born. All are God's children. He loves everyone. He sent His Son to die for every single one. He want them all to come to His arms of love.

You...

me...

the unborn...

mobsters...

terrorists...

the handicapped...

Yes, even politicians!

Everybody is God's child! Some just need to be told or reminded.

Spread the love!

One of the reasons we love kids...

.....
You know that incredible feeling you get when you unexpectedly find a love note under your dinner fork that says,

I love you!
love, Sally

A wash of profound emotion pours all over you. You find yourself wondering how any human could be so loved, and still live!

What about when your youngest says you need to adopt a baby donkey. And it can live in the bathroom "Since we don't use it."

Remember the time your child found a baby bird that had fallen from its nest? You were sure that there was no way for it to survive another day, but she'd already named it "Squishy."

Love for our children is a natural part of us, but we didn't invent it. It is a magnificent gift from God, and it is part of the reason He wants us to come to Him with the innocence of little children. We learned our delight in kids from Him!

Remember how much fun it was, listening to your little ones trying to find the "perfect name" for your new dog or cat?

"So the Lord God formed from the soil every kind of animal and bird. He brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and Adam chose a name for each one." (Gen 2:19)nlt

Knowing how kids pick names for pets today, I'd bet Adam came up with; "fuzzy, toothy, wiggly, feathers," and a bunch of other similar names. And I bet, just like any proud parent, God smiled and said, "Great names!"

We didn't invent pride in our kids, and joy at their endeavors... but we were blessed to have inherited these awesome things from our wonderful God!

Thank God for all He's done! He deserves it!

Today...

Today really is an interesting day.

I glance at the calendar, and get a smile on my face. Every time I look at a clock I start calculating hours and minutes.

Why?

Ten years ago, today, at noon, I married the woman that I am sure was sent to me by God.

We met over the internet AFTER she'd relocated from Argentina to Orlando, Florida. A very bad childhood made it extremely difficult for her to trust guys, at all, and the people she'd met after arriving in the U.S. didn't seem to have helped matters, either.

I thought I was only looking for a pen-pal, mostly because I was not supposed to have all that many years left, due to some weird health problems. Also, I'd been married before, but my first wife had some personality-altering psychosis that changed her into something so bizarre that she was not even allowed to see our kids without supervision. A friend, who happened to be a priest, had our marriage annulled because he was convinced she was no longer the person I'd originally married. Prior to that, when I'd tried (repeatedly) to adopt another child, I was advised to re-apply as a single parent. Believe me, I neither planned nor hoped to remarry.

And yet, God arranged things a bit differently than we'd expected. I was concerned that this lady understand that Our Lord had her best interests at heart, and probably had someone already picked out for her. And He did! As it turned out, it was me!

A few short weeks of being pen-pals made us realize we cared deeply for each other. We wanted to meet, but I still had a teenager in the nest, so she traveled here. That was July 3rd, and on the 9th, we were married.

I am aware that this is not the normal way for folks to get hitched. I suspect it would not have worked for any other couple, and I thank God that He intervened on our behalf.

Couples have to accept that there are always going to be differences between them.

Always...

In general, guys don't vocalize their feelings as much as do women, they hate shopping, love sports and like to view life as a power contest, very much like their favorite sport(s).

Women, thrive on conversation, love to go shopping, think almost all sports are boring and want their home-life to be the safe refuge from the world.

Are their exceptions? Again, always...

It is important to remember that God has always known what you'd be like, what you'd need and want. The right choice in your spouse is the one who completes you, makes you into the stable and viable individual that God meant you to be.

God blessed me a lot, and you too, if you think about it.

In closing; Guys, tell her you love her. Tell her a lot! Don't stop, not ever. Keep proving to her that the passage of time will never dull your interest in her. And ladies, he won't ever be very expressive about things that are not contests (again, like sports). Its OK to ask for reminders, just don't be hurt if they are not as automatic as you'd like.

Cars wear out, paint fades, styles change and we all get older, but true love only improves with use and age.

Till we meet again, in Paradise!

We call her, Mary!

Jesus called her, mom.

Of all the women God could have chosen, why did He pick Mary, and not someone else? There were lineage requirements that the Bible mentions, and they had to be met, but still, God picked Mary.

"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!' But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.' " (Luke 1:26-31)rsv

"And Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I have no husband?' And the angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.' "
(Luke 1:34-35)rsv

She was the one with whom God found favor. He was pleased with her. Of all women, she was the only one He found acceptable.

Keep in mind that God gifted women with something fantastic! Inside them, He placed a small part of His creation. They have they ability to house new life, and bring it forth. No man can ever say he was so blessed. It cannot be. Only women can bear children. I'm sure that some would probably rather forego this "honor," but this precious gift only they will ever have.

I ask every woman to think of the incredible honor that Mary received. God's Son was her child! She was NOT a foster mom! He was her son, too!

And I ask every man who ever reads this to consider what God thinks of women... He made them the way they are on purpose. You are the warrior, SHE is the (possibly potential) mother of your kids! And one girl became His Son's mom. Incredible, isn't it!

Love them the way God does!

See you soon, in Paradise.

Hey! Who loves ya?

I've heard this as a greeting, quite a few times. It was much more common 40 years ago, but I still hear it occasionally today.

Who loves you?

Without thinking about it, we Christians always say, "God loves us..."

It is time to think about it. God, our Lord, our Creator... He gave up His only Son for us, for you, for me! Think of it this way. Whom do you care enough about that you'd willingly give up your child's life for that person?

Anybody?

My kids have all been grown for some time, so for me, the question has always been a bit blurred. For some reason, today, I considered this question from the standpoint of my feelings for my granddaughter.

Wow! Boy, did that ever put it into perspective for me! There is nobody on this planet I value anywhere near as much as one scratch on my Princess! Nobody! Not even if you put everyone who's ever lived onto the other side of the equation! If anybody ever hurts her in the slightest way, he better get struck by lightning before I get there! Could God possibly care any less for His Son? I think not!

And yet... He did sacrifice His only Son. And He did it to save countless people who showed Him no respect, no concern and no love. It really boggles the mind. He loves even people who live an evil lifestyle, & loves them enough that His own Son was not too big a price to pay!

Look at how He's been paid back. Crime, lies, filth, and various forms of unspeakable vileness are commonplace today. A large percentage of people don't want to even be bothered with God. Who among us would have been capable of enduring all this satanic back-stabbing?

"And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live." (Deut 30:6)kjv

"...and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, thou art my God." (Hos 2:23)kjv

"The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will rejoice over thee with singing." (Zeph 3:17)kjv

"But God commanded his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."
(Rom 5:8-10)kjv

Almost puts tears in your eyes, doesn't it? And it should! God loves us all with a love that infinitely exceeds anything we are capable of! Jesus died for each one of us. My sins killed Him, so did yours, so did the sins of each and every person who's ever lived. He died on the cross to save each of us.

Separately...

Individually...

Completely...

There is no way to respond to a love like that, except to hit your knees, thanking Him with all that you have, promising to do better, and meaning it.

Then get out and tell (or remind) others; after all, He values each of them that much, too.

See you soon, in Paradise!

Just what is it about kids that Jesus loves?

What was it about children that made Jesus love them so much? Why did He instruct His apostles to let the children come to Him? Is there something here we are overlooking?

Almost everyone loves little babies. As children age, they go through the "terrible twos" and eventually reach their "terrifying teens." Still, most people like most kids (of any age) better than their own-age peers. What is it that is so different about kids?

There is no doubt that there is a lot that is evil about our world, and all of it is a corrupting influence on our lives. Kids have been exposed to less of it (so far), and are therefore less corrupt and more pure than are most adults.

Hmmm...

From the book; "Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, 'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.' "(John 3:3-7) kjv -and- "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believed not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?"(John 3:12)kjv

Here is the problem, in a nutshell.

Our understanding is shaped and influenced by our exposure to things that have happened to us, here on this earth, and in our lifetimes. Little children take almost everything on faith, because people they trust tell them it is so. God wants us to take His Word on faith, because He said so. He wants us to place our trust in Him!

As our kids grow older, their willingness to believe is whittled away by being hurt, by being lied to and by being ignored. In short, what is good is steadily eroded and eaten away by the evil of this world.

Jesus loves the innocence of children. He loves their trust and their hunger for His friendship. That is the goal we have, in our relationship with God. We must be reborn into the childlike trust in Him that is the hallmark of children! As a little child trusts mom and dad to take perfect care of him or her, so must we put our trust in Our Lord to take perfect care of us.

We must be born again!

God's gift to us - Children!

-This is a common theme of mine. Forgive me for covering it again-

Almost 45 years ago, I joined a group called TARs. Its intended pupose was to help retarded children fit into society. I discovered that I bonded fairly well with these kids. Most people, unfortunately, treated them as though they were carriers of some contagious disease. I tried instead to meet them at whatever level they were capable of. The kids usually responded well, as most people didn't even want them around at all. This experience shaped my understanding of children, in general. Meet them at whatever level they are able to achieve and they will open their hearts to you.

About 20 years later, I met a couple at church who had one child who'd been born deaf, as a result of some disease the mother had contracted during her pregnancy. The doctors had advised her to have an abortion because of the high probability that the child might be deformed by the disease. They chose instead to have their child, and she was absolutely beautiful little girl. When I met them, the kid was about 8 or 9. I did notice that adults treated her the same as the retarded kids were generally treated, as if she were a carrier of some horrible disease. Bcause I accepted her as she was, she thought it would be great if she could teach me sign language so that we could communicate better. In less than 3 weeks, however, her family had moved to Tennessee.

I have always wished I could have had 10 to 12 kids, but that was not to be. At one point I figured an acceptable substitute might have been to be in charge of an orphanage, but that never came about, either. Instead, God granted me a number of "foster" grandchildren. Each one asked me to be his or her substitute grandfather! Even though they aren't truly mine, I love every one of them as much as though they were.

It is critical that we see our children, all of them, as the precious gift that God intended them to be. All too many people today seem to feel that kids are nothing but a burden to be dealt with by whatever means they find expedient. Abortion is considered an admirable way to eliminate unwanted babies. Sadly, people do not see it as murder of a helpless human being. Our world is truly becoming satanic.

What does our Lord have to say about kids? "But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and don't prevent them. For of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.' And He put His hands on their heads and blessed them before He left." (Mat 19:14-15) tlb

Jesus valued kids so much that He rebuked His apostles when they tried to prevent these children from spending time with Him. If our Lord places so much value on children, how can we do any less? Open your arms to them. Love them. Show them they mean the world to you, just as they do to God! The reward is beyond measure!

See you soon, in Paradise!

"And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed. Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." LUKE 22:41-44 kjv

I have been "adopted" by several children. In each case, the kid said something like, "I wish you’d been MY grandpa. Could you, would you, be my grandpa?"

The emotional overload is incredible! My eyes watered up. My heart pounded! A wave of nearly indescribable feeling washed over me! I could not have said "no" to any of them any more than I could have flapped my arms and flown to the moon!

(A by-product of this is that I now understand how important it is to a woman to have someone ask for her hand, in marriage.)

Each of these children occupies a permanent, special place in my heart. Each is the subject of a great deal of prayer-time. I love them all just as if they had actually been my kids or grandkids. In some ways, perhaps a bit more, just because they asked. Because they are neither relatives, nor dependants, I can do nothing for them from a legal standpoint, so I worry about them even more.

When problems arise in their lives, especially because there is absolutely nothing I can do about those problems, it feels as though a tremendous weight has been dropped heavily onto my neck and shoulders. I wish I could take on their burdens. I wish there were some magic button I could push to fix everything instantly, but, of course, there is not. (A good friend once told me that I have the worst case of "White Knight Syndrome" he’s ever seen.)

When all you can do in this world is to hurt for someone you care deeply about, prayer is the first and only answer. Most guys aren’t made this way. We want to grab the problem by the horns, do battle, and emerge victorious!

All of us who are Christians are "adoptees" of Christ. By virtue of our asking Him to be our Saviour, and accepting His sacrifice, we have become His. He loves each and every one of us far more than I ever could any of the children who’ve "adopted" me. I know of no limit as to what I would do to protect any of "my kids," but Jesus did so much more!

What a matchless example of love our God is! Kneeling, praying in the garden, Jesus knew the trouble we would get into. He knew that many would fail and never make it to heaven. He knew the endless pitfalls that Satan has laid out for us, and He knew we would fail Him repeatedly. He still paid the price.

Are we worth it? Any honest person would have to say that not one of us is. Yet, He still paid the price! He carried our load of guilt, took the blame for us, and died in our place!

All you have to do is accept this incredible sacrifice, knowing that sin has made each of us unworthy, but He did it anyway! Then, get out and tell everyone else. God wants us all to be "adopted."

See you soon, in Paradise!

Beware The Dark Side

Anyone not living in a cave for the last thirty-plus years recognizes "The Dark Side" reference from the Star Wars© movies. Unfortunately, we generally fail to see the effect of the dark side on our daily lives. Very slight deviations away from the pathway to eternal life have added up over the years in such a way that we, in this country, are not aimed toward heaven at all, but at "some other destination" instead.

Our Lord has made it rather simple for us... "Jesus said unto him. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." MAT 22:37-39 (kjv)

James was inspired to express it thusly... "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." JAM 4:17 (kjv)

God made all we are, so we are to love Him with all we have. He also made everyone else, too, so we are expected to care about them as much as we care about ourselves. When you realize something is The Right Thing to Do, not doing it is a sin. Any slight "adjustments" we make away from this narrow path aims us away from God. As was said in those movies, "Beware The Dark Side!"

Joseph

As another Christmas season fades from most people's memories, I am reminded of all the usual things for which we thank God; families, friends, health and homes. Christians also add their thanks for the incredible gift that is Jesus, and our salvation, which He made possible. We understand the honor with which Mary was gifted. To be the mother of the Savior is a blessing which has gone forth from Mary and touches all women everywhere.

But I stand in absolute awe of Joseph! Imagine being accepted by God to be a suitable substitute father for His Son! You see, I love kids. I wish I'd been blessed with dozens. It was not to be, but God substituted something just as wonderful. Many children have opened their hearts to me, several have even "adopted" me to be a substitute grandfather. Knowing how I feel about all of them helps me to better identify with Joseph, the foster-father of the Son of God!

Lord, I thank You for all of Your gifts!

Ladies' Nite

OK guys, its ladies' nite (so to speak), read on at the peril of your previous convictions...

Women have all recognized that men are different (some are a lot more different than others). Why, you wonder? Lets examine the differences, and the reasons for them...

In general, men are bigger, stronger, more interested in contact sports, hunting, war movies, violent video games, boxing, wrestling... do you see a theme here? We are very aware that men mature over a longer time than do women, why is that? Then, too, most men are not so great at conversation or shopping, is there something that ties these all together?

Within any society, men's and women's jobs differ, especially so in reproduction. Since the female is blessed by God with the ability to bear children, her mate MUST be her defender! Imagine, if you will, a family traveling. Mrs Caveman is 7 or 8 months pregnant, carrying her 1 year-old on her right hip, and the family's belongings (some animal skins and a sharp stick) on her back, when a cougar jumps in to attack. Mr Caveman leaps in with his spear and club, parries off the attacking big cat, then kills it.

Too untimely, you say? Alright...

Mr and Mrs Smith are leaving the civic function and dinner. It is fairly late at night. She, in order to present a good image, is wearing her best clothes and jewels. Suddenly a doped-up psycho leaps out from behind a van, intent on assaulting her and stealing her jewels. Mr Smith leaps to her defense, using his barely-remembered high-school boxing training to save her.

In both cases, the man must be single-minded enough to see the desired end result as a path-line through all possibilities, otherwise his mate suffers the consequences. Women are generally much better at keeping track of multiple tasks, but, to be a good defender, men must be able to single-task to the near total exclusion of any distractions. Men pay a fairly hefty price for this concentration enhancement. During pregnancy, the mother's body actually attacks the unborn male baby's brain, destroying many of the cross-linkages that allow the multi-tasking process to work. In other words, a male is made to be a primarily single-tasking expert. There are other costs, as well. Males are usually much less verbose, which makes it harder for him to express his feelings to you. He will assume you understand that his coming home at night shows you just how much he cares. You worry why he doesn't express his love for you very much? To himself, he thinks; "Hey, I told her I loved her just last month! Tonight I had seconds of her stew, how could she not know?"

Some of what the bible says appears to put women down, as regards men. For example, these verses are often misinterpreted...

Eph 5:22-24 "Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." (kjv)

Col 3:18-19 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." (kjv)

Many men (and women) choose to read a near-slavery into these verses, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Women are told to submit to husbands and to God the same way! It does not say you are enslaved. It does say, "...as it is fit in the Lord." In other words, as it is right by God. So, why would it say that "the husband is the head of the wife?" Think back to the single-tasking caveman above, as he jumped to her defense, he shouted to his wife, "RUN!" Should she not run, she could easily be killed by the cougar, along with her baby and unborn child. The husband is the defender of the family, and leads it, much as a general is the leader of the army, & for much the same reason, survival! Note that the husband is told to not be bitter against his wife, but to love her.

God has put a lot of extra time into making your husband, your defender. Trust God to know what He is doing. Recognize that your man will not be as good as you at some tasks. It doesn't mean he has stopped loving you, he may just need a little jog to his memory, every so often. Remember when you first met how you leaned lightly against him as you waited in line at the movies? How you touched his hand as he drove? How you stared into his eyes at dinner? These are some of the most profound declarations of love you ever made to him, and they are completely non-verbal. You were speaking "his language."

Remember, also, he asked you to marry him. He didn't ask that air-headed twit who jiggled so much when she walked that both her brain cells rattled. Sometimes, your guy just needs to be reminded of your love, and his.

A woman's role is difficult enough. Often, she is Christ's representative to her children, as well as her husband. Keep God in the middle of your marriage. Don't let the world shake your confidence. God gave you a tough job, because He knew you were tough enough. Prove Him right!

See you soon, in paradise!

Mr Mike

Love your wife!

Guys, do you have trouble understanding your wives?

No, this isn't a trick question!

Most husbands do find it difficult to comprehend a woman's point-of-view. It isn't a defect in either's thinking, rather just the way thought processes differ by gender.

(Ladies, this is aimed at the men, so you may find it overly obvious. If so, print out a copy, and leave it on his breakfast plate.)

Look, bud, your wife is NOT the same as you. God made her different for a reason! She completes you in a way nothing else can. She makes you stronger, as well.

Think not? What happens inside you if some total jerk comes up to you both on the street, and tries to accost her? See what I mean?

With God and your wife in your marriage, you can do almost anything.

But, what happens?

Sometimes she says things that make no sense to you at all, or asks questions that you KNOW she already knows the answers to, or wants your attention when you'd rather be doing something else...

In the back of your mind maybe you are noticing she isn't quite the teenager you fell in love with. When do you suppose that happened? Possibly during the years she cared for you, kept up your home, had your kids, AND balanced all this with working a job as well, just to help make ends meet.

In Eph 5:28-31 we read; "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." (kjv)

Awesome, isn't it? (There is real power in the King James)

You know, guys, she is very aware that she is a little older. Our society reinforces her fears that you will no longer appreciate her as much as you did once. Television constantly depicts younger women as being more attractive, and yes, even more desirable. It isn't fair to her. She needs to be reminded of your continuing love, & of your devotion to her. Don't let complacency destroy your relationship! She needs your love and attention to be the strength you need when your job stinks, when major problems arise, and especially when you feel you are carrying the world on your shoulders.

Call her up unexpectedly when you're at work, remind her that you love her, and were just missing her and thinking of her. Ask her out on a date (sure, I know you're married, but that doesn't mean she has stopped being exciting, does it?). Do little things for her, unexpectedly. Stop by Wal-Mart on the way home and buy her a single rose. Get her some ear-rings, just because it is NOT her birthday. Tell her they looked lonesome without her. Propose marriage to her AGAIN! She needs to know your love for her is real, and constant. No other woman has ever given you what she has, right? Be sure she knows it! Remember how much she means to you, and has meant to you. Hey, she married you and not pimple-faced Ziggie Pflugelmeister from college, right?

Keep your marriage strong. Keep God centered in it. Keep your wife loved and content, and always reminded of your devotion. She will continue to be there to reinforce you, love you, and care for your kids. When disaster strikes, you will be each other's strength. It is what God intended, what more can you ask?

Walk with God.

Mr Mike