It seems lately all we have been hearing about is the crisis with refugees from Syria wanting to enter our country. It is a difficult choice for anyone to make - and with the trouble in Paris going on, it makes it especially difficult to know the right thing to do. But, the hardest part is for the refugees who have nothing to do with the international politics getting caught in the bureaucracy of American politics.
I have to wonder if the founding fathers had any clue that their descendants would be twisting the laws of the land to fit a political agenda. They were simply trying to do what was best for the country. Nowadays, there are many who say that they are doing what they can for the betterment of mankind, but many times it is for more selfish motives.
Contrast that with what the Bible tells us - Jesus was one who never really got along with the political leaders of his day. As a matter of fact, we see many examples where he bucked the system by following what God wanted and not what was popular in the culture at the time. The story of the woman caught in the act of adultery comes to mind. She was accused, dragged out into the street - with little to no cover - and was ready to be stoned. Stoning - literally, throwing rocks at people until they died was a common practice in the early 1st century A.D.
Jesus turned the tables on his accusers, however. He told them that ANYONE who was without sin could cast the first stone. They dropped their rocks and left...no one there was without sin. Well...almost no one. After a few minutes, it was the girl and Jesus...he asked her where her accusers were. They had left - and Jesus forgave her and let her go.
I don't know if there are 'terrorists' with the refugees, but if we do not allow the opportunity to provide a safe haven to political refugees, then we cease to be a caring nation.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Spinning your wheels...
When I was in high school (many moons ago), a friend and I decided to go for a drive. We had open campus for seniors, and it was a small town. We had a few weeks before graduation and we thought it would be fun. That is, until we got stuck in the mud. He had a four-wheel drive, but it was a manual. He couldn't figure out how to change it over to get us out.
Now this is the day before cell phones. We went to a farmers house to use the phone to call his dad. By the time all was said and done, we missed the afternoon classes at school. Needless to say, neither of our parents were very happy with us. It was a simple fix, but my friend didn't know what to do.
Many years later, as I think about that time, I laugh about it. But, it brings to mind that there are those who are 'stuck'. We all have those moments in our lives where we feel like we are going nowhere spiritually. It is like being stuck in the mud and not having any traction to get out. And, just like my friend, we should call upon our Father to 'help us out'.
Are you in a place where you are stuck? Does it seem like God isn't hearing your prayers? We all have those times in our lives - some deal with it for weeks, months or even years. But, know that God is listening - it may not seem like it sometimes, but he is listening. Know that there are those praying for you as you seek out His will for your life or for peace in your heart.
You might GET stuck, but you don't have to STAY stuck.
God bless you!!
Now this is the day before cell phones. We went to a farmers house to use the phone to call his dad. By the time all was said and done, we missed the afternoon classes at school. Needless to say, neither of our parents were very happy with us. It was a simple fix, but my friend didn't know what to do.
Many years later, as I think about that time, I laugh about it. But, it brings to mind that there are those who are 'stuck'. We all have those moments in our lives where we feel like we are going nowhere spiritually. It is like being stuck in the mud and not having any traction to get out. And, just like my friend, we should call upon our Father to 'help us out'.
Are you in a place where you are stuck? Does it seem like God isn't hearing your prayers? We all have those times in our lives - some deal with it for weeks, months or even years. But, know that God is listening - it may not seem like it sometimes, but he is listening. Know that there are those praying for you as you seek out His will for your life or for peace in your heart.
You might GET stuck, but you don't have to STAY stuck.
God bless you!!
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
New beginnings
For many, school is about to begin for the new year. We need to take the opportunity to pray for the school districts, schools, administrators, teachers, staff, parents and students as they begin the new year. My wife and I are involved in education; our children are grown, but our hearts still go out to the families that are affected by the transition to the start of the new school year.
There is always a sense of anticipation and excitement when the school year starts. From the new kindergarten student to the senior enjoying their last year, there is something exciting that happens when the new school year starts. There is often the anticipation of teachers and staff when they transition to a new building, or move to a different grade level or new building. Many hours of preparation go into getting ready for the first day; lots of teacher training and lesson planning go into prepping for the first day.
With the beginning of the school year, I am reminded of the importance of our faith as the children return to school. The responsibility that we have as mentors to the younger generations is great; our faith in Christ must be strong. It can be stressful going through the day-to-day activities - whether you are involved in education or not.
I want to assure you that prayer is an important part of my life. I don't say that to be bragging, but I take the needs that people share with me VERY seriously. If you ever feel the need to share a request, feel free to email me at revrod88@gmail.com. I have a journal that I keep with me so that I can keep track of the person as well as the need.
God bless!
There is always a sense of anticipation and excitement when the school year starts. From the new kindergarten student to the senior enjoying their last year, there is something exciting that happens when the new school year starts. There is often the anticipation of teachers and staff when they transition to a new building, or move to a different grade level or new building. Many hours of preparation go into getting ready for the first day; lots of teacher training and lesson planning go into prepping for the first day.
With the beginning of the school year, I am reminded of the importance of our faith as the children return to school. The responsibility that we have as mentors to the younger generations is great; our faith in Christ must be strong. It can be stressful going through the day-to-day activities - whether you are involved in education or not.
I want to assure you that prayer is an important part of my life. I don't say that to be bragging, but I take the needs that people share with me VERY seriously. If you ever feel the need to share a request, feel free to email me at revrod88@gmail.com. I have a journal that I keep with me so that I can keep track of the person as well as the need.
God bless!
Friday, August 7, 2015
New title: Finding God in Everyday
You will notice a difference in the blog title: it is now Finding God in Everyday. I still have a passion for the godly life, but many of you are attempting to seek hope in the world today. There is so much going on in the world to make many of us fearful of the future. With all of the violence, sex trafficking, geopolitical problems and so on, it can make us fearful of our future on earth.
My hope as I take this blog into a new phase, that I will be able to provide (at least) weekly words of encouragement from a biblical perspective.
One of the more interesting things that I have discovered in the years that I have read the Scriptures is how you can read a passage 100 times, and discover new meanings every time. I have been researching the Gospel of John for some study material; and the first words of that book just stand out for me.
My hope as I take this blog into a new phase, that I will be able to provide (at least) weekly words of encouragement from a biblical perspective.
One of the more interesting things that I have discovered in the years that I have read the Scriptures is how you can read a passage 100 times, and discover new meanings every time. I have been researching the Gospel of John for some study material; and the first words of that book just stand out for me.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God
and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing
was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life
was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but
the darkness has not understood it." (John 1:1-5)(NIV)
This is talking about the Bible, but it is also talking about Christ. The gospel of John is the book that focuses more on the ministry of Christ on Earth rather than on the birth of Christ. The Bible and the Trinity were all there in the beginning...just let that sink in. John was the intelligent one: he knew his purpose was to be the precursor to the arrival of Jesus on Earth. But in Heaven, the Trinity was all there from the beginning.
Without the Godhead being at the beginning of the universe, there would have been no hope for us if it was set up any other way. I am encouraged in the knowledge of these verses being the assurance that everything is going to be all right (no matter what goes on in our world right now)!
Blessings
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Milestones...
I had an opportunity to return to my hometown for a Fourth of July parade. That may not seem so exciting, but I saw many of my childhood friends and 'heroes'. One that I saw in the parade is the reason why I serve the Lord today.
Growing up, my parents never attended church - but they made sure that me and my little sister went to church. When I was 10 and my sister was 7, we started attending another church. We had come from a Sunday School class of 4 to a children's program of 40-50 kids! It was so much fun! But the person that had the greatest impact was a man named Don. He was (and still is) a very humble and Christ-like man.
My sister and I grew up in the 1970's - many churches had purchased old school buses and used them to pick up kids for church. (Many use vans now...). Every Saturday morning, Don would stop by and ask us if we were going to church. Whether we said 'yes' or 'no', he still gave us a piece of bubble gum. I am not sure how long he did that, but I know that he did it for many years. When I saw him in the parade, I wasn't sure that it was him. We have not seen each other for many years; he had dark hair when I last saw him. He has white hair now.
Since that day, I have had many milestones in my life: I am preparing for the 'big 5-0' in November. While it is just another birthday, it has given me time to pause and reflect on those lives that I have had the privilege of impacting over the years. I am proud to say that my children are my greatest legacy. I am proud, yet humbled, in the way that their lives have been impacted by the Christ-like influences in their lives.
"Train up our children in the way they should go; and, when they are old, they will not depart from it..." (Proverbs 22:6)
Growing up, my parents never attended church - but they made sure that me and my little sister went to church. When I was 10 and my sister was 7, we started attending another church. We had come from a Sunday School class of 4 to a children's program of 40-50 kids! It was so much fun! But the person that had the greatest impact was a man named Don. He was (and still is) a very humble and Christ-like man.
My sister and I grew up in the 1970's - many churches had purchased old school buses and used them to pick up kids for church. (Many use vans now...). Every Saturday morning, Don would stop by and ask us if we were going to church. Whether we said 'yes' or 'no', he still gave us a piece of bubble gum. I am not sure how long he did that, but I know that he did it for many years. When I saw him in the parade, I wasn't sure that it was him. We have not seen each other for many years; he had dark hair when I last saw him. He has white hair now.
Since that day, I have had many milestones in my life: I am preparing for the 'big 5-0' in November. While it is just another birthday, it has given me time to pause and reflect on those lives that I have had the privilege of impacting over the years. I am proud to say that my children are my greatest legacy. I am proud, yet humbled, in the way that their lives have been impacted by the Christ-like influences in their lives.
"Train up our children in the way they should go; and, when they are old, they will not depart from it..." (Proverbs 22:6)
Monday, July 13, 2015
Ch...Ch..Ch...Changes
Changes are inevitable - they can be a positive experience or a negative experience. It is how we handle the change that proves our worth. A few years back (during one of my ministry transitions), I had the opportunity to work at a foundry that created aluminum face plates for gas meters. It was HOT work, because I was responsible for taking the 'mistakes' and letting them melt back down into bricks so they could be reused.
That experience reminds me of our life journeys: each of us has a different function in life. Sometimes we get broken by the situations that overwhelm us. In those cases, we have to allow God to put us through the 'refiner's fire'. In the literal meaning, metals melt at certain temperatures. At the foundry, I worked with aluminum; I had to make sure the furnace got up to temperature and stayed at the right temperature to melt the aluminum.
In the spiritual sense, we are sometimes put through a spiritual fire. But, this type helps to purify our hearts: let me explain. I believe that the Lord prepares us for different functions based on our depth of faith and strength of resolve. The Bible says that "...the Lord will not put any more on us than we can handle..."
I have grown up in the church; I have enough wisdom to know that 'the Church' is more than the building. It is about the variety of personalities that walk through the doors that come together and reach out to others in their own way. Well, PERSONALITIES CLASH...there have been times when I have seen personalities clash and people cannot agree on anything. It would be easy to just leave the church: however, before making a rash decision, each should go through their own journey and know if it is permissible to leave or to stay and work it out.
I know that this post may seem confusing; but each of us is instructed to 'seek out our own salvation with fear and trembling'; whatever you might be dealing with right now, just know that I am praying that the Lord is able to help give you an answer to your dilemma. Peace!
That experience reminds me of our life journeys: each of us has a different function in life. Sometimes we get broken by the situations that overwhelm us. In those cases, we have to allow God to put us through the 'refiner's fire'. In the literal meaning, metals melt at certain temperatures. At the foundry, I worked with aluminum; I had to make sure the furnace got up to temperature and stayed at the right temperature to melt the aluminum.
In the spiritual sense, we are sometimes put through a spiritual fire. But, this type helps to purify our hearts: let me explain. I believe that the Lord prepares us for different functions based on our depth of faith and strength of resolve. The Bible says that "...the Lord will not put any more on us than we can handle..."
I have grown up in the church; I have enough wisdom to know that 'the Church' is more than the building. It is about the variety of personalities that walk through the doors that come together and reach out to others in their own way. Well, PERSONALITIES CLASH...there have been times when I have seen personalities clash and people cannot agree on anything. It would be easy to just leave the church: however, before making a rash decision, each should go through their own journey and know if it is permissible to leave or to stay and work it out.
I know that this post may seem confusing; but each of us is instructed to 'seek out our own salvation with fear and trembling'; whatever you might be dealing with right now, just know that I am praying that the Lord is able to help give you an answer to your dilemma. Peace!
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Interesting summer...
In my 'neck of the woods', it is June 4th, and the temperature is in the upper 60's. Usually by this time, the air conditioner has been on for almost a month, trying to keep the humidity out of the house. But there seems to be more going on with the climate than the weather. It sincerely appears to be a struggle for souls.
In the St. Louis area (as well as Baltimore) - there are ongoing racial tensions that do not appear to be resolving, even with many of the changes that appear to be happening. In recent weeks, a famous Olympian has 'come out' as a transgender - and the media has been going on about how 'brave' he is for doing so.
Yet, the voice of the church is silenced by the mainstream media - labeling the church as an antiquated, bigoted bunch of hypocrites. It is an unfair association of an entire group of people. In light of all that is going on in recent times, we as the church must:
1. Pray for the souls of the world - this is a spiritual battle.
2. Speak out the truth - in love -- this battle drives us to be godly, not bickering...
3. Remain vigilant in living a holy and godly life.
Blessings!
In the St. Louis area (as well as Baltimore) - there are ongoing racial tensions that do not appear to be resolving, even with many of the changes that appear to be happening. In recent weeks, a famous Olympian has 'come out' as a transgender - and the media has been going on about how 'brave' he is for doing so.
Yet, the voice of the church is silenced by the mainstream media - labeling the church as an antiquated, bigoted bunch of hypocrites. It is an unfair association of an entire group of people. In light of all that is going on in recent times, we as the church must:
1. Pray for the souls of the world - this is a spiritual battle.
2. Speak out the truth - in love -- this battle drives us to be godly, not bickering...
3. Remain vigilant in living a holy and godly life.
Blessings!
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