You Are A Star

Because you are living in this planet for a reason.

You are a star.

Yes, you.

What do I mean?

A success, a big-shot, a VIP, da man, the bomb, you’re it, person of the hour, champion, top of the heap, king of the hill, winner, title holder, first placer...however you want to call it. A convenient generic for me is, a star.

You think I’m crazy. I’ve heard that said of me before. But believe me, I have good reason to say you are in the big time.

The good reason? Why, you are living in this planet. The reason you are a star is because you are here for a reason. You didn’t just happen by. Inspite of what some loony college professors say, you are not an accident.

How do I know? Well, hear it from the Maker of this planet Himself:

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:16)

All the days of your life, starting from when time began and the first time your parents met and you were conceived in your mother’s womb and you were born, until today and through your future here on earth and in eternity, all these days had to be authorized before one of them could come to be.

Who authorized it? None else than the Maker of Creation himself, God Almighty.

Now, God is not a God of disorder. His entire Creation speaks for itself. The design is grand and complete from its humongous entirety down to the smallest details. Each part, big or small, is complete in itself but working together with all the other parts to make up the whole. Each part is created for a purpose. The whole itself is put together for a purpose.

You cannot be an accident in this grand scheme. You have a part to play in it.

What part? I dare not second-guess the mind of God on the specifics of that. For one, I know that he likes you to find that out yourself by asking him. But I can tell you with absolute certainty that it is a part that will bring glory to him.

Still uncomfortable? How about we look into how the LORD put it as he disclosed his plans to a prophet:

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Need I say more?

Now, if you have been walking with the LORD and your purpose in him just hasn’t occurred to you yet, it’s time to start asking him. He likes it when you do it in prayer. He answers in a variety of ways but he seems to do it a lot when you read the Bible. Here’s a tip: Make an appointment with him everyday---15 minutes is good, but the more time you give it the better---and speak to him in prayer and listen to him through Scripture. I promise you, he will reveal to you more than even your purpose in him.

Now, if Jesus is your personal Savior and LORD but you have not been walking with him, it’s time to hit the floor on your knees, confess your complacency and ask for forgiveness. Then follow what’s described in the immediate paragraph above.

Now, if you don’t understand what personal Savior and LORD means, you’re special. You need to understand it so you can find out what your purpose is that makes you a star. See that “How Well Do You Know God” button on the sidebar of this website? Follow where it takes you and you will begin to understand.

Be gentle out there with the paparazzi.

God bless you.

Instant Inspiration

Man's way leads to a hopeless end -- God's way leads to an endless hope.

In these days of microwaves and gigabytes, we get used to a fast-paced life sustained by compressed gobs of information that we access on the run to guide us through daily activity freeways we merge into as soon as we open our eyes waking up and exit when we close them again at bedtime.

So, why not instant inspiration? Not that I am suggesting that we can invent pills in our spiritual lives to take the place of a healthy dose of daily prayer and Scripture reading. What I have here is something that might help when we're in a pinch, when needing a boost from the Spirit but we're juggling the phone in the office and the boss' buzz next door and the customer rattling away with questions across the counter. Something like fast food when we're hungry and we need to get some place in a hurry.

I draw once again from a message e-mailed in by a thoughtful friend:

Wonderful One-Liners:

1. Give God what's right -- not what's left.

2. Man's way leads to a hopeless end -- God's way leads to an endless hope.

3. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

4. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.

5. In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma -- but never let him be the period.

6. Don't put a question mark where God puts a period.

7. Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a face-lift.

8. When praying, don't give God instructions -- just report for duty.

9. Don't wait for six strong men to take you to church.

10. We don't change God's message -- His message changes us.

11. The church is prayer-conditioned.

12. When God ordains, He sustains.

13. WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.

14. Plan ahead -- It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

15. Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.

16. Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Bible.

17. Exercise daily -- walk with the Lord.

18. Never give the devil a ride -- he will always want to drive.

19. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.

20. Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.

21. He who angers you controls you.

22. Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.

23. Give Satan an inch and he'll be a ruler.

24. Be ye fishers of men -- you catch them and He'll clean them.

25. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

26. Read the Bible -- It will scare the hell out of you.

God bless you.

--------------------------------------

(It is our practice in The LORD My Dad on Wednesdays to lighten up and post humor or inspiration. We do so to call attention also to the humorous facet of the LORD's character.--SDO)

Lion In Lamb's Clothing

Meek, yes. Weak, never.

He may as well have been a rampaging lion. He had more than the capacity to do it. He could have called thousands upon thousands of angels. And each one of Jesus' angels could wipe out an entire army (2 Kings 19:35). The whole Roman empire could have been incinerated with but a mere nod from the Lion of Judah.

Yet he remained humbly patient and submissive. As the Lamb that God provided, he let his body be broken and hung on the brutal cross to satisfy the Father's wrath. The blood that flowed freely from his body washed away my sin and that of mankind. His sacrifice paved the way for man to enjoy again the relationship he was designed to have with God.

Such is the meekness of Christ. That he did not argue his innocence is not a sign of a dull mind. That he did not resist the beating that tore at his flesh and rendered him nearly unrecognizable as a human being is not a sign of timidity. That he did not save himself from the spikes that nailed him fast to the cross as some at the time taunted him to do is not a sign of weakness.

Oh, they were all signs of the incredible strength of Christ. He was fully man, that pain and grief were all real to him. Yet he was at the same time fully God who knew that there was absolutely no hope for man if he did not remain true to the sacrifice that he alone had the qualification to make.

I shudder to think what my eternal destiny is going to be like if Jesus exercised his rightful prerogative to simply punish his tormentors. If Christ opted for the comfort of his home in heaven and decided that man after all was already consigned to hell anyway so why bother.

No. Christ was not weak at all. It takes incomprehensible courage to stay the course even when one knows beforehand that the path he is walking meant certain agonizing torture and death. Meek, yes. Weak, never.

Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. (1 Peter 3:4)

He did not even flinch to serve as the very example of what he teaches:

But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.
(Psalm 37:11)

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
(Matthew 5:5)

This is the Lamb who will return as the soon coming King to judge the nations. Oh, how the meek among men will be highly favored in those days:

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger. (Zephaniah 2:3)

Get to know this meek but almighty King, my friend. He had you in mind when he steeled his resolve and quietly allowed himself to be led as a lamb is to the slaughterhouse. He loves you so much and longs to shower upon you all the blessings that flow from this love.

See that "How Well Do You Know God?" button on the sidebar of this website? That's an excellent place to start.

Let's enjoy together being shaped into the likeness of his powerful strength in his meekness.

God bless you.


Graphic courtesy of:
John Bell
http://www.jrbell.com/index.html

Forcefully Advancing

In his recent book "Megashift," author Jim Rutz shared his discovery that the number of born-again believers around the world is increasing at an astonishing rate of 8% per year. Rutz says that the global church is growing in countable networks. In 1970, there were 71 million of them. By 2000, there were 707 million.

Starting with the 20th century alone, according to Rutz:

• In 1900, there were 2 million evangelical or charismatic Christians in Africa. By 2000, there were 200 million.

• In Latin America during that period, the born-again population zoomed from 1 million to 170 million.

• And in China, just since 1950, Christianity has exploded from fewer than a million to almost 120 million.

Here's more: Up until 1960, Western evangelicals outnumbered non-Western evangelicals – mostly Latinos, blacks and Asians – by two to one. As of 2000, non-Westerners had shot ahead by four to one. By 2010, it will be seven to one. (From Patrick Johnstone, "The Church Is Bigger Than You Think.")

What's happening? God is. Here's what he has to say:

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of
heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. (Matthew 11:12)

Want to be among the forceful men that lay hold of heaven's kingdom as it marches onward powerfully? You start by knowing the King of heaven, God Almighty.

See that "How Well Do You Know God" button on the sidebar of this website? That's a good place to begin to get to know Him.

Let's lay hold of the kingdom of heaven together.

God bless you.


Graphic courtesy of:
Free Christian Images
http://www.fci.crossnet.se/

I Grow Up A Little Each Time

Weddings make me grow up a little each time.

It's like getting married all over again. That's what it's like to me every time I attend a wedding ceremony.

Oh, yeah. Soldado was missing in action again in his blog. Well, the wife shanghai'ed yours truly to get involved in this wedding (yes, the one pictured above) because the bride is one of her better friends.

It's all worth it, at least at my end, I promise you. You see, to me, weddings are like the Bible in a sense. You could read a passage or the entire Book itself a thousand times all your life and each time you could find fresh meaning in its contents.

I remember weddings where I found myself loving my wife even more because I am reminded that in OUR own wedding she has made a vow with me before God to remain one with me through sickness and health, richer or poorer, good or bad, comfort or lack, till death do us part. Seeing how faithfully she has remained by my side--and I am not the easiest person to get along with--makes me appreciate her so much more. It also makes me even more grateful to the LORD, realizing each time that He never makes mistakes and that my wife is precisely the lifelong partner he has planned for me from the beginning of time.

In this particular wedding we went to yesterday, the LORD spoke to my heart as the bride entered the sanctuary. Every one rose from their seat and broke in applause in her honor. The entire entourage including the groom has preceded her and no one else except the bride was accorded this much respect.

I realized what risk it is she is taking for the sake of love to leave the home of her childhood and the security of her parents' and family's protection to join a man she has necessarily known only fairly recently compared to the rest of her loved ones. I realize the perils she braves because the future is simply unknowable. Outside of what she and the groom know about each other, there will be hidden portions that become known only in time and in sharing life together. Nothing about the future is viewable to both of them.

Bearing a child for the husband-to-be is an assumed and often happily regarded expectation that the bride carries with her as she walks down the wedding aisle. Yet, all know that she lays her life on the line each time she lends herself true to this expectation.

I realized how important woman is to man. Indeed, as the officiating pastor pointed out, woman was not created from a man's head to dominate him nor from underneath man's foot to be crushed by him. She was created from his rib, to be by his side, his partner and equal in every respect. She was created from a part underneath his arm to enjoy his protection. And since she is a part that was taken from man, he is never complete until she is joined with him.

How beautiful! Like I promised, all worthwhile.

I can't wait to be invited to another wedding.

God bless you.

Can't Take 'Em With You

"Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to remarry!"

I've turned a lot this week to materials that have been e-mailed to me. Can't help it if they really do strike a chord in my heart. Just like this one I'm about to feature here.

One caveat before we proceed. I don't claim copyright to any material I share here that was previously e-mailed to me. They usually come unsolicited and part of a mass e-mailing that happened to include my name just because someone cared enough to think that I might be blessed by the message.

It is in this same spirit that I share these here. Should you come across such materials here that you have copyright over, you may leave a comment or e-mail me advising me to that effect. I would gladly edit in retro-attribution or I would remove the post from this site if you so wish.

Glad that's said and done. Here we go. Read this carefully:

The King And His Four Wives

Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives. He loved the fourth wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the third wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his second wife. She was his confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with him . Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.

The King's first wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her!

One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, "I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone." Thus, he asked the fourth wife, "I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No way!", replied the fourth wife, and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the third wife, "I have loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No!", replied the third wife. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to remarry!" His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the second wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!", replied the second wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." Her answer came like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: "I'll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go." The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was so skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect.

Greatly grieved, the King said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"

In truth, we all have four wives in our lives:

Our fourth wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.

Our third wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our second wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the farthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our first wife is our Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go.

Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout Eternity.

Cool, huh?

Here's how the thoughtful friend that e-mailed me this capped the message:

When the world pushes you to your knees.....You're in the perfect position to pray.

God bless you.

The Poodle, The Leopard And The Monkey

See what's going to happen to that conniving canine.

A wealthy old lady decides to go on a photo safari in Africa, taking her faithful, aged poodle named Cuddles along for the company. One day the poodle starts chasing butterflies and before long Cuddles discovers that she's lost. Wandering about, she notices a leopard heading rapidly in her direction with the intention of having lunch. The old poodle thinks, "Oh, oh! I'm in trouble now!"

Noticing some bones on the ground close by, she immediately settles down to chew on the bones with her back to the approaching cat. Just as the leopard is about to leap, the old poodle exclaims loudly, "Boy, that was one delicious leopard! I wonder if there are any more around here?"

Boy, that was one delicious leopard!

Hearing this, the young leopard halts his attack in mid-strike, a look of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees. "Whew!" says the leopard, "That was close! That old poodle nearly had me!"

Meanwhile, a monkey who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree, figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the leopard. So off he goes, but the old poodle sees him heading after the leopard with great speed, and figures that something must be up.

Let's make a deal, Mr. Leopard.

The monkey soon catches up with the leopard, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the leopard. The young leopard is furious at being made a fool of and says, "Here, monkey, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that conniving canine!"

The old poodle sees the leopard coming with the monkey on his back and thinks, "What am I going to do now?", but instead of running, the dog sits down with her back to her attackers, pretending she hasn't seen them yet, and just when they get close enough to hear, the old poodle says: "Where's that monkey? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another leopard!"

(forwarded by Smitty)

Source:
MIKEY'S FUNNIES
www.mikeysFunnies.com

-----------------------------------------------------------

(It is our practice in The LORD My Dad on Wednesdays to lighten up and post humor or inspiration. We do so to call attention also to the humorous facet of the LORD's character.--SDO)

Making Stress Work For You

Atheletes regularly place their muscles under stress.

“This is nice for the overworked!”

That’s how my thoughtful friend (see my last post) started a second straight e-mail to me last week. I took a read and thought it made a lot of sense so I thought of sharing it, too, with you here.

The e-mail came in a different language. This is how I interpret:

Stressed out? Woke up on the wrong side of the bed? Deadlines to beat?

It’s important to understand stress before we can effectively manage it. So, let’s talk about stress.

According to scientists, there are two kinds of stress.

Eustress and Distress

Eustress is positive stress. This is what the lovestruck feels when the object of his or her affection draws near.

Eustress is also the stress experienced by those who work out when going through their exercises.

Athletes regularly place their muscles under stress. Afterwards, they rest to repair their muscles. If they do not rest, injury results.

When injury happens, that’s distress.

Distress is the negative side of stress. You get headaches, stomach aches, could not sleep, could not eat.

Distress is the kind of stress that leads to diseases (hypertension, etc.) and sometimes emotional breakdown.

What Can We Do So That Our Stress Does Not Turn Into Distress?

Famous author and inspirational speaker Dr. John Maxwell has the following suggestions:

Don’t be overly sensitive to criticism

Accept that we will never please everybody. There will always be those who will disagree with you no matter how noble your intentions and motives are.

So, when you receive criticisms, take it constructively when the criticism is sensible.

When you think the criticism is not objective, ignore it just so not to fall into distress.

Don’t take too much pride in your achievements

Sometimes our achievements hinder us from growing and learning because we tell ourselves, “Been there, done that. I am better than the average Joe, how dare they teach me.”

Life is so sad when that is our attitude.

Don’t harbor jealousy over the achievement of others

The envious person often falls into distress because there will always be others better than us. It is only natural that others will have achievements that we do not.

Instead of being jealous or envious, rejoice in the successes of others.

You might just find yourself partying a lot with achievers when you do.

Don’t focus on your weaknesses and inadequacies

The more you pick at a wound, the worse it gets.

The more you focus on your weaknesses and inadequacies the bigger the tendency of wallowing in self-pity.

While it is important to acknowledge your inadequacies, it is helpful to focus on your strengths and capabilities.

One effective way of fighting distress is by counting our blessings

Reflect on the good things which life brings.

When we have grateful hearts, we will always be reminded that we are too blessed to be stressed!

Someone wrote that “The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor.

The one who kneels to the LORD can stand up to anything.”

God bless you.

The Center Of God's Word

This one seems to have made its rounds through e-mail. I have even once read a devotional that mentioned it. Last week, it popped up again on my screen e-mailed to me by a thoughtful friend. So, I thought I'd be thoughtful to all you out there and feature it here. Here's how it goes.

Q: What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?
A: Psalm 117

Q: What is the longest chapter in the Bible?
A: Psalm 119

Q: Which chapter is in the center of the Bible?
A: Psalm 118

Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalm 118
Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalm 118

Add these numbers up and you get 1188

Q: What is the center verse in the Bible?
A: Psalm 118:8

Q: Does this verse say something significant about God's perfect will for our lives?
A: The next time someone says they would like to find God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to be in the center of His will, just send them to the center of His Word!

Psalm 118:8 (NKJV)
"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."

Now isn't that odd how this worked out (or was God in the center of it)?

My thoughtful friend capped the message with the following encouraging reminder. I thought I would encourage you with it, too:

When things get tough, always remember...
Faith doesn't get you around trouble, it gets you through it!

God Bless You

Happy Father's Day!

What a blast! My wife and kids suprised me with breakfast in bed. I guess my queen was not going to be outdone by our kids' and my antics last Mother's Day. She countered today with a steak and sunny-side-up eggs plate complete with sauce and salt. To wash it all down, they capped everything with a hot cup of coffee.

Then, off to church we went where we had a wonderful service honoring fathers and most especially the Father in heaven. I thought that would have been it. No, the wife and the kids weren't done. They took me out to lunch. Then drove me across town to pick up a nice gift. They knew just what I have been dreaming of lately. Hint: it's something I can use in this blog.

You'd think that would have done it. No, they took me next to my father-in-law's house. Of course, he's a dad, too (mine has gone home to be with the LORD quite a few years ago). Party time again.

Long story short, here I am, finally home but with only enough time to make this post. Hey, better late than never.

Happy Father's Day to you all!

Top Ten Wrong Ways To Initiate Your Son Into Manhood

You da man!

10. Teach him the secret male ritual of leaving the toilet seat up and the toilet paper roll empty.

9. Have a ceremony where you give him his own remote control.

8. Lead him through an afternoon of rigorous physical training in the back yard while you sit in a lawn chair with a half-gallon of ice cream.

7. Eat until you're about to burst and then ride the Screamin' Hurler roller coaster.

6. Put cream on his face and let the cat shave him with its tongue.

5. Walk behind him through his school halls yelling, "You da man!"

4. Send him to the local discount store to buy mom's "personal things."

3. Give him Grandma's lime green Gremlin with personalized license plates that say, "TUFFGUY."

2. Send the womenfolk shopping, then get out your secret Old Yeller video and have a good cry together.

1. Shot put catching.

Source:
MIKEY'S FUNNIES
http://www.mikeysFunnies.com

Help Wanted: Father

On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

Subject: JOB DESCRIPTION
Position: DAD

Long-term team players needed for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in faraway cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES
~ Must provide on-site training in basic life skills, such as nose blowing. Must have strong skills in negotiating, conflict resolution and crisis management. Ability to suture flesh wounds a plus.
~ Must be able to think out of the box but not lose track of the box, because you most likely will need it for a school project.
~ Must reconcile petty cash disbursements and be proficient in managing budgets and resources fairly, unless you want to hear, "He got more than me!" for the rest of your life.
~ Must be able to drive motor vehicles safely under loud and adverse conditions while simultaneously practicing above mentioned skills in conflict resolution.
~ Must be able to choose your battles wisely and then stick to your guns.
~ Must be able to withstand criticism, such as "You don't know anything."
~ Must be willing to be hated at least temporarily, until someone needs $5 to go skating.
~ Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
~ Must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat, in case this time the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
~ Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
~ Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys and battery-operated devices.
~ Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
~ Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
~ Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.
~ Must have a highly energetic entrepreneurial spirit, because fund-raiser will be your middle name.
~ Must have a diverse knowledge base, so as to answer questions on the fly such as "What makes the wind move?" or "Why can't we just stop all wars?"
~ Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
~ Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
~ Other responsibilities include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT AND PROMOTION
Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
None required, unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION
You pay them, offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered, the job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life, if you play your cards right.

Source:
MIKEY'S FUNNIES
www.mikeysFunnies.com

Meme Tag - Books

Worn out books tell of nimble, fit minds.

I have been tagged by Pastor J.A. Gillmartin of The SHEEP's Crib with this meme on books. Many thanks to him as it gives me a chance to write about my own love of reading--really mostly anything that has print on it--and so also of books.

I understood from Pastor John that bloggers play this fun little game to get to know one another. I read also from Bloggers that it helps generate traffic. I thought that last one shouldn't hurt.

Like Pastor John, I should tag five other bloggers I know, who should also each tag five others and so on, to keep the game going. My tag list is at the bottom of this post.

Here are the four captions I'm supposed to answer and pass on to other bloggers:

Total Number Of Books Owned Ever: At least one thousand.

Last Book Bought: The Grace and Truth Paradox, by Randy Alcorn

Last Book I Read: Under The Influence (How Christianity Transformed Civilization), by Alvin J. Schmidt - (I'm actually still at it.--SDO)

Five Books That Mean A Lot To Me:

1. The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers
2. The Managerial Grid, by Robert R. Blake and Jane S. Mouton
3. The Case For Christ, by Lee Strobel
4. The Ascent of A Leader, by Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol and Ken McElrath
5. This last one is tough to pin down because they all matter a lot to me in the context of the present:

• Radical Reformission, by Mark Driscoll
• Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, by Jim Cymbala
• Fresh Faith, by Jim Cymbala
• God Works The Night Shift, by Ron Mehl

I am one with Pastor John in deliberately leaving out the Bible. Indeed, it is in a class all by itself. To quote Pastor John:

...because it is...the only inspired, infallible, inerrant, plenary volume whose writing, publication, and preservation have been superintended by God himself.

Now to tag other bloggers: A Journey Home, Transforming Sermons, northern 'burbs blog, FUNDAMENTALLY RIGHT, and Espresso Roast.

If any of you, guys, whom I have tagged here have already been tagged previously on this meme, please accept my apologies. In any case, I am really interested also in the books that had made an impact in your lives.

God bless you.

Smile, Your Future Is Bright

You can begin enjoying your bright future now. Remember, it's your choice.

Smile. Your future is bright.

Your heard me right. Your future is bright.

How do I know? I know it for certain. What makes me so confident?

Now I know I’m talking about you but since the question is directed at me, I will speak for myself first. I promise, I will show why it matters to you.

How can your future not be bright when your Dad owns cattle over a thousand hills? My Dad does. Wealth is no issue. My Dad is the one that gives power to make wealth.

He’s a master builder. He can make a city out of pure gold with its wall made of jasper. He decorates the foundations of the city walls with every kind of precious stone: jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, and amethyst. He could build a dozen gates for the city, each gate made of a single pearl. Hey, he uses pure gold for street pavement.

My Dad can command the sea to be rough or calm, respect a boundary and even part it in the middle and let millions walk through. He can command the waters of a river to do the same.

He can change the face of the earth, sink mountains or create new ones and create green, wet landscape in the desert. Why, he builds planet systems and star systems and constellation systems out of nothing. Don’t get me started on the creatures he has walking, crawling, swimming and flying the heavens and the earth.

Now with awesome abilities like that, it just makes sense that being on my Dad’s good side ought to make for a bright future. And I guarantee you, it does. The good news is he WANTS you to be on his good side and will stop at nothing to get you there! Even if you do nothing about it.

Hard to believe? Well, I am an adopted son but my Dad has an only Son whom he has sent and sacrificed to death just to prove how much he wants everyone to be on his good side. Why? I know of a couple of good reasons:

One, my Dad loves outrageously. And he happens to love everybody that way.

Second, the alternative is unthinkable. Ever imagined being tortured in a humongous furnace and being eaten by immortal superworms forever? That’s what’s in store for those that choose to be on his bad side inspite of his free invitation to be on his good. He doesn’t want anyone to go to the furnace but he’s such a gentleman he leaves that choice up to us. We choose him, we get the bright future. We reject him, we get the furnace.

Not fair? Actually, if my Dad is going to be fair, we will all go to the furnace. But see, he has spared nothing, including his one and only Son, just to get us out of that bleak future. And to think that as the Builder-Owner of all these things, including all of us, he never really owes it to anyone to go through any length to be rescuing anybody from anything. Dude, he can just do what he wants.

But he stops to think about us first. He gives everybody a second chance. And all we gotta do is choose him over the furnace. You know, believe that his Son died for us—and, by the way, my Dad is so powerful he raised his Son from the dead in three days—and that by his dying and living again we are saved from suffering the furnace which is the due punishment for our…oh, THAT word, do I dare say it?…sin.

There, I’ve said the s__ word. I know, I know. You’re thinking that I’m supposed to be talking about YOUR bright future but here I am presenting a very pessimistic view of you as a person. You? A sinner?

Well, yes. Just like I AM a sinner. And I could explain that to you so that it’s clearer and not sounding like a put down. But that’s a whole ‘nother entire topic that should be addressed in a whole ‘nother post. Unless you don’t want to hear anymore about the bright future I am 100% sure is in store for you then I will go off at this tangent. But if you still are, you could either wait for when I post something on the sin issue or you could look up my June 10, 2005 post titled How To Get To Heaven and find relevant information there.

Meanwhile, let’s address this pessimistic thingamajig. Pessimistic, my foot. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Why, if you are guaranteed to live forever being loved outrageously and in the presence of this awesomely powerful Dad I’m describing here, nothing could be more optimistic than that. Throw in being invited to live forever in this golden city with golden pavement, free from any pain or sorrow, you gotta be crazy to consider that not optimistic.

You say, what about your life here on earth? Are you not entitled to the happiness of your choice while you still live here? Sure you are. My Dad is such a gentleman he will not even get in the way whatever choice you wish to make.

You are free to choose. My thing about that though, dude, is that every choice has its consequence. There’s no fence-sitting. Every choice puts you either on my Dad’s good side or his bad. While he loves without equal, he is also holy. He loves so he saves. He is holy so he punishes. No in-between.

Besides, life on earth is short. Don’t be fooled into believing otherwise. The best the world can offer you is nothing compared to what awaits you in the forever. The world is but a wink of an eye compared to eternity.

That is not to say that nothing meaningful and fun could come out of living in this world. Truth be told, the bright future starts right here in this world as soon as you choose my Dad’s good side. He promises to be with you every step of the way while you still live on this side of life. He is faithful, you know.

So which way will it be, buddy? Your way or my Dad’s way? You can begin enjoying your bright future now. Remember, it’s your choice.

See that “How Well Do You Know God?” button on this website’s sidebar? That’s a good place to start. Let’s enjoy the bright future together.

God bless you.

My Hilarious Dad--This Week: Church Bulletin Bloopers

Perhaps they have all their roots in the mad rush on Saturday afternoons to get the chuch bulletin all typed out, printed and copied. But what follows actually made it to some of those pages. No, they don't consign us to eternal damnation. They do lend a new meaning, though, to the verse that says, "Consider it pure joy..."

Here we go:

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water." The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."

Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands.

The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.

Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack's sermons.

The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing: "Break Forth Into Joy."

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.

The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

The 8th graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours"

Source:
AndyChaps "The Funnies"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/andychaps_the-funnies/

-----------------------------------------------------------

(It is our practice in The LORD My Dad on Wednesdays to lighten up and post humor or inspiration. We do so to call attention also to the humorous facet of the LORD's character.--SDO)

What Is A Father?

(To better appreciate this graphic, click on the picture.--SDO)

A father is a person who is forced to endure childbirth without an anesthetic. He growls when he feels good and laughs very loud when he is scared half-to-death.

A father never feels entirely worthy of the worship in a child's eyes. He is never quite the hero his daughter thinks. Never quite the man his son believes him to be. And this worries him sometimes. (So he works too hard to try to smooth the rough places in the road of those of his own who will follow him.)

A father is a person who goes to war sometimes...and would run the other way except that war is part of an important job in his life (which is making the world better for his child than it has been for him).

Fathers grow older faster than other people, because they, in other wars, have to stand at the train station and wave goodbye to the uniform that climbs on board.

And, while mothers cry where it shows, fathers stand and beam...outside...and die inside.

Fathers are men who give daughters away to other men who aren't nearly good enough, so that they can have children that are smarter than anybody's.

Fathers fight dragons almost daily. They hurry away from the breakfast table off to the arena, which is sometimes called an office or a workshop. There they tackle the dragon with three heads: Weariness, Works, and Monotony. And they never quite win the fight, but they never give up.

Knights in shining armor; fathers in shiny trousers. There's little difference as they march away each workday.

And when Father passes away, and after a good rest, he won't just sit on a cloud and wait for the girl he's loved and the children she bore. He'll be busy there too...repairing the stars, oiling the gates, improving the streets, smoothing the way.

Source:
MIKEY'S FUNNIES
www.mikeysFunnies.com

Graphic courtesy of:
John Bell
http://www.jrbell.com/

Do Not Be Afraid

Bravery does not mean being unafraid. It means acknowledging fear but going ahead anyway and doing what needs to be done. It is courage born out of confidence and trust in God who promises never to leave nor abandon believers whom he calls his children in Jesus Christ.

It is in joyful expression of this trust in God that David sings:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (Psalm 23:4,5)

In yet another psalm, David confidently, publicly prays to God to deliver him from all those who conspire against him. He clings to the faithfulness of God who has made a covenant with him:

The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?...Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. (Psalm 27:1,3)

Indeed, when we worship God in spirit and in truth, we are secure in his trustworthiness:

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. (Psalm 91:4-6)

It is wise to trust in God. In this wisdom, we enjoy God's protection wherever we go:

...but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm. (Proverbs 1:33)

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:24)

Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. (Proverbs 3:25, 26)

We need not fear the sinfulness, cruelty and brutality of man:

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25)

On the day the LORD gives you relief from suffering and turmoil and cruel bondage. (Isaiah 14:3)

For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13)

Where can we go without God being there to shield us from harm? In expressing his love for his people, God described to Israel what he is capable of doing:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43:2)

I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men who are but grass... (Isaiah 51:12)

Oh, yes, God assures:

Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. (Isaiah 54:4)

In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. (Isaiah 54:14)

The LORD Jesus Christ himself teaches:

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. (Matthew 10:28)

He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40)

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

The believer in Jesus Christ has received the Holy Spirit. We did not receive a spirit that makes us timid:

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15)

We have nothing to be afraid of in this world nor in the entire universe:

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD. (Romans 8:37-39)

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Left to ourselves, claims of fearlessness often are merely recklessness and stupid pursuit of self-glory. It is when we fear God with reverent respect that we become wise. In this wisdom we may be bold because we trust in the almighty, all-wise, all-present power and faithfulness of God:

So we may say with confidence, "The LORD is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6)

"For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil." Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." (1 Peter 3:12-14)

Has fear robbed you of the joy you should rightfully be experiencing? Invite the LORD Jesus Christ into your life and discover the peace that he promises to those who believe.

See that "How Well Do You Know God" button on the sidebar of this website? That's a good place to start. I want to stand next to you when we worship God in eternity.

God bless you.

How To Get To Heaven

There's nothing like hearing it from the Author of the Instruction Book himself. Why, with every denomination and church claiming to have a monopoly on the only way to a blessed eternity, it is best to hear from God himself. This is God's way to heaven:

START HERE: Know the truth that God tells about mankind.

As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; (Romans 3:10)

There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins. (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God... (Romans 3:23)

—for there is no one who does not sin— (1 Kings 8:46)

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

NEXT: Know that God says he must punish sin.

For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die. (Ezekiel 18:4)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

NEXT: Know God's remedy for sin.

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1:18)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24)

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

...he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit... (Titus 3:5)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

NEXT: Know that God wants to save you. He will save you if you follow his instructions.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him. (John 3:36)

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." (Acts 16:31)

All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:43)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31)

NEXT: Know that God very clearly says that there is only one way to be saved.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus... (1 Timothy 2:5)

FINISH HERE: Christ invites you personally to heaven.

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. (John 6:37)

The ball is on your court, dude. You heard it from the Author himself. What are you going to do about it?

See that "How Well Do You Know God" button on this website's sidebar? That's a good next step. I want to stand next to you before my Dad in eternity.

God bless you.

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Many thanks to the late Dr. J. Vernon McGee of Thru The Bible Radio from whose work I based this post.---SDO

My Hilarious Dad--This Week: De Funny And Bob

De Funny

If lawyers are disbarred
and clergymen defrocked,

doesn't it follow that. . .

electricians could be delighted,
musicians denoted,
cowboys deranged,
models deposed,
and dry cleaners depressed?

Wouldn't you expect laundry workers to decrease, eventually becoming depressed and depleted?

Likewise, bedmakers might be debunked,
baseball players debased,
bulldozer operators degraded,
organ donors delivered,
software engineers detested, and
underwear manufacturers debriefed.

And won't all composers one day decompose?

On a more positive note, perhaps we can hope politicians will someday be devoted.

Source:
Mikey's Funnies
www.mikeysFunnies.com

Some Memorable Quotes From Bob Hope
Contibuted by Kerry Proctor

ON TURNING 70 "You still chase women, but only downhill".

ON TURNING 80 "That's the time of your life when even your birthday suit needs pressing."

ON TURNING 90 "You know you're getting old when the candles cost more than the cake."

ON TURNING 100 ", I do not feel old. In fact, I do not feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap."

ON GIVING UP HIS EARLY CAREER, BOXING "I ruined my hands in the ring ...the referee kept stepping on them."

ON NEVER WINNING AN OSCAR "Welcome to the Academy Awards or, as it's called at my home, 'Passover'."

ON GOLF "Golf is my profession Show business is just to pay the green fees."

ON PRESIDENTS "I have performed for 12 presidents and entertained only six."

ON WHY HE CHOSE SHOWBIZ FOR HIS CAREER "When I was born, the doctor said to my mother, 'Congratulations. You have an eight-pound ham'."

ON RECEIVING THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL "I feel very humble, but I think I have the strength of character to fight it."

ON HIS FAMILY'S EARLY POVERTY, "Four of us slept in the one bed. When it got cold, mother threw on another brother."

ON HIS SIX BROTHERS, "That's how I learned to dance. Waiting for the bathroom."

ON HIS EARLY FAILURES, "I would not have had anything to eat if it wasn't for the stuff the audience threw at me."

Source:
Pastor Tim's CleanLaugh
http://www.cybersalt.org

(It is our practice in The LORD My Dad on Wednesdays to lighten up and post humor or inspiration. We do so to call attention also to the humorous facet of the LORD's character.--SDO)

Getting The Skinny On Iraq

Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) is at it again, signalling his party's new tack as it tries yet once more to market itself as "the" party Americans may take seriously again in national leadership.

Reid is quoted in a June 5, 2005 Washington Post story titled, Bush's Optimism On Iraq Debated, as saying, "The administration has failed to level with the American people. It's terrible because they refuse to provide a full picture of what is really happening there."

That's odd. Outside of the predictable agreement of mainstream media with Reid, everyone who truly wants to know what is really going on in Iraq pretty much knows it. As the Hugh Hewitt blog puts it in its Sunday post:

The absurd thing about Reid's statement is that pretty much every American who cares to know the situation in Iraq knows it, but gets an enormously skewed view of the situation from MSM. Chrenkoff is the reliable guide to all things Iraqi, not just the car bombs, and Belmont Club the Fourth Rail, VictorDavisHanson, and Winds of Change provide the strategic analysis. Dems trying to peddle "Iraq as Vietnam" find it slow going...

Read the whole post here.

Indeed, mainstream media obsesses over Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib. Or when a Marine decides that an enemy combatant is only playing dead in order to ambush him and so fires his rifle to prevent the same scenario that killed many of his fellow Marines just days or hours before. But mainstream media plays up only the fact that he fired his rifle.

No more. Americans with real concern for knowing the situation in Iraq know where to find information without the slant mainstream media likes to throw in.

For example, if you would like first hand accounts of a couple of Iraq raids written by a serviceman who actually participated in them, you could try Hurl's BLOG. From there you could find links that may lead to more links.

Americans know the incredible restraint and professionalism practiced as a rule, not as the exception, by our men and women in uniform even while the enemy they engage follow no rules. Many a time, a soldier is wounded or killed because of hesitation to fire his weapon because rules of engagement he is following make him think twice. Meanwhile, his enemy exploits this as weakness. He pretends to be injured. And then detonates a grenade as the American soldier lowers his weapon to provide medical help.

But mainstream media only highlights the exceptions while largely ignoring what is being accomplished in Iraq.

On our sidebar, you will find more blogs dedicated to reporting on the military and national security. Have at it.

God bless you.

Graphic courtesy of:
John Bell
http://www.jrbell.com/

You Are My Hero

Yes, my friend. You are my hero.

Now, before you start thinking that Soldado has flipped his lid, I know you have kept visiting this site inspite of the lack of updates for the past three days. I have checked my site meter and it is incredible how you have kept your faith. I owe you respect and gratitude.

No. The LORD My Dad is not an abandoned site. I know it's easy to think that after the computer crash fiasco about a week ago and now this. But things are OK. My computer is healthy. Of course the work to restore my files is an elephant I'm having to eat piece by piece.

It's just that I thought it best to step back a little bit. I needed to slow my days down somewhat as things around me were (and still are) going through rapid change and I was (and still am) having a tough time keeping my footing.

It's a whole huge spiritual fray I just stepped into and it would be unfair to you for me to go into detail about it here. I sure would like to share it with you in the coming days. It's exciting and definitely part of the adventure I talk a lot about here. Suffice it to say, though, that this particular post is simply to say that Soldado is fine and continues to view blogging as one of those things the LORD has instructed him to go into (so he better be faithful).

In a manner of speaking, you are as precious as a life preserver to me. In the midst of the rapid changes and disorientation, I sometimes feel like I'm trying to keep my head above huge ocean swells. I grow weary. I hear this huge debate in my mind whether I should continue to tread water or just plain give up and let the waves take me under.

Seeing you continuing to come here silences the debate. If you're here, I'm staying with you.

You can say that I spiritualize things too much but to me, the LORD uses this to calm the storm enough so I could hear what he is saying. The message is clearer to me now. He says I'm in for more choppy waters ahead but that's only because he has blessings in store for me.

You know. Kinda like when the Israelites were about to enter the promised land flowing with milk and honey. There it was right before their eyes, theirs for the taking BUT...(Read the spies' exaggerated reports of giants and fortifications in Numbers 13:26-33) There is always the "but." Not because God takes joy in frustrating us. It is because it is always a walk of faith in the LORD.

You are my hero, friend. Inasmuch as you are, may I confess to you how much I covet your prayers?

I tell you the truth, I will need you to remain my hero for the days to come.

God bless you.

My Hilarious Dad--This Week: Signs

Signs in Front of Churches

Life is fragile, handle with prayer.
We're all invited to a heavenly feast but we must R.S.V.P.!
But St. Peter-- what about my civil rights?
Don't put a question mark where God put a period.
God loves everyone, but probably prefers 'fruits of the spirit' over 'religious nuts'!
God grades on the cross, not the curve.
God doesn't want shares of your life, He wants controlling interest!
His pain is your gain!
WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning!
GOD is like Hallmark cards: HE cared enough to send the very best.
"Rapture-- the only way to fly"!
God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest.
For all you do, his blood's for you!
T.G.I.F.-- Thank God I'm Forgiven.
Jesus, don't leave earth without Him!
Christ's return is near-- Don't miss it for the world!
Seven days without prayer makes one weak.
Patience is a virtue which carries a lot of wait.
WARNING! In case of rapture this car will be unmanned.
Get Right or get Left!
Read the bible. It's user-friendly plus we offer tech support here on Sundays
GODISNOWHERE (now read it again)
If your bible is falling apart, chances are your life is staying together.
God's last name is not "Damn - It".
In case of nuclear attack-- the ban on praying in school is lifted.
Don't forget, Judas also left early.
Free Life & Fire Insurance, Inquire with-in.
Lord, help me get up when I fall. I can fall by myself.
Christians are the light of the world, but the switch has to be turned on.
This is a Sign from God.
Wise men still seek Him.
Sleep peacefully, God is awake.

Source:
Andychaps "The Funnies"
andychaps_the-funnies@yahoogroups.com

(It is our practice in The LORD My Dad on Wednesdays to lighten up and post humor or inspiration. We do so to call attention also to the humorous facet of the LORD's character.--SDO)