Are you making your father glad?

Good Morning World!

Here is a thought, which came to mind while reading Proverbs:  Are you making your father glad?  The scripture reads like this, "A wise son makes a glad father."  So, I ask the question again.  Are you making a glad father?  Are you a wise son, or at least trying to be?  Or, are you one of the many foolish sons out there who don't have respect for anything?  Society seems to be falling apart at the seams, and I believe it is because we don't have children with wisdom.

What is wisdom?  Basically, wisdom is this.  The ability to understand what is going on around you, and then having the fortitude to act appropriately.  Many people have understanding, but don't know what to do.  Most people have action, but they don't have a clue what is going on, or why people look at them strange.  Wisdom is an equal mix of understanding and action mixed with the salt of experience.  I truly believe that wisdom is developed within a person who is willing to learn.  Learn not just book smarts, but learn life lessons.  Are you willing to learn from other people's mistakes or do you have to learn everything the hard way - by yourself in the school of hard knocks?

This morning let's try on wisdom, understanding and the knowledge to do what is right.  Let us not put on the clothing of the lazy, rude, crude or ignorant.  Rather let us wake up, smell the coffee and look around to what is going on around us.  If you for one moment start looking at life with other people in mind rather than just yourself you will find there is a great big world out there that can be discovered!  Have a little wisdom!  Make your dad proud!

Yours for Christ,
Pastor Fred

Society Might bread laziness.

Good Morning World!

So, I think I might have figured out why we are breading a generation of lazy people.  This isn't necessarily 100% factual, but it is from my own personal experience, and therefore should have some merit.  Anyway, last weekend we went to the city for a doctor's appointment and to do some shopping.  My wife and I calculated the amount of money that we had available, and it wasn't much but it was more than usual.  So, we figured we had no worries, and while being frugal we would get what was needed, take our three oldest (who were with us) out for a nice lunch.  However, when we got to second store our account was dried up, and we had barely spent $200, which today isn't much.  So, leaving our treasures at the counter and being very frustrated we went to a bank to check out what was going on.  We had forgotten to account for our bi-weekly mortgage payment!  

I know that as a person who trusts in God and believes that all things work to together for the good of those who love God, I shouldn't have had a bad attitude, but it took a couple days and much prayer before I was even keel again!

So, with this story in mind, here is my premise:
How many times have you gone to pay for something only to find out that all your money is gone because someone has withdrawn it for you?  I know that as a parent my children do, on occasion, hear me grumbling about not having enough money.  They know that I work hard, getting up at 6am or before each morning to go to work.  Yet, for all my hard work I have very little to show for it, especially in my bank account!  Sub-consciously we are teaching our children that it doesn't pay to work hard, but rather that no matter how hard we work we will never get ahead.  Don't get me wrong I am teaching my children that working hard is good, but our grumblings and our complaints will get back to them, and the conflicting information will bother their little minds.  At the end of the day I see more and more young people entering the workforce, with little or no work ethic, and I believe this is why.

I am sure that there is more to it than this, but if we can learn to be content with what we have, and stop grumbling and complaining about our state our children would learn to do the same!

Yours for Christ,
Pastor Fred

The Wine Press of Life

Good Morning World!


Have you ever felt like life was just crushing you?  Have you ever felt like a little grape being crushed in the press?  I would like to use this analogy to encourage you today.

What are grapes used for?  Juice, Wine, Jelly.  Do we enjoy these products?  Do we know that for the most part they are beneficial to the body? (In Moderation!)  So how do we get these products?  They are crushed, squished, rendered, cooked, boiled just to name a few.  This process of destruction brings forth the sweetest of Juice and is then made into many things!


Your life may seem like it is going through the wringer, but just have faith and trust in God!  You may not like the process, but the outcome will be beautiful and full of flavour! You may be crushed, bruised and thrown from the fire into the frying pan, but remember your problems will only last for a season and joy comes in the MORNING!  His mercy is new every day!


Raise your head, Raise your hands, Lift your voice and let Jesus know that you are holding on!


Yours for the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Pastor Fred

My Life: Two weeks of it anyway!

Good Morning world!

Wow!  What a whirl wind of events!  Besides buying our own print and office supply show, moving it to a new location, setting up, and catching up on past orders much has happened in our small corner of this great world.

The main reason we haven't been online is the fact that our computer decided to do some weired antics and eventually crash. Which meant some hours trying to find the problem, fix it and then eventually reformat the hard drive, not once but twice.  Now after a week and a half the usb ports are kicking the bucket.  Not sure if it is a virus or hardware related.  Anyway, that was one week!

Then another blessing in our life, a baby girl!  Jael Soraya Lillian joined us on Monday February 8 at 11:05 pm. I would post some picture, but because my usb drives are not recognizing my card reader at the moment I haven't been able to put them on my computer.  That issue will be taken care of shortly.

Jael Soraya Lillian was 9 lbs 3 3/4 ozs in weight.  She was 20 3/4 inches long.  Not our biggest, but definitely one of the strongest at birth.  She's very beautiful, and of course I'm absolutely prejudiced on that front!  We now have 3 boys and 2 girls.

Thank you for your prayers and patience. We will back online over the next couple of days.  We do have a video sermon to post, and we'll post a couple baby video's too.

God Bless! There is nothing more precious than a new born baby, and the joy that they bring to a family!

Yours for Jesus in you Life,
Pastor Fred

Deceit & Betrayal: Daily Bible Reading -- Psalm 55

Good Morning World!

We as a race are so narrowly focused that we miss the beauty, wonder, grandeur, and glory around us far too often.  This morning is case in point.  After leaving work this morning I only remember noticing a couple of stores, as I purposely looked at them to see if they were open yet as it was very early.  After getting home I realized that I didn't take the time to notice the glory of God's wonderful creation.  I was too preoccupied with my own problems and circumstances that I didn't take time to meet with my creator.  It is a sad day when we are too busy to take some time to meet with the one who makes it all possible.  If someone were to put you in their will, and you were going to inherit a large amount of money and a beautiful estate there would be very little that could keep you away from this benefactor.  You would do what ever you could to keep them happy and satisfied.  However, we have received a greater inheritance from Jesus Christ, and we all to often blow it off by wasting our time worrying over the trivial things of life!

Psalm 55

David had trials galore during this phase of his life.  It would seem these few chapters were written during the time when Saul was chasing him around.  David felt betrayed.  David felt deceived many times.  Yet even though the people closest too him seemed to treat him the worst, David always turned to God for strength.  Why do internalize our problems and circumstances?  Why do we make a mountain out of a mole hill?  Why do we take offence at life events as if we are the be all and end all?  I'm sorry to disappoint you, but you are not the first nor are you the last.  You are not the only one who is feeling as you are, nor are you the only one who has or is facing what you are facing.  Let's be more like David and sing a song of praise to Jesus.  There is nothing like a good upbeat praise and worship song to lift the spirit.

Your's for singing in the rain,
Pastor Fred

Destiny -- Daily Bible Reading -- Psalm 49

Good Morning World! God is so Good!  We must never forget that we serve a great big wonderful God.  Too often we set our minds upon our day, schedule, work, play, agenda and we forget that it is because of Him that we live and move and have our being.  It is Jesus who is the real reason for living!

Psalm 49

What is it about life that divides us?  There are the rich, and there are the poor.  Some of the rich were poor, and many of the poor have tasted riches.  Then there are those of us somewhere in the middle.  We are neither rich, nor poor.  Even though we are all human; men women and children our monetary status seems to cause us to be divided.  David dives into this situation somewhat in this chapter.

David wants to have everyone's attention.  He has something very important to discuss.  The topic is so strong in his mind that he even puts it to music and asks the sons of Korah (the praise band) to sing it aloud.  The topic is destiny.  The discussion is wealth, poverty and death.  What good will your riches do you in the end?  You cannot redeem yourself with money.  You cannot buy your way into heaven.  You cannot purchase a heavenly mansion.  You cannot even save a fellow man with you riches.  You can do a lot of good with wealth and money, but it will not save your soul.  Someone else will spend what you have what you have so desperately tried to build and save.

In the end we are all poor and impoverished.  In the end we will all be left with nothing.  In the end we will all be left to answer for our actions.  In the end we all have the same value as the beggar on the street corner.  When the bell tolls we may be morned and missed, or others may rejoice, but the fact remains you will see Jesus, and He will want to know what you've done.  Did you surrender you life into the hands of the creator, or did you squander your life to the whims of the world?

Today is a good day to decide to change direction.  Call on Jesus today.  He will give you a peace that you will not be able to explain.  Money can't buy it, and poverty can't steal it.  It is the joy of knowing that your Saviour lives, and has redeemed your soul!

Yours for a new Destiny,
Pastor Fred

Daily Bible Reading & Devotion -- Psalm 40 - 41

Good Morning World, and Happy New Year's Eve!  May the Lord richly bless you.  May His light shine upon you and light your path.  May you have a new relationship with Jesus, and see what God and really be to you!

Thank you for helping this blog reach over 3800 souls and over 150 countries!  I can't what to see over 4000 souls and more!  Stick around and see what God is going to do!

Psalm 40

David is again describing the trials and tribulations of life.  Knowing this gives me hope!  The knowing that the man after God's own heart had good days and bad days.  He had ups and downs.  He felt small, poor and needy even though he became king of Israel.  This gives me hope and comfort!  Why, you ask?  Because, when I have my ups, downs, ins and outs I too can still trust in my maker and know that He is there to show his great grace and mercy through me!  Don't ever feel too low.  Don't ever let your emotions take you to the edge of destruction.  Be like David and let your spirit cry out.  You will soon see the mercy and love of Jesus enveloping you and giving you peace in your storm!  Let your enemies be ashamed and desolate!  Let your spirit rejoice because it trusted in and sought after Jesus!

Psalm 41

Let the first statement of this chapter be our New Year's resolution, "Blessed is he that considers the poor!"
Don't worry about losing weight -- you'll do that when your are ready.
Don't worry about relationships -- that will happen in time.
Don't worry about your bad habits -- you'll stop them when you are fed up with yourself.
NO, this year do one thing; consider the poor!  There is such great blessing when we look beyond ourselves and reach into the life of someone who is needy.  Everyone has a need.  You can find them on your street.  They could be your neighbor.  There is no better why to show the love of God than by helping someone who is poor and destitute.  In this tough economic time when many millions of people are out of work it is time for God's people to rise up and help the poor.

Am I poor?  In today's standards -- YES!  I've never made enough money in a year to bring me over the national poverty level.  Am I blessed?  In God's economy -- YES!  I have less than many, and more than most.  I am blessed!  God is good to me, and I want to show that goodness to someone else!

This year find a soup kitchen, homeless shelter or someone unemployed and help them.  It may not be much, but Jesus will multiply your efforts!  May be that is the point of the miracle of the fishes and loaves.  Little is much when God is in it!

Are you having trouble making ends meet?  So am I!  Yet, when we help the needy God not only supply's our needs but also the needs of others!  It is amazing!  I dare you to try, and see how God blesses you!

Yours for a great New Year in Jesus
Pastor Fred

Famous Last Words!

Have you ever been asked to do something, and the person in need ends their plea with, "It'll only take a couple of minutes!"

Famous Last Words!
An hour later you're wondering where the couple minutes went.

Has anyone ever asked, "Could you come over I have a couple questions?"

Famous Last Words!
An hour and a half later you're wondering why you are behind schedule!

It I was to describe yesterday that would be the phrase I'd have to use. Having said that, I can't complain. We still managed to get our work done, and God is still Good All the Time!

Next time you have a Famous Last Words kind of day, just remember Jesus is still in control and He is still Good no matte how your day actually goes!

Leaving your Promise because of the Famine!

I know many people who have traded in their promise from God, because of hardship, sickness, temptations, trials, distress, pain, and/or loss that has torn at the heart of their life.

In the Bible Abramhan and Sarah did the very same thing, and it just about cost them their lives and the lives of the nation of Egypt.

They were living in their promised land, doing the will of God, and then famine hit the Canaan land area. So instead of walking by faith and not by sight they picked up their bags and belongings and headed down to Egypt, which wasn't hit by famine. Egypt in scripture seems to have always been a type or allegory of sin or living in this world, and not in the Kingdom of Heaven; a type of worldliness, wickedness, ungodliness and so on. So, Abraham and Sarah left their promise, and went away from God's will to let the "world" and the pleasures of sin take care of their needs for the time being!

It is never appropriate to let this world supply our needs and pleasures no matter how short we say that we will stay! If we trust in Jesus and rely on his Word, staying true to his promises, commands and obey, then he will make sure the "people of this world" will take care of us!

While in Egypt Abraham was scared that he was going to die for the sake of Sarah his wife, because she was so beautiful! There is one reason NOT to go to Egypt if you ask me! So, they said that Sarah was his sister, and Pharaoh almost married her! God had to step in and just about destroy Egypt with a plague so that Abraham and Sarah would get back to His promise and will!

It never pays to leave the will of God just to sooth your pain and anguish! Jesus died on the cross for that very reason! We must learn to completely trust in Jesus for everything in our lives! Does that mean do nothing, and just sit around and wait? NO! NO! NO!

Jesus told us to obey his commandments, and to occupy until he comes! We must work, but we must work and pray will doing God's will and commandments, and living within the promises that he has given us! Each one of us probably has a different promise that God wants us to fulfill, and each one of us is unique in the sight of God, so we must not let what others are doing turn us aside from our spiritual promise!

Let us be like Joseph, who endured through the hardships, distresses, pain, anguish and loss so that he could fulfill God's will even though he couldn't see where God was going to take him! Joseph went from Daddy's favorite and God's little dreamer to a hurt, bruised boy at the bottom of a pit. He went from a pit to slavery. From slavery to seduction. From seduction to prison. From prison to dreams. From dreams to being the President of Egypt! Even in death Joseph was still living in God's promise and will by requesting to have his bones taken from Egypt and buried in the land that God had promised the nation of Israel!

Stick with Jesus he will see you through!

Yours through the famine,

Pastor Fred

Always looking for the bad stuff!

A short time ago I was asked to pay a little doctor's visit for my friend's computer. As an intermediate self taught technician, and as I do this fairly often I decided to help. So I took his tower home, and cleaned up all the spyware, adware, malware and trojans from off his computer. I availed of many of the freeware and trial version programs which I have tested and found extremely useful. After a couple days of work I finally returned the healthy computer back to its owner. He was happy! Another satisfied customer.

Well, last week he said that he couldn't find any spyware on the computer, and the thought crossed his mind that maybe there must be something wrong with the computer again! Yes, you read right he thought a healthy computer might have something wrong with it because there was nothing wrong it.

No stop laughing at my friend, because after I thought about it for awhile I realized we all do the same thing. (Well maybe not all of us, but alot of us! Especially my wonderful wife!)

Often we are faced with trials and temptations, and our human psyche seems to get used to the fact that bad stuff happens on a regular basis. So, when those "rare" times of blessing come we don't really rejoice in it we are always looking around for that bad time, which we "know" must be just around the corner!

STOP!

Let me relay a circumstance which we went through recently.
A couple weeks ago, my hyper children decided that swinging from the copper water pipe, and of course it broke. Well it just wasn't any pipe it was the water main, that brings water into the house from the town! On top of that the valve inside the house is so old the rubber was all worn off and so it blew off when I tried to fix the problem. Now we have a mess, and we are only about 4 feet from the 4 inch town water main, so we have about 70 lbs of water pressure pulsing into the basement. This happened for about 20 minutes to half and hour. Yes, you guessed it there was inches of water all over the basement. Needless to say after a friend came over and helped me save the day, and all the water was cleaned up we have the problem of clean up. As I'm sure you have guessed by now it wasn't just the flooring that was destroyed but furniture and other things. Once we had time to look around and things started drying out, I realized that this wasn't a bad thing, like my wife believed at first. (to make a long story short) Everything we needed to fix the problem was already around us. The total cost of the repairs including new valves, pipes, flooring and furniture was ----- under $30.00! The good Lord had supplied everything in advance! I had enough good used laminate flooring given to me to redo the necessary floor space. I had enough piping left over from other projects to meet this need. All I needed to buy was a new valve, and cpvc piping glue. Praise the Lord!

To the point. If I had been busy looking for the next problem that is coming down the line, I most certainly wouldn't have seen the blessing that was already standing in front of me!

So, the next time that good happens to you, rejoice and be glad, and give God the glory! Don't always expect and look for the bad, expect God to take care of you. That is exactly what He wants to do!

Yours for blessing,
Pastor Fred

Life Is...

Life is what you make it.
You can work yourself to the bone,
or you can share while you knit.

Life is what you want.
You can run and play all day,
or you can stare at a font.

Life is what you are.
A workaholic who's never home,
or a family man who makes it far.

Life is what you do.
Chasing the next plane,
or finding an opportunity new.

Life is what you say.
Talking to pass the time,
or for your children foundations lay.

Life is what you write.
Will you leave volumes behind,
or will there be a fight.

Life is what you see.
The little things that you find,
or is everything about me.

Life is what you have.
Many interesting toys,
or friends and family like a salve.

Overwhelming Frustration

There are times in our lives when circumstances can pile one upon the other, and we become frustrated and overwhelmed. Let me give you an example:

For just over a week now my wife and my four children have been sick with some kind of flu, and our baby, because of it, hasn't been sleeping only but a couple hours each night. Consequently, both my wife and I have not been getting enough sleep. And we all know what happens when we don't get enough sleep. Our attitude isn't right, our character is out of sorts, tempers can flare very easily, and the whole family can suffer.

It can be very easy to let yourself slip into a state of circumstantial depression, and not allow yourself to deal logically with this type of situation. It is also easy to let yourself get caught up in the emotional strain of the moments. This is when some very unpleasant things can happen.

1. you can loose your temper.
2. you can say things that you don't really mean.
3. you can do something that you really didn't want to do.
4. your words can be easily taken the wrong way.

From my own personal experiences I have found a good way to overcome some of these very unpleasant circumstances.

1. Make some time to get away by yourself, and do something that is calming to you. You are not denying the circumstance is happening, nor are you neglecting to take care of the situation. (Some people would try to just forget that overwhelming things happen, and move on without counquering them, overcoming them, or learning from them.

2. While you are by yourself doing what you like to do and what calms you, let your mind and body relax so that you can look at the circumstances objectively and rationally. ( I play my guitar, sing, make up a song, fiddle with our piano, or play a video game. These are my relaxation activities.)

3. Brace your mind and re-enter your overwhelming circumstances. This time you will encounter them with more peace, control and more ability to do what is right even though the situation is very frustrating.

Of course a bit of prayer, and very passionate long kiss are always beneficial in helping you overcome stress!

Hope this helps,
Pastor Fred
(PS. Thanks to Gettyone.com for the Royalty Free Images.)

Ever Wonder where Wonder went?

I was going to write about something totally different, but while we were watching "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" my wife noted something about my son Micah. She said, "He definitely knows wonder," as he ooooed and awed at different scenes in the movie. As I began to ponder on this it occurred to me that many people have lost their "Wonder Bone".

When is the last time you just saw something, whether new, old, common or extraordinary and just was taken by the awe of it? Does water hold any wonder for you? Then take a walk by the ocean sometime and watch the wondrous waves crash, or view the pack us moving and swelling. Does the sky hold any wonder for you? Then look up the next time you hear an airplane passing by, or view the glory of God's handiwork late on a clear night. Do you wonder at the mechanical genius of a vehicle? Then walk this evening for an hour, and imagine how far you could have gone by driving a car or truck. Do you take a phone for granted? Then unplug your telephone and try to communicate with your friends and family; much more difficult isn't it?

In today's growing information and technology age we are quickly becoming immune to the excitement and wonder of new things and especially of the old things. We are so completely inundated and overwhelmed by commercials, bill boards, signs and advertisements that we no longer get excited when we see something new and wonderful!

I often wonder why so many people are no longer interested in learning truth, and discovering the many amazing things in the Bible. Then I realize the we are so consumed with glorious visions and lies we see in Movies that truth no longer looks cool enough to believe!

If only we could stop look around and see the wondrous truth that surrounds us everyday!
The Heavens declare the glory of God!

Families are falling apart every day. Why? Simply because people have lost the wonder of it all! They no longer find joy in the little things of life. Like the fresh smell of coffee in the morning. Or, the sound of bacon and eggs frying. People don't seem to even notice the cute little idiosyncrasies of their spouses any more. When is the last time you told your wife /or husband, that the meal the cooked was extraordinary and thanked them for taking the time to prepare it? When was the last time you volunteered to do the dishes just because your better half could use the break? When was the last time you spent 1/2 an hour playing with your kids and their toys?

The Passion of the little things will keep your world turning, and ensure that you never overlook the wonder and amazement of everything!

Take time to wonder about your family.
Take time to wonder about Jesus and his Story!
Take time to pray and read the wondrous Bible!
Most of All take time to WONDER!

Pastor Fred
PS. Thanks to FreeFoto.com for the use of these pictures!

What is most important to you?

It has been said that in any given relationship of any kind usually one party gives 80% to said relationship and the other party give only about 20%.

It has also been said that out of any given relationship a person will only get about 80% of what they need, will look in other areas for that final 20% that they need to fulfill themselves.

Unfortunately what can happen is the 20% can look so much better than the 80%, and we can leave to 80% to attain unto that 20% of satisfaction. It could be your work. It could be sports. It could be another person. It could be online chat rooms. It could be friends. It could be video/computer/console games. Whatever situation you find yourself in it is time to stop, take a break, look around and re-evaluate your life.

I've also heard this one, "My marriage is based on a 50 / 50 principle. I give 50% to the marriage and she gives 50% and that equals 100%." Unfortunately you are wrong! A marriage isn't based on simple addition or subtraction. A marriage is based upon multiplication. Not 1 + 1 = 2, but 1 X 1 = 1!

In a relationship, especially marriage, it is a union of hearts, spirits, minds and bodies. As the Bible describes it; two become one! That is multiplication. Therefore, it behooves the man to give 100% of himself to his family, and the woman to give 100% to her family. Remember 1 x 1 = 1! When each person in the relationship is willing to give all their selves to each other that is when true love and unity can be explored and seen!

What is most important to you? Your Career? Your Sports? Your Volunteering? Your Games? Your Family? I am sure that most people who read will readily say that they think their family is important to them, but I am not interested in talk. My wife and I recently took time to have a very personal, honest and open talk. Through this conversation and discussion, which at times erupted into arguments, I discovered some very important feelings that wife has been dealing with for a fairly long time. These very important issues where by and large unknown to me. Sure I recognized that my wife was going through some things, but really didn't know what they were. It wasn't until we took the time to confront each other about these, and then take a honest look at our issues that we were able to fix them.

How can you find out what you really think is important? Well, you can try what I've been doing for a couple of weeks now. I had become very dissatisfied about myself, and the direction my life was taking.

1. So I bought myself a very good daily/weekly planner, and began to write down everything that I do each day.
   
2. After a few days of this I was able to identify in which direction my time was being funneled.
   
3. Once I saw where my time was going I was able to identify what I really would like to do, and what should be very important to me each day.
4. Next I wrote a list of important activities I should do every day. 1. Study 2. Practice Juggling/Balancing/Karate 3. Spend time with my wife 4. Spend time with my Children 5. Read my Bible/Pray 6. Read books 7. Business Plan 8. Relationship Book 9. Church Studies/Sermons. (I haven't arranged them in any particular order of importance.)
5. I am beginning to arrange my time so that these priorities will be met every day, or at least in a timely fashion throughout the week.
6. In doing the above activities I noticed that too much of my time was being spent doing things that really were not productive to developing my family. I was spending too much time working and resting, and not enough time with my family. I wasn't talking to my wife like I used to. I wasn't treating my children with respect and kindness. I discovered what was truly important, and realize I must change my ways.
7. I began to research ways to better myself, my family, my time management and life ethic on the internet. Then the practical things I found I am trying to implement and practice in my life.
8. So far I have found that these things have been working quite well, and I've noticed a difference in my family already, and will continue to make positive changes that will lead to a healthy relationships with my wife and children.

What people mistakenly believe is that clergy are invulnerable to these types of disasters, but we are only human and must learn the best we can to find truth in every aspect of our lives. I pray and study my Bible often so I can know truth, but without a true open relationship with my family what good will all the revelations of the universe do me? If you can truly be honest with yourself you will see that a personal relationship with your family will bring the best and truest form of satisfaction in life!

Remember this little acronym to help your find direction.

J = Jesus
O = Others
Y = You

Stop thinking about yourself and begin to think about your family!

Pastor Fred

Jesus I forgot....

As I was cleaning off the lunch table this afternoon I noticed one of my children's books on the high chair. It was a Frank Meyer's book, "I Just Forgot." The book tells the tail of a little boys adventures in forgetting to do or not do certain activities during the run of a day. Things like forgetting to turn of the taps and having the water run over the floor and such the like. You know things we do every day because we forget!

I am endeavoring to better myself and be more organized, which in itself is one of those unending, undo able tasks, but I will succeed - sooner or later!

One of the hardest things I am finding to overcome is my mind and memory. I do have a rather good mind, but it seems I have cluttered it up with useless stuff, and now I am waging war on my brain trying to clean it up! If we can overcome our habits, and force ourselves to do a new thing we can actually succeed.

As powerful as a habit and a schedule are we must have the backbone and fortitude to overcome ourselves. Thus, forcing ourself to do something new. As a Green Belt in Karate I have learnt that in order to train my body to remember and do certain actions I must over exaggerate some of my movements in the training phase so that when it comes time to use those actions my body has them memorized and they become second nature. So, in order to change in life and do something different and better we must exaggerate ourselves at first so we can overcome our little idiosyncrasies and win the battle of our mind!

Did you know that forgetting is no excuse? The fact is everything we ever hear, read, write or otherwise experience with our senses becomes a permanent part of our memory. The problem with most of us, including myself, is that we haven't trained our minds to have a proper filing system. Our mental filing cabinets are all messed up. The letters and numbers are all mixed together and vis versa. What we must learn to do is re-program ourselves to file our memories correctly.

Now for the question of the day. Do you think that Jesus is going to accept the "I forgot excuse" come judgment day?

NO! Of course not. We don't allow it as a legitimate excuse so why would Jesus? Just because you forgot to pray doesn't make it right. Just because you forgot to read your Bible doesn't make it O.K.. Just because you were to busy and forgot to go to Church doesn't mean you are off the hook. No, we have many means of forcing ourselves to remember in today's society that there is no excuse to forget anything!

Stop working so much!
Stop worrying so much!
Stop over thinking everything!
Stop procrastinating!
Stop allowing yourself to forget the important things in life!

Don't forget how old your children are.
Don't forget your anniversary.
Don't forget your spouses birthday.
Don't forget your wifes favorite flower.

Make yourself remember, be a better man - a better person - and don't allow yourself to tell Jesus you forgot. What would happen to your soul if Jesus forgot to die on the cross? What would happen to your chances of heaven if Jesus forgot to ascend to heaven, and pour out his spirit.

DON'T FORGET!

Ignorance Isn't always Bliss....

It came to my attention recently that "as a Pastor" I shouldn't be using pictures from other websites without permission. This statement is true in part. It doesn't matter if I'm a Pastor or not using these types of media can be wrong.

The truth be known I really hadn't put much thought into it. I would just Google a topic and find pictures that suite the thought. Then I'd paste the URL and viola there is the picture. It really never occurred to me that some people might not like me using there already posted to the public pictures for my own use. This fact triggered some thoughts in my mind.

In the Bible ignorance was no excuse for breaking the law. As a matter of fact in Leviticus there are sacrifices given for sins committed in ignorance. I guess it would be like being pulled over by the local law enforcement, and telling them that you didn't know that the speed limit was only 50Km. They would probably still give you a ticket because it is the drivers responsibility to pay attention to the road signs.

Also, when we all get to heaven's gates many people are going to claim ignorance, but the Bible tells us that "God doesn't wink at ignorance" anymore. The "No one told me that I had to repent of my sins, and call out the Jesus for salvation" excuse will not hold any water any longer. Sure there is much more to it than just repentance and calling out to Jesus, but that will at least get you pointed in the right direction. Just like the tip I received about pirating pictures points me in the right direction. Now it is up to me to take action and start asking permission for these types of pictures. So, it is up to you to look into the perfect law of liberty, and truly find out how and why you must be saved.

PS. "Sorry for posting personal pictures without permission!"

What's Common To You?

Almost everyday we encounter things, people, items, products, signs, and stores that have become common place to us. The wonder of those things are no longer visible or important to us. If you traveled to see the Grand Canyon it would be amazing, wonderful, awesome, glorious. However, I wonder how the tour guide feels about it? He or She has only seen the Grand Canyon every day for the past "X" number of years, and the wonder of it has begun to wear off.

I recently heard a story about a man who was traveling by train a number of years ago. He sat across from another gentleman who was looking out the car window, and wondering at the sights which the train passed. They were traveling across the midwest of the United States, and as they would pass hills, trees, towns, rocks and any other everyday sight the man who was looking out the window would exclaim, "Wonderful," "Amazing," "Wow," and many other expletives. Finally, after a few hours of listening to this the other man asked the man looking out the window, "Sir, what is it that is so interesting, we are just crossing the mid-west and those are just trees, hills, towns and so on. What is so amazing about that?" The gentleman who had been looking out the window explained, "Sir, Last week I was blind and could not see. I have recently seen a doctor who was able to fix my sight, and now I can see everything that I haven't been able to see in years." With this new information our questioning man began to realize that our gazing friend was right. Those things which we take for granted everyday are really, awesome, wonderful, amazing, and wow!

Family
When you see your family everyday do you take them for granted? You may automatically say no of course not? But, let me ask you a couple questions that might stimulate your mind.

• Do you feel upset when you come home and dinner isn't ready?
• Do your children tend to annoy you by asking seemingly endless questions?
• Do you feel put out when your laundry isn't ready when you think it should be?
• Do you put your children, wife, or husband off when they ask to spend time with you? (You may think that there is always later, and you are just too busy right now.)
  
• Do you listen to your children, wife or husband when they talk to you? (Do you actually hear them?)
• How often do you eat meals together as a family?
• How often do you help your wife clean up around the house?
• Do you spend time with you children at their level everyday?
• Do you spend time with your wife everyday at her level?

If you can't answer yes or put a time on each of these questions, then you like myself are probably getting a little to common with your family. Family is everything! Don't waste it! Money and work are important, but they are not too important to loose your family too! Don't wait until you come home to an empty house to realize that your priorities were all wrong!

There are times when I take my family for granted, and just expect things to happen. All the really happens then is I get upset with some or all of my family. Then I wake up and realize my mistake and have to apologize for my stupidity.

Your family may not always be there. One night while you're at work late your house could burn down on your precious wife and children. What then? What will you have to remember them by? What memories do you have of playing cowboys and Indians with your children. What memories do you have of going out for that late night coffee with your wife? If you spend your time away from home if home goes you will be left with nothing!

Once you begin to take a close look at your life you will begin to realize that there are many things that have lost their wonder to you. Many things are just common and no big deal. I encourage you to wake up and smell the flowers in the garden. Realize the beauty and wonder of everything that is around you!

If you live by the sword, you will die by the sword!

Mat 26:52 ALT Then Jesus says to him, "Put your sword back into its place! For all the ones taking up a sword will die by a sword.

What is going to kill you?

Crazy question? Not really!

As Jesus put it: If you live by the sword you will die by the sword!

I want to live by God's Word, and in His Spirit. If it kills me so be it!

What do you live for? Work, Money, Fame, Glory? You will die by what you live for!

If you live for work, you will work yourself into the grave!
If you live for money, you will die trying to get money!
If you live for fame, you will die while attaining that goal!
If you live for glory, you will probably be assassinated!

I would rather live for the cause of Christ, and die on my way to heaven than any other foolish, irresponsibles, vain or frivolous things we live for.

May this be a motivation to live for Jesus, rather than this world!
You will die by what you live for!

Pastor Fred

Normalicy Again?

Praise the Lord I'm finally finished my all nighters! As a matter of fact I'm home early! It's only about 1:30am rather than the usual 5 or 5:30 am.

My Children will be over joyed!
My Wife is already happy as I will be able to get up with the baby tonight!
I'm very happy as I'll be able to get back to normal life!

I've had a lot of time to pray this past 9 days, but I've missed going to my office and having alone time with Jesus, and reading my Bible.

Jesus is a wonderful friend, and I don't know what I would do without Him!

Here is a quick suggestion, no, a double dare!

--Put your complete trust in Jesus, no matter what the situations you face in life. Leave doubt and fear behind, and let just the presence, peace, love, grace, mercy and righteousness of Jesus walk with you. You'll be amazed at the results! (When you do this let me know how Jesus walks with you!)

Yours for an amazing life in Christ
Pastor Fred

To Wax or not to wax!?

Good Morning one and all! Praise the Lord I've finished - sort of!

You haven't seen much activity lately as I've been out every all night every night this week stripping and waxing floors. Consequently I've been sleeping most of the day time hours away. I've finally finished my second store, and on Monday and Tuesday the grand finale!

There are pros and cons to working at night....
PROS:

1. You get to spend some time alone.
2. There is a lot of time to talk to Jesus.
3. You can think about your life, and hopefully put some perspective to things.
4. You realize how important time with family is.
5. You appreciate the little things that you normally did during the day more. (such as writing blogs, reading the Bible, playing with my children....)

CONS:

1. Your way from your family for many hours a day. (away all night and sleeping during day for about 6 to 8 hours.)
2. You are alone.
3. It ruins your days.
4. The things that you normally did during the day aren't done.
5. Your family misses you terribly.

On the flip side of the coin the store really looks great!

As you can imagine I've had a lot of time to think, pray and think some more this week. I'm so glad that Jesus is as close as the mention of His name! I haven't had much time to do things during the day, but I've felt His presence so close this week, some times I feel like I'm at heaven's door!

Before I go here are a couple of questions for your? Something that might start the old (or young) thinker grinding away.

• When you work, do you take time throughout the day to talk to Jesus?
• When you work, do you allow yourself to burst forth in songs of praise to Jesus?
• Are you away from your family for long periods of time? (NOT A GOOD THING!)
• Does your work get in the way of your relationship with Jesus? (NOT A GOOD THING!)
• Is your relationship with Jesus such that you feel at liberty to talk to Him anywhere, anytime? (YOU SHOULD!)
• When someone catches you singing to Jesus or praying, do you feel embarrassed? (I HOPE YOU DON'T!)

Always take time to be with Jesus. You don't have to be in a Cathedral to find His presence.

Yours for an all time relationship with Jesus,
Pastor Fred