It is interesting to me how the summer brings such transition. The weather warms and stays warm. Our kids are finishing school, some transitioning to new ventures as graduates. People come and go in our lives, some for good reasons - like graduating- others because of tensions and dificulties in their lives. This brings me to raise again (a drum I seem to keep beating) that without the support of one another, we can not face change and not change! What do I mean by that? I have a deep conviction and concern that the Lord Jesus wants us to stand firm in him despite what comes and goes and keeps changing around us. When we begin to drift from him because circumstances are not rellialbe, we have reason to question the steadiness of our walk with him. There is one thing I want to never see changed in my life and that is a steady relliance on the Lord Jesus Christ. People can come and go, my health might fail, my responsibilities can change, but I want to forever walk with him. So as winds blow inevitable change through the summer months, I hope that the wind of the Holy Spirit would blow across your life refreshing you with the unchanging reality of his presence with you. The only change I do want to see in my life is that I am growing more in love with his unchanging and relliable nature. Press on, would you. Click on my name above and let me know what you think!

Our town held a tea party today to respond to the over involvement of our government in the area of taxes. I was asked to give the opening prayer. Here is what I prayed:

Lord I want to begin by declaring that you are the Almighty ruler and Lord of this universe.We are so small and insignificant next to you yet you have entrusted to us thecare of this world and asked of us to be beacons of light and providers of hopeto a world that is dark and lacks hope. You know the hearts of men in thisnation and around the world. You know those who pursue righteousness and thosewho are bent on evil. You know our hearts this afternoon as we endeavor toraise our voices for righteousness and against the will of those who seek torob freedom and dim the light that you have commanded us to place on a hill,the light of the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. Pour out your blessing and giveus your favor as we meet today. Anoint and encourage each speaker and those whothrough this nation are rallying together for a cause we believe is rooted inyour word and necessary for the good of man and the glory of your name. Protectus and provide to those who lead our nation on the basis of righteousness. Wepray this in the name of our Lord and Savior, the name that is above everyname. We confess that name. The name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Approaching Easter, Icould not get out of my mind the image of Jesus hanging on the cross with twocriminals suffering their own death and agony next to him. It is a fascinatingstory and one that teaches us a great truth about what Jesus has to offer inhis death and his resurrection and the two possible responses to that offer.Both men next to Jesus are criminals and both because of their crime deserve todie. One of the criminals I am told mocks Jesus in fact Luke in his account hashim screaming insults at Jesus and saying, Aren’tyou the Christ. Save yourself and us! The other criminal is drawn to Jesusand says to the other criminal don’t youfear God since you are under the same sentence. We are punished justly, for weare getting what our deeds deserve. Butthis man has done nothing wrong! And then he turns to Jesus and sayssomething that would change his life forever. He says, Jesus, remember me when you comeinto your kingdom.

 Doyou see what is happening here? One criminal dies shaking his fist at Jesus whilethe other one dies with the sweet words of Jesus ringing in his ears when Jesusturned to him and said, I tell you the truth, today you will be withme in paradise. One man dies still wearing his own crown, King of hisown life, getting what he wants and that is to be in control to the very end,and the other man dies having given over his crown to Jesus. Jesus wore hiscrown!

There are only two kinds of people in our world, one on ... Read More

Last week I posed the question on facebook; I think I will write a book and title it: THE DEVIL IS A VENTRILOQUIST! what do you think? I got some very interesting responses. Many saw the devil behind our own thinking and tendancies. Others saw the devil skillfully managing world affairs. Several hinted that the devil is the real voice behind certain political voices pushing for rather frightening changes. A few were brave enough to suggest that it is the hand of the devil that pulls the strings and moves our lips as believers to say things about each other that should never be. So now, I pose the question to you. If I were to write a book and call it;

THE DEVIL IS A VENTRILOQUIST! what do you think it should be about. Click on my name above and tell me what you think.

33 of us are going through a training for evangelism on Sunday evenings using the new Evangelism Explosion ministry of XEE. XEE is a relational based approach to sharing you faith which spends a third of the training equipping us to connect well with people, another third on the actual content of our faith and the final third on multiplying life - otherwise known as discipleship. It is an exciting, refreshing tool sparking renewed interest in my own heart for sharing my faith. I find it interesting though that it takes something like this, a new way to train, to align the barrel back on the center of the bullseye. I find myself now engaging in conversations with purpose, looking for deeper opportunities and praying for people I don't know who I might see just walking down the sidewalk. I am not sure if I need training, but just a divine nudge to keep doing what keeps coming to me as the reason I am here. I hope this training is having the same affect on others as it has on me. Click on my name above to tell me what you think!