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Friday, 20 November 2009

  • Priorities . . . .

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    So, what is the most important parts of our lives?  Our house?  Our new car?  A snowmobile or ATV?  Our clothes?  A priority is something that is very important in our lives.  I know people who will make their jobs, their priority.  For others, the most important aspect is their spouse or their children.  For others, their hobbies and toys take the most time out of their lives.  I read an article awhile back in The Catholic Register that showed that those couples and families that placed God as being the most important in their lives . . . perhaps more like God is placed at the center of their lives . . . these were the happiest and most stable relationships.  The article was explaining the purpose of a "Marriage Encounter" where couples learn how to improve their marriage relationship, grow closer to each other, and improve commitment to each other.  The basis for a marriage encounter is for communication between each other and God to form the strength of the bond.

    Why is this so important?  What could God possibly bring into a relationship?  Sure, these are clear, if not stupid questions because the answer is so obvious.  God create us in His own image.  This isn't to say that we look like God (though Jesus is fully human while being fully God).  But we resemble God in our feelings for each other and our need to communicate and interact with one another.  God create people so He could interact with us, and we with Him.  The entire Bible is about our relationship with God and each other.  God intended to be the center of our lives and with it, we would grow and enjoy His presence in our hearts and souls.  So, because of this design, if we as committed couples in the sanctity of marriage place God at the center . . . or at the heart of our relationship, then we are fully blessed by His glory.

    This isn't to say that we will not have our high and low points, our challenges.  A God centered relationship will grow in strength and wisdom through His Holy Spirit.  Through Him, we will persevere.  Through Him, we will grow.  Through Him, our love will shine.

    What an awesome God we have!!!  Blessings.

     

Thursday, 19 November 2009

  • God's Light Shines Through Us . . . .

    This little light o' mine, I'm gonna let it shine,
    This little light o' mine, I'm gonna let it shine,
    This little light o' mine, I'm gonna let it shine,
    Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
     

     This little light o' mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
            Hide it under a bushel? NO! I'm gonna let it shine, 
              Hide it under a bushel? NO! I'm gonna let it shine,
            Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

    Luke 11:33 No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.

    Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

    I remember when I first discovered Christ's love and grace.  Though I felt great inside because of Him, I was reluctant to share this love with others.  Why?  Perhaps it was ridicule.  Or maybe I did not want people to discover just how little I knew about God.  How about a fear of losing friends or respect?  There can be many reasons for hiding my "light" from others.

    I had a change of heart when I discovered that I may be the only chance that God has to speak to these individuals.  My selfishness and fear could be the one barrier . . . or perhaps the last barrier between someone and God.  Life is uncertain and abrupt.  I personally know of people who died without a chance to hear about God's love and grace.  Could I have been to one to bring the message to them?  If so, I failed them and more importantly, I failed God.  As I write this, I know that I have family members and close friends who have not accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior.  However, I know that I am not the obstacle in that I share my beliefs with them.  I am not afraid that they will think less of me.  I am afraid for their souls and what God thinks of me, especially if I choose to call myself a Christian.  This isn't as much about evangelism as it is about giving others a glimpse into God.

    Blessings.

     

Wednesday, 18 November 2009

  • God In Family . . . .

    I had a chance to reflect on God's role in our family . . . I am referring to my wife, children and I in a Christian relationship with God.  When I was younger and directionless, I discovered the grace of Christ in my life.  After that moment, things did not look the same.  I found myself in an empty relationship (actually and engagement) and life was no longer satisfying the way I was living it.  I grew up in a "religious" family but did not understand His love or have a personal relationship with Him.  I found this love in the Navy; not the result of the Navy but while I was serving in the Navy.  When I finally met D, our entire relationship was centered on Christ.  After we were married, we maintained our Christ-centered life through thick and thin.  I will certainly admit that our life was not a bed of roses, unless of course you count the thorns.  As normal life struggles would bog us down we would wallow in our gloom and then realize that God never left us.  Through Him, we were capable of surviving.

    D and I raised our children under the love of Jesus.  As a "normal" or "typical" family, we continued to fight life's battles with God at the center . . . ok, maybe not always at the center but we would fall back on Him for strength and courage.  I look back on all of those struggles as well as the wonderful aspects of having a Christ centered family.  I also look at how others would see us: laid back family . . . caring and understanding . . . nonjudgemental . . . generally happy and well adjusted.  I realize that this is not a function of our personalities, but more a reflection of our Lord and Savior.  I also realized that we are nonmaterialistic because we have God and each other.  We live in a tiny house on the west side of town.  My wife and I drive a 1993 Chevy conversion van (the "shagging wagon" as my secretary calls it).  In fact, if you tally up our van, P's Grand Am, K's Mercury Mistique, our two ATVs, our whitewater rafts, our Coleman canoe and our 1979 camp trailer, the net worth of these material items would total less than $6000 for all of these vehicles.  Wow!  My "wingman" at work owns a two year old Prius and a Pontiac G6 covertable totalling $60,000 for these two items alone.  Of course the benefit of our route is that we make no payments on our vehicles.

    Are we happy?  I have to admit that there are some things that I would like to be different than is currently presented in our lives.  But all in all, I am happy and content in my life.  I am thrilled that I start each day in prayer with my wife before I catch my bus.  I enjoy our family prayer circle at night, even if it might only be D and me.  I love going for short drives with our shih-tzus.  I enjoy the backyard barbeque meals.  I love watching the stars at night (yesterday's Leonid meteor shower was a disappontment).  I live for moments of driving our aged ATVs in the mountains with our son.  I am elated to spend time on photo ops with our youngest daughter.  I live for every moment that my wife and I are together.  And most of all, I am proud to be called a Christian and to give Him all the praise and glory that He deserves.

    What a life!  I am so glad that God is in the center of our lives.

     

Tuesday, 17 November 2009

  • Ministry Revisited . . . .

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    I often look back and examine my life when I was actively involved in youth ministry.  I served in a youth ministry capacity for almost twenty years before taking on lessor roles at our church.  I watch my son P as he prays for the vision that God has for him.  I remember being his age when I gave my first sermon.  I was terrified and certainly apprehensive about preaching.  But I also remember the peace I felt in my heart as God lifted me up through my own words (or were they His words?).  I wonder where I would be had I followed the path through seminary that P is thinking of resuming now.  So, what does it take to be a full time minister?  I can't answer that question because my calling was part time while P's appears to be full time?  If this is his calling and he puts his heart into it, the blessings that he will reap will be indescribable. 

    I look at our friends Paul and Linda (Paul just lost his brother Mark to a heart attack while serving in China).  Paul is a full time minister (it is his trust in God that is guiding him through these difficult times).  He finished seminary many years ago and entered into the ministry.  Then he took a twenty year or so break while he managed the local library.  But I could see that Paul was not happy.  Why?  The call to his heart was much stronger.  So he approached Linda and mentioned that he was going to give up his six figure career and go back into ministry (which pays about a fourth of what he was earning).  Now ministry is never an individual calling as my wife and I discovered years ago.  And Linda knew that ministry is a team effort with her husband.  I guess part of this is that marriage is two becoming one and therefore, whatever your vocation, the career is two working as one.  But ministry takes is one step further because the "preacher's wife" is expected to fully participate in the ministry in a support role.

    So P's calling into the ministry is not one taken lightly because he is making a decision that will affect his future and the future of his family.  Even as I watch my brother-in-law and father-in-law in their ministry positions, it is the entire family who actively participates in assigned and volunteer roles.  So I pray . . . mostly for P's strength since I can see in his heart that he will not be happy doing anything less than full time ministry in a future that will involve his wife to be and any kids.  And God will look down and smile that one of His has chosen this difficult, yet rewarding vocation.

    Blessings.

     

Monday, 16 November 2009

  • Prayer Request . . . .

    If you have followed my blog these past several weeks you would know that we spent a few weeks in a cabin in western Wyoming for our anniversary.  Our friends, Paul and Linda who own the cabin had a death in the family this past weekend.  Paul's 54 year old brother Mark was found dead in his apartment of an apparent heart attack.  Mark was a professor at a university in China since August of this year.  He did not show up to work and people were sent to check on him and he had died in his sleep.  The U.S. State Department is busy with President Obama's visit and has not been able to perform an autopsy or investigation so it could be awhile before his remains are shipped back to the states.  Mark leaves behind two daughters (23 and 25) and an extended family in shock.  Please pray for Mark's family and friends as they cope with his loss.

     

gamachesr

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    • Name: Stephen
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About Me

  • I am your typical middle age, overweight, educated, active, fun loving father to young adult children. My wife and I have been married for 25 years. We live in eastern Idaho which is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. My life revolves around my family which is a complex structure consisting of two natural kids, one adopted kid, and six Ukrainian kids. Living where I do, I am an outdoors type person with several interests. I collect and shoot guns. I camp, hunt, and fish. I participate in many water activities from canoeing and whitewater rafting. I drive sports cars and motorcycles. I love to fly planes -- especially through the mountains here. Most of all, I am a devote Christian who is dedicated to my family.