Sidelines

Ugly Betty?

2010-09-21T11:02:00.001-04:00

Betty was celebrating her 60th birthday and a crowd had come to join her in the celebration. Her husband Frank had turned 60 earlier in the year and was now going outside to get some fresh air. After a while a Fairy God Mother showed up and said, “Frank, this is your lucky day. You’ve been a good man and you have had a good marriage. Today you get whatever you wish for.”
Frank thought for a moment and then said, “What I would really like is to be married to a woman thirty years younger than me.”
The Fairy God Mother said, “No problem.” Poof with her magic wand and Frank was now 90 years old.
The story has a moral: When you do not love people where they are, you get uglier.

Be like Jesus!
Sid

More Than Conquerors

2009-11-16T09:42:00.002-05:00

It is hard to stay right with God. It is hard to do the right thing every time. Satan pulls at our ear, turns our head, distracts and confuses us. We are easily turned. But it does not have to be that way.

Paul challenges Christians to be "more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37 NIV). Conquerors are people who impose their will on victims. They force their presence with might. They demand. They never ask. So what does Paul mean that we are more than conquerors?

To be more than conquerors means that we are people who can withstand anything. Nothing can defeat us. No one can impose their will on us. This does not happen by our power, but by the power of God's Holy Spirit. It is through Him (Christ) that we are able to withstand and maintain.

Be more than a conqueror. Be like Job, Daniel and Joseph. Be like Jesus for he is our King.

Two Wolves

2009-09-16T08:45:00.002-04:00

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grand son thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

This is the problem with us - we blame, make excuses, ignore or even rationalize, but in the end it is the wolf we feed that drives us. Serve God. Feed the right wolf - and bring compassion and love and Jesus to this world that serves themselves.

Sid

On The Beach

2009-09-02T09:46:00.002-04:00

Last night I watched a remake of the "On The Beach." On The Beach is a post-apocalyptic television movie released in 2000. It is a remake of the 1959 film, and is based on the book by Nevil Shute. It starred Armand Assante, Bryan Brown, and Rachel Ward. The original movie starred some more notable names Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner and Fred Astaire.

The conflict has devastated the northern hemisphere, polluting the atmosphere with nuclear fallout and killing all human life. While the nuclear bombs were confined to the northern hemisphere, global air currents are slowly carrying the fallout to the southern hemisphere. The only part of the planet still habitable is the far south of the globe, specifically Australia.

The movie is a somber reminder of our mortality. How would you act knowing that you had only a few days to live? What is really important to you knowing your end is near? The movie makes the audience deal with death.

If I knew when I was going to die, how would I live? What was sad about the movie is that God was not there. There was no hope for anyone. I pray that no matter the circumstances, whether global war or personal tragedy faith, hope and love would ring out in my life.

We all die, we just don’t always know when. Live for God no matter.

Angry Eyes

2009-08-24T15:23:00.003-04:00

My three-year old grandson Drew was being disciplined by my son-in-law, his father. I have no doubt that discipline was the appropriate action. And Drew took it like a man. His reply to his father was, "dad, I'm looking at you with angry eyes!"

While humorous, I thought about the times that I have looked at others with angry eyes. Sometimes they probably deserved that kind of reaction. Other times, I am sure, they were not. The point is not whether one deserves angry eyes but that we leave the revenge game to God. It is not our place. It is not to be our reaction.

Some may argue that angry eyes are justified. They may have a point, but the "angry eye" mentality goes so much against scripture and Jesus. Statements like turn the other check, leave revenge to God, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, all seem to breakdown the notion of us using angry eyes to get our point across.

Drew is three and I pray he will grow out of it. I pray that you grow out of it. And I pray more intensely that I do.

Kenny Loggins sings, "You and I must start to realize blindness binds us in a false disguise. Can you see me through those Angry Eyes?"

God forgive us when we use angry eyes.

Serving Breakfast in Hell

2009-08-18T13:40:00.004-04:00

When the toast is burned,

And all the milk has turned,

And Captain Crunch is waving farewell,

When the big one finds you,

May this song remind you

That they don't serve breakfast in hell.

This is from a Newsboys' song "Breakfast In Hell"

Carter, age 6, is one of our boys at church. He was at concert at King's Island and heard this song being performed by Newsboys. Being a very insightful kid, he turned to his mother and asked, "do you have to get it yourself?"

People don't like to talk about hell. We use the word a lot, but don't real deal with the theological truth of its existence. What is interesting is that Jesus talked about hell more than heaven.

Have you ever wondered why?

Blood, Sweat and Tears sang in the 60s - "I know there ain't no heaven and I pray there ain't no hell!" Live for God and in his love and grace, we will experience heaven and not hell. Remember, there is no breakfast in hell.

Raining Cats and Dogs

2009-04-29T11:51:00.001-04:00

I love real stories from the people I know. I would like to share a story from a family at Southern Hills Church that has blessed us. Below is a conversation with a three-and ½ year-old boy and his mother as told by her.

In the middle of a store during a very loud thunderstorm…
Cash: "Who makes it rain?"
Mom: "God"
Cash: "Why's him do that for?"
Mom: "The grass needs the water to grow and it cleans the streets off!"
Cash: "It shouldn't clean the streets too good, the lines will come off."
(Cash’s dad has a commercial line striping business.)
Mom: "It'll be OK."
Later while driving home from Bloomington we are stopped at a traffic light. Right next to us is a pickup truck with a dog hanging out of the passenger window. He had managed to get his entire top half, including front legs, out this window. The rain was still pouring down and soaking this funny mutt!
I pointed it out to Cash...................
Cash: "Why's that dog hanging out that window? He's gettin' all wet!"
Mom: "I know, but look how much fun he's having. He's loving it!"
The light turns green and the truck gets ahead of us.
From the backseat I hear.........
Cash: "That dog sure loves God."
Mom: "Why is that?"
Cash: "He's gettin' clean!"

Out of the mouth of babes . . . and it got me to thinking about how much do I really love God. Look what he has done for me. Look what he continues to do for me. Look at what he promises to do for me in the future. Do I thank God that I am clean? It makes you think, doesn’t it.

We should be like Saul of Tarsus when Ananias told him, What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord. Saul got up, was baptized and then spent his life telling the world that he loved God because he was clean.

Let the world know that you love God because we are getting clean.

Susan Boyle

2009-04-16T11:07:00.001-04:00

Have you ever been prejudged? Pigeonholed? Stereotyped? It happens. Whether it is because of race, color, attractiveness, gender, nationality or even a different part of your own nation (I’m southern, go figure). It is not pleasant when people treat you differently. Many have fallen victim of preconceived abilities, talents or intelligence and not been who God wanted them to be.
That is why I like the video that I have provided a link at the bottom of this page. I had tears as I watched it. It is a banner for all who have felt the treatment. It is a flag that all of us can rally around for those who never get a chance because of the way they look or where they come from.
As I watched the video I thought of the sense of humor God has. He gives tremendous ability to the least suspecting. He gives talent to those who most of us would not think could have it. I believe he laughs at our surprise. He chuckles at our foolishness. But he is saddened by our continued limited thinking of his power and the blessing that many could bring us if only we would look.
Don’t judge! Be open to God working in the most unusual person. Just look what he did with Susan Boyle.
Enjoy – God did!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-KiGva9dV4

Encouragement

2009-03-25T12:53:00.002-04:00

I borrowed this from Mike Benson. He writes a email a lot like mine. I hope you don’t mind reading something borrowed. This was too good to not share.

MARY KAY ASH encouraged her employees at Mary Kay with a an attitude of celebration and blessing...

She signed hundreds of birthday cards offering free lunch and a free movie. She commemorated employees' "blessed events" such as weddings and babies with personal gifts. She put flowers and white tablecloths in the company cafeteria, and perfume and makeup (Mary Kay brand, of course) in the rest rooms. A sign outside her office read "Department of Sunshine and Rainbows." Her credo was "Appreciation is the oil that makes things run." Ash realized that constant verbal and physical demonstrations of encouragement are necessary for the achievement of ambitious goals and to make employees feel truly valued.

THOUGHT: Moses knew the encouraging power of encouragement. When the desert sands seemed unending, when food became scarce, and when internal dissidents threatened to undermine the organization's purpose ("Let's return to Egypt!), Moses reminded the Israelites of their goal, a "land of milk and honey" that truly existed, even if they had never seen it.

Sid

Who Cares?

2009-03-04T17:45:00.002-05:00

I grew up in a time when churches cared. We cared about what version of the Bible you read. We cared about whether you had a kitchen in the building. We cared whether you let women participate in the worship service. We cared about your eschatology (the body of religious doctrines concerning the human soul in its relation to death, judgment, heaven, and hell). we cared about whether you were a liberal or a conservative religiously. We cared about which church you attended. Maybe caring is not the right word, but it mattered to us.

Today things are different. We don’t care which translation you read. We don’t care if you have a kitchen. We don’t care if women are involved. We don’t care if your are Premillennial, Amillennial, or Post-millennial. We don’t care if you are a liberal or conservative. And most of all we don’t care which church you attend. Again, caring may not be the right word.

In today’s world we just want you to care about God. I wonder if we have become so accepting of our diversities that we have forgotten to care about what we should care about? It just seems to me that we are to be concerned about what God is concerned about. Novel idea! Scripture seems to be more concerned about impactful worship, holiness, self-denial, service, maturity, and faithfulness. Those are some of the things that we need to be concerned with.

Sectarianism has led us down a path where now we accept almost anything. We need to be accepting of people, but challenge, encourage, and spur them on to be like Jesus. To live for God like they have never lived. Pray, study, and be people of discipline. We need to care. Oh, we need to care. But we need to not make our list, but have God’s list. Help us Father to seek you for we know that you care about us.

Jesus Is The Answer

2009-02-27T16:53:00.002-05:00

I see license plates, bumper stickers and sign which state. "Jesus is the Answer." I believe this. But I think that the world may not be coming to Jesus because they are asking a question that does not lead them to Christ.

They are asking, "what is right for me?" At first glance that seems like Jesus is still the answer, but i see this as a question that runs from sacrifice, commitment, discipline, selflessness, servanthood and holiness. All of these characteristics demand a different question - "what would Jesus do?" or "what is right to God?"

Maybe one of the purposes of the church is to get the world to ask the right question. Jesus is the answer. He gives purpose to life. He gives purpose for living. He gives hope for the future. He is the answer. Serve Him!

Sid

A Rod and Situation Ethics

2009-02-10T12:00:00.002-05:00

Another giant from baseball has admitted that he broke the rules. Alex Rodriquez admitted this week to taking performance-enhancing drugs during 2001-2003. He said that the pressure of being the highest paid player in baseball as his reason for breaking the rules. Rodriguez joins Jason Giambi and Andy Pettitte among All-Star players who have confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs. Many other players have denied any use.

Here is what A Rod said,
“Back then it was a different culture. It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid," Rodriguez said.
"I was naive, and I wanted to prove to everyone that, you know, I was worth, you know — and being
one of the greatest players of all time."

What is often neglected in a discussion like this is why does the culture determine the rightness of something? Does right and wrong
change from one year to the next? Does the situation determine the ethics?

We could go on, but before we get too hard on A Rod let’s remember that many times we do the same thing. A casual observation would show that it is very hard sometimes to see the difference between the church and the world. It appears that we have put on the world in our language, values, priorities, lifestyle and dreams.

May the church adopt as our banner the words of Paul

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

God bless!

GPS and God

2009-01-27T12:47:00.002-05:00

I made a recent trip to Detroit to assist our new youth minister, Steve Corp, move to Salem. A member of our congregation accompanied me on the trip. He is a truck driver by trade. That was great for me because he liked to drive. It was not so good for my GPS that I brought along.
Truck drivers have their own way of getting from point A to point B and that might not be interstate or even a well travelled road. It may be quicker or even safer, but the GPS has its way of going and when you get off the “approved” path the GPS lets you know by saying, “recalculating.”
To say the least the GPS and my truck driving member were at odds the entire trip. I expected at any time to lose a GPS or a driver.
Aren’t we like that? God has given us a direction that he wants us to travel, but we know better. We have a better way. We know a shortcut.
God seems to be recalculating all the time. Not that he changes his will, but that he is always recalculating the direction because of the decisions we make. It is not that he doesn’t know. It is not because we surprise him. But he wants us to be on the right path. His word gives us the road to travel. It is not travelled by many, but may we learn to hear his voice and turn where he tells us to.

Ministry

2009-01-14T14:20:00.003-05:00

I have just returned from my second funeral today. In about an hour I will be at another funeral home planning the funeral of the two-month-old boy that passed on Monday.
As I was traveling back from the first funeral (60 miles away) en route to the second funeral I reflected about my work as a minister.
Some weeks it is all about studying, planning, and administrative type stuff. Then other times it is interacting with folks and then there are days that serious ministry takes place. Talking, studying with people who are struggling with their faith, others that want to know God and still others that are facing tragedies. This has been this type of week.
Funerals are challenging. What do you say? How do you comfort them, really? Is there a need to go beyond just attending or officiating a funeral?
A good thing that has happened to me this week is that I have been a keenly aware of God. Very few moments pass that I am not seeking wisdom, courage or discernment.
I ask God to help me as I minister to this young couple. I ask your prayers as I say a few words tomorrow. I pray that the events of the next two days will give this family comfort and peace in the storm that they are now experiencing. I ask Jesus to shout those powerful words, “Peace be still.”

Sid

Grief

2009-01-13T08:06:00.002-05:00

I have just left the local hospital. I was there to give comfort to a young couple that had just lost their two-month old son.
What do you say? What comfort can I give to a couple that I don’t even know and to try and give them some stability during this tragedy?
A few hours ago the baby was alive and now it is gone. In one part of the ER is a mother that is grieving and a father that is out of his mind. In another part is a grandmother that is asking, “why God?”
No church background. No faith to hold on to. No church family to just be there. Alone!
Prayer was the only thing to do. You ask for comfort, strength, compassion and peace. Words don’t flow well during these times and maybe for a reason.
It is never easy to face death. It is especially hard when you don’t have the foundation of God. May God give them what they need to go on. May God give them hope when right now they see none. May in the fog of despair may God give them peace.
This reminds me oh so well that words are not the answer, but just caring.
May we always be willing to reach out.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-23T10:53:00.002-05:00

I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It is unfortunate that we have become so politically correct and many will not wish you a Merry Christmas. We must remember the reason for the season.

We call it Christmas for a reason. Let the world rejoice that the Savior was born (whenever). May we all take time to review, read, and meditate about that day when our God was placed in a manger!

He did grow up. He did teach us about God and man. He did make demands on us. He did die for us. He has prepared a place for us.

He gave His life for us. Let’s give our lives to him.

Christmas

2008-12-23T10:51:00.002-05:00

What a wonderful time of year. Family, gifts, food and memories. The hugs, the catching up of family since last being together.
I have wonderful memories of family especially during the holidays. Grandparents who open their homes and their lives for all of us to come a make memories.
As the years pass, the meaning of Christmas has changed. I love the Christmas story. Before it was about gifts and family, but now it is more about Jesus. He is truly the reason for the season.
Wal-Mart, Sears and the malls would want us to think differently. Don’t take Christ out of Christmas. Whether a bull market or a recession, take time to reflect on the Son of God who became one of us to love us, forgive us and die for us.
May you have a Merry Christmas and our prayer for you is that God will bless you during this time that the world reflects to some degree upon the son of Mary, the Christ.

Straightened Out!

2008-11-20T09:38:00.005-05:00

Luke 13:10-13
On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

After teaching about repentance and warning people not to jump to conclusions about their own righteousness, Jesus comes in contact with a woman that is crippled. For eighteen ears she had suffered. For eighteen years she had endured the stares. For eighteen years she had been handicapped. But then she experiences the Savior. He straightens her up. Notice that he did not straighten her out.

That's what many of us want to do – we want to straighten people out. We love to tell them to get their act together. We shrug our shoulders and wonder why they are the way they are. Maybe we ought to be about helping them get straightened up and not out. Spend our time addresses their needs and not our expectations.

That is what Jesus did and maybe we would be better servants if we did the same. When that happens, maybe people will be more willing to praise God.

A New Hope

2008-11-05T13:27:00.002-05:00

I have not written in a while. I don’t really know why. I have been consumed in a study and preaching from the book of Amos. I have learned a lot and hope that the congregation I serve has too.

Today we know that we have a new president. I hear words that this is a wonderful display of how much better we get along because just forty years ago our nation went through the wars of racial injustice. I am thankful that we are not judging people by the color of their skin – at least on the surface.

There is hope for a renewed hope in the economy and the end of the war. I pray that our new president can lead our country in that direction. People need jobs and no one wants to fight a war – justified or otherwise.

But Amos reminds me that when a nation trusts in itself, economically, militarily, philosophically, or otherwise, then God will not bless that nation. Israel thought that her blessings economically and materially showed that God approved of her standing. Amos told them and us that this is not always the case.God does not bless a nation because of what it writes on its money, the words of its pledge, or what it carves on its buildings. God blesses a nation because of its righteousness.

That is what America needs to do. We don't need to trust in a new president or a new economic direction, or just getting out of a costly and controversial war. We need to be righteous. That is what God challenges his church to do and each one of us. That is my prayer for America.

I Hate Snakes

2008-10-07T14:12:00.002-04:00

Indiana Jones hated snakes. Every movie had him come face to face with his fears. My wife hates snakes. My boys helped her remember her fear by hiding rubber snakes under towels, in cabinets or kitchen drawers. She adds her insight:

I hate snakes! I dislike them so much, that I can’t even look at a picture of one. You’re thinking, “How sad is that?” Why do we let things like that get under skins or even stop us from doing certain things we will miss out on?

What are you afraid of? Probably things that are a little more life changing than snakes! Economic disaster, war, disease, fear of the unknown, divorce…these things can cause us so much fear and worry that we become paralyzed by them.

When we talk about fear, please remember who you are.

“Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.”

Romans 8:14-15a

Live as children of God. Live your life in the fullness that has been given to us.

Sid & Kathy Dye

One Word

2008-09-12T08:14:00.002-04:00

The following was written by my cousin, David Sargent, who preaches and writes from Mobile, Alabama. Thank you for sharing your skills.

“The medal itself bears only one word, and needs only one: VALOR.”
President George W. Bush made this statement on July 16, 2001, in a ceremony in which he presented the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor, to Army Captain Ed Freeman.

President Bush spoke of the reasons why Captain Freeman was being awarded the honor: “That story began with the battalion surrounded by the enemy, in one of Vietnam’s fiercest battles. The survivors remember the desperate fear of almost certain death. They remember gunfire that one witness described as the most intense he had ever seen. And they remember the sight of an unarmed helicopter coming to their aid.”

On that day, November 14, 1965, the unarmed helicopter was piloted by Captain Freeman. Even after the infantry commander had closed the helicopter landing zone in the Ia Drang Valley, “Captain Freeman risked his own life by flying his unarmed helicopter through a gauntlet of enemy fire, time after time, delivering critically needed ammunition, water and medical supplies to the under-siege battalion,” according to the Citation that accompanied the Medal of Honor.

Due to intense enemy fire, medical evacuation helicopters did not fly into the area. But, as the Citation states: “Captain Freeman flew 14 separate rescue missions, providing lifesaving evacuation of an estimated 30 seriously wounded soldiers, some of whom would not have survived, had he not acted.”

On August 20, 2008, Captain Ed Freeman died at the age of 80. He will always be remembered for his “selfless acts of great valor, extraordinary perseverance and intrepidity [which] were far above and beyond the call of duty or mission” (Medal of Honor Citation). *

Captain Freeman’s valor exemplifies the courage with which Jesus endured the cross (Hebrews 12:1-3). With great valor, He suffered untold physical, emotional, and spiritual anguish as He paid the price for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). The valor He displayed can only be fully appreciated by understanding another word that explains His motive: LOVE. He died on the cross for you and for me because he loves us (John 3:16).

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus demonstrated this great love for us by dying for our sins.

Sid

Learning From History

2008-08-26T16:21:00.004-04:00

I really enjoy American History. The past two summers I have traveled to Gettysburg and Mount Rushmore. Two places that are full of American History. I watch videos that have a historical theme to them and have become fascinated with a recently released series – “John Adams.”
The miniseries chronicles the first fifty years of the United States and John Adams’ contribution and influence.
John Adams was instrumental in the colonies declaring independence from Great Britain, the writing of the Declaration of Independence, and the individual constitutions that many states drafted were guided by his work. He served as ambassador to France and was the United States’ first ambassador to England. He was our first Vice-President and second President. He truly was a great force in the formation of early America.
But one scene in the series really struck home to me. As he is leaving to go to France to secure French support of the Revolutionary War, he is hugging his children goodbye. As he comes to his daughter he reminds her of an apparently frequent family slogan. She states that in his absence she will “be good and do good.”Is that not the call of God? Aren’t we charged to be good and do good? Even in the midst of conflict, whether physical war or spiritual war, be good and do good. God has called us by His Son to follow Jesus’ example for he was truly good and did good. Be Jesus to our world.

Dark Knight

2008-08-12T14:28:00.003-04:00

The people who know me well know that I love movies. I am fascinated by the storytelling that goes on in the movies. I would like to share some thoughts from my recent trip to the theater.
The Dark Knight is a 2008 based on the DC Comics character Batman. This film is a sequel to 2005's Batman Begins. Christian Bale repeats in the lead role as Batman/Bruce Wayne.

The plot of the film focuses on Batman's fight against a new villain, the Joker (Heath Ledger) and his relationships with district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) and his old friend and love interest assistant D.A. Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal).

Observations from the movie:

Throughout the movie the opinion about the nature of man is battled. Is man good or is he evil? Two ferries are leaving Gotham City running from the threat of the Joker. The Joker gives the two ferries a choice. If you blow up the other ferry your ferry will survive. One ferry has good, decent, normal folks. The other has convicted criminals. Who will do the right thing? Will both fall into the Joker’s belief about mankind? Which of the two ferries will decide to blow the other one up? Without Jesus the world is evil, lost and hopeless. Only through the Son can we have light.

Also the movie dealt with sacrifice. In the end would Batman be selfish or would he do what was best for Gotham City? Batman had every reason to walk away. He was criticized. He was being attacked. He was alone. Does this sound familiar? The Christ was in the same boat but a different ocean. Jesus was trying to reconcile man to God. But don’t minimize the situation. He was criticized. He was being attacked. He was alone (humanly speaking). Not to ruin the ending of the movie I will only deal with what Jesus did. He came through. He sacrificed himself for us. We are redeemed. We are reconciled. We have hope.
Hollywood may not have meant for me to draw these conclusions, but that is what I came away with. Man does need God to be better. Jesus made that possible by taking our place. Thanks be to God.

Bucket List

2008-08-12T14:25:00.002-04:00

In the movie “Bucket List,” blue-collar mechanic Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) and billionaire hospital magnate Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) meet for the first time in the hospital after both have been diagnosed with cancer. They become friends as they undergo their respective treatments. Both are diagnosed with a year or less to live. Carter begins writing a "bucket list," or things to do before "he kicks the bucket." Agreement is made that the two of them will do the “bucket list.”

The pair then begin an around-the-world vacation, embarking on race car driving, sky diving, climbing the Pyramids, and going on lion safari in Africa. Along the way they discuss faith and family, and learn from each other that Carter has long been feeling less in love with his wife and Cole is deeply hurt by his estrangement with his only daughter, who disowned him after he sent some people to "take care" of her abusive husband. The movie makes one think.
I don’t want to ruin the ending, but want to share some things from this movie:

Friendship is so important. A friend enriches life by sharing the good and the bad. I am thankful for the good friends I have had and now have.

Faith gives us strength when we face death. Faith is the foundation that guides us through the “valley of the shadow of death” giving us hope and assurance that the God of Heaven is there for us now and throughout eternity. I have faith and that helps me through every situation.

Life needs to be lived in view of us never knowing when the end will come. Live life to its fullest in view of eternity. May God help me be reminded of my own mortality and live life accordingly.

In the end may we live a life that brings us joy and that truly brings joy to others. With that God will smile upon us. Only through Jesus can true joy be enjoyed and shared.
Make a list of what you need to do the rest of your days as seen through the eyes of the Father and spend your remaining days living.

Work

2008-07-15T16:32:00.000-04:00

Work has become a dirty word in our society. When you talk to employers today, many of them will tell you that it is hard to find a good employee. They will cite work ethic, morals, attitude and attention to detail as challenges in finding that “right” employee.
The Bible challenges the Christian to be ideal employee and employer. We are not to be lazy, irresponsible, dishonest or immoral. We are to work as we are working for the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24).
Work is not the product of sin. God gave it to Adam and Eve before the fall of man (Genesis 2:15). We are to do the work and God is to get the glory. This work makes us partners with God by providing for the needs of ourselves and the world in general.
Work! Be God’s servant by being the best worker. Be God’s ambassador by being the best employee. Be God’s light and have the best attitude at the office. Don’t work to be saved. Work because you are saved.

Church

2008-06-24T18:14:00.001-04:00

Recently I was having lunch with a member of our congregation and we were discussing how to make God relevant to our community. One of the things that we talked about was using movies either in a sermon or a class to promote discussion and deal with issues, questions, and concerns that the member in the pew deals with and may need deeper understanding to cope.

After the discussion and moving on to other matters, our conversation was interrupted by a lady at an adjoining table. She said, “Would you like some unsolicited advice?” We said, “Yes!” Her take on the conversation was that “watching” movies at church would not be something that she would be interested in. If we wanted to have a movie night, then that might work, but when she goes to church she doesn’t want to see movies. Of course, she did not understand what we had been talking about, but we smiled and accepted her take on the conversation.

Then one of us asked her where she went to church. To our surprise she said that she didn’t go. I found that interesting, but understood. Then I asked her if she would be interested in coming to our church services. She said, “No, your church is too liberal.”

This is where I was totally confused. She was giving us advice about how to do church and didn’t even go herself. She would not go to a “liberal” church, but would rather stay at home. She would rather “forsake” the assemble of God’s family than to go to a church she considered wrong.

How the devil tricks us. I am not defending our church on whether we are liberal or conservative, but on the thinking of this lady. She is robbed of fellowship with God’s people. She is losing a blessing of worshipping God with his children. She chooses to stay home instead of worship and then when someone encourages her to worship, the church never fits.

May God forgive our thinking.

Quilt or Comforter

2008-06-10T15:14:00.002-04:00

Sunday after church, a Mom asked her very young daughter what the lesson was about. The daughter answered, "Don't be scared, you'll get your quilt." Needless to say, the Mom was perplexed. Later in the day, the pastor stopped by for tea and the Mom asked him what that morning's Sunday school lesson was about. He said "Be not afraid, thy comforter is coming."

The concept and work of the Holy Spirit has been a very difficult and often avoided topic in many Christian churches. I am not sure why it is harder to understand the Holy Spirit than it is God the Father and Christ the Son?

All I know is that Jesus promised him: But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.*

I want a Comforter. I need a comforter. Jesus promised to send Him and I am glad. May I be open to His work in my life that I may be righteous. May I realize my sin and repent. May I not be among the condemned because I have obeyed the Master and let His Spirit guide my life.

*The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Jn 16:7-11). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

What Are You Doing Here?

2008-06-06T17:10:00.001-04:00

Randy Harris, professor at ACU and well-known lectureship speaker was at Southern Hills Church this past weekend. He led our shepherds and ministerial staff Saturday in a leadership discussion and stayed with us to teach a Bible class and preach on Sunday. I would like to share some of his thoughts.

He led us in Bible class to where Elijah had just defeated the prophets of Baal and Asherah (850 preachers), but now he was on the run in fear for his life. God comes to him and asks, “what are you doing here?”

A powerful question causing Elijah to look at his life and why he does what he does. Randy left us with these four thoughts:

1. I will be incompetent today – competent people don’t need a savior.
2. I will be fully present to the people before me and to God. I will not be consumed about the past or the future and live for God ministering to people in the present.
3. I will be Christ today. I will try to be the best example of Christ to my world this day.
4. I will see Christ today. I will look for him. I will pursue him.

Randy says that he gets up every day and uses these four principles to guide his day. He said, “If I don’t do anything else the rest of my life, I will look back and be glad I did. I agree – to live with these principles will not only give us a full life, but one that God will bless now and eternally.
Thanks Randy!

Bumblebees

2008-05-29T11:36:00.003-04:00

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

People, many times, are like this. They never look up to see the solution of their problem. King Saul looked inside instead of up and played the role of priest instead of king. Abraham looked inside instead of up and lied about Sarah. Peter looked inside instead of up and denied the Lord. I looked inside instead of up and . . . (fill in your answer).

We have to look up. Time of prayer! Time of reflection! Know where you are, get your compass out – then look up! He may not deliver you, but he will be there so you don’t destroy yourself.

Isaiah says,

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath;
the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment
and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever,
my righteousness will never fail.”

(Isa. 51:6 NIV)

The Shepherd's Voice

2008-05-19T13:44:00.000-04:00

There is a European legend about a shepherd who lived in the mountains with his daughter. When she was a little girl she loved to go out in the pasture with her father. She particularly got a thrill out of hearing him call the sheep with that loud distinctive shepherd’s call that would echo through the mountains. She grew up and moved to Glasgow. She wrote fewer and fewer times as she was away longer and began leading a very sinful life.
The father heard a rumor that his daughter was not living right. With a broken heart he went down into the streets of the city. They said that it was a real sight to see him in his shepherd’s outfit and a staff in the city going into all kinds of places looking for her. He just could not find her, but he refused to give up. He decided to call for her in his shepherd’s voice. He walked the streets calling out her name and in some dingy apartment, she faintly heard that call. She pushed her companion aside and went to the window and saw her father coming down the street. She ran down to meet him and they embraced and he took her back home.
Legend has it that on the mountainside there is a gravestone over the girl’s body that has etched on it one word: “forgiven!”
True shepherds know their sheep. True shepherds number their sheep. True shepherds go after their sheep when they have wandered away.
I pray for all the shepherds of the world that they will call for the lost sheep and be able to bring them home. God will rejoice if only one is found and brought back into the fold.

Being Church

2008-05-08T09:25:00.003-04:00

I was reminded recently again that people watch those of us that are the church. I was also reminded that when a church fails someone, the memories don't go away. I sat across from this person that told their story of how a church had been judgmental, unkind and unforgiving. Tears could not be held back as the pain again suffered. My only thought was why couldn't they just have been kind, loving, forgiving and patient!

But then I remember how I have been in the past. I know that I was not understanding. I know that I was not kind. And you bet I was not forgiving. The hurt, disappointment, the thought that "if this is the way church people act, then I don't want any part of that", no wonder they leave. No wonder they don't come back.

I just pray for all of those that have left that they could find a place where people are Jesus to them. I pray that they will give the church another chance. I pray that they will be able to see past our sins, indiscretions, failures or judgments. I pray that they will be able to experience what I have experienced - undeserving forgiveness and acceptance from a God that could turn his back on me, but didn't.

Let the church show Jesus instead of themselves. Maybe then the world will come to know the one that the church worships every day.

Sid

Dry Wells

2008-04-24T14:18:00.003-04:00

What do you do when the well runs dry and it seems that God is silent? How do you get out of the funk when the music doesn’t make you tingle? Where do you go to hear the voice from the Father that refreshes you? Who do you talk to that challenges you to get over yourself and just be faithful?

I believe that it is a major issue with us or at least with me. We kid ourselves that we are fine because we are so busy. The hustle and bustle of life makes us numb and we spend so little time reflecting on not only where we might be going, but also the consequences that will come our way in the future because of what we are doing now. I have been there – the well has been dry. The music is not inspiring. The conversations are numbing.

What I have found is that God has not called me to “feel good,” but he has called me to be faithful, no matter how I feel. There are just sometimes that worship, serving others and just “being good” are musts and feelings have to be put to the side. I know that God wants our hearts. I know that God wants us excited about serving, worshipping and loving, but sometimes I just have to be faithful.

Yes, the well gets dry. You bet, the “tingly” feeling is not there. If you are in the desert, be faithful and God will refresh you. He will see you through. The Tempter will not win. Remember in the desert we develop a thirst for the Living Water.

Sid

In The Dust Of The Rabbi

2008-04-09T10:36:00.004-04:00

I saw a video this past weekend that was one of the best I had ever seen. It is published by NOOMA and is done by Rob Bell by the title of Dust. In the video Rob Bell explains how rabbis in Jesus' day picked their disciples. He also explained the educational process of the Jewish student. The first stage is called Beth-Safar. This was for kids aged 5 or 6 to age 10. During this time, the children would memorize the Torah. The best students would continue their education in the next stage called Beth-Talmud. This is for those aged 10-14, here they would memorize all the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures. So the by the end of age fourteen they had the whole Old Testament memorized. The next stage of Hebrew education was only for the best of the best. Beth-Midrash was for those aged fourteen and above. This is where they studied the oral and written law.

This is the position that every good Jewish boy wanted to be in. To become a rabbi, or a teacher, was the highest honor to be had. To be a disciple of a rabbi meant not only would you know what the rabbi taught, but you wanted to be just like the rabbi.

When Jesus chose the twelve they were not the best of the best. They were not studying under a rabbi. They were fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots. He sought them out showing them and us that he only wants a heart of service not the greatest intellect or the greatest talent.

There is a phrase in the Mishna that says, "May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi." The idea was that if you followed behind your rabbi on the dusty roads, you would get covered in his dust. Meaning, you were following his so closely to be so much like him that you are glorified to be covered with the dust he left behind. That is how close a disciple wanted to be to his rabbi.

The question is: is Jesus your rabbi? Is his dust all over you? Have you so dedicated your life to Him that his dust covers every aspect of your life? May the dust of Jesus cover you!

Tulsa Thoughts

2008-04-03T11:44:00.003-04:00

Last week I attended the annual Tulsa Soul Winning Workshop. As usual I saw old friends and had a great time with Keith Davis a good friend who preaches in Florence, Alabama. I got the idea for this from his blog. Below are statements that we heard during the week. Chew on them.

“When we listen to our own prayers, we find out what is important to us.” –Randy Harris (we pray for what we want or concerned about and not real kingdom issues).
“I've been gone from church from months and no one seems to miss me!” –Rick Atchley (if you are not missed, then what kind of service were you doing for the church?)
“We have become so biblically illiterate that some think that the epistles are the wives of the apostles.” –Mark Moore
“They’re going to heaven, they’re just not going to like the first couple of months.” –Patrick Mead (what a surprise those who have been very exclusive in their fellowship of other "Christians" are going to be to see the rest of us in heaven).
“Am I willing to be uncomfortable in order to take the good news to our world?” –Jeff Walling (Speaking about how we are going to have to get uncomfortable in order to change the things we need to to reach out to this post-modern age).
“Don’t worry about a plan that God has that we might miss.” –Edward Fudge (God has not laid out a step by step plan for any of us. At each step we must look to God to see what he wants us to do. If we mess up. Confess and look to him again. He will always show you the way).
“If there is a reality that we all need to know, we will unhook ourselves from the shadow.” –Don McLaughlin (In “religion” we get too focused on the things that are only the “shadow” of a “reality”. We must focus on "The Reality - Jesus).
“God has a plan, He will work His plan and nothing will stop His plan. We all believe this, but we don’t live like it. If we did, we’d be the calmest people in the world.” –Randy Harris (one of the most insightful things I heard).

Keep the faith. Seek God. Confess your sins. He will be faithful. Serve.

Sid

What Card Is In Your Wallet?

2008-03-12T11:09:00.001-04:00

A Department of Water representative stopped at a farm and talked with an old farmer. He told the farmer, 'I need to inspect your farm for your water allocation.'
The old farmer said, 'OK , but don't go in that field over there.'
The Water representative said, ‘Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me. See this card? The card means I am allowed to go WHEREVER I WISH on any agricultural land. No questions asked or answered. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand?'
The old farmer nodded politely and went about his farm chores. Later, the old farmer heard loud screams and saw the Water Rep running for the fence and close behind was the farmer's huge-horned prize bull. The bull was gaining on the Water Rep with every step. The Rep was clearly
terrified, so the old farmer immediately threw down his tools, ran to the fence and shouted out.... 'Your card! Your card! Show him your card!'

We get deceived in thinking that we have power. We think that we are in control. But God always sends us a bull to remind us that He is in control. Give up on trying to rule your life. Satan wants you to get hurt or run over by the bull. When you see a bull running after you, be reminded that God is in control. Give your baggage, power, and soul to the one that can handle it. When you do you will have peace that passes all understanding and you will be at peace with yourself.

A Dime For Your Thoughts

2008-02-27T10:53:00.002-05:00

Legend has it that Frank Sinatra was buried in a blue suit with a roll of ten dimes – a gift from his daughter, Tina. Why the dimes? The ten dimes signified a bizarre incident in the life of Sinatra and his son, Frank Sinatra, Jr.
At the age of 19, Frank Sinatra, Jr. was kidnapped on December 8, 1963. The kidnappers demanded payment of a large ransom from his father. They also demanded that Sinatra contact them only by pay phone. Thus Sinatra carried a roll of dimes with him throughout the ordeal. Carrying a roll of dimes became a lifelong habit for him.
In order to secure his son’s freedom, Sinatra paid the kidnappers' $240,000 ransom demand. His son was released unharmed, two days after he had been kidnapped, on December 10. The kidnappers were later captured, prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced to long prison terms. *
There are several lessons we could get from this story, but one that I want us to consider. Remembering our past can be a good thing. It can help us in not making the same mistakes twice. But many times the “dimes” add up and they become baggage. We never get beyond our baggage. We are restricted by the reminder of what we have done and what others may think of us. We hid who we are and the dimes add up.
May we be like King David:
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "— and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Psalm 32:5)
Sure the dimes help us remember. But don’t let your memory stifle who you should be and keep you from confessing what you should confess. God is good even if we aren’t.
* Information gleaned from Answers.com and Wikipedia.com

Sid

Taking Your Place

2008-02-15T17:01:00.002-05:00

Dwight L. Moody told of the young man who did not want to serve in Napoleon Bonaparte's army. When he was drafted, a friend volunteered to go in his place. The substitution was made, and some time later the surrogate was killed in battle.
The same young man was, through a clerical error, drafted again. “You can't take me," he told the startled officers. "I'm dead. I died on the battlefield."
They argued that they could see him standing right in front of them, but he insisted they look on the roll to find the record of his death. Sure enough, there on the roll was the man's name, with another name written beside it – the name of the friend who had died in his place.
The case finally went to the emperor himself. After examining the evidence, Napoleon said, "Through a surrogate, this man has not only fought, but has died in his country's service. No man can die more than once, therefore the law has no claim on him." *
Jesus took your place. This concept is easy to say, but is hard to apply, remember and even comprehend. We get so caught up in ourselves we just can’t seem to focus on the fact that Jesus died in our place. That heaven is our home if we just give ourselves to him.
May God help us to receive this gift of grace and live so as to show the world that Jesus’ death was for them too.
* Story received from David Sargent, “Living Word” February 2, 2008

Jury Fraud

2008-02-06T08:09:00.000-05:00

This has been verified by the FBI (their link is also included below). I wanted to share this with you. It is sad that people will stoop to this level to get something for nothing. Read:

It is spreading fast so be prepared should you get this call. Most of us take those summons for jury duty seriously. A new and ominous kind of fraud has surfaced. The caller claims to be a jury coordinator. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Give out any of this information and bingo, your identity was just stolen. The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma, Illinois, and Colorado . This (swindle) is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into giving information by pretending they are with the court system. The FBI and the Federal Court System have issued nationwide alerts on their websites, warning consumers about the fraud. See also:

Snopes site: says this is realfraud. http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp
FBI site: warns about the fraud. http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm

What happened to the days when you could trust people? We throw those words around like flap jacks at a pancake breakfast. We need to get back to being able to trust each other. When we don't trust others it may say more about us than we want to admit.

May God endow us with His Spirit so as we can be trustworthy people and be able to trust others.

Sid

In God We Trust

2008-01-18T14:27:00.000-05:00

It seems to me that our country is trying to remove "In God We Trust" from our money and some patriotic songs. To me more threatening is the fact that we may not trust in God regardless of what our money may say.

Don't get me wrong I like the "In God We Trust" on our money and I like saying we are "one nation under God." Our country should reflect an overriding principle in which our country was founded on. That our people and our government recognize the God of heaven and are proud to display that fact at every opportunity is a very good thing.

The real problem is not if we take the phrases off of our money or remove them from some songs - would that really change America - but the change might reflect an truth about America that many of us don't want to acknowledge - America does not trust in God.

Even though we are not Israel of old, I believe that any nation that turns its back on God will follow the path of Israel - national troubles, decline in spirituality and in time honored values - just to mention a few. We must remember the words of God to Solomon:

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."*

May America seek God!

*The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (2 Ch 7:14). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Sid

Bite The Bullet

2008-01-11T08:44:00.000-05:00

I’ve been made aware of a story that came out of the Civil War. We all have heard the story of “biting the bullet.” Do you know where that phrase came from? I always thought that it came for the Old West where someone was shot and they gave him a bullet to bite on while they removed the bullet.
In fact, during the Civil War the Union would provide their soldiers ammunition in little paper sacks. To open the sack you had to hold your mussel on one hand and the paper sack in the other and tear the sack open with your teeth. Pour in the powder, put in the bullet, put in paper for the wadding and then you could shoot. So to be a soldier you had to have two opposing teeth to bite the bullet.
Abraham Lincoln issued in March 3, 1863 the Enrollment Act of Conscription. An Ohio politician went to his desk one day and found a draft notice there. He didn’t want to go to war. He knew what the rules were and that weekend he went home and knocked out all of his front teeth so he could not bite the bullet. He probably was not amused to come back to work on Monday and find out that the letter was a fake orchestrated by his co-workers.
There is a moral to that story – to try to escape conflict is more costly that to engage in it. So many of us try to stay out of the conflict. But in reality we must be soldiers and engage the enemy. How are you doing at your post?

Sid

Who's Your Mother

2008-01-04T10:53:00.000-05:00

Steve Flaig, of Grand Rapids , Michigan , had always known he was adopted. On his 18th birthday, he decided that he wanted to try to find out the identity of his birth mother. His adoptive parents, Pat and Lois Flaig, supported him in his decision.

Flaig asked D.A. Blodgett for Children, the agency that arranged his adoption, for his background information. He received the information a couple of months later, and it included his birth mother’s name.

Flaig’s birth mother, Christine Tallady, who was single and very young when Flaig was born, left the adoption record open, thinking her son might want to contact her someday....She was right!

When Flaig received his mother’s name, he began searching the Internet for her address to no avail. But last October, after searching for four years with no results, he realized that he had been spelling his mother’s surname incorrectly as “Talladay.” When he typed “Tallady” into a search engine on his computer, he came up with an address less than a mile from the Lowe’s store where he worked.

Excited about his possible find, he mentioned it to his boss at Lowe’s. In amazement, his boss said, “You mean Chris Tallady, who works here?” Flaig was stunned.
For the next several weeks, he said, “I would walk by her, look at her from a distance, not knowing how to approach her.” Should he just walk up to her and say, “Hi, I’m Steve, your son.” What if she rejected him?

Finally, on Friday, December 14, 2007, Tallady and Flaig, who had known each other casually as co-workers for several months, met for the first time as mother and son. It was a tearful and joyful reunion. *

The Bible gives us the story of how we are adopted by God. We are brought into the family of God. But this story of Steve Flaig speaks of reunion. God is our Father whether we accept that fact or not. Our sins have separated us from this holy family. When we come to God through the blood of His Son, then we are reunited with this Father. What a glorious day it will be to be reunited with the Father in heaven for eternity. May our daily lives be focused on seeking the Father.

* Story received from David Sargent (preacher, relative in Mobile, AL) Information gleaned from “Man's journey to find birth mom ends — at work.” By Pat Shellenbarger of Newhouse News Service in The Seattle Times -- http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004081699_found19.html

Sid

Merry Xmas

2007-12-20T09:06:00.000-05:00

For some that is an offense way to say or write Christmas. I have heard people through the years say rhetorically - "why take Christ out of Christmas?" And even though it seems that Santa is doing better than Jesus, at least on the surface, the Xmas is not about that.

My research discovered that Xmas was an early practice in Christianity. The word "Christ" and its compounds, including "Christmas", have been abbreviated for at least the past 1,000 years, long before the modern "Xmas" was commonly used. Christians have abbreviated the name of Christ for centuries. "Christ" was often written as "XP" or "Xt"; there are references in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as far back as 1021 AD. The X is the first letter in Christ in the Greek language. In ancient Christian art, χ and χρ are abbreviations for Christ's name.[The fish symbol seen on many vehicles and office ornaments is an acrostic of Jesus Christ, Son of God. It uses the Greek name for fish and then makes this acrostic.

The Xmas was not taking Jesus out of Christmas, but just following a tradition of abbreviating the name. You may find it offensive, but at least you will know that it was not intended to remove the Savior from the time the world celebrates His birth. So maybe the next time you see Xmas you won't get too upset.

Merry Christmas or Merry Xmas

May the Lord of Heaven bless your family with a Merry Christmas.

Peekaboo and God

2007-12-10T16:39:00.000-05:00

Why is peekaboo such a fun game with small children? Because it mimics what he is just coming to understand about the world: that objects and people still exist even when he can't see them. That's why he finds quick appearances and disappearances amusing. Understanding this concept, also known as object permanence, is an important milestone, and signals that your baby is making leaps in cognitive development — both his memory and his ability to think abstractly are growing. Psychologist Jean Piaget conducted experiments with infants which led him to conclude that this awareness was typically achieved at eight to nine months of age.

God gave us this abstract understanding, I believe, so that we could believe in Him even though we may not feel Him this very moment. We know he exists because of our experience with Him. But sometimes we don't feel his presence. Sometimes He seems to have left. But we know (object permanence) that he will return to us (even thought he didn't leave, we just don't realize he is there) and we will feel safe again.

Just like the game - He may seem to have hidden himself behind his hands, but He remains constant. He will be there when we need Him. Trust your faith - God is there!

Sid

Time

2007-12-06T09:20:00.000-05:00

Time is a funny thing. When you are young, it seems to drag. When you are older, there just doesn’t seem to be enough of it. Kathy and I just returned from her uncle’s funeral. Funerals have a way of making us deal with our frailty and mortality. A reminder that, if we are honest, we aren’t guaranteed anything, but the moment. Time – God has encouraged us to see it as precious. Time – God has told us that we will give an account of how we used it. Time – more than just ticks on a clock, but an attitude of how we view life.

Here are some suggestions:
1. Tell God every day that you need him and that you want him to direct your steps.
2. Tell your family every day that you love them.
3. Try to help someone where you don’t get anything in return from them.
4. Smile – it just may catch on.
5. Kiss a baby, even if you are not running for president. It just may help you smile.
6. Pray for your enemies – it is really hard to hate someone you are praying for.
7. Spend some time by yourself – no TV, books, iPods, or cell phones and think about God.
8. Go to worship – it is one of the best ways to see God and remember that there is one greater than you.
9. Be faithful – to God, your family and yourself.
10. Live – not in fear, but in celebration of life and those that God has given you each day to love and share.

Funerals remind us that life is precious. Take the time to enjoy time.

Running For Jesus

2007-11-19T14:30:00.000-05:00

Forrest Smithson was a world class hurdler. He was a muscular, tall and thin man that qualified to represent the United States in the 1908 Olympics in London. Living in Portland, OR made that a formidable task in that day to get to London, but he made it. When he got to London he found out that his event the 110 meter hurdles was scheduled to be run on Sunday. Forrest Smithson was a strong Christian and told his teammates that he could not run on a Sunday. He told them that Sunday was the Lord’s Day, not a day for racing. They talked to him and convinced him that it could be a great testimony of his faith if he ran. He convinced him to race. To everyone’s surprise he showed up to run the 110 meters with his Bible. He held the Bible in his left hand and when the gun went off he carried that Bible and won. He not only won he won by 5 meters. He not only won by 5 meters but in the process, he set a world record that stood for 12 years.

Some people take being a Christian seriously. They not only have a Bible, but they read it. Not only do they read it, but they take it with them. Maybe it can't be seen physically, but hopefully everyone can see that the word is in our hearts. Take your Bible with you and if you have to, hold the book in your hand.

Sid

Fore!

2007-11-08T13:48:00.000-05:00

I play golf. I have a passion for golf. I have had some success in tournaments during my amateur career. I think that I have an understanding of what it takes to be successful in playing golf. I practice. I play. Some people even ask me for advice about how to improve their game. When I play in tournaments I try to maintain a line of thinking that will put me in the best position to do well when I play. Just like other things in life both important and those that are not, confidence plays an important role.

When it comes to being God’s person, the things that make one successful in sports also apply to God. One difference is what is the foundation of your confidence. That not only makes a difference in golf, but also with God.

In golf the model of practice, mental toughness and ability plays such an important role. But with God too many of us go through the motions and don’t have a passion for God. We do the equivalent of practice and mental toughness, but for some reason we have lost the passion. It may be the case and I believe that it is just that, that when passion for God exists that it covers a multitude of failures.

Be passionate about God. Praise His name. Worship daily. Love God with all your heart and with all of your soul and your entire mind. If we do that then the prize is ours – says Paul.

Sid

It Was An Accident

2007-10-31T08:08:00.000-04:00

Kids says the most wonderful things. Our congregation has a lot of kids so each week I could write something from them. But I have to share what one mother told me her six-year-old daughter said. This is what the mother wrote:

We were driving and she noticed the Methodist Church. We talked about how that was an old church and we had a new church (building). She then asked who lived in the big white house next door to the church. I told her it was a funeral home, and proceeded to tell her what a funeral and funeral home were. She asked me if that's where Granny and Papaw went to say goodbye to Jesus! I told her that Jesus died way before Granny and Papaw were born...it happened a looooonnnnnggg time ago.

She began talking about the video showed during communion on Sunday (an edited version of the Passion). She was saying how much blood Jesus had on him and how terrible it was. I told her that Jesus' death was terrible, that people were incredibly mean to him, but that he was very brave and did it for us. That just shows us how much Jesus loves us!

Then Hope asked "why did Jesus do that?" I told her "Jesus died for our sins," and she asked "our sins...your sins Mommy?". . . "yes, for my sins". . . She asked "did Jesus die for my sins Mommy?". . . I said "he did Hope." She sat for a few minutes in silence then said "Mommy, whatever I did to Jesus I promise it was an accident!"

Don't we wish that was true of us all. Unfortunately some of my sins are not an accident. Jesus died for all sins. May we all say - whatever I did to Jesus, may he forgive us.

Sid

Lead or Get Out of the Way!

2007-10-23T11:16:00.000-04:00

A very smart and spiritual man told me once, "the purpose of leadership is not to make decisions, but to lead people into the presence of God."

I struggle with leadership. I have always believed that I was a leader, but I am not so sure now. The paradigm that I have worked through most of my life may not be the one that truly shows leadership. I believe I know what to do. I believe I know how things are to be done. But that is where the issues begin. Most of the people I know who might be considered leaders are the ones that are good at making decisions - so what do we do?

Do I lead people into the presence of God? It is more than being the preacher. It is more than being an elder? CEO? CFO? or boss. At the end of the day if all that matters is whether you are closer to God, then there should be fruit to show it. Being a servant leader means that it is not about meetings, decisions, plans, or paradigms. It is about you getting closer to God. It is you consuming God. Then it is about asking others to join you on your journey, rather than telling them what they need to do to straighten them out.

May our leaders, whether preachers, elders, teachers, administrators or bosses, lead us closer the Creator. May our lives be enriched by those who have chosen a path to God and asked us to go along. May we enrich others by asking them to join us on our journey, so that they may see God.

Sid

Indian Givers

2007-10-10T13:14:00.000-04:00

When I was a kid and someone gave you something and then took it back, they were called an Indian giver. It may not be a politically correct term today and I don't want to offend, but convey a concept. At least three athletes have had this reality thrust into their lives. Marion Jones admitted to taking a prohibited substance and has relinquished the five Olympic medals she won at the 2000 Sydney Games. Michael Vick has plead guilty in a dog fighting ring and as it stands right now the Atlanta Falcons want nearly $20 million back. Then Floyd Landis won the 2006 Tour de France and had to return his metal due to drug testing. They had to give it all back because they didn't follow the rules. They didn't do what was right. They didn't think they would get caught.

Two things:

1. We all get caught, in the end! Live for God knowing that he knows. He knows what you have done and even if you get by with it now, eventually you will have to face the Judge. He knows.

2. We are bought with a price. We are God's. We have to desire Him to remain His. He took us from the devil when we gave our lives to him. May we never hear the devil say - "give them back, they didn't live for you." We have no excuse - yes we sin, but God will forgive. Yes we fail, but he will restore. Yes we blow it, but he puts air back into our lives. Never let Satan get you back.

Don’t Go To Church

2007-10-01T16:35:00.000-04:00

CHICAGO (Reuters Life!) - Next month across the United States several hundred Christian congregations plan to tell their faithful to skip coming to church -- and head out into the community to help those in need. 1
The concept is to “be church” instead of going to church. This sounds great. In fact, it sounds biblical. Raising money for missions, helping those that can’t help themselves, caring, working, loving, and showing compassion are at the foundation of the Christian faith.
I think this is an awesome concept – being the church in today’s world. Too many of us come for our “holy huddle” and never experience service or give a witness in our daily walk. I love this concept of being church. But . . .!
I think a question needs to be asked. “why can’t the church be the church every day and still worship together on Sunday?”
I don’t believe that Christianity should be viewed only as the time that the church assembles on Sundays, but I also believe that the Bible teaches that we are to be the church all the time and still have this time together in communion with God and each other in worship. Serving the kingdom is great. Helping others is Christ-like, but skipping a time to honor God as his family, I don’t think so. God called all men and he also called his church to congregate. Be the church in your walk each day, but also praise God with his family on Sundays. That will exalt God on the Lord’s day and it will also show the Father and others that being a Christian is more than just Sundays.

1 klove.com news story 10-1-07

Sid

Tragedy

2007-09-21T08:55:00.000-04:00

Death, disease, incarceration, stage 4, hospice, funeral home directors, oncologist, death bed prayers, cemeteries, emergency rooms, sirens, late night phone calls, grave side scriptures, blockage, flat line, reading the will, or a call from the police station. What do you say? How do you show you care? What do you do? Some of us deal with this daily but we don’t do any better than those who do are not familiar with the routine.
I WAS SITTING, torn by grief...
Someone came and talked to me of God's dealings, of why it happened, of hope beyond the grave. He talked constantly, he said things I knew were true.
I was unmoved, except to wish he'd go away. He finally did.
Another came and sat beside me. He didn't talk. He didn't ask leading questions. He just sat beside me for an hour and more, listened when I said something, answered briefly, prayed simply, left.
I was moved. I was comforted. I hated to see him go. (Charles Swindoll)
Be Jesus to our world – mourn with those that mourn, weep with those that weep . . . let God’s Spirit work through you.

Sid

What's Really Important

2007-09-11T12:10:00.000-04:00

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Many things in this life are given a price tag of importance. Education, wealth, the corner office, titles, and positions all top the list. But where is God? The adversary (Satan) lulls us to sleep. We are convinced that our priorities are aligned even if God is not at the top. Self-evaluation is one of the hardest things to do. Find ways to have a check and balance of who you are and what you are doing.

Spelling is important, but God is it. Serve Him and you won’t regret it in eternity.

GPS

2007-08-31T08:40:00.000-04:00

On a recent trip to Gettysburg, PA to visit the Civil War battlefield and tour the area, I had my first experience with a GPS in a car. GPS stands for Global Positioning System. GPS provides specially coded satellite signals that can be processed in a GPS receiver, enabling the receiver to compute position, velocity and time. As we traveled down the road we would program the address and Linda (the female voice of the GPS) would tell us of an upcoming turn or split alerting us to a change in our route. What an instrument. Men will never get lost again - well yes they will - they won't use it. Men never get lost.

When thinking about this remarkable device I was contemplating a spiritual application. That's what preacher do. I was speaking to some people about how God will always be there for us and that His Word will always guide us. That is when I came up with GPS. God, Prayer and Service.

One of the issues of our time is that people have lost their spiritual direction. They have no direction and many lack the insight or tools to even determine where they are now. They need a spiritual GPS - God centered lives, prayer continually and a life of service for the kingdom. That will guarantee that the person is not only never lost, it will also provide a glorious road map to take them on the journey that God wants all of us on.

Try it - GPS - God, Prayer, Service. I bet you will never get lost spiritually.

Sid

Dog Fighting

2007-08-21T14:51:00.000-04:00

Michael Vick is in trouble. With three associates prepared to testify that he brutally executed dogs and bankrolled gambling, the NFL star agreed Monday to "accept full responsibility" for his role in a dogfighting ring and plead guilty to federal conspiracy charges.*

This is truly sad. Another very talented athlete is heading to jail. It appears that he bought into a mentality that he was above the law because of his celebrity status. This is not the case. There are some things even in our society of "accepting anything" we don't accept.

That got me thinking. People are ready to string him up for what he did to some dogs and this is truly wrong. But why are we upset more about what people are doing to people? We publicize this cruelty as one that even a hard-nosed convict would shed a tear when thinking about the cruelty done to these dogs. But what about people? Cold shoulder? Neglect? Abuse both verbal and physical? Domination? Exploitation? Murder? War? Abandonment? What we do to each other can never be compared to any other creature made by God!

Man is the only creature made in the image of God. We are special. We have a soul and no other animal does. Yet we are more concerned about the cruelty shown some dogs than the injustice of our world toward each other. And we will be judged by our Creator on how we treat each other. Remember the two greatest commands? It is how we treat/view God and how we treat/view each other.

Don't be cruel to animals, but more important than that - love God and each other - when we do, God will be proud.

Sid

*Associated Press (Fox Sports on MSN)

Keep Your Nose Clean

2007-08-08T09:16:00.000-04:00

My grandfather Ernest Pollock was bigger than life for me. He was so special in all the interesting things that he did and the way that he did them. Even though he has been gone for more than 25 years his influence continues. One of the things that he would tell me when I was leaving his house both as a youngster and an adult was "keep your nose clean." I have found that I now tell my kids and others the same thing. It is a special reminder to do what is right or good.

This is good theology. We need to "keep our noses clean." Not with a handkerchief, but with a relationship with God. We cannot do that on our own. We need steady reminders of this need by church folk, family and God's Holy Spirit. May we all encourage each other and even make each other accountable to do what is good and right. God will be proud. Keep your nose clean!

Sid

Gettysburg

2007-07-31T13:37:00.001-04:00

The first of July Kathy and I went to Gettysburg with a wonderful couple. It was my first time and since I loved history I soaked it all in. We strolled the battlefield. We read the historical markers. We watched films and took tours to get the picture of what happened on July 1, 2, 3, 1863 in the small Pennsylvania town. The causalities were enormous. Fifty-three thousand soldiers died in the largest battle to take place on American soil.

There is a soberness that goes with being on such "holy" ground. A place where men were willing to die for a cause. The blood that must have been shed. But an interesting side to the story is that a number of the officers, though on different sides, were friends. Two such friends were General Winfield S. Hancock (Union Army) and General Lewis A. Armistead (Confederate Army). Good friends, but now enemies. What makes friends fight against each other?

That is a good question for those of us who follow Jesus. What makes friends fight against each other? May we take the words of Paul and apply them - Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2).

The Civil War and more particularly Gettysburg stands as a bloody memorial of what happens when friends fight. May that not be true of God's church. May it not be true in your church. May it not be true with me.

Sid

Dealing With God

2007-07-25T10:50:00.000-04:00

The new movie Evan Almighty is a great movie. Being a visual person the plot gave me all kinds of illustrations and clips that once the movie is released on DVD I can share them with my church. But there is one episode that really impacted me.

God (Morgan Freeman) summons narcissistic newscaster turned congressman Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) to build an enormous ark in preparation for a devastating flood. Unfortunately, Evan's perplexed family interprets his latest hobby as a midlife crisis gone wrong rather than as a divine assignment from the man upstairs. They abandon him as do all others.

Then God appears to Evan's wife in a restaurant. God asks her if she believes that when people ask God for patience does God just get rid of the problem, or does he give them the ability to endure? If someone asks God to bring their family closer together (that had been her prayer), does God give them warm and fuzzy feelings or does he give them the opportunity to be closer?

What a theological statement. I want relief. I want the warm and fuzzy, but God gives me opportunity. What a God!

See your hardship, struggle, or battle as an opportunity. God is faithful. He will see you through. I'm betting on God instead of myself. What about you?

Sid

Glad It’s Not Cat Poop!

2007-07-11T13:59:00.000-04:00

One of my elders has a couple of great nieces that he and his wife love to have over to their house. They are about 6 and 4 years of age. They spend a lot of time with their great uncle and aunt. The other day the oldest child stepped in some dog poop while in the family garden and the uncle and aunt had to clean up her shoe. The matter seemed to be over, but as they were leaving the youngest one declared, “it could be worse, it could have been cat poop! It really stinks.”

It amazed me that a four-year-old could make that deduction. Then I thought about how we as human beings rationalize our sins. “Oh, I may have this sin in my life, but I don’t do that sin, it is a lot worse.” Don’t we rationalize like that? Jesus dealt with that with a “log-in-the-eye” story (Matthew 7).

Don’t get me wrong, some sins have more consequences in this life than others. But don’t miss the point – all sin demanded payment with the blood of Jesus.

May we as his disciples rid our lives of the waste that God calls sin. It is an honorable lifestyle. God will gives us strength and power if we rely on Him and not ourselves. May God’s Spirit empower His church to be holy. Live for God because eternity without him is worse.

Sid

Kids

2007-06-21T15:24:00.000-04:00

This past week we had our grandkids with us. What a blessing. What a challenge! It is the first time we have had them more than one night. Mason is almost 3 and Drew is 14 months. We had a blast, but also a great challenge. Mason constantly challenged us to see how we would react to his “forbidden” acts. The apple just doesn’t fall far from the tree. After four days the boys are back with their mom and dad and we are exhausted. God helps us that are older by allowing us to really forget the challenges of raising small children. That is why grandparents love their grandchildren.

Application: Aren’t we all a lot like Mason. Put our finger next to the light switch giving every indication that we are going to turn the light off and God has said to leave the switch alone? Aren’t we testing/challenging God on every corner to see if he is looking? Why do we save ourselves a lot of grief and not have to go through the consequences of the forbidden zone and be blessed by God instead of facing his wrath?

Maybe one day Mason will learn it is better to listen to “Pop” than face the consequences. Maybe one day I will learn to listen to “God”! What do you think?

Sid

Atheist Holiday

2007-06-04T09:20:00.000-04:00

Have you heard about this case? Great answer from the judge!
In Florida, an atheist became incensed over the preparation of Easter and Passover holidays. He decided to contact his lawyer about the discrimination inflicted on atheists by the constant celebrations afforded to Christians and Jews with all their holidays while atheists had no holiday to celebrate.
The case was brought before a wise judge. After listening to the long passionate presentation by the lawyer, the Judge banged his gavel and declared "Case dismissed!"
The lawyer immediately stood and objected to the ruling and said, "Your Honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and many other observances. Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah...yet my client and all other atheists have no such holiday!"
The judge leaned forward in his chair and simply said, "Obviously your client is too confused to even know about, much less celebrate his own atheists' holiday!"
The lawyer pompously said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any such holiday for atheists. Just when might that holiday be, your Honor?"
The judge said, "Well it comes every year on exactly the same date---April 1st! Since our calendar sets April 1st as 'April Fool’s Day, consider that Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, in my opinion, if your client says there is no God, then by scripture he is a fool, thus April 1st is his holiday!Anonymous

2007-05-25T08:44:00.000-04:00

I have heard about this type of story at least a couple of different ways. I would like to share one of them.

Monkey trappers in North Africa have a clever method of catching their prey. A number of gourds are filled with nuts and firmly fastened to a branch of a tree. Each gourd has a hole just large enough for the unwary monkey to stick his forepaw into it. When the hungry animal discovers the nuts, it quickly grasps a handful, but the hole in the gourd is too small for him to withdraw his clenched fist. All the monkey has to do is open up its hand and let go in order to escape, but it refuses! So, it is easily taken captive. (Got this version of the story from my cousin and brother David Sargent)

Aren’t we just like the monkeys? We grab and won’t let go. We hold on even if it kills us. We see the prize and don’t think about the consequences. The next thing we know is that we wake up in jail, or with an addiction, or losing our family, friends or even ourselves.

Only by the Spirit of God can we overcome. Only by being receptive to the Spirit will we have the power to let go. Pray. Be wise. Think before you hold on. Let go if you have hold of an ungodly thing. God will bless you.

Sid

Always Seeking

2007-05-07T13:26:00.000-04:00

This is used by permission from its author David Sargent. He is my first cousin and writes a weekly article also. He preaches in Mobile, AL. He and his family are great servants of the kingdom.

Mel Ellis, an expert on wildlife and conservation, has written a little book of fables in which he examines the world around him with a naturalist's eye and celebrates what he sees with a poet's vision. The forty-sixth and last fable in the book unfolds in a little dialogue between the author and his daughter:
Daughter: “Now that I have read your fables I am disappointed because you gave no space to the ‘new morality.’”
Father: “Well, there are many, many things I did not touch on. As for morality, almost every generation claims a new morality. It is a vagary.” *
Daughter: “I'm not quite sure I understand.”
Father: “Consider the climbing vines. Honeysuckle, for instance, always twines clockwise, to its right. Jasmine always twines counterclockwise, to its left. Nothing can make either do otherwise. Yet there is one twining plant -- Scyphanthus Elegans -- which will start turning in one direction, making a couple of loops around its support, and then go back the other way, reversing itself every couple of loops or so.”
Daughter: “Well it would seem that is the most interesting way to climb.”
Father: “Most interesting, perhaps, but not a very tidy system.”
Daughter: “I still don't get the point.”
Father: “The point is that no matter how vines climb, whether to the left or to the right, or both ways, each is always seeking the same thing.”
Daughter: “And that is?”
Father: “Light.” **
Even so, no matter how each of us “climbs,” whether to the left or to the right, whether the corporate ladder or the social ladder, whether to economic heights or professional plateaus, we are all seeking the same thing: Light! That “Light” is God (1 John 1:5).
God “gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one, every nation
of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, SO THAT - they should SEEK THE LORD, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; ‘for IN HIM we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:25-27).

* “Vagary” -- an erratic, unpredictable, or extravagant manifestation, action, or notion (Webster’s Dictionary)
** Ellis, M., "Sermons In Stone," Holt, Rinehart and Winston (Adapted).

Are We Serious?

2007-04-27T09:48:00.000-04:00

The ark of the Lord had just been returned to Israel from the Philistines. The Philistines had a stomach full of God after taking the ark in an invasion. Plagues had been brought upon these heathen people and they wanted no more of this “God of Israel”.

Israel was overjoyed with the return of the ark. They had lost the visual reminder that God was with them and now they had it back. But Samuel challenges them with an interesting question: “If you are really serious about wanting to return to the Lord, get rid of . . .” (1 Samuel 7:3 NLT)
They had been worshipping idols (Baal and Ashtoreth) and Samuel ask them if they want to get serious.

I wonder if Samuel were among our churches today if he would ask that question? I wonder if he would list the idols that we have decided to worship? Things, our children, power, greed, occupation, pluralism, or even ourselves could top the list.

One day we will be asked if we had been serious about God. What will your life say?

Imus and God

2007-04-13T10:10:00.000-04:00

CBS fired Don Imus from his radio program Thursday, the finale to a stunning fall for one of the nation's most prominent broadcasters. Imus initially was given a two-week suspension for calling the Rutgers women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos" on the air last week, but outrage continued to grow and advertisers bolted from his CBS radio show and its MSNBC simulcast.1

He just could not survive. There will be debate over whether he should have lost his job. Should a person be held to a standard that any words that are misspoken cost them their job? I don’t know.

There are a couple of things that I do know. One, he should not have said it. It was prejudicial at best and mean at worse. Imus lives in a glass house every day and people are influenced by what he says. We all would tell him, “you should have know better.” Second, I am glad that God does not treat us that way. We misspeak, lie, cheat, live ungodly, don’t pray, are not a good witness of our faith, gossip, don’t forgive, are prejudice and the list goes on. But if we repent (more than being sorry we got caught), and ask Him for forgiveness – He does just that – forgives. With Him there is no loss of job, loss of our relationship or dangled over the fires of hell. Yes, there may be consequences in this life because of what we do or say, but with God there aren’t any. Grace, forgiveness, reconciliation, salvation, hope and love – God is there. Thank you Father for not being like us.

1 “CBS fires Imus from radio show” Fox Sports web site

P.U.S.H.

2007-04-03T10:44:00.000-04:00

A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.

So, this the man did, day after day. For many year she toiled from sunup to sundown, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind:

"You have been pushing against that rock for a longtime and it hasn't moved." Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough."

That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. "Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked.Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it.Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed.But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown;your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. That you have done. Now, I, my friend, will move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants,when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong - just P.U.S.H.!
When the job gets you down - just P.U.S.H.!
When people don't do as you think they should - just P.U.S.H.!
When you can't find the right work - just P.U.S.H.!
When your money is "gone" and the bills are due - just P.U.S.H.!
When people just don't understand you - just P.U.S.H.!

P= Pray
U= Until
S= Something
H= Happens

Author Unknown

God Will Fix You

2007-03-14T10:12:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wondered how it will be in heaven? Will we know each other? I am not sure about that but it does raise some interesting possibilities if we can recognize each other in heaven.

First, it will be awesome being in the presence of God. To spend eternity in a place of nos. No tears. No pain. No night. God.

Second, it will be grand to see family members and friends that we may not have seen for a while and to have that great reunion.

Third, and the one that really is interesting, is what about the people that I had issues with on earth and now are in heaven. How can I be truly happy with them around? I think that there will be three possibilities. God will fix them or fix me or both.

Whether we know each other or not I know that God will fix me. What a glorious time when we are fixed. Sinless. Holy. Lovable. With God. What a day that will be. Remember good people don’t go to heaven, only forgiven ones do.

Tim Hardaway and Gays

2007-02-27T15:11:00.000-05:00

Former Indiana Pacer guard Tim Hardaway said on a radio show February 14th that he would not want a gay player on his team. "You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known," Hardaway said. "I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."

The reaction to Tim Hardaway was unbelievable. Many well-know and respected people jumped on the band wagon against Hardaway. His former coach, Pat Riley, told a Miami radio station on Thursday, February 15 that "[Hardaway's attitude] would not be tolerated in our organization," the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.

Let me say that I can understand their concern over the choice of words. He could have talked about how that it was a sin or that he could not relate, or that it was wrong. But hate - that word brings about a mass response on any issue.

What saddens me is that being pro-gay is a sacred cow in our society. We are to be tolerant of others no matter what they do or what they believe. Hardaway had to apologize. He lost endorsements. He was removed from NBA All-Star activities. Harsh? I don't know. But what I do know is God hates sin - homosexuality, lying, adultery, idolatry, and etc.! He loves all of us, but do not mistake God's love and forget about His justice. He hates sin so much that Jesus had to die to satisfy His justice. We all sin. Jesus died for all. But all will not be saved. Read your Bibles - those of faith, those who strive to be like Jesus, those forgiven and those who love - they are saved. Homophobic - not me, but let us all repent of our sins.

Sid

Attention To Detail

2007-02-14T17:51:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine sent me this email with a very interesting question about a penny. Do not look at a penny. See if you can get it right.

Pick the correct Penny

I cannot believe how many people did not choose the correct one! Take a look, and see if you can choose the right penny. No cheating; do not look at a real penny first- I know you've seen a real one! See if you can pick the correct one here. Click on the line below to take the test. Click on the common cents below then return to this email for some thoughts.

Common Cents

I wonder how much I miss by not taking the time to really look and ponder the world that I am in. God has given us so much. Do we really pay attention? Take time to look at your love ones. Take time to see God’s wonderful creation from the snowflake to the blade of grass. May God forgive us for not seeing the simple things that are really unbelievable. Take the time!

Sid

S . . . . Bowl Parties

2007-02-06T14:03:00.000-05:00

If you have not heard the National Football League contacted and in some cases prohibited churches from having Super Bowl parties. It seems churches are running afoul of the NFL's broadcast copyrights, including the following limitations:

• No unauthorized use of the copyrighted terms (i.e., "Super Bowl") in promotions.
• No charging admission to watch the Super Bowl™.
• No public showings of the big game on TVs larger than 55 inches.
• An exception is made for sports bars and other places that regularly show sporting events.
So what's a church to do? Violate the law? Or maybe a better question is can the NFL regulate or even make this rule? I have written a letter to the NFL asking about the regulations and why sports bars can be an exception. And where is the 55” restriction coming from?
I may be out of line (I can be at times), but if you do not charge, do not use their copyrighted name (even sports bars do this), why can’t the game be viewed by projection in greater dimensions than 55”?
I loved the game, but I hope that the NFL is not promoting an anti-church mentality and become the No Faith League. I will let you know how the NFL responds to my letter.

Sid

God and Horses

2007-01-30T09:56:00.000-05:00

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was put down Monday after complications from his gruesome breakdown at last year's Preakness, ending an eight-month ordeal that prompted an outpouring of support across the country.

As the newscast came forth one news person remarked that the horse had changed people’s lives. "This horse was a hero," said David Switzer, executive director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association. When Barbaro broke down, his right hind leg flared out awkwardly as jockey Edgar Prado jumped off and tried to steady the ailing horse. Race fans at Pimlico wept. Within 24 hours the entire nation seemed to be caught up in a "Barbaro watch," waiting for any news.

Don’t get me wrong – I love animals. But it seems to me that we have a weird and inconsistent value system in America. Let me explain.

First, God is the only one that can change lives. He uses others and maybe even animals. But the problem is that we end up worshipping the thing and not God.

Second, we have a distorted value of animals. I understand that if you kill an eagle or even an unborn eagle that you have committed a crime. But in our country you can kill the unborn child and everything is okay. Am I the only one that sees the absurdity in that?

God gave us animals to love, but not be our companions. God gave us each other for that. Horses may be neat, but they aren’t heroes. Heroes are the people of faith (Hebrews 11). Feed your dog. Keep your cat warm, but love people and God. That is good!

Sid

Obituaries

2007-01-22T10:39:00.000-05:00

My mother has a unique given name. She is named for my grandfather with a twist to make it feminine. Her name is Ernestine. You see, it is quite unique. You would think with this name that identity confusion would be the last thing she would have to worry about. Well, it is not. For years there has been a lady that lived in a community several miles away that not only had my mom’s given name, but also her married name. They apparently used the same doctor and have had mail sent to the wrong Ernestine. This has created some confusion and inconvenience over the years.

Well, Ernestine Dye passed away. Not my mother, but the other one. Her name showed up in the obituaries and on the nearby radio station. Some calls were made from acquaintances that knew my mom and wanted to know what had happened to her.
My mom emailed her boys to assure us that she was still kicking. This of course, pleased us. But this got me thinking – what if my name was in the obituaries? What would it say? What kind of legacy would I have left?

A lesson for me that God impresses on all in Scripture – be prepared. Eternity is only a breath away or a lack of. Be friendly. Serve God. Forgive. Repent. Think of others first. This will leave a legacy that God will be proud of.

Sid

Let's Hide

2007-01-09T15:56:00.000-05:00

Over the holidays I was able to be with my grandson Mason. He is 2 1/2 years old. He definitely takes after my side of the family - could be good or bad depending on your point of view. During our stay at my parents, Mason wanted to hide in the closet. Apparently that is something that he does at home. So he had taken his grandmother (Kathy) and they both had hid. But now he wanted me to play.

We got in the closet. We were quiet as to not let anyone know where we were. We were hiding, or at least that is what I thought we were doing. When someone walked in the room he would announce that we were hiding. No prompting! No coaching! He just let everyone within ear shot know what we were doing.

At that point I thought that it was cute. You hide but when someone gets close, then you let them know you are hiding from them. Isn't the purpose of hiding to hide? But as I thought about what he was doing, I wondered about myself.

I wonder what God thinks of us. We are suppose to be doing a lot of things and we simply miss the point. We are to serve, love, assist, be kind, sacrifice, give and be humble. But we end up tooting our own horn even in these godly acts and end up missing the point.

We just need to do what God says, the way he says do it and he will be proud.

Sid

Who's Calling

2006-12-22T08:27:00.000-05:00

We have changed the way we view phone calls. We have gone from operator connecting calls to dialing to touch tone. We evolved from party lines to caller ID. Most of us will not answer a call unless we know the person or the number calling us. We have caller ID on our cell phones, home phones and our work phones. We have to know who is calling us. We don't like surprises.

Christmas is here. It is a time to remember the Christ child. He came to us - God did. He was born in Bethlehem. He grew into a man that dedicated himself to the mission that the Godhead agreed upon before time. He fulfilled that mission perfectly and went back home. The Bible tells us that he will come again. But the problem for us is that it will be a surprise. No advance notice. No caller ID. The ring will come (trumpet) and there he will be. The Christ, the God-man, our Savior - he came for all men when he was put in a manger. But when he come =s again, it will only be for his family. Be ready for the call.

Merry Christmas from Southern Hills church and my family. May God bless you as you journey with Him.

Sid

Fire Protection

2006-12-15T08:15:00.000-05:00

A certain Midwestern city had a hospital that maintained its own fire-fighting equipment. If ever a fire broke out within the walls of the hospital, anyone could reach for a nearby hose on the wall and extinguish it. For about 35 years the hospital operated totally free from fires. The hospital’s safety record was impeccable. The state-of-the-art system never had to be used – and it’s a good thing that it was never needed!

One day an inspection was made of the system… The inspection revealed a very interesting and alarming situation. The pipe that was to carry the water into the building and, subsequently, into the fire-fighting system had never been connected to the water source!

For 35 years, the people who worked in and used the hospital had maintained complete confidence in a system that would not work! The system had all the hoses and equipment it needed. The only problem was that it had no connection to the most important part of the whole system – the water!

May you and I never make the same mistake, especially when it pertains to our salvation from sin!

Sin is a universal problem (Romans 3:23) with terrible consequences (Romans 6:23). In the Bible, a phrase that is used to describe punishment for sin is the…fire of hell"

Language about hell seeks to describe for humans the most awful punishment human language can describe to warn the unbelieving and impenitent before it is too late!

Yet, because of God’s love, we can be “protected” –if– we are connected to the Source of salvation. The only thing that can protect us from the punishment for sin is the…"blood of Jesus"

On the cross, Jesus died – He shed His blood – as payment for your sins and mine. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7).

(used by permission from David Sargent)

Sid

Is My Life Worth Living

2006-12-07T16:45:00.000-05:00

This man owned a small farm in south Washington County, Indiana. The IRS was suspicious that he was not properly paying his help. So they sent an agent out from Indianapolis to investigate. The agent asked the farmer for a list of all of his employees and what you pay them. The farmer said that's easy. First, there is my hired hand. He's been with me three years and I pay him $600 with free room and board. Then there's my cook. She's been here about 18 months and I pay her $500 a month with free room and board. Then there's the half wit. He works 18 hours a day, gets about $10 a week and all the chewing tobacco he needs. And the agent said, "That's who I want to talk to, the half wit." Then the farmer said, "That would be me."

Have you ever asked the question -- why am I getting up every day and doing what I am doing?

Does my life make any sense?

Does it have any purpose?

Socrates said that the unexamined life is not worthy living.

Jesus asks us in different ways to examine ourselves - communion, prayer, worldview, selflessness, service and worship. All of these brings us to a point - Live is worth living - but only if we live it for God.

Sid

Joe Willie Namath

2006-11-30T09:37:00.000-05:00

Joe Namath played college football at the University of Alabama. His coach was the legendary Bear Bryant. After a successful college career, Namath signed with the AFL's New York Jets. This was before and during the merger of the AFL and NFL and the birth of the Super Bowl.

Namath's nickname was "Broadway Joe"; he is sometimes called "Joe Willie Namath", a characterization popularized by Howard Cosell. The apex of his career was his stellar performance in the Jets' January 1969 win over the Colts in the World Championship Game, now referred to as Super Bowl III. The Colts were touted as "the greatest football team in history". Namath is now a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Jets' all-time team and the American Football League All-Time Team

Most recently, in December 2003 Namath gained new notoriety, apparently after partaking of too much celebratory champagne at the Jets' announcement of their all-time team. During live ESPN coverage of the following Jets game, he was asked about Chad Pennington, and then what he thought about the current Jets struggling. Namath expressed confidence in Pennington, and then stated to the interviewer, Suzy Kolber, "I want to kiss you. I couldn't care less about the team struggling." He has since apologized. Later, he publicly admitted to an alcohol problem, and entered into an outpatient alcoholism treatment program on January 12, 2004, the 35th anniversary of Super Bowl III.

Namath has also released a book, "Namath", that gives his side of the National Football League. But what impresses me about Namath now is that when he is interviewed the "sin of December 2003" is ever before him. He is now been sober for more than a thousand days and seems to be cleaning up his life.

Our sins are always before us. Let's be like Namath and admit them. But lets carry it a little farther - let's bring God into the picture. For confessing is worthless if God is not there to forgive. Confess your sins to one another. Ask God to forgive. Heaven awaits a heart like that.

Sid

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2006-11-22T10:59:00.000-05:00

Paul Harvey tells of a mother taking her 3-year-old son to the grocery shopping in Mobile, Alabama.
She gave him serious instructions - "don't even get started about chocolate chip cookies. We are not buying chocolate chip cookies. Don't ask, don't bring it up, we are not buying any chocolate chip cookies.
She puts him in the cart and off they go. And as they go down the aisles he sees the cookies. "Mama, mama can we have some chocolate chip cookies?" "I told you not to ask for any. We're not buying any chocolate chip cookies. Don't bring it up any more. Do you understand?
They turn a corner and he can see the cookie aisle again. Mama, can't we get some chocolate chip cookies? This went on several more times with the mother holding her ground and refusing to buy chocolate chip cookies
Finally they are in the check out line about to leave the store. The 3-year-old has summed up the situation and figures this will be his last chance to get some cookies. He stood up in the grocery store cart and shouted, "In the name of Jesus can't we get some chocolate chip cookies."
All the people around either began to laugh or applaud. With the generosity of the people in the store the mother went to the car with 23 boxes of chocolate chip cookies.
What do you scream for? Is it God? Is it Jesus? Is it selfish? May we ask God for more than chocolate chip cookies.

Radical Christianity

2006-11-13T08:56:00.000-05:00

"Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like the United States.” Those words were not spoken by Osama bin Laden but by comedienne turned talk-show hostess Rosie O’Donnell on a nationally broadcast program in October. Her statement generated a wide range of reactions.

I am not sure what motivated her statement. Maybe she was upset that Christianity teaches a lifestyle that she cannot agree with. Maybe she can't agree that people are suppose to submit to God and serve mankind. Maybe she is concerned that people financially support their local church. I am not sure why she said it, but I wished it was true.

Let me explain. I wish all Christianity was radical. That there were millions that were totally and completely committed to the call of God. Christianity would not be social, but life-changing. That is what I read in Scripture. That is what I want for my life and my church. Don't kill other people because of your faith. Die to yourself. Give yourself to the Christ. Be radical.

Sid

Notice: Recall of All Human Beings

2006-10-31T10:59:00.000-05:00

The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured,
regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and
central components of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the
original prototype units -- code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the
reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been termed "Subsequential Internal Non-morality" or more commonly known as S.I.N.

Some symptoms of this defect:

1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, Who is neither liable or a fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this S.I.N. defect. The repair Technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost for these repairs. There is no additional fee required.

The number to call in all areas is P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected, please upload your S.I.N. through REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.

No matter how big or small the S.I.N. defect is, Jesus will replace it with:

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self-control

Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these repairs.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any guarantee or warranty. For free emergency service, call on Jesus.

DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The S.I.N. defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven, so as to prevent contamination of that facility.

Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall.

Thank You.
Management
(author unknown)

In The Flesh

2006-10-23T15:46:00.000-04:00

As many of you know, my son Andy is home from Iraq. A long year, but he is now home. We had a family homecoming for him at his home in Dresden, Tennessee this past Friday. It was so good to be with him again and to be with family. At one point, I was standing beside him and put my hand on his shoulder. It felt so good to touch him and to see his smile and to know that he was safe. What a blessing to have him home now.

As I thought about the homecoming on the way back to Indiana, I considered how Jesus must have felt when he touched his creation. What was he thinking as he grew up in the home of Joseph and Mary? Did he ever just reach out and touch them. Did he glow inside when he touched them? The Creator and his creation. Touching. Reflection. Love. That is what I felt when I touched Andy.

Maybe that is why we read in the Gospels that Jesus often touched people. And maybe that is why they (the creation) wanted to touch him. See, there is nothing like the touch of family.

Parents, touch your kids.

Kids, touch your parents.

Church, God has touched you with His Spirit. He dwells in you.

Church, touch the world.

There is nothing better than the touch of family.

Sid

Coming Home

2006-10-10T09:56:00.000-04:00

Today is a day that we have longed for and prayed for this past year. Today, my son, Andy will return from a year in Iraq. He is a 1st Lt. in the Tennessee National Guard. He is with the 913th Engineering Company from Union City, Tennessee. And they are coming home today. As I write this they are scheduled to be flying to somewhere in Europe and then later tonight land in Indianapolis. They will go through some processing at Camp Atterbury and then be released to be bused back to Tennessee.

What a glorious day. What a wonderful day. The day my child comes home. I wonder if this is what God feels when one of his comes home? I wonder if a tear comes to his eye as he anxiously awaits his child that has been in harm's way, is now coming home? I believe he is anxious, anticipating, longing and excited. That is what fathers do when their children come home.

I am proud of him. He has served. He has seen death, unfortunately. He has endured. He has been faithful to his mission. What more could you ask of your son? I am reminded of one of my favorite hymns:

"Come home, come home, ye who are weary come home. Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home. Come home Andy. We have open arms that need to be filled. Our prayers have been answered. We are proud. Thank you God.

Sid

Just To Hear You

2006-09-27T14:48:00.000-04:00

My wife had a great idea. Our son is serving our country in Iraq. Over the past 10 or 11 months he has called and we weren't there. He left us a message. My wife has kept those messages on our answer machine. So anytime we want to hear his voice, we just hit play. It is good to hear him speak. It is a reminder that he is not here and that he is away from us - temporarily.

When reflecting on the answer machine, I thought about hearing the voice of God. God doesn't use answering machines, but he has left us a message. All we have to do is hit the "play" button and his word comes alive. It is a reminder that He is still there, even if not in plain sight. It is a reminder that he is not here right now, but he is coming soon. It is a reminder that his absence is temporary.

Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. We long for your presence. We long to hear your voice for eternity.

Sid

An Eye For An Eye

2006-09-18T09:43:00.000-04:00

Speaking Sunday at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, 20 miles south of Rome, Pope Benedict said he was "deeply sorry" for the reaction he caused Tuesday when he quoted Eastern Roman Emperor Manuel II Paleologus's comments in 1391:
"Show me what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

The reaction to the pope’s comments has stirred a world-wide reaction among Islamics. To prove the pope was wrong about his comments, violence erupted during the weekend. An Italian nun and her bodyguard were shot to death Sunday at a hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia. Seven churches in the West Bank and Gaza were attacked Saturday and Sunday in response to the pope's comments. The comments go on and on. I guess Manuel was wrong – Islam is not violent. I do understand that their could be a radical element to this faith, but I also understand that when one is accused of being violent and they say they are not, and then use violence, that’s hypocritical.

Not to let us off the hook, we too can be hypocritical. We have, in many cases, become materialistic, self-reliant and apathetic in our Christian walk. I don’t agree with Islam, but have I totally given myself to Jesus?

Sid

I Object

2006-08-30T10:11:00.000-04:00

"I object", were the words of an acquaintance that was in divorce court. He had just heard something from his estranged wife that he didn't like, so he objected. Everyone in the courtroom was surprised. The judge, both lawyers, friends and family in the courtroom - all surprised. The judge reminded him that he could not object. That is reserved for those who are lawyers. She had not violated procedure or law. She had just said something that he didn't like. The good news is that the divorce did not go through and they are together with their kids. Thanks to God they are still together.

On reflecting on this incident, I was thinking about the day all of us stand before the Judge. We will be in His courtroom. He will have the final say. We will not be able to object. His verdict will be final. Should that not cause us to serve Him now? Give your life to Him and hear in that day - "enter in"!

There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus!

Thank God for his grace and mercy!

Sid

What Do We Do Now!

2006-08-25T10:54:00.000-04:00

This is a real story. It shows sin, repentance and forgiveness. I have permission from the author to relay this story:

She was arrested Saturday morning and released Monday afternoon after a weekend locked up at the Juvenile Detention Center. Today we received a letter written by her on Monday morning before she came down and was released. I thought you might want to know what she said.

8/21/06

“Dear Mom & Dad,

Hey, I’m really sorry. Mom was right. She asked me if this was the way I wanted to spend my life. I decided it wasn’t. I was sitting in my room & decided that I wanted to get out of here to go to school. I want to make the grades this time so I can play a sport then I’m going to college on a sport scholarship.

All I want is to make you guys happy & I know that I’ve definitely disappointed you. Do you think that it could be a possibility that I could get out & be put on probation or do community service or whatever they want me to do? I just can’t stay in here. I only have 8 days until I fail the grading period. I only have 5 excused days and 3 unexcused. I just hope I get out of this mess & I hope you guys can forgive me.

Tell my brothers and sister that I’m sorry. I’ve set yet another bad example, but I didn’t get into anyone’s car & I didn’t take anyone’s stuff. I just hope they’ll believe me. I’ve got the other 3 boys backing me up. I should have listened to dad when he said, “Stay safe”. I think this happening was a message from the Lord reminding me that I really do need you guys. I say that I don’t need you & that I don’t like you but being here has reminded me of how much I love you & how much you love me.

I just want to come home today. I’ll see you later today in Court.

I love you!

Love,

A couple of lessons:

Good kids make mistakes.
Bad companions does corrupt.
Your sin will find you out.
Good parenting doesn't mean that you hide your mistakes.
Sharing your hurts with others builds relationships.
No one is perfect except God.
Crime does not pay.
God is good and godly parents forgive - they did.

Sid

Good Evening Mr. Phelps

2006-08-25T09:53:00.000-04:00

"Good Evening Mr. Phelps"....

.... is exactly how one of my favorite shows began while I was growing up. You may remember it - "Mission Impossible." The line was delivered by a tape player which explained Jim's impossible mission.

The tape concluded by assuring the man with the mission that if he was caught, any knowledge of him or his mission would be denied and the tape would self-destruct in normally five seconds. This too would be a way of denying the existence of the mission.

The plan unfolded with lots of clever disguises and twists to the plot. Each member of the team had a different specialty and played a different role. But no matter the role or the unexpected drama all were totally committed to the mission.

God has given us a mission. The mission isn't impossible, but we like the television cast are to be totally committed to this mission. The mission: To serve God and to tell others of this God who has graciously saved us. And He will save them too, if they serve Him. What is your mission?

Sid

What Are You Looking For?

2006-08-18T09:01:00.000-04:00

There was a small boy who when walking down the street one day found a bright copper penny. He was so excited that he found money, especially because it didn't cost him anything. This experience led him to spend the rest of his days walking with his head down, eyes wide open, looking for treasure.

During his lifetime he found 296 pennies, 48 nickels, 19 dimes, 16 quarters, 2 half dollars and one crinkled dollar bill, for a total of: $13.26

He got money for nothing, except that he missed the breathless beauty of 31,369 sunsets, the colorful splendor of 157 rainbows, and the fiery beauty of hundreds of maples nipped by autumn's frost. He never saw white clouds drifting across blue skies, shifting into various wondrous formations. Birds flying, sun shining, and the smiles of a thousand passing people are not a part of his memory.

What are you looking for? Are you so busy that the beauty of life and communion with God passes you by? Look to heaven - God is there in all of his glory and majesty. Set your eyes on Jesus - a pursuit that will give you eternal life.

Sid

Whose Stuff Is This?

2006-08-11T15:01:00.000-04:00

I have an acquaintance that was involved in a traffic accident recently. The car in front of him had his turn signal on making a right turn. To the surprise of my friend the car made a quick u-turn as he was passing the car on the left. Needless to say there was an accident. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. But now the interesting part of the story comes to life. The front car was given a ticket by the officer that was on the scene because the driver had made a illegal u-turn. Then car registrations and insurances were swapped and my friend took this information to his insurance agent.

The agent asked him if he knew who the title said owned the car. He said no. The agent then showed him the title that had the owner of the vehicle as "Jesus Christ", then in small letters - "church of latter day saints". My friend had hit two Mormon missionaries. And the car that they were driving was owned, registered to the church.

What I found that was funny was the way the registration read. It made me think. Maybe that is the way that mine ought to read: owner - Jesus Christ. In that way I would be reminded that all of my stuff is really his. I wonder if I would take better care of it? I wonder if I would be a better stewart? I wonder if I would drive differently?

For the first time this car probably reflected the truth about our stuff. It is all God's. We all need to remember whose it is.

Sid

Do You Know God?

2006-08-04T09:50:00.000-04:00

Two football players, Bubba and Tiny, were taking an important exam. If they failed, they would be on academic probation and not allowed to play in the big game the following week. The exam was "fill in the blank" and the last question read, "Old MacDonald had a_____." Bubba was stumped -- he had no idea how to answer, but he knew he needed to get this one right to be sure he passed.

Making sure the professor wasn't watching, he tapped Tiny in the shoulder.

"Tiny, what's the answer to the last question?"

Tiny laughed, then looked around to make sure the professor hadn't noticed. He turned to Bubba and said, "Bubba, you're so stupid. Everyone knows that Old MacDonald had a FARM."

"Oh yeah," said Bubba, "I remember now." He picked up his No. 2 pencil and started to write the answer in the blank. Then he stopped. Tapping Tiny on the shoulder, he whispered,
"Tiny, how do you spell farm?"

"You are really dumb, Bubba. That's so easy," hissed Tiny, "farm is spelled 'E-I-E-I-O'."

Where are you in knowing the Bible? Too many just learn the facts of the Bible and don't get to know God. But don't be mistaken. You have to know what the Bible says so that you get it right about God. Read, learn, study His Word and develop an eternal relationship with the King!

Sid

In the Name of Jesus

2006-07-19T09:16:00.000-04:00

It has been my experience personally and in dealing with others that I many of us treat Jesus like a genie in a bottle. We think that by rubbing him the right way that he will grant us our three wishes. If we say his name at just the right time or if we say a magical incantation, then the desire of our heart will come true.

There is only one problem. The Bible does not talk about God in that way. Don’t get me wrong, God is Almighty, omnipotent, beyond understanding, but he is not a genie.

The Bible talks about faith, sacrifice, service and self-denial. That are the things that gets God’s attention. He is more impressed with a lifestyle than our language only.

Serve him! Love him! You may not get what you desire, but you will get what is best for you – a home in heaven.

Sid

Instruction

2006-07-10T10:17:00.000-04:00

At New York's Kennedy airport today, an individual later discovered to be a public school teacher was arrested trying to board a flight while in possession of a ruler, a protractor, a set square, a slide rule, and a calculator.

At a morning press conference, the attorney general said he believes the man is a member of the notorious Al-gebra movement. He is being charged by the FBI with carrying weapons of math instruction.

Al-gebra is a fearsome cult," a Justice Department spokesman said. "They desire average solutions by means and extremes, and sometimes go off on tangents in a search of absolute value. They use secret code names like 'x' and 'y' and refer to themselves as 'unknowns',
But we have determined they belong to a common denominator of the axis of medieval with coordinates in every country. As the Greek philanderer Isosceles used to say, 'there are 3 sides to every triangle'."

When asked to comment on the arrest, George Bush said, "If God had wanted us to have better weapons of math instruction, He would have given us more fingers and toes
This humorous story got me thinking about my own approach to learning. Do I commit to God and His Word? Do I absorb his wisdom or grope in my own ignorance. Read the Word. Learn about God. Live for the Savior.

Sid

How Much Is God's Love

2006-06-27T13:35:00.000-04:00

This is my grandson, Mason. He loves his Pop and his Pop loves him. He will be two in July and he has blessed our lives more and more as he grows each day.

When he does this - arms spread out - I think about God's love for us. His love is immeasurable. He loves us so much that H allowed His Son and our Savior to die for us.

But I also think of Jesus when I see Mason do this. This was Jesus' posture as he was nailed to the cross in an act of violence, but Jesus laid down His life for the world because of His love for us. He actually loves us that much. The Father, Son and the Spirit love you even if the world does not. Remember that!

Sid

Not Making Sense To The World

2006-06-27T07:29:00.000-04:00

A blonde walks into a bank in New York City and asks for the loan officer. She says she's going to Europe on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000. The bank officer says the bank will need some kind of security for the loan, so the blonde hands over the keys to a new Rolls Royce. The car is parked on the street in front of the bank, she has the title and everything checks out. The bank agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan.

The bank's president and its officers all enjoy a good laugh at the blonde for using a $250,000 Rolls as collateral against a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then proceeds to drive the Rolls into the bank's underground garage and parks it there.

Two weeks later, the blonde returns, repays the $5,000 and the interest, which comes to $15.41. The loan officer says, "Ma'am, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multimillionaire. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?"

The blonde replies, "Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $15.41 and expect it to be there when I return?"

This puts a smile on our face because here is a lady that at a first glance seems foolish by the wisdom of the world, but when the final accounting was due, she was the wise one.

And it puts a smile on the Father in Heaven when we live by values that don't make sense to the world, but when the final accounting proves to be the wise ones. Live for God and win the prize.

Sid

Serve Where God Has Placed You

2006-06-14T11:21:00.000-04:00

In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch.
He decided to make a change and become a monk, so he went to see the prior of the local monastery.
Your Majesty, said the prior, do you understand that you must make a pledge of obedience to me as prior of this monastery. That will be hard for you because you have been a king.
I understand, said King Henry, the rest of my life, I pledge to be obedient to you, as you are obedient to Christ.
Then, I’ll tell you what to do, said the prior. Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you…which King Henry did with newfound purpose.
The same is true for you and for me. Remember, God has planted you in a certain place, to be the best mother or pipe fitter or bookkeeper or cabinetmaker we can be. God expects us to be faithful right where we are, so bloom where you are planted.

Sid

Right Lane

2006-06-06T11:40:00.000-04:00

I have noticed something about Americans. They just don’t like to drive in the “right lane”. When you are in the “right lane” you have to change lanes if someone is slower than you. Even on a three- or four-lane road, we just prefer to not drive in the “right lane”. The law says that slower traffic is to merge right, but we don’t want that tag so we get out in the show-off lane and do 55 M.P.H., but never in the “right lane”.

I found this true about Christians. We have trouble being in the “right lane”. We want to be out their in the world. We want to look, smell and be seen as being just like everyone else. We have trouble praying the Lord’s Prayer as we ask not to be lead into temptation. No, we love to live on the edge. We pray instead, “Lord, we are not that worried about temptation, just don’t let us get caught or let there be any consequences.” The “right lane” is too slow for us. It is too good for us. It is not what our nature wants.

We need to be submissive to the call of God and be in the “right lane”. Stay within his will, love like he does, put restraints on what we will and will not do, and if we do – God will be proud. Live in the “right lane” for God.

Sid

Homecoming

2006-06-01T11:59:00.000-04:00

Homecomings are great!

I have just spent a couple of days with my son Andy. Andy is a 1st Lieutenant in the Tennessee National Guard and has been serving in Iraq for the last six months. He is home on leave. We have missed him and glad to see him, if only for a short time.

As I reflect on the excitement of seeing him, I think about how God will feel when he sees His children face to face. What a glorious time it will be to see the Father. What a marvelous experience for the family of God to be in His presence. I have to believe it will be a time of celebration, happiness and worship.

I have to let my son go back into the war in Iraq. I got a glimpse of being with him this past week. But I long for the time when he will be home for good. I know that he wants to be home, too. May we all long to be home with God! What a glorious day when the saints are in His presence.

Sid

Da Vinci Code, Islam and God

2006-05-23T13:24:00.000-04:00

The Da Vinci Code (both book and movie) have created some kind of stir in America. The reaction has been large. The book has sold over 45 million copies and the experts are saying the movie will break the $300 million barrier - putting it among one of the most attended movies.

I have read the book and watched the movie. I agree with most Christian critics that the Da Vinci Code undermines the deity of Jesus, the authenticity of the Bible and is not factual in its representation of church history. This is especially damaging to a number of situation. First, it is damaging to the church because it cast a dark shadow on the church. This adds fuel to the fire for those who look for the "conspiracy" they believe that the church has and is a part of even today. It is also damaging to individuals who don't have a good understanding to the Bible and the history of the church. They will walk away with a distorted view of Jesus, his church and the history, though not always pristine, but false at least.

But why bring in Islam? To me it is just as damaging. It may not distort church history, but it does undermine the deity and person of Jesus Christ. It also subtlety tells the world that Christianity is not the only way. That is damaging to both the church and the individual.

I am not asking people to boycott the movie or the book. I am not asking that we round up all the Islamics and have them shot. But the church is at war - a spiritual war - for the thinking, service and souls of mankind. Let us be prepared - serve the King. Use His Spirit and power to overthrow the prince of this world.

Jesus was not just a man - he is God - serve Him.

Sid

Harley Davidson and God

2006-05-10T16:01:00.000-04:00

It just seems to me that people love Harleys.

I live in a state where there is no helmet law and on a pretty day, the Harleys come out of the closet. They are everywhere. What is interesting is that there are different categories of riders. You have the ones that are dressed to the max. They have the jacket, tattoos, riding pants and glasses that show they take their riding seriously.

Then there are the want-a-be riders. They have the bike but have not moved to the extreme of a full costume.

Biking is big! They have their wave as they pass each other going in the opposite direction. They have their clubs that ride together. They have their look. What intrigues me is the desire of so many to be like them.

Even the commercials of Harley Davidson play on this mystique. But why? What does riding a Harley represent? Freedom? Anti-authority? Being cool? I am not sure, but it seems to me that it could be a little of each or maybe a lot. It may just may be that thing we call human nature. We love our freedom. We don't want anyone telling us what we have to do. We love fitting in and feeling like others look at us as being cool.

But where does God fit in? I am not saying that riding a Harley is anti-God. I just think that we have a Harley mindset when it comes to us and God. It is hard to be submissive! It is hard to be obedient! We want our freedom. What the world seems to be missing is that God offers true freedom. It is through Jesus.

Get on your bike. Feel the wind in your face. But let all of us have God in our hearts and a will to be his faithful child.

Sid

Poser 2

2006-04-19T10:22:00.000-04:00

I have a good friend that responded to my last Sidelines. He made a very good point. Is a poser a person that just slips up or is he one that "pretends" all the time to be a follower of Jesus? The point is whether the Pharisees and Peter are in the same boat. I don't believe so. I didn't mean that.

There is a tremendous difference between a Peter and a Pharisee. I hope you know the difference. My point about being a poser is that all of us pretend to follow Jesus. It may be a lifestyle or a slip up. But we all do it. There is grace, mercy and forgiveness for the one that steps out in life to follow Jesus and begins to sink because they temporarily takes their eyes off of Jesus, but reach out to him before they go under. But for the Pharisee that just puts on the mask, pretends, live as he wills and not for the Lord, being a poser not a disciple, there is nothing. Only a real, forgiving, subservient heart gets mercy from God. God loves, but he demands repentance - Luke 13:3.

Be real. Don't pretend or be a poser. Love God and each other. God will be proud of us when we do.

Sid

Poser

2006-04-13T13:53:00.000-04:00

A poser is someone that pretends that they can do or are a part of something they are not. A poser is a kid with a skateboard that can't ride a skateboard if his life depended on it. A poser is someone that is pretending to text message her friends that she does not have. A poser is a man in a restaurant talking to his family on a cell phone impressing those around him as he discusses a big deal he is working on - with his family. A poser.

There were posers in the Bible - the Pharisees as a whole, King David on a rooftop, Elijah in a cave, Peter as he walked on the water and many, many more. You may call them posers, hypocrites, fakers or straw men, but the result is the same - posers.

God wants authentic people. You won't be perfect. You won't be sinless. You won't be without mistakes. God will take you where you are. But don't pretend. Don't be a poser. Be real - and if you are, then God will be proud to call you his child.

Sid