Put it on My Account

   I spent fifteen years in the retail business before I led my first church. Each of these businesses had in-store charge accounts. Oftentimes one of the customers would bring a friend or family member in to buy something for and would state; "Put it on my account." What a blessing it is to have someone come beside you and in essence make payment for something you really need in life.
   This happens in life a great deal between friends; particularly when someone's life has been hijacked by the chaos brought on by personal sin. Few things hurt worse than having to deal with the consequences of your sins, but if you have to deal with those same consequences alone - that's pain. But when someone comes alongside you, even just to be present and extend a gracious hand of support in dealing with those consequences - what a blessing! Because what they are saying is - "Put that on my account - I believe in you!"
   In a strange and providential way, a guy named Paul had become friends on Facebook with a guy named Onesimus. One day, Paul pulled up One's Facebook page and noticed they had one 'mutual friend' - Philemon. Later Paul chatted online with One about Phil, One told him how he had been in business with Phil and things went south and how he had shanked Phil. In the course of time, One became a Christian and a great friend of Paul but he also needed to make amends for his past. In a stroke of grace, Paul asked Phil in a very personal letter to "accept" One back and to charge whatever One owed Phil to his own "account"; all in hopes of seeing "restoration" occur.
   We don't know the end of the story, whether Phil blocked Paul's news feed or even de-friended him. But nonetheless, Paul was there for both One and Phil, interceding. So let me ask you - who is the 'One' you need to be there for today? Who is currently having a very difficult time who could use a friend? I want to encourage you to get beyond Facebook and Twitter and consider being that friend…

In Christ!

Spin Cycle

   The 'Spin Cycle' is a great feature on a washing machine but in our lives - not so much!  Whether it's marriage, end of school year activities, graduations, vacations, weddings, work projects, home remodeling - the spin cycle can take over your life like no other. It's very easy for a "new normal" to be created. The "new normal" is nothing to be desired, in fact it's deadly.
   You put one foot inside, followed by an arm, then your head and eventually your whole body gets inside. You hear the door close behind you, the timer gives a "click" and you hear water and soon the drum is full of water with you inside. Just as you think you are about to drown in it all, the water stops but the fun really is just beginning because round and round you go; back and forth tossed inside. You think it's over; "i've survived… please let me out!". But the water fills again and off you go to the next stage until the next stage when you go into hyper spin mode. It's the Spindle Top at Six Flags all over again; only this time it's for real!
   There's an alternative - Summer Sabbath Rest! I want to encourage you this summer to take a day each week to just turn it all off at home. Leave work 'on time', head home, eat a family meal, sit down to play a game or read a book. The next morning sleep in / get up earlier (do something different) - but more than anything commit that day to the Lord and rest in Him. Look and Listen for His prompting on what to do.
   It's been a crazy spinning hasn't it?! Take the Lord's advice (command #4): Observe a Sabbath day of Rest…

In Christ!

Fascination with Crime Mysteries

   Ever since the inception of television, broadcasters have picked up on our culture's fascination with criminal mysteries. Some of the earliest TV crime dramas were 'I Spy' (Bill Cosby), 'Dragnet' and 'Police Woman'. Today things have changed a bit; I like to watch 'Criminal Minds'. My all-time favorite however is 'Columbo', not to mention he has a bad-behaving basset hound!
   During the Christmas break I read Bill O'Reilly's (New York Times Best Seller) books 'Killing Kennedy' and then 'Killing Jesus'. This got me to thinking about the famous murders in the Bible. This coming Sunday I begin a series entitle 'REDRUM'. We will start right off the bat with 'Killing Abel'.

   Each week we will study the historical aspects of the main characters, some of the unique Scriptures associated with each event and character, look at what the Holy Spirit is communicating to us and then draw some personal application.
   Of course the Bible already answer's the 'whodunit' question, but the mystery always centers around the message being communicated to us. Life is much like that isn't it? We have facts but there's always a mystery surrounding what those facts mean. I hope to see you this Sunday or if you're not able to join us in person, check us out online.
I hope you have a great week… In Christ!

Milk-bones and Manna

I was driving through the LANB drive-in window last week. The wind was blowing snow around, it
was a cold day but something I saw warmed my heart. I was looking through the glass and noticed two boxes of milk-bones on the counter behind the desk against the wall. At first, I was a little mystified and wondered deep in my mind 'what are milk-bones doing there?" Then it hit me… "CUSTOMER SERVICE!"

Maybe down deep the board of directors voted 8-0 in support of providing dog passengers the milkbones so they wouldn't chew up customer's deposit receipts. But something in me said; "you know, they really care about people!" Let's face it - we care about our pets, even basset hounds that chew up our study Bibles (yes, Maximus did that!) For someone to really think about the things people love, well… that's just special! Sure next to the boxes of milk-bones are the wonderful, multi-flavored suckers for our children and grandchildren (and the almost grown ups), but milk-bones?!  that's really special. My favorites are the orange and cream flavored by the way… just saying!

'Pastor, why milk-bones?'

It strikes me that church should always be about 'OTHERS'. Even if it means running the risk of being called to the CFO's office to inquire about the exorbitant cost of milk-bones and the drain it's having on the offering bag/box… I'm not suggesting here that we have a 'bring your dog to church day' and we'll baptize them, because 'All Dogs Go to Heaven' right? But I am suggesting that everything we do, always be for 'OTHERS'! In a world that is selfish, self-centered, self-absorbed and self-motivated - what would church services be like if we Christians considered 'OTHERS'? Probably a little less attention paid to ourselves and our little idols. Less focus spent on those little emotional golden calves that unexplainably just leap from the fire of our sacrifice. Maybe we would melt down those little worship action figures we call 'preferences'.

I can't promise you milk-bones this Sunday, but I can promise you a little manna from heaven; that daily bread that we all need. And along the way as we set our hearts on Him, we will invest in milk-bones because we care about 'OTHERS'…

Got Milk(bones)?

Pumpkin Patch Kids

A couple of weeks ago we had the opportunity to go down to Moriarty to the McCall's Pumpkin Patch with Mik, Megan and our grandson Evan. There's something spectacular about seeing thousands of pumpkins on the ground ready to be purchased and subsequently carved. Once we arrived we got onto the hay wagon pulled by a tractor, which what boys (young and older) don't like? It was kind of breezy and cool out, perfect weather for selecting pumpkins, and the skies were NM blue. We walked around in the field for a while, Evan found his pumpkin, the girls found theirs, Mik finally found a big one and then I found a green oblong looking pumpkin. I turned it on its end and thought... this would make an awesome alien pumpkin - Roswell style!  So I held onto my pumpkin, proud and tall like it was the holy grail.

After purchasing our pumpkins, we put them into the car and walked around to the slide, bought hot chocolate, ate lunch, watched Evan ride the train. I'm not sure who had the most fun though... Rarely do we get the opportunity to just be a kid anymore. It seems that the worries of this world have a way of extinguishing the carefree fires that burn in us. Whether it's sequestration, government shutdown / slimdown / shakedown or paying for college... there's always something.

So when you have a chance - take a stroll into the pumpkin patch. Find something there of worth, treasure it for a few moments and give thanks for the life He has given us. I really do believe that deep inside each of us is a Pumpkin Patch Kid wanting to come out and play... say 'yes' today and find a joy worth living for...

In Christ!

Potomac River Turning to Blood?

Roughly 3500 years ago a small nation was enslaved by the world's most powerful leader - Pharaoh. The LORD raised up a prophet unlike any prophet before or after him - Moses. His one mission was to confront Pharaoh, demand the release of the Israelites, lead them out of captivity to the Promised Land (modern day Israel and surrounding regions). You'll recall the story of how Pharaoh's heart was hardened by the LORD and that he himself was "unresponsive" to the signs that things were going to go really south for the Egyptians and for Pharaoh. But for what purpose did they need to go free? - To insure the freedom of God's people to worship the one true God. Pharaoh refused to negotiate even a temporary reprieve because of his pride, iniquity and self-worship. What ensued would turn the known political, social and spiritual world upside down - miraculous plagues. Miraculous Plague #1 The waters of Egypt, particularly the Nile were turned to blood.

What God did in this first plague was to strike at the heart of the Egyptian economy. From space we can see the vast importance that the Nile River plays in the Egyptian economy - not much has changed over the centuries. When God struck the waters of Egypt (Nile River included), he struck at the heart of the Egyptian people. Everything was affected - from a transportation shutdown, food and water shortage, it was a financial disaster. But by the end of the first day of seven to come, this was a spiritual crisis - God had struck at their god of "personal prosperity" (aka: Hapi)  Even the wood and stone containers which held the now valuable water poured with blood (Ex. 7:19)

Obviously, this calls for some personal and national evaluation on our part:

1. Based on the recent news accounts, looking at our national leaders - do their attitudes reflect that of Pharaoh? Has the PotUS hardened his heart toward God, veterans, military, everyday Americans?  Has his heart and mind become so hard and dull that he is willing to see our military, veterans and families hurt to forward his personal and political agenda? And then there's the US Congress - there's not enough room to even comment there...
2. Is this the best group of men and women we can find to govern our nation? 
3. More importantly, what do we individually count on in life? What we work for, what we play at, what we dream about? Is our god any different from that of the 35th Century (BC) Egyptian? Have we bought into the creation myth of Darwinism or do we trust the Creator - Provider?

We live in a unique, uncommon place where in a republic we choose our leaders and can direct the affairs of government. Therefore we each have to take personal stock of our hearts and of the leaders we elect. For over three decades I wanted to believe that our governing leaders in Washington were inept, but no more. Empirical evidence would lead one to conclude they are not only inept - they are corrupt and lack the basic character to govern. 

We the People have options:

1. Return to the Lord (2 Chronicles 7:12-22) or else eventually the waters of the Potomac will flow with blood... along with every manmade container of self-preservation and self-sufficiency - an economic disaster awaits us
2. Return as a nation to the core principles of justice, spiritual fidelity and humility before the holy God of the universe
3. Refuse to accept as 'norm' the professional incompetence and merciless attitudes of our elected leaders and if necessary, remove them from office and disallow them to return to office - ever
4. Return the governing of our nation back to the people, for which it was founded
5. Resist peacefully; without violence unless it becomes necessary to protect the honor of our families and neighbors should injustice, merciless rule and pride continue in Washington
6. Return as a nation to the holiness of Almighty God

Unlike the Israelites there exist no land promised us beyond a body of water. This is our land promised to those who desire freedom from tyranny and oppression. We have become a nation divided, apart from God, with liberty and justice for a few. Either we return soon to the Lord or I fear the waters of the Potomac will turn to blood.

Layers of Paint

A few years back our daughter asked if she could paint her bathroom. Of course my fatherly, default answer of "no" was already on my lips, but something in me said "so what?"  Now that might have been Abby's legal representative / advocate's (aka: mother's voice); so I can't take much credit I'm sure for this.

To my surprise, the color chosen was lime green (see photo). Honestly it was hard to walk in there very often because of the brilliant color scheme. Looking closely in the corners, around the ceiling, light fixture, door... there was lime green in places where one would not expect there to be lime green.

This week marked a new chapter in our lives as Abby is now a full-time student at UNM. We are now in the process of reclaiming 'normal' color schemes in that bathroom. Ahhhhh... brown tones! And of course in her room we began the long, hard process of cleaning and organizing the closet. Between the hairpins and air-soft BB's left over from when Mik occupied that room / closet, there are a lot of memories.

Underneath the new layer of paint are air-soft dents in the drywall, weird paint color schemes... Our lives are much like - layers. Beneath the exterior of our marriages and families' lives are layers of great memories (some not so great) and life experiences that are too often painted over without hesitation or consideration. As I began painting the bathroom I could only laugh and smile - it was a labor of love. I'm going to leave a few spots of lime green just to say to future generations and homeowners - "we were here!"

If your teenage daughter asks if she can paint her room or bathroom - say "yes" - you'll never regret it!

Pastor Paul