For the next few days (month, maybe) it is going to be hot.  Temperatures in the mid to upper 90’s with the heat index over 100.  Got to love it right?

 

How do they get that heat index?  I bet you they take some body that smokes(they have to go outside now a days) and ask them to stand out in the sun for the length of two cigarettes.  Then they tell everyone what it feels like outside.  I know that they do not do that and I do not mean to offend anyone, but it does make you wonder where they come up with that number.

 

With or without the heat index, it will be hot.  Just like hell, I guess, but more beyond out ability to understand.  Jesus stated that hell was so hot, that the rich man begged Abraham to allow Lazarus to dip his finger  into some water and drop it on his tongue, just so his tongue would be cool.   Just his tongue, that is hot.

 

So, when it is hot, just remember: there are those who would wish for this heat and not the one they are in.  For hell is real and it is hotter than we can imagine.

 

 

I noticed today as I was driving home from church the number of houses with lots of cars.  It goes without saying that they were there for Dad.  Everyone stopped their regularly schedule Sunday activities to spend time with their Father. 

 

I hope that each father had or is having a great time.  That you enjoy your kids, grand kids, and for some, great-grandchildren.  I pray that the laughter rolls, the hugs are long, and the time is quality.

 

Yet, there are dads today that are alone.  Their children are in other places, some far.  This afternoon will be difficult because you are by yourself. 

 

Still, you are not alone.  You are a child of the Almighty Father, who wants to spend time with you today.  It may be watching a sunset, reading his letter to you or just in quiet.  He is there waiting to spend time with you.

 

This day, Happy Father’s day to all the dads.  May it be a great day.  May it be complete.  Never forget, you are never alone.  You have a Father who wants to spend time with you.

Recently while watching another minister, they said, “If God is love, then what could there be for bigotry, patriarchy, racism…”  Now let me say, I had to look up the word patriarchy.  It means “a system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is traced through the male line.”  This is according to the Oxford dictionary.  In other words if God is love, where is the father?  Where is Dad?

 

Really that is a good question, where is dad?  Most men are vacant from their role as a father because society teaches that they are worthless, not need, a mistake.  Modern women abuse them and belittle them. 

 

God is love and he created the family in such a way, each person, husband and wife, are utilizing their talents to their greatest potential.  He loves us and wants us to succeed in our personal lives and our marriages. 

 

Most men today do not understand that because of what many ministers are teaching.  That teaching goes contrary to God’s Word and God’s design.  So men, your value is founded upon what God says and how God designed you.  Do not listen to the world and those ministers who have sold their soul to the world.  Go to God who made you and has placed great value upon you.   When we do this, there will be no more missing fathers or sons and daughters losing their dads.

 

Happy Father’s Day Men!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was hot in Oklahoma, it is hot here.  Funny about summer–it gets hot.  Everyone is surprised about the heat.  But does it not get hot every summer?

 

Same is true about life.  It seems like we are surprised when people go different directions from the truth.  Why are we?  It happens all the time, today and throughout history.

 

I believe that we are surprised because it is worse than it was before.  The ideas of society become crazier than before and we react with shock.  This happens all the time.

 

Yet with Jesus there is no surprise.  He is what He states that He is.  He never changes, neither does His teachings.  He is the constant of life that everyone needs to live life.  He is the truth.  In His truth there are no surprises, just growth and peace.

 

Yes it is hot out there.  It is that way every summer. 

Today I returned to the office.  Of course there are the phone calls to be returned, some mail to be sorted, and a office chair that is not working correctly.   It is also hot.

 

The day is just beginning at 3 pm.  Maybe.  Not.  Maybe.  

 

During my trip I was surprised by the various church signs with various messages.  The best was on a little church building, “Help needed, inquire within.”  I wondered what they needed.   The computer signs were the best.  One sign had, “Morning Sermon:  Jesus Died.”  The evening meeting said, “CPR Classes.  So no one has to die.”

 

However, several good ideas were introduced to me on this trip.  Ideas that need to be reintroduced. 

 

So the trip is not over.   It is really just beginning.  We shall see what will happen.

 

Follow Jesus.

I am coming to the end of my travels.  I have enjoyed, really enjoyed, being with my daughter, her husband, and kids.  They bring life to every aspect of the day.  They have accomplished so much and are now beginning a new chapter in their lives.  They bought property with the goal of helping veterans who are returning to the civilian world. These kids have big dreams, but they serve a big God.

 

So, it is difficult to return.  Return to the “normal” which at times you wish was not that way.  Return to things that need to change and have to change for the better.

 

Yet, I return with new dreams and new goals.  After being around my kids, I am inspired to match their efforts and even do more.  Still, I am reminded by Peter, this is not my home.  Home is not 118 Lee Drive.   Home should be heaven.  Home on earth should be with those people who truly love the Son with all that they are.  It is the gathering of people who encourage, laugh, cry, joke, grow, and even hold each other accountable for greater things.

 

Home is where God’s people meet and only with them.  That is home, until I leave and hopefully go to heaven.

It was brought to my attention this morning, that it was the church that persecuted Jesus.  The church you say?  Yes, the church.  By the basic definition of the word church, which is God’s chosen people, we see that it was the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin arranged for Pilate to have Jesus flogged and crucified.

 

Now that puts a whole new twist on things.  But does it?  Throughout history several groups of people were persecuted by the Catholic Church because all they wanted to do was follow Jesus and not the pope.  The early church was persecuted by a man named Saul who was part of the Sanhedrin.  Even today, there is persecution with in the church.  People are kicked out of families, churches, or groups all because of their simplistic view of Jesus.

 

Why?  Power.  There are people who love and thrive off of being in control of others.   Money.  Money is needed for any organization.  Prestige.  Look at me when I enter the room, makes one feel valuable and important.

 

Jesus lived with the poor.  Healed the sick.  Had no place to lay His head at night.  Feed the hungry.  Minded the sick of heart. 

 

To walk in the footsteps of Jesus is never easy.  It is not suppose to be.  You will be hurt by those who are religious, like He was, but in the end you will stand by Him.

Sometime back an old man and I walked together.  He pointed out the Baptist church building, the Methodist church building and then the Christian church building.  Then he asked, “Which Jesus do you worship?”  Jaw dropping question.

 

As I am traveling, I have encountered people with the same question, “Which Jesus do you worship?”  With the question comes the reality that the one asking is not attending church because they are confused about what each church believes.  Makes sense.  There seems to be a different “church” on every corner.

 

I wonder if that is why like AA or Cancer Support or even military support groups are growing.  There is an unity, a common background, accountability, encouragement, trust, brotherhood or sisterhood.

 

The church needs to return to being “one body.”   The denominations needs to go away.  There needs to be only one Jesus Christ who is over all and in all.  That same Jesus must be the ruler of His people, their guide, their salvation. 

How you may ask?  Simple, in fact to simple, humility.  God’s people must humble themselves before Him and follow only Him.

From where I am staying to my daughter’s new home are some awesome views of Oklahoma.  At one rise, you can see Mount Scott which is over 25 miles away.  In the evening right at dusk, one can see the hew of Oklahoma City.  At dark, the sky is a vast image of stars like dots on a black canvas.  Awesome.

 

I have to stop the truck and get out to actually see these views.  Driving 50 miles an hour does not let one get a good look at what is out there.  You have to stop and look.

 

It is true with God’s miracles, God’s movements, and God’s still small voice.  You have to stop and see.  You have to stop and listen.  It seems like it is always in the middle of nowhere one can see God. 

 

So when you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere, when life is just leaving you stuck with no one around, stop, look and listen.  God will show up.

Moving makes one tired.  That kind of goes without saying right?  All the stuff you accumulate over the years, stuff you forgot you had.  Items that you knew you got a Christmas from someone.  It had to be someone important since you still have it. 

 

When one moves, they often clean and dispose.  Items that are broken.  Items that are worn out or torn.  Trash.   What good are they now?

 

There is something that is often overlooked when moving or cleaning out.  That something is importance.  One receives an item or gift from a loved one.  After time, the importance of that gift or item is forgotten.  Soon it is disposed.  It is an often occurrence in our society today.

 

It is true in our lives.  We are given the gift of forgiveness, compassion, or love.  It is cherished.  Yet, after a while the importance of that gift is forgotten, then disposed. 

 

Paul wrote that we should dwell on the gifts that we have been given from God and not the “junk” of the world.  By dwelling on what we have been given from God, we will always remember that His gifts are life changing and never to be replaced.