God's Goodness

God is truly good to us! My wife came home from the hospital after a very successful kidney transplant, and she is feeling better than she has in many years. She has been staying busy doing minor things around the house, and the best part is that she hasn't had to take pain pills since the day after the surgery. I know its God's blessing on her. I'm amazed at just how good God is to us. We're never outside of His goodness, even for those who don't believe in Him can't escape His goodness. The Bible says that He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends the rain on the just and the unjust. Even those who have physical ailments that they must deal with, and I speak from personal experience, they can still give thanks for another day. I can't for the life of me understand how anyone could not take the time to enjoy something within their life during the day. I don't believe those who say that theres nothing to be happy about. What about the weather? Or being thankful that your alive? What about being thankful for the things that we can still do, like touch, smell, see or hear? That's what I love about children, no matter how bad things may be, you can still find them smiling and playing games, even during the worst of times. I visited a children's hospital one time in Michigan, and there sitting on the floor was four year old girl, with long brown hair. She was sitting there crying, and the saddest part was that she was both blind, and deaf. I went over to her and picked her up, and just held her close. It wasn't long before she stopped crying and seemed content to lay snuggled in my arms. She had soon forgotten whatever was bothering her as she lay there in my arms, but what really moved me, was the other children. Some that had noticeable problems were laughing and playing with each other or toys. I think at that moment I understood a little bit the time that Jesus said "unless you accept the kingdom of Heaven as a little child you can't enter into it" Maybe more people need to look at life through the eyes of a child, they would surely enjoy it more! And that my friends is the reality of it!

A tribute to Fathers

Today is fathers day, where all across the country men and women will honor their dads. I wasn't fortunate to know my dad during the formative years of my life, it wasn't until I was about six or seven that I was finally able to start spending time with him. Though those years can't ever be done over, they can and have been made up for. My dad despite dropping out of school is very gifted in what he is able to do. I've watched him fix my car when it would break down, sometimes with just some tape and a piece of rope. He was always able to get more out his cars than what was normal, putting over two hundred thousand miles on them when they should of quit many miles before that. Besides being an accomplished mechanic, my dad is also very good at building things, I've seen him build chimneys out of rock, making beautiful structures for nice homes. One thing my dad taught me was to never run away from a fight, he was and still is a big man. What I'm most proud of though and my most cherished thought is the phone call I had received from him after my first book was published. He called to tell me he was proud of me, and enjoyed reading my book. He then said something that made me cry afterwards, he said he went out and got a bible to help him understand the scriptures that were in my book. My mom and dad were divorced by the time I was a year old or shortly thereafter, and now after almost 40 years later, they are dating again, and making plans to get married. He attends church, has been working on quitting smoking and drinking, and I look forward to one day, standing beside him in Heaven, next to my grandpa and grandma, who prayed often for their son, my dad. So on this very special day, where we honor our dads, I want my dad to know, as a son, I'm proud of you, and though I didn't say it enough when I was a child, I say it now, Dad, I love you! And that my friends is the reality of it.

Amazing Lives

Today my wife received a kidney transplant. A young lady in our congregation came forward to donate, and after a series of tests she was a better donor than even my wife's sister. I also tested positive as a possible donor, but after discussing it over we had decided that God would provide someone so both of us wouldn't be down at the same time. This young lady reminds me of the ram caught in the bush at the very moment that Abraham needed God to come through otherwise he was going to offer his son up as a sacrifice. Of course we know that God knew all along that the ram would be there, but it was a test for Abraham to go through. Sometimes, if not always, God presents something to us, then steps back and watches what we will do. My wife and I knew years ago that this day would eventually come upon us. And during this time we kept believing that God, who is our healer, would provide a ram. Would we of preferred that a genuine miracle take place such as God healing her kidneys? Of course, but I believe this young lady stepping forward and offering herself as a sacrifice is a miracle in itself. From the very beginning, before she even tested to see if she was a suitable match, she said God had spoken to her and she felt she was supposed to donate, and that she would be a match. And you know what? She was, a nearly perfect match, so much so that you couldn't get any closer of a match! As I sit here on my living room couch pondering the days events, I'm thankful for amazing lives, those I've been priviledged to have in my life, and those who I've met over the course of my life. God truly has been good, nothing escapes His hand of providence. My wife came out of the surgery with flying colors, the new kidney began working immediately. It'll be awhile before she comes home, but thankfully we have a great church congregation to stand with us. Our pastors, Mike and Tena, Pastor Neil and Julie, our associate pastors, and the countless number of members and friends who strengthened our hearts and spirits through their many prayers and words of encouragement, Thank you! My heart is full tonight, so much to be thankful for, especially for the ram caught in the bush, but this ram, this young lady offered herself willingly, an amazing life indeed! That my friends is the reality of it!

True Friends

There are days that something said or done by another will send me on a wild mental journey. I mean sometimes you hear something that just causes you to stop in your tracks, take a step back and enjoy the moment, while pondering what you just heard. In our busy lives and in an increasingly busy world, it seems it has become harder to pick up on such things. That's why I want to share some nuggets with you. I heard just such a thing tonight that I would like to share with you. My pastor spoke tonight about friendship. Not just any kind of friendship, but true friendship. Is there a difference? I believe so. In the Bible Jesus told His disciples, those closest to Him, that He would no longer call them servants, but friends. True friendships are those of whom you can trust with ANYTHING, without fear of retribution or betrayal. I have a number of friends, but very few, very very few of them that I can truly bare my soul too. So without further ado, I want to share with you ten things from my pastor, on a what a true friend is, enjoy. 1. A true friend is hard to find, 2. A true friend will know God first, 3. A true friend will make you better, 4. A true friend will love you no matter what, 5. A true friend will make your life better, 6. A true friend will have no agenda, 7. A true friend will not be jealous of other friends, 8. A true friend will look beyond your shortcomings, 9. A true friend makes true friends (they will treat you the way you treat them) 10. A true friend will remain true friends. This was tied into the fact that God called Abraham His friend in James 2:23. Even Solomon had something to say about the importance of friendship in Proverbs 18:24, ending it with making the statement that there is a friend that stays closer than a brother. We are quick to point to Jesus, and yes, He is there by our side closer than any family member, but also too, He stays beside us closer than any human being. That though is also a true statement of a true friend. There are some who will stand by you even when family deserts you. And that my friends is the reality of it!

The moving of the waters

Last night in church, our Pastor spoke on John 5:1-15. He focused on the question that Jesus asked the lame man concerning healing. While sitting there though, verse three seemed to leap off the page at me, then I felt the familiar voice of the Spirit speak to me about that verse. Verse three says, "In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water." When I read that verse, I was reminded of a time when my wife and I went to a Benny Hinn crusade in Jacksonville Florida. The meeting was billed as one that would go down in history as one of the greatest meetings ever. I'm not sure on that part, but I do remember sitting in that meeting, on the first level, in the section where ministers sit, and looking at hundreds and hundreds of sick people who were sitting behind us in wheelchair's and on stretchers. I must confess, there was an excitement and an anticipation in the air as the music started. About an hour into the meeting, Benny Hinn took the mike and started to speak words of healing over the auditorium. He then invited people who they felt God had healed to come forward. Many stood up from their wheelchair's and walkers and came forward to testify that they felt a warmth go through their bodies and they now felt healed. I was happy for the testimonies, but my happiness and joy soon turned to broken heartedness as I turned to leave the meeting towards the end. We had to walk through hundreds of people laying on stretchers and some in wheelchair's with tubes attached to them. I passed a baby that didn't look more than a year old, perhaps younger, who had tubes in their nose, and mouth. I ached in side for these who had traveled so far, only to leave untouched despite the claims that God's anointing had penetrated and pierced our space. I had to look in the faces of these crippled loved ones who were heartbroken over not getting healed. Where was God among these? Why did those with walkers and in wheelchair's claim they felt His touch, yet these didn't? Last night in church, sitting there reading verse three, as pastor expounded on pushing our way into what God has, I felt the nudge of the Spirit say to me, "The Spirit is often represented by water in the Bible, Jesus said in John 7:38 "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water". He then reminded me of Rev 1:15, speaking of Jesus, "And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters." He continued, "when the waters are moving, healing is available for those who choose to step in. The reason the worst cases are not healed in your meetings and crusades is because you have not troubled the water. When you do trouble the water, move the water, everyone will be healed by Christ"! I then realized what He was telling me, when we step out of the way and let the Holy Spirit move, and flow, hence the moving of the waters, everyone will be healed. And that my friends is the reality of it!