Thoughts On a Notepad

My thoughts today…in no particular order.

Isn’t it funny that during this heat wave we cannot remember how cool our spring was? We were begging for some warm weather about three months ago.

It was great to see Bonnie Martin and her little girl Brianna on Sunday. Jarrod (USAF) and Bonnie got married and moved to Germany four years ago. Now they are headed to Washington D.C. for four years.

It has been 25 years since Amy and I graduated from High School. I have never been to a reunion and we don’t know anybody that we went to High School with.

The Pro Football season begins in 43 days.

I knew that our new building was going to be great, but it will be better than even I expected.

My first draught of this was handwritten. My penmanship stinks. I can’t write at all anymore.

Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer who has ever lived, yet I still sense an immense emptiness and loneliness in him. At the end of the day he is just like everybody else. He is a sinner who needs to come to know the Savior.

The biggest mistake that most Christians make is reading and studying the Bible for information and knowledge instead of for life-change.

My mom turned 66 years old on Monday. Everybody should have a mom who loves God, is down to earth, and likes to watch football. (It doesn’t hurt if they bake good cookies too!)

I don’t know how we ever survived without cell phones, computers, ipods, and TIVO. I don’t think that I could survive without them now.

Most Christ followers need more obedience and less counsel in their lives.

Popular music can be extremely “nasty” these days. Even country music has “booty” songs now.

I didn’t see the movie Click with Adam Sandler, but I love the concept. Sometimes you need TIVO for life for those “did you see that” moments. This morning we almost saw a guy kill his buddy with a poorly struck golf shot. Wayne said, “Eight second that. I want to see it again.”

I know a lot of people who feel like they need to get a job delivering pizza at night just to pay for their gasoline. But wait…that would be counterproductive wouldn’t it?

My wife Amy is amazing. She has been putting up with my junk for 26 and ½ years. We have been married for 22 of those. I wouldn’t trade her for anything. She is truly a blessing and gift from God.

Last one…I believe that every member of Venice Church should be in a small group, serve in a ministry, and have good worship music in their car. Here is a music suggestion for you. Get All To You Live by Lincoln Brewster. We already sing several of his songs and we are going to learn more.

It's Hot!

This just in...it's hot. Okay, it's not that hot. We are just spoiled little westsiders who are appalled if we perspire. It gets to 80 degrees with a little humidity and you would think the end of the world is on the horizon. But wait...maybe it is. The literal heat that we have been feeling pales in comparison to the "hot spots" around the world these days. The conflict in the Middle East has led many to speculate on the possibility of World War III. Isn't it amazing that after all of these years and all of these decades and all of these centuries Israel is still right there in the middle of all of it? The promises that God made to Abraham and the land that God promised to Abraham is what the fight is all about. You would think that people would pause and consider that maybe there is something to Israel’s claim that they are God's people and that is the dwelling place that God promised to them. Well, they are and it is. That is exactly what they are and that is where they are supposed to be. That is precisely what the Bible says!

I don't want to get on a rant about Israel and about the current conflict, but this much I do know. Jesus Christ is going to reign from the throne in Jerusalem. I do not know exactly how it all is going to come about and I certainly would not pretend to know where we are on God's timeline, but I do know this. When I read Jesus' description of the end of the world in Matthew 24 and in Luke 21 it sounds an awful lot like today. I do not know what role our nation plays in the big scheme of things, but I know what our role as a church is. We must redeem the time. We must share the gospel at every opportunity. Souls, lives, and families are at stake.
Here is what Jesus says toward the end of Luke 21.
Luke 21:28
So when all these things begin to happen, stand straight and look up, for your salvation is near!
I cannot help but think that our salvation is near. These are exciting times. Let’s make the most of our opportunity to make a difference in our neighborhood.