Happy Birthday to Kim!

I just want to wish a happy 25th birthday to my awesome wife. You're the love of my life Kim!

5 Years!

I just wanted to say “I LOVE YOU” to my wife!  Today is our 5 year wedding anniversary.  So much has happened over those years, yet it seems like the time has flown by.

I remember we wanted to wait 4-5 years after we got married to have children.  Somehow, we already have two! 

Free Speech*

I just can’t get enough of the fact that Liberals are all about free speech and expression of thought…unless the speech or the thought contradicts their beliefs. Such is the case with the Miss USA flap that is all over the news right now. Miss California simply stated that she believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman. The backlash has been out of this world.

I have never been interested at all in the Miss America contest, but this twist has caught my attention. It’s really an example of a bigger issue.

I have read a few statements made by Miss CA’s attackers. By the way, be careful about going to the articles about this story on the web. Some of the pictures aren’t very modest, to say the least. Anyway, here are some of my favorite quotes:

(Before we get to the quotes…things like this are one of the main reasons my blog is entitled Thinking Preacher. I really wish people would think before they speak. Moving on…)

Shanna Moakler (former Miss USA and current Miss California director) said: “This is why we have judges at Miss USA, so we find the girl to rep us ALL.” This would be an impossibility. ALL the people in CA or the USA don’t see things the way Moakler does.

Moakler continued: “I don’t know how you can call a gay man or woman your friend and not want them [to] have the same joys as yourself. In my family we believe in equal rights for all…” Click here for a thoughtful explanation regarding the thoughtlessness of this statement.

A source close to Moakler’s team said: “People in California, more so than most states, are particularly passionate about overturning Prop 8 --especially those in the pageant/beauty world.” The last seven words of this quote are undoubtedly true. The first fifteen words are idiotic at worst and pathetic at best. If people in CA are so passionate about overturning Prop 8, why did it pass?

Kudos to Miss CA, Carrie Prejean, for saying what she believes.

Don’t Get Drawn Away

Colossians 2:4, “And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.”

I’ve been teaching a series through the book of Colossians in my adult Bible class for the last few weeks.  That epistle is packed with great and challenging truths.  One of the main purposes Paul wrote this book was to make sure the Christians at Colosse were not drawn away from the sufficiency of Christ by worldly philosophers and deceivers.  The theme of the book is: Christ is All.  Paul reveals some of the desires he had for these believers in the first few verses of chapter 2 as he warns them about being drawn away from the faith.

Vs. 1-2, “For I would that he knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ…”

Paul expresses two desires for these believers.  The first desire is that they would be comforted.  He wanted them to be strengthened and encouraged as they faced not a physical battle, but a mental one.  The threat was not bodily injury, it was enticing words.  Discouraged Christians are easily drawn away.  If you are discouraged, be careful.  You are in dangerous territory.

The second desire Paul had for these Christians is that they would be knit together.  He wanted them knit together in three ways: in love, unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, and to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God.  A tremendous lesson can be learned from each of these statements.

Paul wanted them knit together in love.  Unity among the brethren is a subject that Paul brings up to every church he wrote to.  Divided Christians are easily drawn away.  Division in the church provides fertile ground for people to be enticed.

Paul desired that they be knit together unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding.  Disoriented (for the lack of a better word that starts with “D”) Christians are easily drawn away.  Understanding what Christ has done for you in salvation brings assurance.  A believer who is assured of their position in Christ is almost impossible to entice.

The Apostle wanted them knit together to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God.  The mystery was “Christ in (them), the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).  The Laodicean Christians had a tremendous problem in this area.  In Revelation 3:20, Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”  Jesus was standing at the door knocking, but they didn’t acknowledge Him.  Distracted Christians are easily drawn away.  If your focus is on something other than Jesus Christ, you have already taken the first step towards being drawn away.

These desires of the Apostle Paul challenged me and I believe they could be a great reminder and challenge to others.  Don’t be drawn away!

The Touch of a Father

A lady in our church wrote me a very kind email this week.  You’d have to know her story to understand the true depth of what she said, but I believe the note will touch your heart either way.  It read:

“Thank you for the little things I see you do for your kids.  Holding your daughter is such a precious sight to me.  I hope you never get "too busy" to hold her, stroke her hair or give her hugs as she grows up.  Never stop holding her.  Trust me, your touch gives love and security, strength and acceptance to Kim, Jacquelynn and any future little girls in your family.  Receive this as from one who was very seldom touched by her father in an affirming way.  HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!”

The note was a powerful reminder that I don’t ever want to do anything to hurt my kids.  If my love is that strong, imagine how deep the Father’s love for us.

Oxymoron of the Week

PCMag.com Article Title: Skype Comes to the iPhone
Article Subtitle: "Skype for the iPhone lets you easily and cheaply make free VoIP calls over Wi-Fi."

Are the calls cheap or free? I thought it was funny...