Bible

Don’t Over Think It

By: Denny

We have an exciting and miraculous story of how we met on a Friday, were engaged two days later on Sunday, and married forty days afterwards. In telling her part, Lucy says that the moment we met the Lord told her I was her husband. She had asked Him, “How can I marry a man I just met and don’t love?” His reply was, “When you touch, you will feel the love.” She recalls lying in bed and not being able to sleep wondering when and how that would happen. Her mind was busy thinking of many different scenarios to the point she just quieted her mind and gave it over to God to do His will His way. That was thirty three years ago this March. I believe that we all have a tendency to envision how things will happen to the point of over thinking it. We have a goal, dream, or desire and almost immediately our minds begin to plan and prepare how to make it become a reality.

Our over-thinking can be a hindrance at times that can draw us into the mindset that if things don’t line up exactly as planned, we get anxious, discouraged, worried, and stressed. Sometimes, or maybe more often than we realize, we allow our over thinking to over think what others think about us. Perhaps it was something we said, did, or didn’t say or do. For example, we didn’t speak up against the filthy language people use at work. The opportunity presents itself to bring the Lord and what He’s done for us into the conversation and we clam up. We over think that people might reject what we have to say or be labeled, “one of those religious weirdoes”. Too often we are more concerned about what others think of us rather than what God thinks. Our own self consciousness entraps us in the “what if’s”. “What if” I do what God tells me and I look like a fool or am embarrassed. Well, what if you don’t, because someday we will all stand before God and have to explain why we didn’t.

God may be telling or leading you to do something unusually different that seems contrary to your human reasoning. As it says in Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Do not allow over-thinking to keep you from doing what God calls you to do. God told Moses to go to Pharaoh in Egypt and tell him to let His people go. Immediately Moses began to over think and give lame excuses why he couldn’t. Twelve men were sent to spy out the Promised Land and bring back a report. The negative over thinking of ten of them caused everyone to wonder another forty years in the wilderness. Naaman’s over thinking almost caused him to not be healed of leprosy. Sarah’s over thinking caused her to laugh at the promise she would have a son at the age of ninety. At the tomb of Lazarus Jesus instructed that the stone be rolled away. All Martha could think about was how bad it would smell since he had been dead four days. Peter started to sink as he walked on the water to Jesus because he was over thinking and paying attention to the waves rather than to the Lord. Abraham was told by God to take his son Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice. It was a test to see if he would wholly obey God. Not giving it a second thought, Abraham made preparations and obeyed without over thinking it. Even as he lifted the knife the Angel of the Lord suddenly stopped him saying, “Now I know that you fear God since you have not withheld your only son from Me.” (Genesis 22:12) As a result of his actions, Abraham is referred to as the father of faith because he simply obeyed God. I wonder if our over thinking often stifles and is in opposition and a direct hindrance to our desire to obtain a stronger faith. Now that’s something to ponder, just don’t over think it.

 

The Best Part

By: Denny

Folgers coffee has been a recognized brand since its founding by James Folger in 1850. The company grew exponentially with the use of advertising on radio then television. It was 1965 when they introduced the sweet Swedish accented and grandmotherly Mrs. Olson into their ad campaigns. She starred in over 100 commercials whose general theme was to help younger women make better tasting coffee for their husbands. Of course this was only accomplished by brewing Folgers because it was “Mountain Grown, the best kind”. In 1996 Folgers came up with their famous jingle set to song in which the last line became iconic; “The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup”.

That little one line phrase came back to me as I sat drinking my morning coffee today. (sorry, not Folgers) The morning sun surrounded me sitting in my recliner next to the window as I sipped in quiet reflection. I had just finished reading John chapter ten where Jesus had entered the house of His friends Mary and Martha. Martha was busying herself with serving while Mary sat listening to Jesus words. Martha became agitated and told Jesus to make Mary help her. In verse 42 Jesus replied, “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” In Martha’s mind I think she thought she was choosing the best part by her good works in serving Jesus. Jesus didn’t say to Martha that serving Him was a bad thing, but choosing to sit and hear His words as Mary did was the good or best part. It all came down to a choice.

To further illustrate this point think about a child. Place before them a plate of cooked spinach or broccoli and a plate of cookies and watch which one they choose. I’m betting the cookies will be gone in no time. Even as adults we often anticipate desert as the best part of a meal. To further make my point try this: Place on a table (1) $50 bill, (1) $20 bill, (1) $10 bill, (3) $5 bills, and (5) $1 bills. Tell someone they can have whichever pile they choose, but can only choose one. I almost guarantee they’ll take the $50 bill. Why? It’s a no-brainer that the $50 bill has the most value. All the money on the table are parts of and equals $100, but the $50 bill is the best part.

The table of life, by comparison, holds many choices. As you reflect on the choices you’ve made thus far, have you settled for less than the best part? Have you picked up the larger pile of things of lesser value that taste like bad coffee? If so, you don’t need a Mrs. Olson, you need Jesus. He alone can make the bitter taste of your life choices disappear. In every Folgers commercial women admitted they messed up by making bad coffee. She never condemned them, but showed them a better way and solution. That’s how it is with Jesus. When we come to Him confessing our mess-ups (sin) and admitting we can’t please God by our human efforts, He forgives us and offers Himself and salvation as the only solution to overcoming our past bad choices. When anyone believes and accepts Jesus as their savior, the Holy Spirit brings the exciting forgiving flavor of God’s grace into their lives. Choose Jesus today, He is the best part. So, whether you’re a coffee drinker or not, you’ll be able to confidently say each and every morning: “The best part of waking up is Jesus in your life”.

Leftovers

By: Denny

Most people when they think of leftovers associate it with food. A big meal is prepared and not everything is consumed, so the remaining portions are put in containers to be refrigerated or frozen for future meals. This is very convenient given the busy lifestyles we lead these days. Leftovers can be prepared as a meal in a matter of minutes by simply popping the food in the microwave. Depending on the amount of leftovers and number of people served, leftovers can suffice for a meal or last for days. Growing up there were six kids in our family. I remember mom would cook a big Sunday dinner. We were taught to eat everything we put on our plates, and sometimes there weren’t too many leftovers. Food wasn’t wasted or thrown in the garbage as is so common today. I see so many people pile food on their plates and not eat it all. If you can’t eat it all, then don’t take it all. Parents, stop dishing up your kids plates with adult portions. Their stomachs aren’t that big and what they don’t eat will get thrown away. Gone are the days when mom saved your plate of uneaten food and it became your next meal or breakfast. Everyone loves desert, especially kids. When the grandkids come to visit us they know grandma won’t let them have desert until they first finish eating the good food they took.

The concept of saving leftovers is actually found in the Bible. In all four Gospels is found the miraculous account of Jesus feeding the 5,000. They only had five loaves of bread and two fish. The disciples gave them to Jesus and He gave thanks and blessed the food. He in turn gave them back to the disciples to distribute among the people, and they ate as much as they wanted. After everyone had eaten their fill, in John 6:12 (NIV) Jesus said, ”Gather the pieces that are leftover. Let nothing be wasted.”  All the food had been blessed including the leftovers. I believe there is a principal here that many don’t understand or fail to notice in our modern culture. We sit down and pray for God to sanctify and bless the food we are about to eat, and yet we waste and throw the same blessed uneaten food left on the plate into the garbage can. I wonder what God thinks of that as we complain about the high cost of groceries.

My wife told me of an incident that happened years ago when she was a missionary in Mexico. Another missionary received a box containing tea bags. In it was a note saying they had only been used once. I’m sure the person who sent them thought they were doing a noble thing and honoring God by giving leftovers. Such an offering is as weak and flavorless as the tea it would produce. Laugh if you will, but isn’t that what well meaning people do every day by giving God less than the best. Maybe it’s not with used up teabags, but with their used up time. Our busy and hurried schedules and lifestyles leave little time for God. We ask Him to bless us on the one hand, and on the other waste or throw away time on foolish things that we could’ve been spending time with Him. Many pat themselves on the back for giving Him one hour at church on Sunday, but get all bent out of shape if it lasts over that. What about the other 167 hours the rest of the week. Too many will give what’s leftover of their income after paying the bills. Instead of tithing God gets a few leftover bucks placed in the offering plate. Instead of seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness as Jesus commanded in Matthew 6:33, we give Him leftover times at best, yet still expect all things to be added to us. Our quick hurried prayers are like food reheated in the microwave. Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. So I guess the natural conclusion one can assume is; if you give God your leftover time then don’t expect anything more than leftover blessings. I think if we all gave God more of our time we would experience more of His presence and blessings in our lives. Now there’s something to think about in your spare time, provided you have any left over.

Labels That Stick

By: Denny-

It was just an ordinary jar to me that recently contained jam. Now empty, it was sitting on the countertop next to the sink. I rinsed it out and was about to put it in the recycle waste basket when my wife stopped me. I guess it was unique because she said she wanted to save it, but could I first remove the label. No problem, I thought, until I tried peeling it off. As I lifted one corner edge and pulled it the paper ripped in a small piece. I repeated the process and got the same result. Not to be outwitted I decided to soak it in hot water for a few minutes. The label came off with a slight rubbing alright, but the adhesive was still stuck to the jar. This would call for a more drastic solution in the form of using a solvent of some kind such as Goo Gone.

Unlike the jar, the labels people carry are much harder to remove and can last for years or a lifetime. Somebody labeled you with their words and we also label ourselves as well as others. A classic example is found in Genesis 35:18. Jacob’s wife Rachel was about to give birth, but there were complications. She gave birth to a son whom with her last breath she named him Ben-Oni, which means ‘son of my sorrow’. Jacob immediately said, “No, his name is Benjamin”, which means ‘son of my right hand’. Had he not intervened his son would have been stuck with the sorrowful label his entire life. If you had leprosy in Bible times you were labeled an outcast. Those with leprosy lived in communities separated and apart from the rest of society and were avoided. I find it interesting that Matthew 26:6 says, And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper. Was Simon still a leper, or had Jesus previously healed him? Perhaps Simon had been labeled ‘the leper’ for so long that leper became his identifying label even after being healed. In the same manner when Jesus began teaching in his hometown of Nazareth many were offended because they had always labeled him as ‘the carpenter’ or ‘the carpenter’s son’. That label, combined with their unbelief, prevented Jesus from doing mighty works of miracles there. The self-righteous religious Pharisees loved to label people as ‘sinners’, but Jesus turned it back on them calling them hypocrites which caused them to hate him even more. Saul, before his conversion and becoming the apostle Paul, was notoriously feared by believers. He sought to capture, imprison, persecute, and have Christians put to death. That was his label and the reason so many had a hard time believing he had experienced a true conversion to Christ.

Yet isn’t that what we do all the time. We form an opinion about someone and that becomes the label we stick on them. Often it is based on their actions, their appearance, or words they have spoken. As the Bible says we judge (label) by outward things, but the Lord looks at the heart. May we all be more mindful of the labels that we stick on others and ourselves, because none of us are perfect. Let us make every effort to see ourselves and others as Jesus does. When people come to Christ and He changes them, we often are reluctant to accept it and still see them as bearing the old label of their past sinful lifestyle. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things (including labels) have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Jesus not only removes the old label, but his very blood that He shed for you is the Goo Gone solvent, so to speak, that even removes the adhesive that held that label to you. Sin no longer has a hold on you and is a label that can’t stick. When you ask Christ to save you, and you repent of your sins, He makes you brand new and fills you with His righteousness. He creates a new label saying, ‘Forgiven and Redeemed Child of God”.  No artificial sweeteners or preservatives added, just the pure fruit of the Spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

 I wanted to toss the jar away, but my wife saw something valuable in it even when it had the old label attached. Jesus sees you the same way. Come to Him just as you are and allow Him to empty out the old things, fill you with the new, and apply His new label that sticks forever.

Will He Find Fruit?

By: Denny-

I started my day today as I usually do with my morning coffee. I was a little hungry, so I had a piece of hot cornbread leftover from supper last night. It is a rainy gloomy Fall day as I sit looking out the dining room window. The high today will be 48 and raining off and on all day. Most of the trees have shed their leaves, but there are some that are still vibrant yellow including one in our front yard. I went outside and swept the wet leaves away from the front door and off the deck. It is Election Day, and I hung out our flag. The voting place for our precinct is one block away at the golf course clubhouse. I noticed the official “Vote Here” sign with the arrow pointing that direction is planted near the curb on the corner of our yard. There isn’t much traffic yet, but those who work may vote during the noon hour or after work. In talking with people I know, they like many others already voted earlier, as we also did. I’m optimistic that Donald Trump will win the election, but I wonder if Republicans will have the needed majority in the House and Senate to help him fulfill his promised agenda. The fate and direction of America hinges on that happening, and it all lies in the hands of “We the People”. The concern I have is that many people will not recognize or discern the times we are living in.

There are two times mentioned in the Bible where Jesus wept. One is found in John 11:35 at the tomb of Lazarus prior to Him raising him from the dead. The other is found in Luke 19:41. Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it. This took place as He was entering Jerusalem in what Christianity celebrates as Palm Sunday. All four gospels record how Jesus entered the temple and drove out those who basically had turned it into a flea market for buying and selling, something it was never meant to be. Matthew 23 goes into detail recording how Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the religious Pharisees and pulled no punches and showed them no mercy in rebuking them sharply. So why does only Luke record that Jesus wept and why? Matthew gives us a clue to it in chapter 23:37  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” However, Luke 19 verses 42- 44 make it very clear. “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”  What does this event that took place then have to do with the election today in 2024. I say everything. America as a nation has been unwilling to turn to God despite the ones He has sent to prevent its destruction. In fact, many have thumbed their nose at God declaring, “We don’t need you!” Why, because America has failed to recognize and know the time of its visitation. We have been blessed and favored by God as a nation, but that visitation will soon be removed if we don’t repent and turn back to him. Quite frankly, I don’t see that happening if the radical left agenda continues under a Kamala Harris presidency. I think it is entirely possible that God is giving America one last chance to change by electing Donald Trump. I see Donald Trump not as the savior, but as one with the whip in his hand driving out the political corruption in Washington DC. Just examine and compare the differences in their policies and track records and see which ones most closely align with the Word of God, and you may come to the same conclusion. The economic issues of inflation, lost jobs, taxes, higher prices, the crisis of the illegal invasion at the borders, the national debt, wars, crime, gangs and drugs, and many others are important to us, but are they equally important to God. I’m not saying that he doesn’t care about these things, however, I think they are a result of a nation that has lost its way and whose god is not the Lord Jesus Christ. As if that weren’t enough, history and the Bible records that no nation who has killed their babies and children, sold them into slavery, or approved and sanctioned homosexual behaviors, has ever survived. I think God is giving America one last chance to repent based on Luke 13:6-9 “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ “But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’”

There have been multiple events in our recent history that tragedy has struck our nation. It was at those times we were unified under a common cause. For a brief moment we prayed, but before long it was back to business as usual. In other words, no true repentance. Instead of being unified we are a nation divided. I have to wonder if America is already at the point now where if Harris wins, we are in danger of being cut down by God. I’m not saying He will wipe out America immediately, but He will just allow us to self- destruct. Repentance, like voting, is a matter of choice. Perhaps if Trump is elected, God will give us an extended four years to repent and bear good fruit. Who knows. God is watching. Will He find Fruit?

They Stood From Afar

By: Denny-

There were many who followed Jesus when He began to perform miracles of healing and deliverance. The crowds became so large it was often difficult for Him to get away and rest, but He never avoided people or told them to disperse. On one occasion His disciples tried to prevent certain people from coming near Jesus, but He stopped them. After a while there were some who quit following Him because the messages He preached begin to step on their toes. It’s easy to follow Jesus when the miracles happen and things are exciting, but will you still follow Him when His words begin to deal with the condition of your heart. After the Last Supper the remaining eleven disciples followed Him to the Garden of Gethsemane where He told them to watch and pray. He left them and went to pray alone. He returned to them three times and found them sleeping, to which He said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! Rise up, let us go, see my betrayer is at hand.” (Mark 14: 41- 42) They all fled as Judas betrayed Jesus and He was arrested. At His trial Peter stood from afar hoping not to be recognized, but when he was, he denied that he knew Jesus. At His crucifixion, His mother Mary and John stood close while all the other disciples were absent or stood from afar because of fear.

To those who claim to be Christian and a follower of Jesus, I must ask, “Are you standing afar off?” It’s easy to be a follower of Jesus in church on Sunday, but what happens the rest of the week. Do you avoid situations, conversations, and opportunities for fear you may be recognized as a Christian? Do you possess a value system based on the truths of the Bible that is reflected in your actions and speech? Are you being the salt and light that the world and more specifically America so desperately needs in this moment of time? Pastors are you speaking out from the pulpit on the moral issues facing our nation this election, or are you standing afar off and fearful of losing your precious 503 tax exemption.  (Matthew 5:13-16) “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.“ Salt is used to change the flavor of whatever it is added to or put on. When you add salt to salt you only get more salt volume and nothing changes. I wonder how many self-proclaimed Christians only add or apply salt to each other, never changing the flavor of anything outside the four walls of their church or selected inner circle. Their light also has become as selective and ineffective as a flashlight with dying batteries. When you turn on a light in a dark room you expect it to light up everything, including the political corner, because light is not selective. If that sounds harsh, condescending, and offensive to you then it’s time to put on your “Big Boy” pants because that’s exactly what Jesus was saying in the above verses.

We are at a critical pivotal point in our nation’s history. The election results on November 5th  will decide if Donald Trump backs up the garbage truck or if Kamala Harris continues to lead us down the slippery slope to oblivion. The Democrat party along with their political operatives and their ungodly policies and tactics have incrementally set America on a path of destruction for the last 50 plus years. Just as in the parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-25) it happened under the cover of darkness while men (Christians) slept. Where have those who possess the salt and light been? Many have compromised and turned their backs on truth, just as did so many who quit following Jesus. Others have stood watching from afar not wanting to get involved out of cowardliness or fear of being recognized and persecuted as a believer in Jesus Christ. When I hear statistics that millions of Christians don’t vote it boggles my mind. Their absence from the election process and apathy made the difference which gave us the Biden-Harris debacle. Why?  I can’t answer that question other than to say they will give an account to God for burying in the ground, as it were, the one talent (vote) that was given to them. The parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30 is a stark reality that should motivate every Christian to participate in this election. When someone shouted out “Jesus is Lord” at a Kamala Harris event, she told them they were in the wrong rally. When asked what she would do different from the past four years if elected she replied, “Nothing comes to my mind.” What about President Biden lashing out and calling Trump supporters “garbage”. Christian, what else do you need to know to make up your mind and vote, short of a swift kick in the pants by God.

God isn’t interested in lame King Saul-like excuses, only results. Some may say, “I don’t like either candidate” or “It’s like voting for the lesser of two evils.” That’s a big excuse that the uninformed use all the time, but it won’t hold water any longer. It’s time for people to put on their common sense thinking and stop letting emotions and past party loyalty guide their vote. This is bigger than Trump or Harris. This is about the failed policies of the radical left that are intent on dismantling America and rebuilding it into an image that we must bow down to and worship. How can anyone calling themselves a Christian, with any Bible knowledge, discernment, and convictions whatsoever, vote for this continued wicked insanity or not vote at all. This is a battle between good and evil, and all it takes for evil to win is for good moral people to stick their heads in the sand and do nothing. Yes, God is sovereign; however, He chooses to work with and through those who participate with Him. Open your Bible and read the stories of the great men and women of old such as Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Esther, Nehemiah, David, Daniel, Elijah, Noah and countless others who God used to accomplish His will. Guess what, none of them were without faults and perfect, so stop withholding your vote waiting for the perfect presidential candidate. Inflation is killing our economy, taxes, crime, and the price of groceries and gas are high and rising. Innocent lives are lost daily through abortion, human trafficking, gangs and the drugs they bring with them. The Biden-Harris administration is indifferent towards Isreal, and we are on the verge of WW3. Millions of people have illegally crossed our borders and are occupying our country on your dollar, but are you more upset and irate that someone else has occupied your guarded precious place you always sit in at church. Your silence by not voting is the same as approving and agreeing with all the above. To quote the words of Jesus again, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! Rise up, let us go, see my betrayer is at hand.” I don’t think it is wrong to apply this scripture to our current conditions in America. It is time to awake from sleep, rise up, and go vote because many are they who are betraying America. America needs a spiritual awakening, but Christians need a heart shaking rival of their call to be salt and light. May we all rise up with courage, confidence, determination, and trust in the Lord that we will be the generation of salt and light that turned this nation back to God so those who come after us won’t be able to say, “They stood from afar”
 

Top Dawg

By: Denny-

The winner of this year’s Top Dawg award is . . . . . . . . I felt like I could have done a back flip when they called my name. The year was 2014. I was driving for a company called Bay & Bay Transfer based in Burnsville, Minnesota. I worked out of the Mason City, Iowa bulk tanker division hauling powder cement from the Lehigh and Holcim cement plants there to highway paving projects and ready-mix plants in Iowa and Minnesota. I started driving for them in 2007. Bay & Bay has a van and reefer division, but the bulk tank division employed over 75 drivers. Some were long haul, but I was a short haul driver and returned home every day. Anyway, Top Dawg was the highest and most prestigious annual award given by Bay & Bay. In order to be a contender for the Top Dawg award there were five criteria that had to be met, and the award would go to the driver who scored the highest. The winner would get decals on each side of his truck, a T-shirt, a personalized hat, and a nice wall plaque all saying, “Top Dawg 2014”. However, the best part was a two week all-expense paid trip anywhere in the world. I was surprised when they told me I was one of the five finalists a week earlier, because it wasn’t even a goal that I had set out to accomplish. I’ve always believed in just giving my best to whoever I drove for, regardless and separate from any awards. The awards banquet and ceremony took place at a hotel convention center in Minneapolis and included all the wives. Before they announced the Top Dawg award there were other prizes given. All the drivers’ names were put in a bucket and names were drawn for various cash gifts, dinners for two, jackets, and other smaller prizes.  From a separate bucket, one name was drawn out also for an all-expense paid trip. Lastly, they had us five Top Dawg finalists come forward to the stage. When they announced that I had won Top Dawg, I gave my wife a thumbs up as if to say we’re going on a trip. Little did I know that they had changed the rules. They decided to put the five finalist names in a hat and drew out one to get the trip. It wasn’t mine, but happened to be the same guy whose name had just been drawn out of the bucket for the previous trip. So basically all I got was a hat and a plaque. No decals on my truck, no T-shirt and no trip. I, along with my dispatcher and many of the other drivers, were very upset about the whole deal. Afterward, I pulled the terminal manager aside and asked him why he changed the rules. He said he just wanted it to be fair so that each of the top five finalists had a chance to get the trip. I felt like telling him they had their chance and didn’t earn it by scoring higher than me. What’s the point of getting the title without the full reward. Was it fair for me to be awarded Top Dawg only to see one of the Runners Up get two trips simply by having his name drawn out of a hat? When my dispatcher called me with my load on Monday, I told him I wasn’t sure I wanted to work for a company that acted like this. He must have talked to the terminal manager because he tried calling me several times. I stayed home for two days and never answered my phone because I had nothing further to say to him. Finally, the owner of Bay & Bay called and apologized and asked me not to quit. He said he was sending me a check for $4000. It wasn’t as much as the trip, but I told him it was the principle of the whole thing and about the ridiculous nonsense of trying to be fair to everyone. I stayed driving for them for another three years, but it was never the same. I didn’t change my work ethic and still gave 100%, but it left me with a sense that my best wasn’t good enough. That was so long ago, and I’ve gotten over the hurt and rarely even think about it. Though my best didn’t earn me a trip, it was good enough for God, and that’s what counts and matters most to me.

I think that whole experience made me aware and realize how subtly the doctrine of “Fairness” is a part of all this new Woke religion that has infiltrated our society. Why strive to be your best and successful if you know the rewards can randomly be taken and given to those who have not earned it or put forth the same effort. That will kill self-worth, ambition, and entrepreneurship quicker than anything. Our government dictates that you must hire based on D. E. I. (diversity, equity, inclusion) not on who is the most qualified, because we must be fair! Public schools are graduating kids who have not put forth the effort to learn basic skills. And why should they, when they can earn $15 to $20 an hour minimum wage, doing menial jobs. Students take out loans for college, but it’s not fair that they should have to pay them off. Let’s be fair and just forgive their debt. Confused little Johnny wants to be a girl, use their bathroom, and play in their sports. We must be fair and let him/her/it do so, otherwise face a lawsuit or be stamped with another derogatory label by the radical lefties. And now, millions of foreigners have entered our country illegally, but we must be fair and provide them with jobs, money, cell phones, free housing, medical care, education, and whatever else they have not earned especially and including the right to vote. Meanwhile, many of our own deserving citizens, including brave veterans and seniors are homeless or live in poverty. All of this fairness B.S. is nothing more than Marxist ideology and communistic socialism originating from the pit of hell. Every election cycle the Democrats open their playbook and drag out the same old worn-out mantra that they’ve used for decades saying, “The rich aren’t paying their fair share.” How much is a fair share, and who are the rich anyway? Aren’t they the ones who have worked hard using their talents, resources, knowledge, and God-given freedoms that has made us a great nation. They are the ones who started small businesses and grew them into large companies and factories that employ millions of people. They are the ones who seized the same opportunity we all have to become more than waifs and serfs who depend solely on government handouts. Who and what gives these pompous political bureaucratic windbags the right to say who is rich anyway. They claim to identify with and represent the poor and middle class, yet most of them have never worked hard enough their entire lives to produce even a thimble full of sweat. They themselves have become rich and acquired more than their fair share on the backs of all those who work hard and pay taxes. They own multiple houses, take lavish vacations, and have portfolios worth millions. They proclaim to be the purveyors of fairness, but all they’ve ever accomplished is division, envy, and class warfare. They lie, deceive, steal, and change the rules at will to maintain and satisfy their greed for power and control. They falsely accuse their opponents of what they themselves do. Those who dare challenge them and their hypocrisy will pay a high price, because they use the courts to unjustly persecute, prosecute, punish, and imprison innocent patriots. I say it’s time to drain the swamp from the top down and that they all be held accountable and fired November 5th at the voting booth.

Discovering Jesus in Everyday Life is the subtitle I’ve chosen for my blog. I think we often overlook those opportunities to discover Him by not taking the time to recognize them in the moment. Likewise, though they be “unfair”,  we allow the pain of past circumstances and disappointments to prevent us from truly discovering Jesus in them. Much of that is because we don’t understand or discern the workings of God which only comes by knowing Him through His word, the Bible. Discovering Jesus is to know what pleases Him and what doesn’t. Anything contrary to scriptural truth does not. Also, as written in Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. The rewards you will or won’t receive are in direct proportion to your faith and diligent seeking. God doesn’t operate in the realm of fairness as society so often defines it. He is righteous and just, showing favoritism to no one. Neither does God change His rules to accommodate anyone, whether they think He is fair or not. Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I do not change. There is a distinct difference between the gift of grace leading to salvation and earned rewards for serving Jesus. The rewards you receive from Him are not a result of an angel drawing your name randomly out of a golden bucket or hat. Salvation is obtained by accepting Jesus Christ as the only one who can give us right standing without sin before God the Father. He accomplished this by living a sinless life, then taking our sins upon Himself and dying on the cross in our place. It was a sacrificial act of grace freely given, and all your good works cannot earn it. In other words, your best will never be good enough to open Heaven’s door to you. Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Everyone who has been saved will be rewarded when they stand before God according to what they did in this life with their giftings and the call of God that He has entrusted to them. Jesus used the parable of the talents to explain this in Matthew 25:14-30. Those who have rejected Jesus and the free gift of salvation in this life will also have their reward, and it won’t be anything to do a back flip over.

Friend, if you have not yet discovered Jesus, it may be that you are looking for Him in the wrong places. Look for Him in the struggles, disappointments, and unfairness of life when you feel like giving up, are discouraged, alone, and feel that life has ripped you off. I can honestly say from experience it was in those hard times that when I truly called out to Him, He showed up. Actually, He was always there just waiting for me to ask for His help. God gets wrongly blamed for much of what we call and consider as unfair. However, instead of rejecting Him, try to see it as an opportunity to discover Jesus and learn who He is as well as who He is not.  

Send Someone Else (part 1)

By: Denny-

It was a bitterly cold winter that day in 1988 with wind chills well below zero. I was hauling a trailer load of grapefruit which I had picked up the day before in Pharr, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley on the Mexican border. I was headed back home to Iowa with my destination and delivery point being the Fareway Foods grocery warehouse in Boone, Iowa. I ran hard yesterday and made it north of Dallas before pulling into a truck stop and crawling into the sleeper bunk to catch a few hours of sleep. I hit the road early in the morning and stopped at Pauls Valley, Oklahoma to have breakfast and refuel. As I was pulling back onto the I-35 on-ramp, a young man was standing there in the freezing cold holding a sign that simply said, “Iowa”. I wasn’t in the habit of picking up hitchhikers, and many companies don’t allow riders for liability and insurance reasons, but things were different back then. By appearances he didn’t strike me as one who would pose any kind of threat or danger, but still one must exercise caution. I usually will ask God yes or no, in this case I sensed He was saying yes, so I stopped and told the kid to climb aboard. He was thankful to get out of the cold having been standing there quite a while. As we traveled, I learned he was low on funds and was trying to get back home to Iowa for the holidays. We crossed the border into Kansas shortly before noon. At that point I-35 becomes the Kansas Turnpike and the exits are fewer and farther apart. About 5 miles north of the toll booth I spotted a car on the shoulder and about 1/4 mile down the road and walking was a young couple with a little girl. They were obviously in need of help, so without hesitation I pulled over and picked them up also. The only room I had was in the sleeper bunk, and they squeezed back there, happy to be in the warm truck. They were freezing cold and only wearing light coats, so I cranked up the sleeper bunk heater. The man told me their car either broke down or they ran out of gas. They sat in the car hoping someone would stop, but when nobody did and it was getting cold, they decided to walk. He said even then nobody would stop, but just blew right past them. It’s unbelievable that people could be so indifferent, self-absorbed, calloused, and uncaring; especially seeing they had a little girl. The next exit was 20 miles down the road, and I took them to a truck stop where they could get help. I left the other kid in Des Moines and wished him well with spending Christmas with his family. It felt good to have helped those people, a blessing I would have missed had I not stopped.

Stopping a loaded 18-wheeler within a short distance to help someone on the side of the road is not always easy or practical, but there are dire situations when in good conscience you must. In those instances when I couldn’t stop, I would pray and ask God to send someone else that would be able to help those in need. Of course nowadays nearly everyone has a cell phone, so help is only a phone call away, but it doesn’t take much time to stop and ask if they need help anyway.  I wonder how often people these days pass by opportunities to help someone else in need, and not just on the highway. It seems they are so focused on their own needs and desires that they are oblivious to those of others. Perhaps wavering from their schedules or agendas would be too much of a hassle, sacrifice, or require giving up their own precious time. Maybe their hearts are so hardened that they choose to ignore the pleas of others, because as the Bible says, “Having  eyes they don’t see, and having ears they don’t hear.” It also says that in the Last Days the love of many will grow cold. Worse yet is when people judge others and point to their bad decisions or lack of planning that brought about their current desperate situation. How willing would you be to help someone of a different race, ethnicity, religion, economic status, ideology, or a complete stranger not part of your own group? Actions speak louder than words, so basically what people say by their inaction is, “Send Someone Else”. What if you are that someone else that God is trying to send? Will you ignore Him also? God, forgive us all for those missed opportunities and times we’ve failed to help someone in need that has crossed our path. We may be the one who is in need down life’s road another time.

In Luke 10:29-37 Jesus told this parable of the good Samaritan to a man who asked, “Who is my neighbor?” (my words added in parenthesis) One day as a Jewish man (Christian) was walking along the road, thieves attacked and robbed him leaving him half dead on the road. A priest (or pastor) came by and seeing the man passed by on the other side of the road. A Levite (church leader) came by and did the same.  A Samaritan (unbeliever), who the Jews shunned, stopped and seeing the man had compassion, bandaged his wounds, put him on his animal (car), took him to an inn (motel) and took care of him. The next day when he departed, he gave the inn keeper money and told him to take care of the man, and upon his return he would cover any additional expenses. In verse 36 Jesus asked, “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” The man answered, “The one who showed mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”  I think Jesus is telling us to do the same thing.  1 John 3:17  But whoever has this world’s goods, and seeing his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? Reading Matthew 25:31-46 should be a wake-up call to us all and should shake us to the very core of our souls, especially verses 40 and 45.

Through Adam sin entered the world and all of mankind to this present day find themselves lost, broken, destitute, without hope, standing on the side of the road as it were, needing to be rescued and saved. God gave his commandments and laws to Moses. They stopped to give aid, but could not save us. They only served to make us realize the pitiful state of our condition and inability to measure up to God’s holy standards. “Send Someone Else” Next, good works and religion pulled over and tried to convince many that they could rescue themselves by trying harder to be better. That always fails miserably! “Send Someone Else” Many others such as false religions, humanism, idle worship, picked up some only to drop them off a little further down the road on the shoulder in their same lost condition. “Send Someone Else”, but there was no one else – until Jesus. He alone is the only “Someone Else” that God sent to save us. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave (sent) his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners (laying broken on the shoulder of life’s highway), Christ died for us. Jesus didn’t say, “Send Someone Else”, but instead said, “I will go rescue and save them, send Me”.

Are you willing to be sent by God to meet the need of another, or will your attitude and excuse be like the one who passes by saying, “Send Someone Else”.

Stir the Coffee

By: Denny-

It has been nearly midnight when we’ve crawled into bed the last four nights. We have watched the entire RNC convention every night. It was like a breath of fresh air to listen to all the various speakers and to see the excitement, enthusiasm, and unity of the delegates and crowd. Finally, the voice and views of “We the People” were expressed by a newly inspired and united Republican Party, who overwhelmingly nominated Donald J Trump and JD Vance to be the ticket to defeat the Democrats in November. We witnessed speaker after speaker giving tribute and testimony to Donald Trump, and reveal unknown positive attributes about his true character. Things you won’t hear from the news media, nor do they want you to know. So here it is Friday 6:30 AM and I’m about to sit down and enjoy my morning coffee, the best cup of the day. I filled the cup to within an inch of the top with coffee, then I got the hazelnut creamer from the fridge and poured in a good dose. Of course, the coffee being hot, and the creamer cold, the sweet creamer went to the bottom of the cup and settled there, according to the law of physics. The coffee still looked dark black until I stirred it with a spoon and suddenly the dormant creamer on the bottom seemed to come to life. What was dark was transformed into a golden light brown which emitted the aroma of hazelnut. Aaahhh. I went to the dining room and opened the windows to let in the cool morning air. As I sat and sipped my coffee, I began to ponder the events of the RNC convention which seemed to replay in my mind. There were many needed changes and goals spelled out as part of the platform, which mostly involved undoing and turning back the disastrous policies of previous liberal administrations. I think the most urgent was that we need to build the wall and close our southern border, to protect us and to stop the flow of illegal aliens, drugs, gangs, and terrorists from entering the United States. President Trump in his speech promised he would do that and many other things quickly, very quickly, saying, “You’ll be amazed how quickly things get done.” We all  know there is sure to be opposition. Nevertheless, it is time to stir the coffee and transform America from the darkness all around us, so that the aroma of prosperity, security, and freedom will rise up from the bottom and “Make America Great Again”.

That analogy motivated me to open my Bible and read the book of Nehemiah. It’s the recounting of how the Jews had turned away from following God and became a nation much like America is today. I encourage you to read the first six chapters for yourself to fully understand the details involved in this analogy. Many times God sent His prophets to warn them to turn them from their wickedness, but they refused, and their hearts became hardened and indifferent towards Him. God saw that, so He caused the Babylonian army to invade them. They completely decimated Jerusalem by setting it on fire and tearing down the wall that protected them. (need I mention Sept. 11, 2001) They took the nation captive and carried them away to Babylon, leaving only a small remnant of Jews behind. Nehemiah was one of those who was taken captive. He became cupbearer to the king and God had given him favor with him. Years later Nehemiah learned the condition of his homeland and the suffering of his fellow Jews living there. The king granted him permission to go back to Jerusalem and to rebuild. He gave him finances, written letters giving him passage, as well as an armed guard to protect him. When he arrived in Jerusalem, Nehemiah told nobody about his intentions until he had surveyed the situation at night undercover. He then gathered together the leaders and spoke to them about his intentions to rebuild the wall and restore Jerusalem. MJGA–Make Jerusalem Great Again. The task seemed overwhelming and impossible, but the people said, “Let us rise up and build.” (Nehemiah2:18) The opposition came immediately from the ruling non-Jewish officials, namely Sanballat and Tobiah. Nevertheless, the work began as told throughout chapter 3. This is key to notice: Each one built and made repairs to the wall in front of their own house. The responsibility was put on each individual and family, not on Nehemiah alone, even though he was out front leading and overseeing. They all worked together in unity, being of the same mind and vision. Chapters 4-6 go into detail how Sanballat opposed Nehemiah and the work through ridicule, threat of attack, discouragement, extortion, compromise, slander, and outright treachery in which they plotted to kill him. (that sounds familiar) By the way, if you take the middle letters [ball] out of the name Sanballat and insert the remaining [at] after the S, you spell Satan. Going further, if you put a hyphen between the [n] and the [b] and replace the last [a] with an [o] you have San-ballot. The dictionary says ‘sans’ means; deprived, without, or destitute of. Do you suppose there could be any connection, correlation, or stretch of the imagination between that and the possibility of rigged elections and ballot tampering? You decide. There are two verses that really stand out and should empower the vision, goals, and commitment of every American patriot to reelect Donald Trump to implement the promises he’s made to Make America Great Again. Nehemiah 4:14-15 And I (Nehemiah speaking) looked, and rose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and FIGHT for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses. And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their counsel to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. Nehemiah 6:15 So the wall was finished on the 25th day of the month of Elul, in 52 days. (It is amazing how quickly it got done, isn’t it?) And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.  

I see President Trump as a modern-day Nehemiah. If not him, then who? If not now, then when? It’s no coincidence that after the failed attempted assassination of President Trump, that he stood up with blood running down his face, raised his fist and shouted, “Fight!”, “Fight!”, “Fight!”. Yes, it’s time to bring back to the top the values, freedoms, and God-given rights, that our nation was founded upon, because they have become cold and settled to the bottom of the cup. The future of our nation is at stake. Are you ready and willing to grab a spoon and help stir the coffee? It starts with voting for the Republican candidates in every election this November.

Close, But No Cigar

By: Denny –

Unless you’re a baby-boomer or a member of the previous generation, you may not have heard this expression or understand its meaning. Its origins date back to England in the 1800s when circuses were popular. At first, they involved acrobats performing daring feats on horses, the high wire, or trapezes. Clowns, juggling, and wild animal acts became popular and drew bigger crowds. For further entertainment gaming booths were added and the circus began to evolve into a carnival. The games were simple games of chance and skill much like the ring toss, shooting galleries, ball, and dart throwing and others that we see these days at county and state fairs. The person operating the booth was called a “Barker”, and they would call out loudly to passersby to entice them to play their game. They eventually became known as “Carneys”. In those days the games were reserved for adult males and the prize for winning was a cigar, because they were relatively inexpensive and easy to store. However, though appearing simple and easy to win, the games favored the Carney over the player. The player might come close to winning yet not achieve the required task to win the prize. Whereby the Carney would declare, “Close, but no cigar”, and encourage them to lay down some more money and try again, which often led to more failure and money in the pocket for the Carney. As people immigrated to America so did the circus and carnivals. Coney Island and other places grew in popularity as rides were added. Carnival booths transitioned into offering prizes and rewards other than cigars which enticed men, women, and children to try their luck at winning. The phrase “Close, but no cigar” became more popular beginning in the 1920s even up to the 1970s as people began to use and apply it to other life situations concerning not achieving a planned goal, a near miss, or hoped for expectation. For instance: You were one number off from winning the Powerball lottery. You almost got the job, but they hired someone else. You overslept and missed your bus, train, or plane by one minute and it left without you. You were outbid by $500 on your dream home by another buyer. Your team missed winning the big game by one point. You lost the election by 10 votes. The list of circumstances and “Close, but no cigar” moments continues, but I’m sure you understand my point.

Life also has those “Close, but no cigar” instances which involve narrowly escaping tragedy and a brush with death. As a retired truck driver with a 50-year career, I’ve had many such instances. I recall the night I was driving across Nebraska on I-80. I was tired and had dozed off and had drifted from the right lane onto the left lane shoulder. I was awakened by a huge bang and the realization that I had hit a bridge. I immediately pulled back to the right shoulder and stopped to investigate the damage, expecting to find parts missing and fuel leaking. To my surprise the only things missing were some chrome lug nut covers from the steer tire, a small step on the fuel tank strap which I had left in the down position, and some scuff marks on the drive tires. If my reaction had been to turn the steering wheel even a fraction to the left when I hit the bridge, the outcome would have been tragically different. God had intervened and spared my life as He had done so many times before and since, because He had greater plans for my life and a purpose for me yet to discover and fulfill. Psalm 31:14-15a But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, you are my God.” My times are in Your hand.

On Saturday, July 13th, 2024, former President Donald Trump was giving a campaign rally speech in Pennsylvania. A lone gunman perched on a rooftop a mere 50 yards away opened fire. At the very instant the gunman pulled the trigger, Donald Trump had inadvertently and unknowingly slightly turned his head, and the bullet only grazed his right ear. Whether or not you believe in God or miracles, there is no doubt in my mind we all witnessed one that day. God supernaturally intervened and spared Donald Trump and the nation from an otherwise tragic outcome. “Close, but no cigar!” Never in the history of our country has there been such vicious and blatant attempts by a current administration, fake news media, and members of a political party to discredit, hinder, remove, or destroy a candidate of an opposition party. They will stop at nothing to assure they remain in power to implement their ungodly, anti-American, twisted and perverted woke ideology and agendas. The devil and the forces of evil have become their puppet masters manipulating their minds and controlling their actions. Whether it be through importing millions of illegals to gain votes, engineering election results in their favor because they cannot win in honest debate. They weaponize the FBI and CIA and use the courts, liberal prosecutors, and judges to turn simple misdemeanors into felonies against anyone who opposes or tries to expose their unlawful deeds. Not to mention all the just plain irrational and stupid stuff they do which lacks any common sense. The mainstream news media is a poor excuse for any kind of legitimate unbiased journalism. They have no credibility because lying is their native language. All to which I and millions of other God-fearing homegrown American patriots say, “Enough is enough.” There is a line in a song that we used to sing in church in the 1990’s: “I went to the enemy’s camp, and I took back what he stole from me.” We will take our country back. Know this you self-proclaimed wizards of smart on the Left; I believe God’s hand and anointing is upon Donald Trump to win the presidency in 2024 and to begin to turn this nation back from the disastrous self-destructive course you’ve put us on. Therefore, no demon or Democrat can stop Him (God), and you try at your own peril. Psalm 37:12-15 The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to slay those who are of upright conduct. Their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. Psalm 105:15 Do not touch My anointed ones and do My prophets no harm. The uninformed will say, “I can’t vote for Trump given his past.” A skeptic may ask, “How can God who is Holy, anoint and use a person like Donald Trump with all his faults and past failures?” The answer is quite simple for both, “You don’t know God, the Bible, and how He often uses imperfect people to accomplish His will”.

The Bible is full of “Close, but no cigar” instances when God miraculously intervened so that His plan would be accomplished. He delivered his chosen people from their bondage as slaves in Egypt through many miracles. Moses, an imperfect man, led them out by way of the wilderness until they came to the Red Sea. As Pharaoh and his army pursued, God sent a pillar of fire to come between them and the Israelites. God told Moses to lift his staff and the Red Sea parted before them, so they were able to cross on dry ground. God removed the pillar of fire and Pharaoh continued his chase. When the Egyptians were in the middle of the Red Sea, God brought the waters back upon them and they all drowned. Sorry Pharaoh, “Close, but no cigar!” In the book of Esther there was this guy named Haman. He was a close advisor to King Ahasuerus, and he hated the Jews. He schemed up a plan to have them all killed on a certain day, especially Mordecai, who wouldn’t bow down to him. Haman had actually built some gallows on which he planned to hang him. Through a series of events God intervened through Queen Esther and the plot was thwarted. It was said to Queen Esther that she was “born for such a time as this”. The king ordered that Haman, and his sons were to be hung on his own gallows. Too bad Haman, “Close, but no cigar”, and you reap what you sow. Many times the religious leaders tried to kill Jesus. On one occasion they led him to a cliff to throw him off, but the Bible says he passed through the midst of them. Luke 4:28-30 Then all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way. John 10: 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. (vs 39) Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand. Sorry guys, “Close, but no cigar”. As Jesus stood before Pontius Pilot on trial, Pilot boasted of his power and authority to either crucify or release Him. (John19:10) Vs. 11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.” God’s plan for Jesus was yet to be accomplished. Even as Jesus hung on the cross and died, the devil, his demons, and the religious leaders thought they had won. “Close, but no cigar!” Three days later Jesus came back to life defeating sin, death, and the devil, as was God’s plan since the beginning when sin entered the world through the fall of Adam and Eve.

Jesus through His shed blood and by dying on the cross for our sins in our place, became the only way for us to be saved and have eternal life. All you need to do is believe that and receive Him into your heart by repenting and asking Him for forgiveness and to save you. You can’t earn it, religious ceremonies and good works are useless, so stop trying and start believing. Someday you will die and stand before God and must give an account of your life and what you did about Jesus. Which would you rather hear? “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into heaven” or “Close, but no cigar”. The choice is yours to make or miss, but don’t wait until it’s too late, because the devil has a plan to take you out. 1 Peter 4:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

You Broke It, You Fix It

By: Denny

Perhaps you’ve heard this expression spoken by someone to another person or even had it spoken to you. You may have seen similar messages such as: “You break it, you buy it”, “You break it, you own it”, written on a sign in a retail store, flea market, or garage sale. It’s usually placed near items that are fragile. Another saying is: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. The first sayings aren’t so much about breaking and fixing as they are about personal responsibility and accountability for your actions. The last quote basically implies that everything is working just fine, so don’t mess with it. Sometimes in an effort to make improvements, we make things worse. Some physical items can be fixed or replaced quite easily, while others are irreplaceable because they are rare or one of a kind. In the final analysis it’s all just stuff. As I get older I’ve come to realize that the stuff I used to think was important and valuable, isn’t anymore.

The hardest thing to fix is not some object that can be bought and sold regardless of size, value, or usefulness, but a broken relationship. It seems more and more lately I hear or know someone whose family member or once close friend hasn’t spoken to them in years. Something was said or done that caused disagreement, hurt, offense, misunderstanding, or someone just didn’t get their own way. In a heated moment words may have been spoken, or actions misinterpreted . The relationship was broken, and usually by the person who was offended, blew up in anger, and walked away. It’s easier to break a relationship with someone you haven’t invested much time with. Often times it’s just a matter of realizing you no longer have things in common. The relationship isn’t broken, it just fades away as you go in separate directions. You would still talk to them at Walmart if you met them while shopping. On the other hand, there may be someone you notice and really don’t want to talk to, so you avoid them. In the case of a family member, people may cut others off completely with “the silent” treatment. It’s often because they are harboring a grudge or unforgiveness towards another. The death and funeral of a mutual loved one may bring them together physically, but the rift between them remains. Pride is the biggest hindrance and roadblock toward mending a broken relationship. It needs to start with communication. If neither party is willing to initiate that, or if one is and the other refuses to talk, then those are the relationships hardest to fix and may remain broken for years or even a lifetime. For some people nothing you can say or do is good enough. No apology, asking for forgiveness, or trying to restore or make restitution will budge their hardened heart. It seems they like holding on to the offense and using it as leverage or a form of control to coerce the other person to meet their demands. It baffles me how anyone can act so indifferently towards another family member, be it parents or siblings. You broke it, you fix it. How many more years do you intend to waste and lose? You keep drinking the poison of avoidance and unforgiveness not realizing it’s killing you, not the other person. However, the ones you are shunning suffer also, as they wait for you to desire and move towards reconciliation. I’m speaking from personal experience in writing this. I have a brother who hasn’t spoken to me in 13 1/2 years simply over money and the way mom‘s estate was settled. ”And forgive us our trespasses (sins) as we forgive those who trespass (sin) against us.” (Matthew 6:12) That is part of the Lord’s Prayer which so many recite religiously out of wrote every Sunday in church, yet gloss over verse 15. “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses (sins), neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses (sins)”. This is one of those spiritual laws that applies to everyone whether you profess to be a Christian, agnostic, atheist, or just a common heathen.

When Adam and Eve sinned, they broke the relationship they had with God, thereby dragging all of future mankind right along with them. However, the good news is that God didn’t say to them, “You broke it, you fix it”, because that was impossible for them. Rather, In His grace and mercy He said, “You broke it, I’ll fix it.” That’s exactly what happened when Jesus died on the cross for our sins, fixing the broken relationship between us and God. There is only one stipulation; you must appropriate it by faith by believing and accepting Jesus Christ as your savior. There is no other fix, and no other way to get right with God. Romans 5:8 God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 2 Corinthians 5: 19, 21 God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Isaiah 1:18 “Come now let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” God is ready, willing, and waiting for you to have that sit down talk about that broken relationship between you and Him that you keep putting off. As a result, you may find the desire and ability to fix those other broken relationships in your life.

Updates Available

By: Denny

If you have a cell phone, iPad, computer, smart TV, or other electronic communications device, you have probably received this notification: “Updates Available”. You may also get alerts that you are running an older version and need to install the latest upgraded version. Sometimes your device is so outdated it can’t be upgraded to a newer version because there isn’t enough memory, or the newer version isn’t compatible with your old device. Technology is ever changing and doesn’t remain stagnant. You need to go with the flow in order to keep up with the latest and newest innovations. It seems they’re always wanting you to upgrade to a new and improved model. When they mandated TV stations to broadcast programs digitally, the good old analog TVs were worthless, except to watch movies on using your also obsolete VHS player. When ResMed cancelled their 3G network and upgraded to 5G, my perfectly good CPAP 10 machine which worked wonderfully could no longer communicate with the app. I couldn’t monitor or print my sleep history. I had to upgrade to a new 5G machine, which in my opinion is not as good as my old one. Even cars these days have become so computerized that the average do-it-yourself weekend mechanic can’t work on them.

Using the basic template I just mentioned concerning updates and applying them to the Bible, helps us to understand God’s word and His Kingdom. For instance, in John 3:3-7 Jesus was telling Nicodemus that one must be born again, otherwise you can’t see or enter the Kingdom of God. In computer terminology, the old version of ritualistic religious ceremonies and sacrifices was no longer acceptable to God, nor could it forgive sins. When Jesus died on the cross his sacrifice of giving his body and shedding his blood, was the instant the new covenant (version) became available and was in effect. It was like switching from analog to digital spiritually. Over and over Jesus tried to explain this through his teachings and use of parables. Many believed, and in a manner of speaking, they downloaded and installed the new version, not on a device, but in their hearts. Others were like the Pharisees who rejected Jesus, being so set in their worthless traditions. God was upgrading to 5G, and they were quite resolute in keeping their 3G thinking it was better, but not knowing it was no longer useful, adequate, or acceptable to God. In Luke 5:37-39 this is exactly what Jesus was saying when telling the parable of the wineskins. “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; For he says, “The old is better.” The whole system of do-it-yourself religious works was obsolete and incompatible with the new version upgrade God was offering, but they liked the old better to their own detriment.

God’s plan of salvation does not and will not change, neither does the operating system of His Kingdom principles. Jesus Christ is the only true way to God. Sadly, many people are coming up with so-called new versions of Jesus these days. Once downloaded and installed into your life, they are like a malicious malware virus that wreaks havoc, because they aren’t based on truth. I mentioned previously how technology is ever changing and does not remain stagnant, and so it is with God. He is ever doing wondrous works in the world and inviting people to partner with him. However, you must be using the newest version and update it daily through prayer and reading His word to know what He’s doing. There is an interesting portion of scripture in Ezekiel 47:1-12. It talks about a river which flows from the temple. It has measured depths symbolic of the Holy Spirit and your personal walk and relationship with God in various stages. The river gives life and healing wherever it flows, but the swamps and marshes will not be healed or give life. Swamps and marshes are places where the river once flowed, but the river changed directions leaving behind water now stagnant and dead. Such is the sad condition of many churches and the people who attend them. Does that statement offend you? Maybe you need to check your heart and verify that you’re running the true gospel version. If not, you need to install it by accepting Christ as your savior and remain current on updates that are available.  

“I Do”

By: Denny

Our church has this thing called the “Chocolate Club”. It’s comprised of couples; a man, and a woman (it’s sad that because of the times we are living that I even need to make that clarification), who have been married at least 25 years. Every year on the Sunday closest to their anniversary, the couple is asked to stand during the service while Pastor Adam announces how many years they’ve been married, starting from 25 years and upwards. He then hands a gift bag containing a card and chocolates to another person who takes it to the couple. The congregation applauds, and if there are more couples, they are honored and congratulated in the same manner. May 1st was our 31st anniversary and they gave us a whole bag of Hershey’s mini candy bars variety pack. Sometimes Pastor asks the couple to give a short statement about their secret or reason their marriage has lasted. The answers range from a comical quip, usually from the man, saying something like: “Happy wife, happy life”, which usually results in everyone laughing. Other comments are more practical such as: “Never go to sleep angry at each other”, “Not every argument is worth winning”, “Love and serve your mate”, “Pray together”, “Make Jesus the center of your marriage”. Laying aside jesting, I believe all those are important and should be present in a lasting marriage. There never will be a perfect marriage, because of the sinful condition we were all born with. Nevertheless, God has and will bless every marriage that puts him in the center. One might assume that if two people who individually have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, that it would automatically translate into Him being the center of their marriage. Maybe in theory, but harder to live out on a daily basis. It often takes laying down your own will, patience, and overlooking your spouse’s faults because you have many yourself. The walk down the aisle and saying “I do” is easy, the challenges begin when the realities and trials of life smack you upside the head. However, now there are two of you to face and overcome them together. Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. (Vs 12): Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. If Jesus Christ is that third strand in your marriage cord, your chances of overcoming life’s problems and having a lasting marriage are vastly improved. You may even get to be a lifetime member of the “Chocolate Club”.

Far too many marriages are ending in divorce these days because they were built on a bad, weak, or wrong foundation. Bluntly speaking from experience: good sex doesn’t make for a great marriage, but a great God centered marriage results in good sex. My first marriage failed miserably because of a flawed foundation. Someone needs to hear this. It used to be called “shacking up” which carried a connotation of wrongful behavior, guilt, and shame. But that’s too judgmental so now it’s called cohabiting or living together, which somehow makes it more palatable and socially acceptable. Lust is not love. Make no mistake, God calls it sin and sinful behavior is always the wrong foundation to build a marriage upon. You can and should get married, which is an honorable thing to do, but you’re still building on an old foundation that will eventually crumble. Someday you’ll wake up next to that once beautiful woman or once handsome man that you thought you couldn’t live without and think, “What have I gotten myself into?” Any love that may have been there is vanished leaving only emptiness. Rather than turn to God, many opt for a dime-store divorce and move on to the next relationship. Sadly the percentage of people who call themselves Christians are increasingly falling into this category. Just because you both sit side by side in church on Sunday doesn’t mean Christ is the center of your marriage. Following your religious traditions and ceremonies is as worthless as a plunger in an outhouse, if it doesn’t bring conviction followed by repentance. Repentance, simply stated, is agreeing with God that His word the Bible is true and making the necessary changes in your life and marriage to line up with it. Amos 3:3 (NKJ) Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? (Living Bible Paraphrased) “For how can we walk together with your sins between us?” The correct and only answer is you can’t. You can’t change your past, so maybe the time has come for you to turn to God and agree with Him. If you walk in agreement with God, it will amaze you how often you and your spouse will agree with each other on just about everything. That’s what putting Christ at the center of your marriage looks like.

Many couples choose to opt out of traditional marriage vows and write their own vows. I’m okay with that as long as they reflect Biblical truth and values. What causes me to raise an eyebrow is when the vows are reduced to a simple contract-like agreement between what seems like two business partners. It’s almost like they write into them a provision for them to bail out if the other person doesn’t hold up their end of the deal. The last wedding we attended both my wife and I looked at each other while the couple was reciting their vows wondering where they came up with that milk toast feel good dribble. Together we prayerfully wrote our own vows according to and referencing scripture. There was no surprise on our wedding day as to what we were promising as we recited them to each other. Both our vows end with this same sentence: “With God’s help, I covenant to do and keep these promises to you, as long as we both shall live.” We don’t hear the word covenant used frequently. It implies a deeper commitment than a simple agreement or contract. A covenant says, regardless of your behavior, I will keep my word. That also is what putting Christ at the center of your marriage looks like. God is a covenant making God as seen throughout the Bible. It should be a fearful thing and not taken lightly to include God in your covenant vows, because you aren’t just making them to your mate, but also to God. I remember what my father-in-law said to me on our wedding day. He said, “ If you don’t take care of my daughter or harm her in any way, I’m coming after you!” My reply was, “I’m not afraid of you, but don’t worry, if I don’t treat her right God is coming after me and that makes me really fearful.” Even in a covenant marriage there will be times of conflict, anger, selfishness, disagreements, silence, weeping, and bad behaviors. There will be moments when you like the other person, and times when they aggravate you. Covenant is not based on “Like”, but on “Love”. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity , but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

If you were to ask me the reason our marriage has lasted so long my reply would be, “It’s really no secret, we are in covenant.” I can’t imagine loving or being married to anyone but Lucy, and my “I do” hasn’t changed in 31 years neither do I think it will in the future, as long as we both shall live. I just wish she hadn’t hidden the Hershey’s candy bars so I couldn’t have them at will. Maybe that’s why she hid them and rations them out only two at a time. She knows me so well!

Worse Sinners?

By: Denny

It was a long trip from Galilee for those traveling to the temple in Jerusalem. They had come to offer sacrifices unto God. There are several speculations as to why and what happened that day, but the result was that Pontius Pilot sent soldiers into the temple to kill them as they were offering their sacrifices. One commentary said there were about 3,000 men killed. The Galileans were considered to be a lower class of seditious people by those in Jerusalem. They spoke the same language as the Jews in Jerusalem, but they had a definite accent that was easily recognizable. Such was the case of Peter, being himself a Galilean, when he denied He knew Jesus. Mark 14:70 But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.” Herod was the governor over Galilee in the North, while Pontius Pilot was the governor over Judea in the South. They were in opposition to each other and not on friendly terms. Perhaps Pilot killed the Galileans to send the message to Herod that Galileans weren’t welcomed in Jerusalem. At any rate, the news spread and was told to Jesus. Luke 13:1-2 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilot had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?

They had said goodbye to their families that morning as they headed off to their jobs working for Leibowitz & Cohen Construction. It was just another ordinary day at work, no different than those before. A few may have walked along together as they headed for the job site discussing and coordinating their particular plans, duties, and actions once they got there. It was a beautiful sunny day and if all went well, they might be able to complete the Siloam Tower today and enjoy the weekend before moving on to the next project on Monday. Nobody knows for sure; maybe it was poorly designed, the footings may not have been deep enough, or perhaps they were using substandard materials. It happened at noon when all the men were sitting eating their lunch in the shade of the tower. There was a cracking sound that got louder. Bricks began to crumble and suddenly without warning the whole tower came crashing down killing all 18 men. Hypothetically, it could have happened that way, but the Bible doesn’t say. It only records that Jesus asked the same rhetorical question that he had asked those same people who came to him with the news about the Galileans being killed. Luke 13:4-5 “Or those 18 on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? There appears to be an almost veiled supposition by those present that the Galileans and the 18 men were worse sinners because of their horrible untimely deaths. In each case Jesus gave the same answer, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Throughout the centuries there have been tragedies that have snuffed out the lives of people just going about their daily activities, and we are no exception. Plane crashes, terrorist attacks, school shootings, bombings and shootings at events, building collapses, accidents, wars, diseases, and every kind of natural disaster you can name where people have died, are headlines we see in the news on a daily basis. Most recently we  witnessed the video of an out-of-control ship crashing into and bringing down the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, MD. Six workers who were making repairs to it at the time lost their lives. This was absolutely horrific and tragic. Not only for the six men and their families, but the untold hardships and far-reaching secondary impact on jobs and the overall economy. I find myself wondering if Jesus’ statement, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” would be the same today as it was then. The answer without even asking is yes. Granted, that doesn’t fit the one-sided view of the gentle, loving, and kind Jesus that many picture Him to be. Just as many, if not more, become angry at God for not preventing such things, which usually ends up with them becoming bitter and rejecting Him.  Death rarely ever gives an advance warning. The mysteries of the who, what, when, where, and why’s of life and death are only known to God. How would you tell someone that God cares about, loves them, and wants to be involved in every aspect of their lives, when they are suffering and grieving over the sudden tragic loss of a loved one? You certainly wouldn’t say, “Unless you repent, you will likewise perish”. Yet, Jesus did, because His primary and ultimate concern is for every eternal soul. Does Jesus lack compassion for those who have died and those left to grieve? Not at all, but there was a far greater eternal truth he was revealing. The statement, “you will all likewise perish” is worthy of pause and consideration. Jesus wasn’t telling them that unless they repent, they would die in the same manner. In Luke 5:32 Jesus says, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” The first words Jesus spoke as He began His ministry as recorded in Mark 1:15 were, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, but not because Lazarus died. He knew ahead of time that He was going to raise him back to life. He wept because of the unbelief of those gathered there. John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never (die). (likewise perish) – my emphasis) Do you believe this?”

There are many who would and do categorize sins. You have the little white lie sins, the middle of the road sins, and the really bad worse sins. In the eyes of God there are no worse sins or sinners. You either are one or you aren’t, and in case you don’t know, you are one. The playing field is level for everyone. Jesus is the only one who never sinned, which qualified Him alone to be the Savior of all mankind. What comes to mind when you hear the word repent? Perhaps it’s a scene from a movie depicting a preacher as a wild-eyed half-crazed man dressed in black pointing a long finger and shouting, “Repent sinner, or face the fires of Hell!” Leave it to the Hollywood elite to stereotype, misrepresent, demean, and portray Christians and the Gospel in a bad way. Repentance isn’t something you can force people to do out of fear to escape Hell. Think of repentance as if you are walking in one direction, then do a complete 180 turn and go the opposite direction. True repentance is birthed out of a heart realization that you are a lost soul in need of a savior. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts, opens your understanding, and draws you to Jesus the Savior who is calling you to come to Him. Believing is more than a general acknowledging that Jesus died for the sins of the world. It must become personal and that happens when you confess that you are a sinner, ask for forgiveness, and invite Jesus Christ to save you and be the Lord of your life. Jesus Himself said, “You must be born again”, and that’s what happens. The Holy spirit takes up residence in your heart and helps you to repent. Your old sinful nature was crucified with Christ, and you have a new nature according to His righteousness and now have everlasting life. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” We don’t often hear or use the word perish. It means to die a violent sudden death. The “should not perish” that the above scripture references is immediately followed by, “but have everlasting life”. It’s like a two-sided coin: repent or perish. We all will die someday, but there is coming a time when everyone will stand before God and be asked what we did about Jesus. Those who have repented in this life and accepted His sacrifice as payment for their sins, already possess everlasting life here and now. For us, death is just a door we pass through to enter Heaven. However, those who have not repented and turned to Jesus in this life will not be given that opportunity after death. Heaven’s door will be closed to them. Sin demands payment, and they will pay for their own sins by being sentenced to an everlasting death away from the presence of God, perishing in Hell. That is what Jesus meant when He said, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish”. Those aren’t my words or opinion, and you can read it for yourself. (John 3:17-20)

Where do you stand with God right now? Have you truly repented, or are you still listed among the condemned and the “likewise perishing”? If your life was taken from you today, can you say with confidence that you have everlasting life and no fear of death? You may think you are a  worse sinner, but there is no sin that the blood of Jesus that He shed on the cross for you cannot cover. Don’t wait, make your choice today, so that whatever happens you can face each day with confidence and peace and say along with King David.

Psalm 31:14-15a But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand.

Searching For Significance

By: Denny

I do not have a degree in Psychology or anything else, nor have I read any books on child development. I’m not a so-called expert on this subject as so many are or claim to be. I’m just an old, road-weary, worn-down, retired truck driver expressing my thoughts on what I have observed and experienced in my life of 71 years. I believe there is a God-placed longing and desire in the soul of every person that their life matters and counts for something, and it begins when we are born. Granted, a baby knows nothing of the elusive search for significance nor can they. They only cry when hungry and need their diaper changed, but the most important need they have is to know they are loved and accepted. Those first few formative bonding years establishes the foundation that will determine where their search for significance will take them. They must first be rooted and grounded firmly in that their significance is found in who they are and not what they can do or what others say or think of them. The three greatest things a parent can give their children is their love, acceptance, and approval. If the parents don’t give it, the kids will find it elsewhere. Sadly, their search for significance may lead them down the wrong path. Far too many parents these days fail miserably from the very beginning. They neglect their responsibility and assume that without Godly moral guidance the kid will find their proper significance on their own. In other words, they don’t want to interfere but just want to be their friend and let them be and do whatever they want to. Worse yet is when they allow others, who are so mixed up in who they are, to input their values into their children. Parents must actively affirm early on that their boys are boys, and their girls are girls. If in doubt, check their plumbing again, but don’t allow them or anyone else to change it. If kids were more confident and secure in who they are, we wouldn’t have or be dealing with all this sexual gender identity crisis and nonsense going on today. Thanks to public schools, our government, and news media, we are forced to accept the lies they are promoting, approving, and propagating. However, you can’t make us all believe or bow down to your twisted idyllic agenda. The following is an excerpt from a previous post I wrote entitled: School Can Be Cruel – Kids learn quickly where they fit in and often experience teasing, bullying, and rejection for the first time. This can have a devastating effect. Kids will single out others who may not be athletic, dress differently, have a learning or physical special need, any number of differences in appearance, social status, or personalities. That’s when clicks begin to form. It’s hurtful when no one wants you on their team or you’re always the last one chosen. As if rejection wasn’t bad enough, they usually attach a label to you to go along with it that can possibly follow you through high school and beyond. Is it any wonder then that teen suicide and school shootings are on the increase as a result of kids feeling insignificant, that no one cares, and their lives don’t matter. Their misguided and often unguided search for significance has led many to a literal “Dead End”, and with parents waking up to the fact that they didn’t have a clue what was going on in their own kid’s lives.

Acceptance + Approval = Significance. Wherever and from whoever it comes from absolutely matters, be it from good or bad influences. Young person and teenager; if your acceptance and approval comes from the friends you hang with, the way you look and dress, how popular you are and the number of likes and followers you have on Facebook, Instagram or other social media, how tough and cool you look with that cigarette or vape in your hand, or the foul language that comes out of your mouth; then your search for significance will end in disappointment. Likewise, many adults find and base their significance in a job, accumulating wealth and possessions, a certain social status, a relationship, hobbies, their talents, and a host of other things they can do. Everyone enjoys being noticed and likes to hear and be given an “Atta-a-Boy” pat on the back, but that shouldn’t be the fuel that determines and drives your significance. That is a trap that so many people can be and are unknowingly caught and ensnared by. I should know, because lately I’ve given place to those thoughts.

I began my writing in 1985 starting with poems and  plays for church. I’ve written and preached numerous sermons. My wife and I often wrote our own material for children’s church which we did every Sunday for years. In 2014 I felt the Lord impressed me to start a blog and post my writings and thoughts online. It is my way of presenting the Gospel and Biblical truths that I have experienced in a way that people could relate to in their daily living. I named it, The Straight and Narrow Highway – Discovering Jesus in Everyday Life. I posted one blog that year and got twenty-six views and only one “Like” (from my daughter-in-law). For the next five years I wrote sporadically and only published eight blogs and received no “Likes”. In 2020 I wrote seven blogs, but it wasn’t until I retired in 2021 that I poured myself into what I felt God was calling me to do. To date I have written seventy-seven blog posts not including this one, and 2,792 people from 30 nations have visited my website with 4,380 views which have garnered only 38 all-time “Likes” and 5 comments. In hopes of expanding my audience and exposure, I started a Facebook page on a trial basis. I had hoped that more people would hear the Gospel message as I posted my writings, and as my so-called Facebook friends would share them. The results were dismal with few who even “Shared” or “Liked”. I deleted my Facebook after one year. I got tired of seeing all the insignificant stupid things people shared and liked. I added a “Subscribe To” option on my website where people could receive via e-mail my new posts as I published them. Eighteen people have signed up so far, and I say thank you to them. Lately, I have questioned whether my writings have had any significant impact on those who read my blogs, especially when I see other bloggers who have millions of followers and likes. I’ve honestly questioned myself wondering if I’m doing something wrong or perhaps people just aren’t interested in what I have to say. I’m sensing the trap of insignificance wanting to ensnare me, but I won’t let it.

I was born-again on September 30th, 1983, as a result of accepting Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, and I surrendered my life to him. As my Lord, he now owns me, and whatever significance small or great I may have once had doesn’t even compare to the significance I’ve found in knowing him personally. My significance isn’t based on what I can do, but who I am. I am a child of God. Jeremiah 9: 23 to 24a, Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me. As true children of God one way we know that He is our Father is when He takes us to the woodshed for a needed attitude adjustment (Heb 12:6-8). As a result of Him doing so, it has motivated me to write this particular blog and share what the Holy Spirit spoke to me. I believe there is a lesson to be heard and learned by all of us, especially those who claim Jesus as their Lord, no matter what your ministry or calling is.

If you indeed believe that I am your Lord, and that I have gifted and called you to write, why do you seek the approval of others. Is not my acceptance and approval enough? If you write what I give you, what does it matter what others think or like? Do you now desire the praise of men above my praise? All I require is that you faithfully obey and allow me to direct those to the website who need to hear my words. I am not concerned with numbers, but only with changed hearts and lives. Plant seeds and leave the gathering of fruit to me and to those I’ve called to that purpose.

As I meditate on those words, I think firstly about Jesus. He was secure in knowing He was the Son of God. He didn’t need the affirmation, acceptance, or approval of men to give Him significance. He knew what His purpose was and fulfilled it. At the age of twelve His parents had gone to Jerusalem with others to celebrate the Passover Feast. Upon leaving they had gone a day’s journey when they realized Jesus wasn’t with the group. Returning to Jerusalem they found Him after three days, teaching in the temple. Questioning Him He replied, ”Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49) Many times the religious leaders confronted Him challenging His identity, but He didn’t waver, being confident in who He was and where He came from. Some secretly believed, but did not confess Him openly, being fearful of being put out of the synagogue, for they loved the praises of men more than the praise of God. (John 12:43) I also think of the Apostle Paul who wrote most of the New Testament being in prison or house arrest by the Romans. And what of Peter, James, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John who was exiled to the island of Patmos. I’m sure they didn’t write to see how many “Likes” they could get, nor could they even fathom that what they wrote would affect people centuries later even to this day. They all fulfilled their purpose having first found their significance in Jesus Christ. How is your searching for significance going? Will you find both it and your purpose in Jesus? In the final analysis when everything is said and done and your life comes to an end, nothing else will matter.

Lost or Misplaced

By: Denny

The conversation goes something like this: “I lost my ______, have you seen it?” The reply usually comes in the very helpful and deeply thought-out answer, “Where did you have it last?” or “It’s probably right where you left it.” You then replay the video in your mind trying to retrace your steps and deduce where it could be. If that fails, then you end up tearing the house apart frantically searching everywhere. It’s ironically amusing when you discover things that were previously lost, and you couldn’t find before. You think, “Now how did that get here.” Even more frustrating is when you can’t find something you were just using. It could be a tool, a pen, kitchen utensil, or anything you had in your hand a minute ago. Those things aren’t lost, they are simply misplaced and usually end up being in plain sight. My wife gets mildly aggravated when I empty the dishwasher and put stuff away. I’m getting better, but sometimes I put something in the wrong place not knowing where it’s supposed to go, so I think like a man and guess. Not a good idea. Inevitably she will be in the middle of cooking and needing a certain item and can’t find it. If I remember where I put it, I retrieve it, then she shows me where it belongs. Not lost, just misplaced.

“A place for everything and everything in its place.” Many of life’s problems could and would be solved or made a whole lot easier by following that simple rule. That applies not only to physical objects, but equally and possibly more importantly to other things, such as trust. Trust: assured reliance on the character, strength, or truth of someone or something: to place confidence, depend on, hope in, to commit or place in one’s care or keeping. Nearly every commercial you see on TV is designed to gain your trust in their product or service. You put your money in a bank or trust fund because you trust it will be safe. Take a moment to reflect on the physical objects that you put your trust in on a daily basis. What do you do when you no longer trust them, or they have lost their integrity to fulfill their intended purpose? That thing you purchased trusting it would do what you expected was a piece of junk that you ended up returning or discarding. The size, value, and importance of the item determines if it’s a big deal or not. You’re probably not likely to buy another car from a dealer who sold you a lemon, or rehire a contractor who did poor work. You wouldn’t let someone borrow your things if they have a history of not returning them. Simply put, you no longer trust them, but they are the ones who lost your trust, not you. It’s very difficult to recover trust once it is lost. As the saying goes, “Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.” To trust someone after that trust has been lost is misplaced trust on your part. However, lost trust can be redeemed, but trust has a high price to regain it. The flip side of that coin is that you never give the other person a chance to regain that trust, it’s easier to just write them off and discard them like a bad product.

Speaking of coins, the words IN GOD WE TRUST are stamped or printed on all of our currency, but do we really trust God, or has it simply become a cliche. Many people say they trust God, but write Him off when trials come, or He doesn’t do what they think He should or give them what they want when they want it. The very Word of God itself separates those who trust Him from those who don’t, when it becomes hard for them to accept and obey. So if you don’t trust God, who do you trust? Many have misplaced their trust in themselves, other people, material possessions, political and social causes, or other  things that are unreliable and will eventually fail. The Bible has much to say about who and what we should trust in. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 28: 25b-26a He who trusts in the Lord will be prospered. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool. Proverbs 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall. Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. This year of 2024 is an election year. We will be electing leaders who we trust will honor and defend the Constitution and uphold our laws, not pandering to special interest groups. Our nation is a mess because we have misplaced our trust in many past leaders with their own agendas. They have lost any integrity they ever had, and now, we are reaping the consequences. We have thumbed our noses at God, and resorted to electing officials expecting them to solve our problems, but they have continued to mislead and lie for their own benefit, profit, and power. Yet in ignorance, codependent people are stuck in the cycle of voting for them time after time expecting things to get better, but they haven’t, and they won’t. So, before you enter the voting booth ask yourself: Based on past performance, do I have assured reliance on the character, strength, or truth of this person? Can I be confident, depend on, hope in, commit, or place into the care and keeping, my trust in the person I am voting for. The choices we make and the people we trust is going to determine what kind of future we and our posterity will have, and the future will tell if trust will be lost or has been misplaced.

Speaking of the future, where will you spend eternity? There are only two options: Heaven or Hell. Guess which one requires trust to enter and which one doesn’t. Very good, you all said Heaven. Hell requires no effort to enter, but requires trust to avoid or escape from. The Bible says that all of mankind past, present, and future fell out of fellowship with God the moment sin entered the world through Adam. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Sin displaced mankind from God’s presence sentencing us to spend an eternal condemnation in Hell. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death. Sin demands payment, but sinful man cannot redeem himself, he needs a savior. Enter God’s wonderful plan to save us Himself through His perfect Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus took our sin to the cross where He died in our place, and God wiped out our debt marking it paid in full. This is the love of God. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. We love that part and can quote it verbatim, but how many know what verse 18 says; He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. The key word is believed. The Bible records several instances where Jesus was casting out demons and they cried out, “We know who you are, you are the Christ, the Holy Son of God!” Likewise in Acts 19:14-15 there were seven sons of a chief priest who presumed to cast out a demon using the name of Jesus, whereupon the demon answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” The man with the demon then beat the tar out of them. So you see, believing involves more than just reciting His name or a mental acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God, because even the demons know that. To escape the path of Hell and condemnation a person must put their total trust (as defined earlier) in Jesus Christ to save them. Anything less than that is misplaced trust and won’t get you into God’s heaven. Jesus came down hard on the religious Pharisees because of their hypocrisies and self-serving religious traditions. They appeared so pious externally, but Jesus called them a brood of vipers saying, “How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” The key ingredient to believing is trust, and trust must be based upon truth, and truth is the Word of God, not your misguided opinions, religious ceremonies, or even good works.

Jeremiah was a prophet who was sent by God to deliver His message of judgment upon and to a rebellious nation who had turned away from God, much like the United States has today. The corruption has even infiltrated the church and religious leaders. Jeremiah 7:8-11 (The Amplified Bible) Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot benefit – so that you do not profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then dare to come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, [by the discharge of this religious formality] we are set free! – only to go on with this wickedness and these abominations? Has this house which is called by My name become a den of robbers in your eyes [a place of retreat for you between acts of violence]? Behold, I Myself have seen it, says the Lord. We may not literally burn incense to Baal, but that doesn’t excuse us, because we have sacrificed millions of babies on the altar of abortion. As far as other gods, it can be any object, cause, job, relationship, hobby, social media, political agenda, or anything else that becomes an idol and consumes all our time and takes the place of God.

I often wonder how much further down the slippery slope of moral depravity and self-destruction we have to go before God says it is enough and comes back for His church; those who truly trust and believe. On the other hand, I know there are so many who have yet to come to faith in Christ and trust Him as their Savior. We, as believers, have the wonderful privilege and responsibility to proclaim the good news of the gospel to them. God has placed His trust in us to do our part. He never misplaces anything, so let us not lose it for Him either.