Distractions

Distractions, we have so many!

We have become so rich in this country that even the poor have more distractions than the rich of other countries. Everyone has a television, the Internet, and electronic gadgets to keep their minds distracted from the things that can give life purpose and meaning. Seriously…….. we need to ask ourselves as we watch television each night what are we doing? Are we desensitizing ourselves to accept the filth and violence as the way life should be? Do we really want to live life like that?

I found a great visual image written by A.W. Tozer of how real life should be seen and lived……

“Like the eye which sees everything in front of it and never sees itself, faith is occupied with the Object upon which it rests and pays no attention to itself at all. While we are looking at God we do not see ourselves – riddance. The man who has struggled to purify himself and has had nothing but repeated failures will experience real relief when he stops tinkering with his soul and looks away to the perfect One. While he looks at Christ, the very things he has so long been trying to do will be getting done within him.”

Tozer is saying a lot in this paragraph. Not only does distractions keep us from seeing God the perfect One, but looking at ourselves keep us from seeing God as well. The thing Tozer most wants us to see is the part about our struggles to purify ourselves. This must be something many of us learn over time. I have struggled many years trying to change myself only to find repeated failure. I am in no way saying I’ve arrived at some kind of holier than thou place in life, but only that I’ve changed my focus on Christ instead of myself. I know now that the answer lies in gazing towards Him and not inward towards me.

When our minds and our hearts are filled by God’s love then we react to life in godly ways. This reacting is being done by God’s power, not ours. That is why it is so important to guard our eyes and minds from the things that are not decent and good.

God has made it easy for everyone, the weak, the strong, the poor, and the rich……. all can turn their gaze toward Him. God has shown Himself plainly in Christ. Look to Christ today and you will find the very things you have so longed for will be getting done within you. – Gary


PS: Don't forget Spring Training at Woodland Park this Saturday the 29th of March. Don Gordon will be speaking, and Peanut will be sharing the history of Bridgebuilders. Hank, I know you are smiling!

Checkout link for more info

http://www.woodlandpark.org/ministries/men/resources.asp

Dollywood is open again!

This blog is coming from Pigeon Forge, Tennessee where we took the kids for a wonderful weekend getaway to Dollywood as the park opens again. They have made a few changes as you don't come in like you have in the past and of course the new ride, "Water Battle" was on full display.
http://www.dollywood.com/
First, Festival of Nations is going on and that is great to hear the music. The kids had a great time yesterday going to their favorite rides.
This place is neat and always family friendly. Here is the skinny: Pay attention to how to get here as it is different, not bad . Water Battle will be a huge, huge ride in the summer. There is no way not to get wet and it is well laid out. The girls will ride it last today.
Lots of fun stuff in the Ireland section and you can see with what has happened with the addition of the Mystery Mine coaster and Water Battle they are planning something else of the back of the property.
Gold Passes pay off on discounts. For drinks and about everything. If you have small children, Country Fair since being redone three years ago is a fun place. Always remember to go by the Grist Mill to get some fresh homemade cinnamon bread before you leave. Get two loaves as you will have eaten on the tram ride back to the car. Can you tell that has happened to us?
You may say Hank, you are spending alot of time promoting Dollywood. Well, it is a wonderful place for families to have a great day.

NCAA March Madness has begun and I was blessed last night in getting to watch the Duke/Belmont game as we got back to the room and most of the kids went with Patrice to the indoor pool. BTW, one of our favorite places to eat has moved into Pigeon Forge- Buddy's BBQ is now on the Parkway right past all the big Theatres coming into town on the left.
Wonderful food. We chowed down on BBQ and chicken last night. Sorry for Belmont. One play could have made that game and they didn't execute that throw in. Anytime you around Knoxville even down to Lenoir City you need to stop at Buddys.
http://www.buddysbarbq.com/index.html


Easter is here and that is most exciting, this whole week I have been excited just thinking about Christ. I haven't always had that on my mind. We have been doing the resurrection eggs with the kids this week and I am amazed at their bible knowledge. It makes my heart glow to hear them even add scriptures they know in their heart.

I have been traveling the past week to St. Petersburg and then back so have some links to some things that I will add this weekend. Will post some comments on Salvador Dali too after touring his museum in Florida. (One weird man).
Gary and I know we have several folks reading the blog and a special shout out to Sam Greer and Freeman Powell at Hickory Valley Christian Church. Freeman invited me to their monthly men's breakfast this month and it was excellent. These are some wonderful brothers in Christ. Working on making sure No Man is Left Behind.

http://www.hvcconline.com/mambo/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

May you have a wonderful Easter weekend taking in what Jesus Christ did for you and me. He is Risen!

What is Reality?

What is reality? The dictionary says, it’s “the state or the quality of being real”. So what is real? For those of us that believe in creationism and in the God of that creation……… the answer can be summed up in one word. Redemption!

God is redeeming everything in the world including us, and that is reality. Redemption is about fixing the broken. It’s about making something bad into something good. It all went bad when we went bad. We cracked the universe when we tried to remove the God that created it. But the good news is…….redemption is not judgment, it’s about mercy, and love.

It’s about the Gospel, the story of God sending His Son to die in our place, and giving us a new life in Christ. We do have a choice in the matter though, we can accept or reject this offer. For us that has accepted this redemption we are now part of God’s story. Since we have received mercy, we now in turn show mercy. Since we have received love, we now in turn show love.

But do we? Are we part of God’s redemptive plan? Are we trying to help the broken, or are we trying to get rid of the broken?

Is the Christian community thought of as people of love and mercy, or are we thought of as mean spirited and self righteous? Are we afraid of what people may think if we help the homosexuals, or heaven forbid…. befriend one? Do we help people we know at work that are struggling with problems, or do we just watch them self-destruct and eventually get fired?

There is a lot of buzz today about accountability. What is accountability? Is it about helping someone or is about being someone’s judge? If you are going hold me accountable, does that mean that when I mess up you’re going to tell everyone about it and then walk away saying, “I knew he would finally mess up, so the sooner he’s gone the better”. Is that how accountability works?

It seems that we are too quick to write people off. Loving them and helping them is just too messy……….

Reality is about “redemption” and the result of redemption is a heart of love and mercy. Helping others is never too messy for God. Jesus said, “they will know us by our love for one another” and let’s not forget, “blessed are the merciful”. - Gary

Excellence?

Excellence can be a troubling proposition for some of us, especially for those that are perfectionist. We can become very legalistic in our pursuit of excellence. Then on the other hand some of us are overwhelmed by the idea of excellence. We see it as something outside our reach. We can become legalistic and push too hard, or we can become passive and fail to even try.

I believe most of us mess up because we define the word excellence wrong. How would you define excellence? When I think of excellence I think of being perfect, but I think that’s an unhealthy definition for me or for anyone. How does the bible define “excellence”?

The bible does not use this word many times. In the NIV it’s only used 8 times. One place it’s used is where Paul is telling us to think on good things, things that are true, noble, and right. Then he says “if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think on these things. The word excellent there means “moral goodness”. Moral goodness can be defined as “pure of heart”. I would like to be “pure of heart”! Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God”. Proverbs says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life”.

In the sermon on the mount Jesus outlined a way of life that we would call Kingdom Living. As children of God we live in that Kingdom now, it’s not something we’ll find after we die. After we die we’ll just be able to see it better.

So as we live in this Kingdom we are to desire a life of “moral goodness”, but it’s not something we can strive to obtain. The power is not in us! God’s goodness only comes in trusting, not in achieving. We have no power in our own efforts, no more than we do in our own salvation. True repentance, God’s grace, and Trusting are the keys to “moral goodness” or being “pure of heart”, but that’s a subject for another day. - Gary

Working on the Dash

Traveled this week and it was a beautiful afternoon as we went up in the air and when you get to about 30,000 feet even on a rainy day...it is sunny. You always hear people say that the clouds look like puffy cotton balls and it always a reminder of me of the wonderful way the Lord made this world.
Today I went to a friend at work's mother's funeral and once again discussed with my wife on the way home how different my funeral will be.
I really want it to be a celebration.

Because I will be in heaven!

So the music will be a little different than most funerals and the wake music even more fun. You know several Kingdom favorites and then some Drum and Bugle corps. (I have two friends that if they are there, they would hear the first few notes and go...good year, good choice)

Music has been a big part of my life.

But, right now I am working on the dash........ 1963-
There is much to do and little time. A chance to make a difference first in my four children's lives and my wife. Then work and church to impact the world as an Ambassador of Christ.
Let's talk about that as we move into the month of March. Right now as the year is moving forward ARE YOU? Have you made clear goals to improve relationship areas with your wife? Have you worked to love your children more? Show them Christ in You? Have you been making a difference in your workplace? Are you doing the same in your church? and your community?
Where is your time going? Does it need an alignment? They are trying to use old mapping to take part of Georgia from Tennessee because they (Atlanta) need more water. Is something taking away time from where you feel you need to be?
Leading your home? Being a performer on your job that your manager says I wish I had 10 of you!? Sit down and re-evaluate today. Make small plans of engagement with those you know you need to engage, plans and dreams you have for Christ and begin. Where is Christ working around you and join Him!

We will check in about two months and see where we are.

Well, something new for the web. The Seattle Supersonics have the first all FLASH web page....look for this to trend to other places:
http://www.nba.com/sonics/
Always look at Lost Remote to the left to see the newest trends in media as well.

Well, Tuesday will be the most interesting day we have had in politics in America in a long time. The media was so upset with itself for giving the Bush Administration such a free ride on going into Iraq and here they are again so mesmorized with Obama that they are doing the same.
Today Obama blamed the economy on Bush. How sad. It just shows how little the man knows about the economy. But you know Bush is an easy target isn't he? You won't see any republican leadership on television tonight or in the future defending him. They are like little puppies right now.
McCain's choice of VP is what is intriguing and the timing has to be right too.
If I remember right, the Dems meet in July in their convention and the GOP in Sept. leaving them just 2 months to Obama's crowning by Keith Olbermann.

Just be watching what Newt Gingrinch does during this time. He knows what is ahead and is planning for a GOP rebirth. I just hope we can get some men and women to run and begin to become statesmen again.

We talked about music a little ways back and Jason Ingram is still writing some good music, he won awards this year again see here:
http://www.sesac.com/news/christian07.aspx

Leave you with another thought from Ed Cole today:
"A greater sorrow than a man not seeing a need is the man who sees it and does nothing about it. But a still greater sorrow is the man who sees the need and can do something about it but won’t. ”[ Additional Information ]


May God Bless you today!

Feeling Better...Catching Up

I tell you the last three weeks in our household has been one of a flu like sickness that has gone thru the family and also lingers around. It has been so good to feel better lately. You cherish the feeling of just feeling normal. I know I don't look normal but I do feel normal.

It was a busy week and passed fast and here on a holiday like President's Day it is wonderful to thank the Lord for those men who have lead our country and pray for our leaders today.

Well, let's get started Charles Barkley was interviewed with Wolf Blitzer and says he says that conservatives are fake Christians. He plans to run for governor in 2014 in Alabama. I think Charles is a little bit upset with the word of God (see Jimmy Carter story in previous post) and not conservatives. He needs to get someone in his "fav five" (If you haven't seen the commercial- I lost you) that can help in understanding the bible.
Then he needs to get someone in his "fav five," that can help him not eliminate most of his political base in Alabama before it's too late. (Huckabee carried the state this primary) Would you pray for Charles today? He needs to see the most inclusive person of Jesus Christ is the same.....(Hebrews 13:8)

Here is his short interview:
http://www.breitbart.tv/html/48184.html

I bought the last issue of Good for this main map of abortion laws by country. Take a minute and take it in. I welcome your thoughts.
http://awesome.goodmagazine.com/transparency/008/trans008abortionlaws.html

Who is the fastest growing religious group in America? Not who you think. Also denomination ranks here:
http://www.pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=14974

Great Reagan quote on being a dad in Family Culture Watch's blog:
http://www.familylifeculturewatch.com/

Thom Rainer is wanting to be a Bridge Builder....wow! that phrase sounds familiar:
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0%2C1703%2CA%25253D164893%252526M%25253D201117%2C00.html?

And last but not least we are experiencing another wonderful movement of the Lord at the annual missions conference at church. We had over 7o men at the kick off breakfast and 150 women at their kickoff brunch. Stories from all over the world of where the Lord is moving. His touch being felt and lives changing. It is a wonderful time......a time of tribulation and still here in this country we are taking for granted we have a home field advantage. As a brother in Christ said this weekend, "May the Lord, richly bless you."
May we make time for Him today in our lives thru prayer and looking at the word.....the truth....the playbook for all men.

"are you drinking from a cistern?"

Do you know what a cistern is? I’m sure you’ve heard that term used before, it's simply a hole in the ground to store water. You have to put water in if you want to get water out, there is no spring that feeds it to keep it fresh and full.

I had an uncle that lived in the backwoods of Soddy Daisy many years ago who lived in a small little house that had a cistern. He actually had the gutters of his house running into that make-shift well.

My dad would take me to see uncle Sproul when I was a little kid, and he would let me squirrel hunt with my little JC Higgins 22 rifle in the woods behind Sproul's house. My uncle was a very unusual guy, he could build or fix about anything. He built a saw-mill once so he could cut the lumber to build a garage. He was a great mechanic and people would bring him their cars so he needed a place to work on them. You see, Sproul never had what you would call a regular job. He could fix about anything that was broke, except himself, because he was an alcoholic.

I remember drinking water from that old cistern and wondering what the little bitty black rocks where? I was still just a little kid, so I didn’t know and didn’t care, but looking back now I realize it was the little black rocks off the shingles of uncle Sproul’s roof. It’s a miracle I didn’t die from drinking that water. I guess you can live with a well like that if you keep putting water into it and Sproul figured out how to do that with his gutter.

Sproul could have had fresh water if he had just kept digging, but he wasn't interested in water unless it was 100 proof.

Jesus said, “seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you”. He was saying, fresh water is available to you, but you have to dig a little deeper. God’s love and grace are free, but the unfathomable treasures that are pure and clean and refreshing we have to seek by serious digging. God has called us to be rivers of living water, and we find that water in Christ. We need to drink deeply as we study the life of Christ. There is treasure to found there, but are we willing to give up our time to find it?