(a 3 minute read) Randy and Melanie are high school sweet hearts in their senior year. One evening when they were hanging out and it was exceptionally quiet between them, Melanie asked Randy if something’s the matter. Randy tilted his head, looked her square in the eye and said “Do you ever wonder what is your purpose in life?”  Melanie’s head jerked slightly back, not anticipating this.

So here’s how I understand it, Melanie commenced to share. Sebastian wants to make his father proud. His father owns a company and Sebastian starts working there. Sebastian believes that his father is grooming him for bigger positions. When things get pretty boring, Sebastian reminds himself that he needs to learn from the bottom up as his purpose is to someday become the CEO of this company.

10 years into his tenure, his dad sells the company. Sebastian is astonished, “Did I have it wrong? Why did dad sell his company that is doing so very well?” In the midst of these thoughts, his dad tells him that he’s starting a not for profit organization assisting with community needs. Sebastian’s heart leaps in his chest and is filled with joy. “Dad has been grooming me to properly manage this prolific work. This is what my purpose is.” Sebastian joins his dad.

7 years later, serving a multitude of people and is thriving with volunteers and donors, dad decides to step away and donates the organization to another not for profit organization.

Sebastian is at a loss. Could he have had his purpose in life wrong twice? He is now in his forties and feels purposeless. His father announces that he will now seek to start an orphanage. Sebastian thought to himself, “Wow, every time I doubt, my dad comes up with something even more worthy.” He goes to his dad and asks if he could join him in his efforts for the orphanage, and dad was thrilled and jubilant.

Sebastian interjects this jubilation and asks, “Dad, I do not want to get my hopes up for the third time in my life. I thought your purpose for me was to be CEO of your company, and I was disappointed. Then I thought your purpose for me was to become the director of the not for profit, and I was crushed. So is your purpose for me to someday take over running the orphanage?”

Dad had a loving smile on his face, took a step closer to Sebastian, gently held is head and gazed into his eyes and said, “Son, you choosing to journey with me fills me with joy indescribable. Know that I love you, proud of you and with you in whatever it is you choose to do. So please do not let your search for your purpose define your life, rather let your life be the evidence of your purpose.”

 

Some call it purpose and some refer to it as calling. God is journeying along your and my side regardless of what it is we choose to do. Spend your time to dwell and commune with Him through your journey, rather than spending your time wondering, doubting or searching for that purpose. Till next time 🙂

(a 3 minute read) If you are like me, and I hope many are, my choices are:

• Do not go and vote; not an option for me and hope you too
• Obligated to pick the candidate of my party although I do not want them
• Pick the 3^rd or 4^th party which will mean nothing; not an option for me and hope you too
• OR, collectively, citizens like you and me mark the “write-in” oval !!

Have you ever wondered why there is a “write-in” option?? I honestly do not know the original reasoning, but in my opinion the people that designed this process are giving citizens like you and me a valuable tool so that we can be heard and be represented by an actual percentage of the populace.

One million people are in agreement on something and they call each other, text each other, facebook each other and express their opinion to each other……….. the powers to be (the three estates) do not notice, and the media (the fourth estate) does not do anything about it.

100,000 people (10% of the million) take to the street in peaceful demonstrations…….. What do you think??  It will be all over the news and media and the officials will be asked, pushed and prodded about their position on such demonstrations.

Marking the oval for “write-in” on your 2016 ballot is the demonstration that millions across this wonderful land of ours can express their demands in the most peaceful way. Why? Because it reflects in solid numbers how many of the citizens of the United States of America do not want any of the candidates the system has presented.

Know that filling in the oval for “write-in” although counted, it is considered a non-vote, but an enumerated non-vote. The one million talking to each other does not get the world’s attention. The people that take to the streets are enumerated and therefore have a voice.

So take to the street by marking the “write-in” oval. The machine does not read what you actually write in, so you can leave it blank, but the machine counts the “MARKED OVAL”.

So think about it and talk to your peers. The biggest opposition will be from your hard party liners, but then ask yourself, “Should I follow my party or should I express my voice as a citizen?”

If you choose to express your voice as a citizen, please circulate this message in one way or another, for it is the sheer numbers in this demonstration that will force the government to make a correction to the process. The media, the fourth estate, will be obligated to push for the people.

The next elections will be for the people and not forced on the people because

(3 min read) Chris and Jerry lived next to each other. They were the same age and their parents were friends. Their proximity was a great catalyst in developing a friendship that grew stronger and stronger each day, and they became like two peas in a pod.

Somewhere along the way, Jerry started hanging out with the wrong kids. These new friends were bullying others. Chris of course was worried sick for Jerry. Chris knew that if Jerry, or any of his bully friends, just had a good talking to, they’d see that what they are doing is only hurting others.  Whenever Chris would approach the subject with Jerry, he would brush him off. Jerry at one point decided the only way to have Chris stop harassing him, is to turn his new friends against his best friend Chris.

Jerry and his friends mocked Chris and made fun of him. They humiliated him over and over again. Chris was so angry but much more than that he was hurt. Hurt and wounded, that Jerry of all people would do this to him. Chris decided that he will never as much as say a word to Jerry ever again.

Chris was not hiding from Jerry and his friends, he just did not want to see Jerry, as just the sight of Jerry brought the typhoon of emotions of how could Jerry do this to me. So Chris became very good at avoiding Jerry. What Chris could not avoid was the stories that classmates would share about the bullies. It pained Chris to hear the terrible things about Jerry and his friends.

Chris thought to himself; In spite of everything Jerry is doing, I still hold him dear in my heart. He is and always will be my childhood best friend. I have a choice to make:

• I can continue avoiding him, and spare myself the humiliation, but then I will have zero chance of influencing Jerry’s life.
• I can make myself available to him, probably get picked on, made fun of and humiliated, but then my presence maybe just maybe will at some point make a difference in Jerry’s life.

God is present with us at all times, just like two peas in a pod. God makes Himself available in spite of how you and me do things probably daily that may not please him, and it indeed hurts our Lord and Creator when we do that.

This ‘makes Himself available’ is forgiveness, for without forgiveness He cannot make Himself available. I believe God wants you and me to dwell in the fact that He is available and be thankful for it without the distraction of wondering how can our Lord and Creator continue to make Himself available.  Till next time 🙂

(3 minute read) Natalie and Kerri are in their teens and they are sisters. They are so different people never believe they are sisters. Their dad is a loving father and he is proud of them both. One of the differences between Kerri and Natalie is how they interact with their father.

Natalie needed new shoes. She knew if she asked her father, he will get her new shoes. So before even asking him, Natalie started thinking of the different styles that she will be picking from. She experienced a sweet feel of expectation. A brief thought of what if dad says no, entered her mind, but she quickly dismissed it. Natalie preferred the sweet exhilaration of getting new shoes than the feel of disappointment if she does not get a new pair.

Natalie approached her dad with that sweet smile of hers, rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his arm. Can we go shopping this weekend for shoes dad? Of course my sweet girl, dad smiled as he replied. Natalie walked away with a smile from ear to ear.

Earlier that day, Kerri looked at her worn out shoes and thought, dad works so hard to make sure that we have good things. I am so thankful for my dad and how he loves us and provides for us. Kerri smiled to herself in gratitude for her father and pondered; I know that dad will notice that I need new shoes. So for now, I will remain thankful that my shoes do not have a hole in the sole and I will remain content with what I already have.  Kerri’s smile reflected her contentment and thanks to her father.

Natalie’s father remembered that Kerri got her last pair of shoes at the same time as Natalie. So dad went to Kerri to ask her if she needed a new pair. Upon asking, Kerri’s eyes welled with a tear. She smiled and ran into her father and wrapped herself around him. As she squeezed him harder Kerri said, I am so thankful for you dad, and yes I do need new shoes, can we shop this weekend for a new pair? Of course my sweet girl, dad smiled as he replied. Kerri walked away wiping her happy tears, with a smile from ear to ear.

 

The father enjoyed the interaction with Natalie and Kerri alike. The need and outcome in this story is the same. The attitude, demeanor and method of Kerri and Natalie were quite different though. The difference did not impact the father or the outcome, but rather the girls themselves. Natalie’s focus was the outcome, while Kerri’s focus was her father.

In my humble opinion, our God, Lord and Creator accepts both types, but He desires the Kerri method as it makes Kerri better on the inside. No expectation, just content and at peace. Till next week  🙂

(2.5 minute read) Bethany is 7 years old and she loves to spend time playing outside. On a cool but sunny Saturday afternoon, Bethany and her dad dropped off her mom to run an errand in a neighborhood they are not familiar with. Instead of waiting in the car, Bethany and her dad took a stroll around the neighborhood. They spotted a playground and Bethany got excited as it had a colorful slide and she loves to slide.

There was a bench a bit distant from where the slide was and dad sat on it and told Bethany to go onto the slide. The smile on Bethany’s face disappeared and she stood still a step away from her dad. She extended her arm with an open hand, and dad smiled, stood up, took her small hand and said, “Oh you want me close to you as you slide.” A bigger smile surfaced on Bethany’s face and they both walked towards the slide.

Here are two possible endings to this story.

Ending #1;
Bethany slides down and has a terrific and fun time. Elated, she runs to her dad, wraps her little arms as far she can muster around him and squeeze. Dad feels the tender love of Bethany and he is ecstatic. His presence with Bethany allowed her experience to be greater and grander, and he felt and experienced her joy. Dad did not do anything, he was just there.

Ending #2;
Bethany slides down, and somehow along the way tips to one side. Bethany takes a tumble or two and scrapes her knee. As she comes to a stop she realizes her knee is bloody. She runs to her dad, buries her head in his chest and cries. Dad feels the pain and hurt that Bethany is experiencing. His presence with Bethany allowed her to be comforted and to feel supported, and he felt and experienced her pain. Dad did not do anything, he was just there.

We encounter these two circumstances throughout our lifetime interchangeably. We somehow look for our God, our Lord and Creator to impact, influence and even change outcomes for us. We implore Him to do just that almost on a daily basis. In my humble opinion God is clear in saying, “Train yourself on knowing and recognizing MY (God’s) PRESENCE, and I (God) PROMISE you that you will feel SECURE, and filled with PEACE and JOY throughout ANYTHING.”

Indeed our Lord and Creator is a God of miracles, but like Bethany let us not look for Him to heel the wound, rather experience His PRESENCE for comfort as our wound heels. Let us train ourselves to feel and experience His PRESENCE for our joy will multiply.

Like Bethany, all we should need/want is for our Lord and Creator to be there. We KNOW He is, now we need to train ourselves to feel and experience that He is. To train is to nurture and to grow. Till next week 🙂

(2.5 minute read) Ryan has a wonderful family, a wife and three young kids. Ryan has been laid off and he is seeking employment.  Jobs are scarce and Ryan is seeking diligently. He has to find a job as he is the sole provider for his family.

He was talking to a friend about his pursuit of a job, and his friend assured him that there is a job out there for him, probably just around the corner, and that he just should look harder, and try more diligently and surely he will find a job.

Poor Ryan, he is not leaving a stone unturned, he is asking friends, searching the internet and walking into facilities that are not even posting jobs. Finding a job is proving elusive and Ryan is at his wit’s end. He does not know where else to look, to search or to find a job. Ryan is feeling that the world is slowly closing in on him, closing so tightly that he is starting to get anxiety attacks. That feeling that his chest is squeezed between two walls and he is unable to breath. Ryan’s chase, pursuit, and search continue. He is seeking employment……

This word ‘seek’ is actually used repeatedly in the Bible, and we use this word ‘seek’ often to describe aspects of our relationship with God. Yet we know in our minds very well that God is not elusive, God is not hiding and definitely is here with us always, therefore He is not hard to find. Then why does the Bible so often use this word ‘seek’?

In the Hebrew language the word repeatedly used for ‘seek’ is actually ‘learn’, ‘teach’, ‘study’ and not ‘seek’.

Would you describe your relationship with God as one that involves a search, a pursuit, a turning of stones to find God? I hope not. For God is here, with you. But at many times it feels like a search, right? Would you believe me when I say that this is because how we’ve grown to understand that we need to ‘seek’ for God and ‘seek’ for His will………. It is how we use our language that impacts our state of mind.

If we are to teach our children to ‘choose to come to’ God and to ‘choose to follow’ His will, they would never come to a point to ask ‘where are you God’? When our children study and learn about our LOVING God, Creator and Lord, His will is clear, His will is apparent and His will is comprehensible.

Let’s remove the anxiety associated with the pursuit and with the search, and choose to use the words that best express the reality of our Lord and Creator. Let’s teach our children. It is how we use our language that impacts our state of mind. Let’s choose our words.

If you’d like to research the words used in Hebrew to express ‘seek’ it is the word defined in Strong’s 1875. Till next week  🙂

(2.5 minute read)  Although it has been about 5 years ago, I recall so clearly when the Cardinals won the World Series. I was there at that game with my family watching with anticipation. The Cardinals were down. Then they’d tie the game. Down again, tie it yet again. It was sweet.

People standing should to shoulder in the stadium. Whether you knew the people around you or not, the way we interacted, it was like they were family. Everybody is standing, chanting. We are all smiling and laughing, high fiving. Some cheering some screaming, and everyone, everyone is exuberant, ecstatic and elated.

The streets as we walked out of the stadium were packed. Packed with people that were not in the stadium, they simply came to experience the moment, to join in the celebration and to express their comradery, their love of the team and their brotherhood as fans.

Do you sense the excitement, the frenzy, the ecstasy and the exhilaration??

Well, this is how it was yesterday, Palm Sunday. Jesus entered Jerusalem and the people, the masses celebrated Jesus’ arrival. This same excitement and exhilaration described for the Cardinals above and probably even more. You see, the you and me in the streets of Jerusalem truly believed that Jesus is the Messiah, a King as they believed the Bible told them that will liberate and restore them. Free at last is how they felt. How can they not be super exhilarated.

United they celebrated, unified they chanted and they delightedly laid Palm reeds on the roads that Jesus would yet traverse. Can you sense the excitement?? A ticker tape parade for Jesus.

I look back at the night the Cardinals won the World Series five years ago, I smile and I long for that level of excitement. I am sure God looks back at that day in Jerusalem and long for that level of excitement from His people, His Creation. Till next week 🙂

(3 minute read) Josh was proud of his son Tom, as Tom was following in his dad’s footsteps being on the basketball team at his high school. The same was true for Collin and his son Eddie. Tom and Eddie are in the 10^th grade and are equally talented and train pretty hard during their school practices. They have a terrific coach that is very knowledgeable and constantly raises their level of expertise.

Josh ran into Collin and was expressing that he was so thankful for the coach teaching their kids so much, as Tom was hoping to get a basketball scholarship. Collin expressed the same about Eddie, and added that he is trying to do his part as a father. Twice a week he spends an hour or so training with Eddie on the basketball hoop on their driveway.

Josh tried to convince Collin that the coach is doing a great job and that he should maybe let Eddie hang with his friends or play some video games on those two evenings, rather than drag Eddie out in all kinds of weather to practice in the driveway. Collin drew closer to Tom smiling and said, “Remember when we were high school teammates on the basketball team? You used to complain to me about your dad making you practice at home. Josh responded, “I hated it though.” Collin replied, “But you ended up the better, much better player than I was.”

Collin tried to explain to Tom that a parent’s job is to supplement, compliment, augment and correct whatever other source their children are receiving their training in life.  Take faith as an example; as adults we hear that all we need to do is look around to nature to see God, His creation and His majesty. Collin proceeded, you know what, I remember maybe hearing that at Sunday school but I never recall my parents talking about it or pointing it out, and they were pretty well churched.  Wouldn’t it be easier for us growing up to hear that more often, way more often from our parents!? I think it is good for the parent as it is for the children. Cultivating into our children’s lives is necessary, it is work and it needs to be intentional. Cultivation builds Clarity, Clarity builds Faith, Faith builds Peace and Peace builds Unity.

If you, the reader, find yourself agreeing with Collin’s opinion about a parent’s role, then examine if you mostly depend on the church teaching your child. If so, please intentionally consider how you can supplement, compliment, augment and correct the church’s teachings in your child’s life.  Embrace the cultivation process and God is your guide, and may all glory and praise be to our Lord and Creator. Till next week 🙂

(3 minute read) This week my wife and I celebrated 20 years of marriage. God gets the glory for this marriage and for the way we feel towards each other. As my wife puts it’ “we still like each other”. I believe this is a beautiful moment to share, so I just did 🙂

Madeline and Samuel grew up very close to each other. Their mother and father were intentional in raising them in ways to strengthen their faith and show the ways of God. As parents, they knew that the hardest thing to instill in children is how to obey God. So they took careful attention to instill and teach obedience to their children since they were born.

Maddie and Sam were an example of wonderful children; well behaved, never caused a scene, did great at school and always acted properly at home and outside. Their parents were like the proudest parents ever. They knew that they did a great job teaching their children to listen and obey. Just as they believed God desires from his creation, to listen and obey.

As Maddie and Sam approached college, they went to their parents and asked them which colleges they should apply to. Their parents felt so great to be asked to select colleges with their children. As they went through the process of selection, it became apparent that Maddie and Sam had no preferences whatsoever. When asked how they felt about this or that, the answer seemed to always be; “whatever you choose mom or I am happy with your choice dad.” The interesting thing is this bugged the parents greatly. Although Maddie and Sam were obviously truly content with their parent’s choices, the parents were gravely hoping that Maddie and Sam would make choices that reflect how well they were raised.

Instead Maddie and Sam were making zero choices they simply obeyed…………….. Their parents were utterly grieved as they had no idea how to undo what they have done to their children.

Our God, Father and Creator made us with one attribute that none of the rest of His Creation received; the power, attribute and ability to CHOOSE.

In His wisdom, Our Creator and Lord, chances that we choose not to follow Him, than to have created us similar to the rest of His creation. We all know that Obedience by definition means and implies no choice. Then why do we use this word!? To choose to obey  phrase is an oxymoron, in my humble opinion. We can definitely choose to follow, for following means and implies choosing. I believe the entire Bible is filled with examples after stories after examples of choosing and choosing and choosing.

The choice, every day and every moment to each one of us is; “do I do what would please Him now, or do I choose not to.” It is indeed difficult to ask this question in every little thing that we do or think. The question is; “will you and I choose to ask this question in every little thing every moment and every day!?” Choose to follow not just obey, for the choice is what brightens God’s heart, and puts a smile on His face.

May the glory be to our God, Father, Creator and Lord always and forever. Till next week 🙂

Katie loved her security blanket. It was pink, fluffy and perfect to cuddle with. Katie took her blanky everywhere she went, and would not let it out of her sight. Katie’s perception of course was that her blanket offered protection, that it guarded her during the night. Somehow the blanket’s presence made the doctor’s visits less painful. When she had a tummy ache, hugging her blanket made her feel better sooner. If Katie heard her mom and dad fight, wrapping her blanky around her shoulder meant that the world is still safe.

She could not remember ever forgetting her blanket anywhere, not even once.

Every time Katie’s mom and dad tried to wean her off of her security blanket, it created such stress, anxiety and tension, they always opted to give up the fight and reunite Katie and her blanket. Although the blanky was not causing any harm, her parents did not want Katie to continue to believe in a perception that is not a reality. They did not want Katie to believe and count on something that is not real.

What’s more important; Keeping the peace with Katie having her blanky, now 17 years old? Or enduring the pain and agony of the separation?

We read in the Bible about feeding on milk versus feeding on solid foods. Paul indicates that when people are quarreling about whether to follow Paul or follow Apollo, it is like infants feeding on milk that are not yet able to feed on solid foods. God wants us to follow Him and not follow Barry nor Bill. It is 2,000 years later and we are basically still quarreling over the teachings of this church and those of that church, which indicates that we are still feeding on milk, still attached to a security blanket, still hanging onto perceptions.

How will we know that we are feeding on solid food when it comes to the Lord our God and our Creator? It is when the various churches work together and cooperate within the same community. When they no longer compete with each other, but rather strengthen one another. It is when the church humbles itself. Humbles itself to admit, teach and promote that this specific teaching of this specific church is simply one opinion of interpreting the Bible, and not the only way there is.

It will take you, and you, and you and me to ask the questions at our churches. Ask how come we do not work alongside the other churches in our community? Why is it that seven churches do the same program at the same time in the same community? It is indeed competing against each other and not cooperating together. Are you willing to not accept the status quo? Not accept the ‘that’s how we’ve always done it’ answer? Pray and read the Bible and see for yourself what would God rather have; churches cooperating or churches competing!

I’ll make an attempt to give an opinion on what is the milk and the solid foods, in our faith journey. It will just be an opinion. Till next week 🙂