Will your god smash you like a bug?

Most people living and dead believe in a higher authority that I choose to accept as God.  The one and only true God that is the creator of all things.  It's likely you believe in God the creator, also.  Now suppose you were the creator of all things and one of those things didn't work right.  Maybe there was a cog broke off a gear or the hole you made was round instead of square.  What would you do?

 

I'm hesitant to apply logic to God, because He is not confined to logic.  He makes the rules and they seem many times to defy logic. But just for the sake of this blog, what do you think God might do?  Wouldn't He have the right to judge His work and since He created it, to either fix it or destroy it?   Kinda like a potter will smash a clay pot he is working on and rebuild it time and again until he gets it right.

 

As the creator of all things, God created you.  As creator, He has the right to judge His work.  Uniquely God gave man a freewill to do as man chooses.  But, think about this.  Just because God gave man free will, did not mean God no longer has a free will of His own. 

 

As creator, God has the right to judge the quality of His work.  He can smash you like a clay pot.  He can choose to rebuild you.  He can choose to welcome you into heaven to spend eternity with Him.  He can also choose to toss you into eternal suffering.  This is where grace comes in...

 

God recognizes your impections and sees you deserve to die, eternally.  He wants you to live, eternally.  He asked His Son to die for you that you might have life.  His Son said He'd rather not, but if that was the only way you might have life He was willing. 

 

Jesus died a physical death, he beat death and came back to life that you might live. 

 

Now the choice is yours...

 

It is predictable that many will read this and not believe.  God guarantees that all will have an opportunity to believe, but God chooses the time and place.  So if it has not been your time before God to choose, I pray it will be soon as Jesus is coming again and then the choosing will done.  All the choices will have been made.  Life or Death eternal.

 

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Phelps takes #2 spot. No help from bong.

Swimmer Phelps makes the news and breaks another record.  He officially did not win a race.  He has now set a new record.  He is in fact the fastest second place swimmer ever.  :)

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God gives. God takes away. God restores.

There is much to be learned from history which reveals a common theme of God.  As times rolls by God is blessed by the prayers and faithfulness of those that love Him.  He is repulsed by those that say they love Him and He rejects all that reject Him. 

 

In His pleasure, many times He blesses nations and its people with great wealth and health.  In His anger, He warns of impending rath and many times destroys all He has created.  For the wise that turn back to His way and find pleasure in serving the one true God, He restores all that was lost and blesses even more.

 

Where are you in your walk with God?  Where is He in His walk with you? 

 

Is God giving?

 

Is God taking?

 

Is God restoring?

 

I pray your eyes are on God and you see His pleasure upon your life.  I pray, regardless of the circumstances you face, you are confident of God's presence and love for you in the midst of the good times and bad.  God bless you and may you experience God's pleasure.

 
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When I wrote, "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.." I didn't know...

Mother Shot To Death Defending Son

POSTED: Sunday, July 19, 2009

UPDATED: 7:30 am CDT July 20, 2009

SAN ANTONIO -- A mother of three was shot to death as she tried to defend her son during an argument with rival gang members early Sunday morning, police said.

Officer Joe Rios, a San Antonio Police Department spokesman, said that Patricia Cortez's 14-year-old son was called outside by a girlfriend at around 4:30 a.m. in the 100 block of Precious Drive. When he went out front, he was confronted by four boys, Rios said.  Cortez heard the commotion and ran to her son's aide. That's when Rios said that Cortez was shot in the stomach. She died in the arms of her husband, David De La Cruz.

"I tried to pick her up and I felt the hole, and I said, 'Honey, you're hit.' She was just looking down at the street," De La Cruz said. Rios said that officers are looking for five people, including the girl who made the call asking Cortez's son to come outside.

Police have a vehicle license plate and believe the people are all members of a gang. Cortez's son may have been a member of a rival gang, and the fight may have involved a feud between the gangs, Rios said."

 

Note: This is a family member of a couple in our church life group.  The life group is a family entity in the richest of definitions and the "family" will be feeling Mike and Veronica's pain of loss, frustration and anger at this unrighteous act of murder.  Pray for Mike and Veronica as they navigate through troubled waters. 

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Sometimes "Freedom" is not all good...

"So I now proclaim 'freedom' for you, declares the LORD -'freedom' to fall by the sword, plague and famine." God through Jeremiah 

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It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

I have an aunt who has a brain tumor.  I have a friend that is partially paralyzed.  I have friends that don't have jobs.  I've got a sister who has lost most of her hearing.  Decisions I've made have hurt those closest to me.  Sometimes it is tough to wake up in the morning with a smile and sing Mr. Rodger's song, "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood..." 

 

But you know, it is a beautiful day in the neighborhood. If for no other reason then, Jesus rose again and died for my sins that I might have life abundant here on earth and life eternal in heaven.  WOW!

 

I was blessed to see my friend in a wheelchair at church, yesterday.  Yes.  It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood. 

 

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How much does credit control your tongue?

It's America!  It's the American way.  It's, "I owe.  I owe.  It's off to work I go."  We all have debts.  Everyone owes something to somebody.  The Word says to not be in bondage to debt.  It makes me wonder what bondage looks like in today's society.

 

God has given you a voice.  It is to speak truth.  Suppose God puts a thought in your head to speak truth to a coworker, boardroom of execs, classroom of kids or worship center of followers? You are about to speak, when the thought comes to your mind... "This could get me fired or maybe the tithing will stop?  How will I pay the bills?"   

 

It seems bondage can come in many forms.  Debt controlling your tongue can surely be impactful on God's plan for His abundance in your life and the lives of others.  

 

But what do I know, I'm just the janitor.  

 

Note:  Referencing the janitor crack, don't get me wrong.  I enjoy having thoughts spring forth from a man who is ok cleaning toilets for a living.  I just find it incredulous that you might listen to a man that's ok with cleaning toilets.  Maybe you should set you sights a little higher.  Ha!

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Dueling Banjos of Sorts...

There was a time in history (much like today) when phophets only had something good to say.  That is to say, "only good" until Prophet Jeremiah came along.  It was one lone prophet warning of impending disaster if the nation did not turn back to God pitted against a bunch of prophets all foretelling peace and prosperity.  God was ready to puke or at least cause everyone else believing in the false prophets to puke.  He spoke again to Jeremiah.

 

 "Listen, Hananiah! The LORD has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies. Therefore, this is what the LORD says: 'I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.' "  In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.

 

It's not easy speaking truth.  Much of Jeremiah's life was spent speaking God's Word under a direct threat to his life.  How easily are our actions and words impacted by the desire to please others?  There is but one truth and our perceptions do not influence it. 

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Even Teachers Can Be Doubtful of Smart

In highschool, I took my first biology class and sat at the lab table with cool people the first week.  It wasn't so much that I wanted to be cool, I just liked the people.  They were always doing amuzing things.  Most of time the amusement was tied to future punishment.  But I like the oddball.  It seems the odd is many times more real and honest than the supposed perfection of the pretty people.

 

Anyway, after a week I had to choose.  Follow the fun of odd or follow my passions centered around science.  I moved from the back corner lab table to the front and center lab table with the smart dull people.  I took my 1st test and received my expected 100%.  Biology came easy for me. 

 

To my dismay, my teacher called me to her desk and wanted to know who's test I copied.  Talk about being speechless.  It's true I didn't study, but that didn't mean I cheated.  It just meant some things come easy for me.I was with the "bad" crowd in the back and moved up front for the test.    Cheating seemed a logical conclusion to her. 

 

This teacher turned into a life long mentor and friend.  With her encouragement, I interned at Southwest Research in high school and later was hired as a student scientist, even before I graduated from college.  She is special and recently had the Peggy Carnahan Elementary School named after her.

 

My physics training and professional work on the Cruise Missile program underscores a simple fact: "Drawing conclusion with insufficient information is a risky business..."

 

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Creativity Can Get You In Trouble

I grew up with a sister and brother, both older than me.  I worked at being the class clown and most of the time succeeded.  People like a clown.  People are not so fond of smart.  People should stop and consider it takes being smart to really be funny.  But sometimes, the creativity that goes along with smart can get you in trouble.

 

My sister was watching me or some would say, babysitting me one day.  I had been goofing around outside with my friend and broke a pocket knife blade in half.  I instantly fell upon the opportunity.  I went in the house and got ketchup.  I pressed the broken blade against my upper arm and pored ketchup around the blade.  It was an awesome looking wound.

 

I then went running through the house screaming looking for my older sister.  It worked.  She screamed and turned white as a sheet.  It seems she might have even cried a bit if she hadn't been so mad.  I felt bad.  I think maybe I had gone just a little too far, but it did create a quite the unique memory. 

 

I wonder if my sis remembers the event as well as I.  Probably better... :]

 

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Lest we should forget what war leaves behind... Belgium. 5 months. 500,000 dead.

LONDON — Harry Patch, the last soldier to fight in the trenches of Europe during World War I, died Saturday at the age of 111, his care home in southwest England said.

Patch -- nicknamed "The Last Tommy" by Britain's media -- was conscripted into the British army at the age of 18 and served as a machine gunner with the 7th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.  He was 19 when he fought in the Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres, in Belgium in July-November 1917 in which an estimated 500,000 soldiers died.

That battle was one of the bloodiest in the conflict. One of the opposing German soldiers was an Austrian named Adolf Hitler, who as leader of Nazi Germany went on to launch World War II in Europe.

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The Bearer of Bad News Beware!

It is easy to not like the bearer of bad news.  Somehow the message is tied directly to the messenger.  Take for example Jeremiah.  He was much more than a bull frog or just a friend of mine.  He was a prophet, consistently bearing bad news...

 

"When the priest Pashhur son of Immer, the chief officer in the temple of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the LORD's temple. The next day, when Pashhur released him from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, "The LORD's name for you is not Pashhur, but Magor-Missabib. For this is what the LORD says: 'I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends;" said Jeremiah

 

Jeremiah was one of a kind.  He brought bad news.  He was beatened and tortured.  Then tells his captor he is to be named, "Fear of every side".  In those days, a name was important.  You were what you were named, just like now you are what you eat. 

 

In those days, it was tough being a prophet.  I think much like today it is tough being a prophet.  People don't like the bearers of bad news.  Then, the tithes dry up and the bills don't get paid.  The economics of bad news was probably much the same yesterday as today. 

 

ZINGER: It is much more profitable to bring good news, as our nations goes to hell.

 

Ouch!  Where did that come from?

 

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Super Burgers are not for Wimps!

My sister and her husband are visiting from back east.  It's been fun chatting about stuff from our childhood and the issue of food surfaced.  We were remembering how creative mom was in making meals cheap.  I think the most famous of all meals is the "one dish meal", but that's not the one that stuck in her mind or better yet throat.

 

The big memory was the Super Burger!  Get your pen out.  You'll want to share this with your family.  Get some ground meat, not much.  Pan sear it.  Add a can of mixed vegetables. Squirt in some ketchup.  Squirt in some mustard.  Mix it all up and slap it between a couple of buns.  God works in mysterious ways.  You eat that a couple times and you will never complain about the one dish meal again. :)

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What if God gave Performance Reviews

It is well known God has a book of life and so He must read and write.  That makes me wonder what else He does.  Since there is no one or anything above Him and He is sovereign over all, maybe He is also boss and writes performance reviews. 

 

Suppose God sat you down and reviewed your performance.  What questions would He have on your performance review and how would you rate?

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Bumped into Donald Trump the other day...

Actually, it was many days and a number of years, ago.  I was presenting my software company to one of the largest investment bankers in the world.  The company was Allen and Allen and one of the principles was Mr. Ned Patterson.  Ned was kind enough to cancel his appointments and spend the day with me, showing me his city.  The adventure was incredibly mind blowing and one of the biggest "God Spots" of my life.

 

Early in the morning, I walked a couple blocks from where I would be meeting Ned.  I found myself walking in the door of the Trump Towers.  The water fall was quite impressive.  No one else was there.  I figured what the heck, I'll take a ride on the elevator and see what NYC looks like from the top.  As I entered the elevator I bumped into Donald Trump.  He looks just like you see him on TV. 

Oddly, he didn't smile or even say, "Hello" as his security guard showed me the door.  True story and his hair didn't look any better in person.  Ha!

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Die to self and live for others

Have you ever wondered why God put you where you are? I don't mean this to be insulting, but human nature is what it is.  I know it is almost impossible to focus on anyone but yourself because that is human nature. 

 

But, could it be possible that you are where you are for the benefit of someone else?

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iframe

Nevermind, I got my answer elsewhere. For anyone who wants to know:

When you declare your iframe, be sure to give it a name, like this:


Then in your link itself, give it a target of the name of the iframe:
Link Text

or simply define the frame in the target box while the link text/image is selected.

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Job Post: Open sewer needs diver...

I had a friend who went to Haiti for a quickie divorce.  I'm not sure how legal it was, but he seemed to think it was ok.  He was commenting about what a hell hole of a place it is.  I can't say.  I've never been there, but I do have friends that go occasionally to share about Christ.

 

Anyway as my original friend was walking down the street, his eye glasses fell in an open sewer.  He was really quite blind as the proverbial bat without his glasses and he had pressing business to attend to.  He wasn't about to go sewer diving, but he did wonder if he could pay someone.

 

Sadly things are so bad in Haiti, it only cost him $1 for a kid to dive in and find his glasses.  Balancing that thought against the affluence of America, how much will you charge me to sewer dive after my glasses?  Maybe we should once again, slow down long enough to give God thanks for all he has done for America and us individually.

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Everyone is a Christian these days, what's the big deal?

It's true.  Almost everyone is Christian these days.  To prove my point, ask any of your friends if they are Christian.  9 out of 10 or maybe even more will say, "Sure!"  That should bring comfort to you knowing that the guys that say we live in a postChristian society are wrong. But, what I want to know is why do you lock your doors at night?

 

I think the Catholics have done a lot of the right things.  Seriously.  No one stands more firmly against abortion than the Catholics.  The pope and Oh'Bama were chatting about it last week and the pope wants our president to rethink His attitude toward abortion.  It won't happen, but it is a good thought.

 

Also, the Catholics have figured out they are running short on priests.  It's probably for a lot of reasons, but it is probably related to the same issue as everyone is a Christian these days.  It is much easier to be a Christian than a priest.  There is always an issue of dealing with burning desires.

 

As a believer in "The Way", the Word says that I am a member of the Priesthood of Believers.  That is pretty cool.  Imagine.  What this descriptor does for me is it immediately pulls me out or separates me from the crowd of Christians that belong to the world.

 

So, I think I am going to describe myself as priest.  If someone asks me if I am a Christian, I will say, "Sure! I am also a priest.  I just choose to wear blue jeans and pull over shirt. The backwards collar thing gets in the way of my janitor job."  The next time you see me, feel free to address me as Priest Archie.  Don't call me father.  I'm not your dad.  I kinda like the sound of Priest.  Yep! 

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Job was a pretty confident guy. Maybe even an optimist.

I have always been a pretty confident guy.  I'd set my mind at doing something and usually was successful at accomplishing the task.  Confidence is an interesting quality.  With confidence it is easy to assume comments made toward you are either meant to encourage or just have no impact at all. Insults typically don't even impact. 

 

As an example: If someone says, "You'd look good with your hair short."  I can feel complemented about my hair or I can be offended that they don't like my current hair. During the days of confidence in my life, I would feel complemented.  After having my confidence stripped away, I am easily offended.  That is not a good thing.

 

I'm not an analyst or shrink by any stretch of the imagination, but I think how comments are received are a function of self esteem.  Sometimes it is difficult to look at a glass as being half full anymore.  But, I think it is a matter of choice.  I daily choose to think about the good found in people and not interpret their actions as bad or intended to hurt.  This is sometimes a daily or even hourly struggle, but I think it is worth the effort.

 

Just as a point of clarification. I don't think everything someone does or says is good.  I just think it important to find the good in whatever the situation.  It is true when God says all things work together for the good of those that love the Lord. This proves out the thought that the glass is truly half full.  Good can be found in everything.

 

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I was a "Draft Motivated Enlistee"...

When I turned 18, I was required to sign up for the draft at the local
post office. For those of you younger than me, there was a lottery
system in place. Every year the government drew numbers out of a hat
or basket or whatever and decided who would go to war. The numbers
were tied to your birthday. I was born on halloween and my draft
number was 10. The government then called up numbers during the year
to safisfy their need for troops. A low number guaranteed your
opportunity for Viet Nam.
 
To avoid Viet Nam, I signed up for an additional year of service in
the army and got to pick my job. I did my research and picked a job
they didn't do in Nam. I chose to repair radar. They were only
located in Florida, Korea or Germany. Seemed safe enough until my
unit was activated for an emergency in Israel. It seems we had sold
them the radar and we were going to assist in their maintenance.
Fortunately for me, Israel ended the war quickly and I never had to
"assist".
 
The army was good to me in many ways. I married at 18 and had a son
at 20. This was all at the army's expense. I traveled much of
Germany via backpack and train and share my love for travel with my
family today. The army put me through school and helped me get jobs.
All-in-all, life wasn't so bad being a "Draft Motivated Enlistee".
 
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What are you willing to die for? Jesus gave it all.

In highschool, I worked at a local grocery store.  It was a good job.  I bagged and carried groceries to people's cars.  Sometimes, I even got a tip by some kind person.  One day was a bit more eventful than others.

 

It seems a couple guys had a dispute over a girl.  Each thought the other was muscling in on the other's turf or girl as the case was.  Somehow they decided the best way to settle the dispute was to meet in the grocery store's parking lot and have it out.  One guy thought talking was probably a good way to resolve the dispute.  Apparently, the other guy had a different idea on conflict resolution.

 

They drove up with cars facing each other.  They got out of their cars.  Unfortunately for both, one of the guys had a shotgun.  He pointed at the other guy and fired at point blank range.  The shooter left the guy laying on the pavement and sped off.  The guy on the pavement was dead. 

 

It makes me wonder if the guy lieing on the ground was willing to die for the girl of his dreams or was he just part of an unfortunate set of events. 

 

When Jesus found Himself on the cross and confronted with a choice of dieing for us that we might have life or calling down thousands of angels to settle the score, He chose life for you and I.  He may have preferred some other solution, but if this was the way it had to be in a path of obedience, He was willing to die for you and me.

 

Tell me.  If you were required to die in order that another might live, would you? Balance that thought against the grace shown by Jesus toward you and I when He chose His place on the cross.  God bless you in your walk and may you constantly find yourself in the presence of Jesus.

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In some things I only want to be a BIT more Christlike.

Earlier I chatted about being lost on pier at an earlier age.
Ichabod's comment was worthy of a Christ follower, although I'm not
sure if He would exactly characterize himself as one.
 
Personally, I want to more like Christ. But Ichabod's nonjudgemental
attitude toward my father's seemingly apparent neglect got me thinking
about being more Christlike. It seems there are boundaries to
"Exchanging" one's life for the life of Christ. Never thought of this
before.
 
For example: Taking on the quality of Christ in being peaceful,
loving, kind, etc. is a good thing, but taking on Christ's right to
judge is a bad thing. Or how about it is a good thing to worship
Christ, but a bad thing to have people worship you. aka Michael
Jackson.
 
I wonder what other characteristics of Christ should not be adopted in
our lives? Think. You can do it. Think... You've got plenty of time
to read Facebook later. Think about the Christlike qualities you have
adopted. Are there any you need to reject?
 
I need to constantly remind myself to not judge. That doesn't mean to
ignor, just means to not judge. Prayer goes a long way.
 
 
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How important is a wheel chair to you?

So a pastor friend and i were in search of a wheel chair. There was a
friend who was diabetic and needed a wheel chair to attend church
while his foot healed. We were given an address of where a reasonably
priced wheel chair was available. We drove around a couple hours
looking for him, it and the address. No luck.
 
We then started trying pawn shops. I figure a wheel chair would be a
great pawn item. It has value and no serial numbers. :]
 
Then, I explained the concept of a "God Spot". For new readers, a God
Spot is when God periodically authenticates His presence and I get to
blog about it. Anyway, I simply voiced a simple prayer that we needed
a wheel chair. The next place we pulled into had a wheel chair. It
looks new and they gave it to us! FREE!
 
I was thinking. Why does it take me so long to pray? The wheelchair
could have been found hours, ago. Isn't that funny? Can't you imagine
God looking down and wondering when I was going to ask?
 
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Remember the first time you got lost?

When I was 5 or 6 my dad took me fishing on a pier on a California
beach. It was to be one of those father - son bonding experiences.
As the story goes, we walked out on the pier a ways and parked
ourselves down next to a green trashcan to fish. You have imagine how
quick a 5 year old will lose interest in holding a stick with string
and looking at the water.
 
It wasn't long before I had to relieve myself. My dad had come to
fish, not babysit. He pointed down the length of the pier and told me
there was a restroom in the shack at the beginning of the pier. Quite
responsibly he pointed at the green trashcan he was standing beside.
He said simply walk to the shack and come back to the green trashcan.
He would be there. That made sense to me.
 
I walked on down and took care of business. Upon leaving the shack, I
look down the mile long pier and saw what seemed like hundreds of
green trashcans. I lost it. I cried and then cried some more. The
manager at the shack brought me back inside and fed me ice cream to
keep me quiet.
 
The manager announced on the load speaker they had a lost child and
would someone come claim me. I cried some more and my dad didn't
come. He didn't hear, but he did keep fishing. So I ate ice cream
and dad fished for a few hours. It came time to go home and dad came
by the shack and picked me up.
 
My dad wasn't much of a worrier. He figured things just worked out
for the better. This time it did. I got free ice cream. Dad got
fish. We both remembered the experience. I've been lost since then,
but never got free ice cream again.
 
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Untitled

When I was 5 or 6 my dad took me fishing on a pier on a California
beach. It was to be one of those father - son bonding experiences.
As the story goes, we walked out on the pier a ways and parked
ourselves down next to a green trashcan to fish. You have imagine how
quick a 5 year old will lose interest in holding a stick with string
and looking at the water.
 
It wasn't long before I had to relieve myself. My dad had come to
fish, not babysit. He pointed down the length of the pier and told me
there was a restroom in the shack at the beginning of the pier. Quite
responsibly he pointed at the green trashcan he was standing beside.
He said simply walk to the shack and come back to the green trashcan.
He would be there. That made sense to me.
 
I walked on down and took care of business. Upon leaving the shack, I
look down the mile long pier and saw what seemed like hundreds of
green trashcans. I lost it. I cried and then cried some more. The
manager at the shack brought me back inside and fed me ice cream to
keep me quiet.
 
The manager announced on the load speaker they had a lost child and
would someone come claim me. I cried some more and my dad didn't
come. He didn't hear, but he did keep fishing. So I ate ice cream
and dad fished for a few hours. It came time to go home and dad came
by the shack and picked me up.
 
My dad wasn't much of a worrier. He figured things just worked out
for the better. This time it did. I got free ice cream. Dad got
fish. We both remembered the experience. I've been lost since then,
but never got free ice cream again.
 
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Is this a sign? The number you are trying to reach has been disconnected...

So the other day, a friend of mine said he had stumbled across a past
business associate of mine and the guy from my past really wanted to
reconnect with me. I remember this guy and he was a great guy. We
drank a lot of coffee together while considering business and how God
was working in our lives. Due to life, It had been a few years since
we got together.
 
My current friend past me his business card and I said I'd think about
calling him. I wasn't real commited to make the call, but this
morning decided to. I thought it might be nice to rehash old times.
 
I called the number off his business card. You are familar with the
recorded message, "I'm sorry but the number you have called has been
disconnected." Now I am trying disperately to be "God sensitive".
What do I do with this?
 
Is God protecting me from making the call? Is the evil one preventing
me from making the call? Or did the guy just forget to pay his bill?
 
What's your take? Shall I call next week or blow it off?

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There are so many voices. Which one shall I listen too?

Everywhere you go. Every magazine you read. Every person you meet.
Every billboard you read. Every TV show you watch. Every movie you
see. They all have a voice. They have a message. They are designed
so that you might believe. More importantly, they are designed that
you might take action!
 
"Then out came a woman to meet him,
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
With persuasive words she led him astray;
she seduced him with her smooth talk...
 
Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
 
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For through me your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life." Solomon
 
Which voice are you listening to these days? Are you listening to the
voices that satisfy your earthly cravings and steal years from your
life?
 
Or are you listening to the ONE true voice that brings life and adds
years to your life. The wisest man ever to live once said, "Wisdom
brings immortality." Which voice do you choose to listen to?
 
Life or Death?
 
"For whoever finds wisdom finds life and receives favor from the
LORD". Solomon
 
http://www.1stchurch.org. You'll find 37stories there and all my friends.

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If I'd only known, life would have been different...

David knew there was a number assigned to the length of his life even
before he was born. I like to think that without sin that number
would have been an eternal number. But initially because of what Adam
and Eve did and later because of what you and I do, that number may be
shortened. I don't know for sure, it just seems that way.
 
When God wrote your number in His book of life, did he take into
account the time you drank so much you passed out? Did he have to draw
a line through your number and take off a day? Or remember the years
you worked excessively, did he have to deduct some days off? Or how
about the smoking or gluttony? Did he have to mark through the number
again?
 
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
 
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
 
Man is like a breath;
his days are like a fleeting shadow.
 
I think it is time for you and I to spend a minute and ask forgiveness
for all the lines God may have drawn through your number and the
things you will not have the opportunity to do because of the sin in
your life that takes the days away.
 
http://37stories.wordpress.com. You'll find 37stories there and all my friends.

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Is God still in the business of speaking or has Facebook taken over?

I Facebook a bit and blog a lot. I asked myself the other day, "Self.
Why do you blog? Why not quit, get rid of the snow and watch TV? It'd
be a lot easier. Nobody reads it anyway." Now where the heck did
that thought come from? I love to blog.
 
I am a goal oriented person. I need a goal to be happy. If I don't
have a goal, life really stinks for me. When I find myself without a
goal, I pray and read God's Word with the prayer on my mind and lips,
"God. What's next? Are you done with me?"
 
If God were done with me, I'd just assume go on home. I like the idea
of spending eternity with a God that loves me. In my prayer of
questioning God what was next in my life, He gave me a very strong
thought.
 
It is tough to describe the difference between a God thought and just
my own usually thought process, but there is a uniqueness about His
communication of a thought. It is bold and clear without any
hesitation and usually preceded by my obedience in reading His Word,
prayer and focus on Him.
 
This thought I believe to be of God was very clear in direction, but
absolutely impossible to achieve in my own abilities. This is not
unusual for God. It is so ridiculous, I didn't even hardly know what
He was talking about. So today at 1:33 AM, I ponder the thought and
begin researching the idea He has given.
 
Have you seen the hilarious movie, "What about Bob?" For him and I,
it is all about baby steps. God gives me a thought. I faithfully
respond in whatever way I can with what I have and then begin the
preparation for the next step. Today, the process is research to
understand the thought. It is that basic. I am trying to understand
what will be required to get to the next step. I'm not trying to
solve the complete puzzle. I'm just trying to faithfully get to the
next step.
 
What has God put on your heart? What is your next step?

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John Paul II and the Internet

"On November 22, 2001, Pope John Paul II made cyberhistory when he
published an official document on Internet, speeding it along to the
communities it was addressed to -- on the other side of the world."
Zenit.org
 
Please don't take this the wrong way, but you have to wonder what he
just sent to his closest of friends...
 
Read the entire article here: http://www.michaeljournal.org/popenet.htm
 
visit archie and friends at http://37stories.wordpress.com

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There is a time coming and it is coming fast!

“Nigel Gilbert of the Royal Academy of Engineering said that by 2011
you should be able to go on Google and find out where someone is at
anytime from chips on clothing, in cars, in cellphones and inside many
people themselves,” Redmond also said.
 
But that's not the most interesting. How about this speaking of patents...
 
"Another explains a device that can be placed in the auditory cortex
of the brain. This device allows the following process: someone speaks
into a microphone, the microphone then has the sounds coded into
microwaves which are sent to the receiver in the brain and the
receiver device will transform the microwaves back so that the
person’s mind hears the original sounds. In other words, a person with
this device in their head will hear whatever the programmers send via
microwave signals. (Phillip L. Stoklin took out patent number
4,858,612 on this.)"
 
Read the entire article: http://www.michaeljournal.org/newtechno.htm
 
visit archie and friends http://37stories.wordpress.com

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Ever had a bad day or maybe a bad life? David did.

Listen to a song David wrote. Imagine him singing it...
 
For I am poor and needy,
and my heart is wounded within me.
 
I fade away like an evening shadow;
I am shaken off like a locust.
 
My knees give way from fasting;
my body is thin and gaunt.
 
I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
when they see me, they shake their heads.
 
Help me, O LORD my God;
save me in accordance with your love.
 
Does this sound like a "man after God's heart"? What it tells me is
that will be times in our life that really stink. I mean the time
will be dead, dark, ugly, rank and smell of death. Others will laugh
and point at the weakness of your God. But....
 
There is a BIG BUT here. The BUT of it is God is big enough to hear
your cries for help if you are big enough to seek him out
persistently. David did not get "thin and gaunt" because God flew in
flying a magic carpet. God let things work out in David's life such
that he truly was a man seeking after God's heart.
 
I can easily believe David's accuser's got what they deserved
according to David's request and God's sovereignty. So don't give up
the fight. Stay faithful. Claim God's promise that "All things work
together for those that LOVE the Lord". It is conditional. You must
love. God already does. AWESOME!
 
http://37stories.wordpress.com
Visit archie and all my friends.

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Is it possible to be in the presence of God and not know it?

Do you think it possible to be in the presence of God and not know it?
 I'm talking about the God that created the universe and gave life to
you at birth. The same God whose Glory is described as being so
brilliant the sun seems dim in comparison. The God that parted the
Red Sea for hours, sent plagues to get mankind's attention and healed
my dad from leukemia.
 
Is it possible to be in His presence and not know it. I ask this
because I've been told that after one prays the believer's prayer,
after a period of time you might not feel the presence of God any
longer. The same person said, 'Don't worry about it. Just because
the feeling is gone doesn't mean God is gone." I believed it. The
guy was obviously smarter than me.
 
David speaks of the dark times of his soul. Those times in his life
when he didn't know the presence of God. I can buy that thought,
because God can do what He wants such that we have the opportunity to
grow in His favor. But that's not what I'm talking about. But if
ever it happened, I'd be fearful.
 
What I question is the lack of feeling His presence as a way of life.
You don't know if He is there or not and quite frankly don't care.
Have you been there? I've been there, but it has never been at a time
when I was seeking after God. It was always at a time when I was
forgetful of God's place in my life. I was not openly rebellious
toward God. He just wasn't important. I didn't feel His presence.
 
So to the guy that says, "Don't worry about not feeling the presence
of God". I say, "Hum bug" and if you don't feel God's presence as a
way of life, find someone that does. Discover his secret before it is
too late.
 
http://37stories.wordpress.com . You'll find archie and his friends.

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How much sin is too much?

I recently read an article by a PHD type discussing homosexuality and
the church. It made me ask the question, "How much sin is too much?"
What I mean by this is at what point in your christian walk does your
sin make you undesirable for the church? Let me put it this way as an
example.
 
Suppose I am a shoplifter and my best friend invites me to church. I
have no intention of stopping shoplifting, but I am thoughtful about
attending church with my friend. I am not against God. I am just not
for God. Am I welcome at church?
 
Now suppose I am a wife beater. No one knows I beat my wife. She is
faithful and keeps her mouth shut. I can get drunk and beat my wife.
Now my golfing buddy keeps asking me to go to church with him. He
says my wife and I will fit in great with his life group. Am I
welcome at church?
 
Well, suppose I am homosexual. Very few people know. Some likely
suspect, but most don't know for sure. My collegue at work invites me
to church. Am I welcome or do I need to quit my homosexual lifestyle
before I come? You know it is an abomination before the eyes of
Christ and all.
 
So if I need to quit my queer lifestyle, does the drunken wife beater
or shoplifter have to quit their lifestyle before they come to church?
 I just want to know how good you have to be before you can come to
church. There is such an emphasis these days on "being the church", I
just wonder if we know whether we are willing to accept the tax
collector across our welcome mat?
 
http://www.1stchurch.org. You'll find 37stories there and all my friends.

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Kansas City or Bust!

Grace Point Church is sending a mission team out to be a part of the
church in Kansas City, MO. It should be an awesome time of fun,
family and fellowship for the team and their soon to be friends in
Kansas City.
 
As a career I traveled a lot. I was always heading out to do the next
deal. I thought it was important and I suppose it was a way to
provide for my family. But looking back, I missed a lot of the life
of my wife and son. I wish I had those memories now.
 
Tomorrow, the table turns. My wife will be heading out and leaving me
behind. It is an odd feeling. I don't really like it, but I am
excited that God is using her in this way. She will telling children
about Jesus and sharing the discipline of Holy Yoga with others. It
will be a great time for all.
 
When you read this, I'd appreciate your prayers for Cora and her
traveling friends. God bless!
 
http://www.1stchurch.org. You'll find 37stories there and all my friends.

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Michael Jackson and the value of life...

White as a sheet, emaciated, collapsed veins was the news description
of Michael Jackson. Makes you wonder how he got to that place in
life. Did he wake up one day and decide to become this hideous person
with a discarded shell of a body? I mean really. How in the world
did this happen?
 
I think likely, Michael Jackson was a lot like you and I growing up.
He had a mother and father who likely cared for him. He probably had
a bicycle and girl friends. He went to school and had dreams. But
somewhere along the way, he discovered it is impossible to live life
alone. In his search for freedom, he found bondage.
 
I figure Michael Jackson slipped into his grave one step at a time.
Likely if he were alive today, he could tell you when he was
introduced to pornography, when he first began using illegal drugs,
when he began abusing people, when he rejected God and when he
realized he had gone too far...
 
It seems even earning one half of a billion dollars in your lifetime,
is still not enough for happiness. Have you found yourself on a
similar path? Where will you turn?
 
http://www.1stchurch.org. You'll find 37stories there and all my friends.

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Isn't Sarcasm Grand or Not...

I love the internet. I've had the opportunity to meet the most
interesting of people. Today I posted "Happy is the man that finds
wisdom". I received the following comment...
 
Godless American said July 9, 2009 at 1:03 am
I thought it was “ignorance is bliss.” Aren’t you blissful?
 
When I first started blogging, a comment like this would have hurt my
feelings. Really! I would have thought something like, "Oh no! I
have offended someone. I should not have said that." But after a
year of so, I find all responses interesting. Mostly, I am only hurt
when I perceive my God is likely greaved.
 
My thoughts on wisdom continue. I picked up an iced coffee at Micky
D's and read my Bible while Cora was leading Holy Yoga. I found
myself in Proverbs. Over and over the Word talks of Wisdom. I have
been feeling kinda down recently and I stumbled across the idea that
when a man finds wisdom he is happy.
 
I haven't been real happy. So, applying logic would conclude I must
not have found wisdom. That could be true, but I think not. Cora has
been praying for wisdom for me for 30 or 40 years. I figure, surely
God has heard and answered by now. At least a little bit may have
been gifted me. :)
 
These seemingly disjunct thoughts really do relate. Typical of the
aethist friends I find reading "37stories" I find they use logic to
back up their arguments. Fortunately in God's world, logic is a
limitation of mankind and can not be imposed upon the Creator of all
things....
 
Now faith! That's another thing...
 
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happy is the man that findeth wisdom

visit www.1stchurch.org for more God Spots....

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happy is the man that findeth wisdom

visit www.1stchurch.org for more God Spots....

For more GodSpots - 37stories Enjoy!

Coons are possessed!

It's 1:18 in the morning and I am convinced racoons are satanically
possessed. They have chewed through the fireplace chimney to get in
the attic to camp out where it is cool. Now that would be bad enough
but do they have to tear up everything in the process. I am really
hacked off.
 
I can't get on the roof because it's dark and the roof is wet. It's
too slippery to climb. In the mean time, I am becoming sleep deprived
rapidly. Look out at work. Mr. Cranky will be there to discuss an
exorcism. Did I say I am really hacked!
 
Gonna pump up the pellet gun and see if I can do some damage....
 
http://www.1stchurch.org. You'll find 37stories there and all my friends.

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There was a time before Jesus filled the gap..

It is tough to imagine a time before Jesus.  It was a tough time.  It was a time of limited grace and mercy.  It was a time when there was every reason to fear God.  Job says it well...

"He is not a man like me that I might answer him,
that we might confront each other in court.

If only there were someone to arbitrate between us,
to lay his hand upon us both,

someone to remove God's rod from me,
so that his terror would frighten me no more.

Then I would speak up without fear of him,
but as it now stands with me, I cannot.

If Job had experienced his suffering after Jesus came and fulfilled God's promises, I think his story would have been different.  Don't you?

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God gives, but does God take away?

"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."

 

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing

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What's in a name: Christian...

If I told you I was a plumber, you'd know to call me to unstop your toilet.  If I told you I was a fireman, you'd call me to put out a fire.  Now if I told you I was a Christian, when would you call me?  I've been struggling with what to call myself so as to best communicate to others what my identity is. 

 

The Wakopedia says,"A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity".  That doesn't work.  You can't define something with the word built in the definition. It further says, "Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament."  That is fine, but it really doesn't communicate my beliefs.

 

Much of my life, I thought being Christian was being Baptist.  Then, I heard about Christian Catholics and Christian Methodists.  There may even be Christian atheists.  I don't know.  It has gotten so confusing that the word Christian probably needs to be better defined.  I am thinking about the "Emerging Church's" definition of a Christian.  They may have solved the conundrum or riddle. 

 

For the emerging church folks, a Christian is someone who is headed toward Christ and a nonChristian is headed away from Christ.  They would vigorously debate the question of how heading to or heading away from relates to personal salvation. For me, I'm thinking that maybe their definition works if being Christian does not indicate one's eternal salvation.

 

So, a Harry Kristna type could be selling flowers in the airport and headed toward Christ.  I could refer to him as Christian, because he is headed toward Christ.  But I don't expect to buy his flowers in heaven, because although he may be headed in the right direction, it is unlike he will make the trip in his current state of dress and mind. 

 

Does that work? Be bold.  I'm hoping you haven't let the thought nazi's break your fingers or cut out your tongue.  What do you think about this new definition of Christian?  Are you ok with it?

http://www.1stchurch.org.  You'll find 37stories there and all my friends.

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The Emerging Church - What's a Christian?

So there is this thing called, "The Emerging Church".  Many believe it is a work of God that crosses all boundaries socially, ethnically, religions and whatever else you throw at it.  Some in the emerging church may define Christians as: "A Christian is then defined by their focus and movement toward Christ rather than a limited set of shared beliefs and values."

 

What do you think about this?

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What part does intellect play in the conversion experience?

Many have grown up in an intellectual society.  In my life, I have chosen to study many different things.  At the collegiate level, I chose to study physics and apply it to physical phenomenon.  The study was challenging, but easy for me.  I chose to study foreign language, it too was challenging for me, but never easy.  I am very limited in that discipline.  Today, I chose to study God's Word and I never understand it all.  I think my understanding is many times limited by my intellect.

 

I was given a book to read recently that required intellect to comprehend.  The author went into great detail analyzing the Biblical conversion experience. It seems from his perspective, he might be the only one in the world that understand the Christian conversion experience correctly.  His attitude is a popular attitude among individuals birthing new churches today.  I often hear people talking about how wrong the church is and if church would only do "it" this way or that, then God would show up and incredible things would happen.

 

I find myself, analyzing and drawing conclusions just like the other guy.  I am guilty of using my intellect to once again place God in a box.  In answer to my question, "What part does intellect play in the conversion experience?"  I have to say, "very little".  Conversion from being lost to being saved is very simple.  You must be born again.

 

There are likely an infinite number of roads leading to the gate, but there is only one gate and through that gate, there is but one path.   You must be born again and the only one doing the birthing is through Jesus.

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Happy 4th of July!

POP QUIZ: Who was Crispus Attucks?

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There was a time when there weren't Democrats or Republicans. Just believers or not...

They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul. ¹³ All who would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. ¹⁴ They took an oath to the LORD with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. ¹⁵ All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.

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But I want the gold first...

Well, once again it seems I had the proverbial cart before the horse.  It seems Solomon chose wisdom of the heart first and gold followed.  Good thing we serve a God of grace and second chances.  There is still time to get the horse back out front and chase after wisdom.

 

"King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift—articles of silver and gold, and robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules."

 

HAPPY FRIDAY!  Yeah I know it's Thursday, but this way I get to enjoy Friday two days in a row. Join me!  Let's take this concept viral.  Tell everyone HAPPY FRIDAY!  :)

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How BIG is God's blessings if you choose to participate?

Can you imagine a time when gold is so plentiful that there is no value in silver?  It happened during Solomon's rule....

 

"All King Solomon's goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon's day".

 

God looked at Solomon's heart and said something like, "Let's do this thing!" That's the God I want to serve...  But first, my heart...

http://www.1stchurch.org.  You'll find 37stories there and all my friends.

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The guy says, "Will you give me $10 so I can open a bank account?"

A funny thing happened a couple days, ago.  A college student says he has been sleeping outside, because he has no money.  He wants me to give him $10 so he can open an bank account.  Then, he can write a hot check for $150 with overdraft protection and have 30 days to pay it back.  He can use the $150 to get an apartment and continue his schooling.  Do you see any problem here? 

http://www.1stchurch.org.  You'll find 37stories there and all my friends.

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You've heard it all before, but did you listen?

I want to serve a God of abundance, but all I get is just enough.  Hundreds will read this post.  Is there anyone who consistently sees God provide for them in an abundant fashion?  I wish you would share as a faith builder for others.... Solomon served a God of abundance. The God Spot goes like this...

That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."

Solomon answered God, "You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?"

God said to Solomon, "Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." Chronicles

Is it possible, God looked at the heart of Solomon and saw something He liked.  Maybe God saw the makings of a miracle and the opportunity to show the world His Sovereignty?  Just maybe because of Solomon's heart, God proactively set the stage and put Solomon in a place he could CHOOSE to serve a God of "just enough" or if man enough, choose to serve the God of Abundance? 

Could it be the challenge is to develop a heart God finds pleasing, then He will create the place for you to be used and experience His abundance in the process?

Could it be that it all starts in the heart? 

http://www.1stchurch.org.  You'll find 37stories there and all my friends.

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So the guy says, "I love you". What next?

Thought you might enjoy reading a humorous side of missionary work... Thanks Darrel.

 

"Hey Peeps,

I did arrive in Burkina Faso about 3 and half hours earlier that John thought I would.  So, I was outside of the airport and everyone was trying to get me to take a taxi.  I was like uuummm no....I didn't want to tell them the truth which what, "I have no clue where I am supposed to be going?"  But, I thought to myself, "self act cool, just look around like you know what you are doing."  So, after about 45 minutes passed, I began to get curious.  So, I started to look for a phone number to call... but dum dum dum...I had no number.  So, I began mapping plan B in my head...American Embassy if all else fails.  So, a few of the men that had been asking me to take there taxi just stood there and watched me.  A gentleman by the name of Yacouba started to speak pretty good English to me.  He kept asking me which hotel I was staying at blah blah blah.  Then he said I could use his phone to call a friend.  I was like, ummmm it would be to the USA.  So, he purchased a sim card for his phone for me to call (I told him when my friend go here he would pay him)....I only had US dollar on me and Crystal was not born yesterday.  So, we began callin the numbers I had and nothing...so I was thankful that I had forgotten to give my phone to my mom because I had Darrel's info in it.  Called Darrel and couple of times no anwer.  Then my new friend told me that he loved me very very much and that he wanted to take me out for a beer and dinner (he will pay he kept saying)  I explained to him that was never going to happen.  Apparently, the more I resisted the more adorable I became...he then said we must get married, I am the woman for him.  He was like lets take you to a hotel to wait for your friends, I said uummm no... I said to him...let me try my friend again and called and Darrel answered, yeah!  So, John came shortly after that.  Yacouba gave me his phone number and address and told me I must to call him, he loves me.  Too much fun!  I know this is a fun story but please know...I am so thrilled to be here, God is so good.

 

Plans for the day:

We are looking at purchasing a house/school.  The people staying a year long will stay in the building where the school will be.

 

Please be in prayer for that.

 

Okay, gotta go we are about to meet...but know I am here and well. and John has already started his evil plot of getting me to stay a year.

 

Amazed by His Grace,

Crystal Wilson"

 

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