Today the news is that President Obama finally showed the world his birth Certificate. I am one of those people, who would like every presidential contender to have to prove his eligability to hold the office they seek.
But this got me thinking about citizenship. I have a birth Certificate, that says I was born in San Diego California Feb 17, 1957 To Pearl D, and Donald A Calvin. I don't remember how much I weiged, and I don't remember the actual time, but I know I was born.
It seem silly to have to prove you were born, I mean the fact that your alive should be enough, but I understand it's not about you being born, but about where you were born.
I have this Birth Certificite but I am not a citizen of the United States as more of a citizen of heavan. When I die, I will have a death certificite, which proves I died. I don't see the reason to prove that I died, just look at me, I won't be around. But I understand the Certificate is for insurance purposes.....
Whats my point? President Obama is either a citizen of the United States and there by eligable for the office he currently holds or he is not. Being a citizen is important, if your a citizen of the US, it comes with prilidges like you can run for president. But when I die, I don't think I am going to worry about that.
I have a new world that I will enter because I am a citizen of the Heavanly. When I asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart, I began my new citizenship. There is no certificiate, there is just a "knowing". when I get there, there will be no question as to the legality of my citizenship. I will be ushered into the pressence of Jesus Christ himself. There will be no questions in the papers as to the place of my birth. Jesus will say, yes I know him, let him in.
I will trade that any day over my citizenship here in the good ole US of A.
Make sure your citizenship is not in question, ask Jesus to enter your heart and forgive your sins. Then He will "know" you too. Heaven : it's a terrible place to miss.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
What about the Law?
I recently had a interesting conversation with my daughter. She brought up a subject that she had been discussing with a friend. Remember when the Ark of the Covinient was being moved around by the children of Isreal? God had made a law, that no one was to touch the Ark in any way. This ark was were the very presence of God was . Along they way one of the guys carrying the Ark, slipped and fell ,and it was on it's way to hit the ground, possibly breaking it into a million peices. But a man, saw what was happening grabbed the Ark and made sure it did not touch the ground. The man who touched the Ark, was struck down from Heaven by God, and died.
This got me and my daughter talking about the Law, Grace, and things like that. Why did God not understand that this gentleman was trying to save the Ark from touching or breaking upon the ground? He was just trying to help. Erin, my daughter said this is one of those things that even though we do not understand, we must accept because God knows His ways and we do not, we cannot see "The Whole Picture". She is right.
Have you ever tried to "Help" God? You know, pray like this: " Dear God, Oh Wonderful Savior, I need a job, so bad, and I know you will help me find one, you know I would like to work at that place that Susie works, it seems like a good place to work, I know they aren't hiring right now, but if you could see your way to make someone get fired or quit, then I could work there" Amen.
That brings to mind the gentleman who tried to "help" God, by not allowing the Ark to touch the ground. I am sure is was instinct when he reached for the Ark. I mean you see something falling your instinct is to catch it before it hits the ground. BUT God had said to not touch the Ark. The guys who were carrying it used long poles that were fed through hole type things so as not to actually touch the Ark itself. What do you think might have hapened if this gentleman had not touched the Ark? Maybe God would have reached down from Heavan and stedied the Ark Himself? Maybe the ark would have just hoovered in mid air untill they got the poles back in place, and continued on their way? The bottom line is God does not need our help.
You may have heard this before, but I told this illustration to my daughter, "A man was looking out a window way above the traffic in a large city. He looked way down below and saw a rather large car attempting to squeeze into a tiny parking space . The driver of the car, was turning the wheel this way and then that, surley he could get his car into this space. But from above, the man saw there was no way that large car was going to fit into that small space. Then the man in the building looked down the street and saw 4 or 5 empty spaces just a block or less down the way. He began banging on the glass, yelling," go around the block, there are spaces down the way...."...........But of course the man in the car way down on the street could not hear him.
God sees us striving in our everyday lives, struggling with the littelist things, worried about the stupidist concerns, and He can see that tommorow those things will not matter a hill of beans. He sometimes is Yelling at us, banging on the window saying" Don't worry about that, just press on and look at this place that is just down the street where you can rest. You are trying to do MY job, I will fit you into the place you belong, you'll never do it on your own."
God's ways are higher then our ways, He has plans for us not to harm us, but to enrich us (That is my translation) When we think you can help God, we are putting ourselves to a level that is equal with Him, There is NO WAY We are equal with God. He can see the Big Picture, and we can only see the tiny parking space we are trying so hard to squeeze into.
There was a song years ago during the Jesus Days, of the '70's by "Love Song. It was called "Front Seat, Back Seat" It begins: "I was sitting in the front seat, trying really hard to be the driver,.".................and
through the rest of the song we learn that he has decided to "sit in the back seat and leave all the driving to Him"
Are you like me, sometimes tellilng God how to answer the prayers we pray? Do we disobey the Laws of God, because we are "Just trying to help". ? When is the last time God needed any Human Beings help? He made us, He can do anything by Himself. Remember, he is the Driver, He is the Captain, He is the Chief Engineer He is the Pilot, whatever conveyance you pick to go through this life, leave the "Driving" to Him. His Ways are ALWAYS the best ways.
This got me and my daughter talking about the Law, Grace, and things like that. Why did God not understand that this gentleman was trying to save the Ark from touching or breaking upon the ground? He was just trying to help. Erin, my daughter said this is one of those things that even though we do not understand, we must accept because God knows His ways and we do not, we cannot see "The Whole Picture". She is right.
Have you ever tried to "Help" God? You know, pray like this: " Dear God, Oh Wonderful Savior, I need a job, so bad, and I know you will help me find one, you know I would like to work at that place that Susie works, it seems like a good place to work, I know they aren't hiring right now, but if you could see your way to make someone get fired or quit, then I could work there" Amen.
That brings to mind the gentleman who tried to "help" God, by not allowing the Ark to touch the ground. I am sure is was instinct when he reached for the Ark. I mean you see something falling your instinct is to catch it before it hits the ground. BUT God had said to not touch the Ark. The guys who were carrying it used long poles that were fed through hole type things so as not to actually touch the Ark itself. What do you think might have hapened if this gentleman had not touched the Ark? Maybe God would have reached down from Heavan and stedied the Ark Himself? Maybe the ark would have just hoovered in mid air untill they got the poles back in place, and continued on their way? The bottom line is God does not need our help.
You may have heard this before, but I told this illustration to my daughter, "A man was looking out a window way above the traffic in a large city. He looked way down below and saw a rather large car attempting to squeeze into a tiny parking space . The driver of the car, was turning the wheel this way and then that, surley he could get his car into this space. But from above, the man saw there was no way that large car was going to fit into that small space. Then the man in the building looked down the street and saw 4 or 5 empty spaces just a block or less down the way. He began banging on the glass, yelling," go around the block, there are spaces down the way...."...........But of course the man in the car way down on the street could not hear him.
God sees us striving in our everyday lives, struggling with the littelist things, worried about the stupidist concerns, and He can see that tommorow those things will not matter a hill of beans. He sometimes is Yelling at us, banging on the window saying" Don't worry about that, just press on and look at this place that is just down the street where you can rest. You are trying to do MY job, I will fit you into the place you belong, you'll never do it on your own."
God's ways are higher then our ways, He has plans for us not to harm us, but to enrich us (That is my translation) When we think you can help God, we are putting ourselves to a level that is equal with Him, There is NO WAY We are equal with God. He can see the Big Picture, and we can only see the tiny parking space we are trying so hard to squeeze into.
There was a song years ago during the Jesus Days, of the '70's by "Love Song. It was called "Front Seat, Back Seat" It begins: "I was sitting in the front seat, trying really hard to be the driver,.".................and
through the rest of the song we learn that he has decided to "sit in the back seat and leave all the driving to Him"
Are you like me, sometimes tellilng God how to answer the prayers we pray? Do we disobey the Laws of God, because we are "Just trying to help". ? When is the last time God needed any Human Beings help? He made us, He can do anything by Himself. Remember, he is the Driver, He is the Captain, He is the Chief Engineer He is the Pilot, whatever conveyance you pick to go through this life, leave the "Driving" to Him. His Ways are ALWAYS the best ways.
The Day After
It's Monday morning AFTER the ressurection. How do you think the people of that day felt? Rumors were flying all over the country that Jesus was alive. Some, I am sure said things like: " I won't believe this untill I see it." Others were thinking: "Could it be true? Is Jesus really alive, if so do you know what this means??!!"
Then rumors of those who had seen Jesus starting flying through the countryside. He was seen by a few here and there, people who were trusted, ....."He wouldn't make that up, he never lies, Jesus must be alive".....
Now here we are over 2000 years removed from that monent. How do we respond, the Day After? Yeah, Easter Sunday was a very nice time, went to church, had an egg hunt with the kids, had a great dinner, spent time with my family, throughly enjoyed it.
What about the fact that Jesus Died, was burried for three days, and rose again for you and me? Yes, it happened 2000 years ago, but it is still the one sacrifice that will never be matched again, why, because it dosen't need to be matched. That one sacrifice was all that was needed for us to have access to the throne of God, Himself.
So, let's have a mini celebration EVERYDAY for our Resurected King, He died not so we could have a egg hunt, have a good meal, spend time with our families, go to church, and throughly enjoy our day. He died so we could have GRACE when we mess up, We don't have to be perfect, we don't have to make animial sacrifices to Him, HE way THE sacrifice.
It's NOT just the day after, it is the first day of freedom, joy, grace, passion, love, selfishness, .............but mostly it is HOPE, Hope in Him, that because of what He did yesterday, we can live with Him, forever. Celebrate "The Day After" and the day after that and the next day and the next day.....................
Then rumors of those who had seen Jesus starting flying through the countryside. He was seen by a few here and there, people who were trusted, ....."He wouldn't make that up, he never lies, Jesus must be alive".....
Now here we are over 2000 years removed from that monent. How do we respond, the Day After? Yeah, Easter Sunday was a very nice time, went to church, had an egg hunt with the kids, had a great dinner, spent time with my family, throughly enjoyed it.
What about the fact that Jesus Died, was burried for three days, and rose again for you and me? Yes, it happened 2000 years ago, but it is still the one sacrifice that will never be matched again, why, because it dosen't need to be matched. That one sacrifice was all that was needed for us to have access to the throne of God, Himself.
So, let's have a mini celebration EVERYDAY for our Resurected King, He died not so we could have a egg hunt, have a good meal, spend time with our families, go to church, and throughly enjoy our day. He died so we could have GRACE when we mess up, We don't have to be perfect, we don't have to make animial sacrifices to Him, HE way THE sacrifice.
It's NOT just the day after, it is the first day of freedom, joy, grace, passion, love, selfishness, .............but mostly it is HOPE, Hope in Him, that because of what He did yesterday, we can live with Him, forever. Celebrate "The Day After" and the day after that and the next day and the next day.....................
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Happy Easter
I hope you have had a wonderful Easter Day. I went to church this morning with my Dad and Daughter. Had a wonderful service. When I got home I went on Facebook and found a post from my niece. This post, made my day.
My niece remembered that Easter Sunday is the day my Mom gave her heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. My mom made sure we all remembered this day, every year she would tell us the story. Now that she is With Christ in heaven, this story is so Special.
58 years ago today, Easter Sunday 1953, My Mom went to Easter Sunday Services with her Mom and Dad. Her Dad had recently received Jesus Christ into his heart and wanted nothing more then to have his Daughter receive Him also. My Mom felt the Holy Spirit in that service and went forward to receive Jesus Christ into her heart when the minister gave the Alter Call. That night she went back to Evening Services and received the Holy Spirit, with evidence of speaking in tongues. She lived the next 57 years telling everyone she met that Jesus Christ had saved her, and He could save you also. She spread the message of Christ to all. The Mailman, the people at the grocery store, the post office, her hairdresser, the people at Sears, people she came across in her everyday life. The mechanics that worked on Mom and Dads cars for the last few years came to her funeral, because she was not just a customer to them, she was a friend. She shared her faith to them each time she was there for service on her car. Mom lived her life for Jesus like no one I have ever met. She "preached" at her family, manily me, right up to the day she died. She loved people, and wanted everyone to know what had happened to her on Easter Day 1953. You could not know my Mom and not know Who she served. She would shout it from the housetops.
You see Easter Sunday is special for more then one reason to me and my family, God Rose from the Dead, and my Mom started her long life in Christ. Thank you Lord, for Dying for me and taking my sins to the Cross, And thank you for saving my Mom and fillling her on the same day 58 years ago. When my Mom was saved, it paved the way for me to know Him. I celebrate this day for these reasons.
Thank you to my niece, Andrea, for reminding me how special this day really is.
My niece remembered that Easter Sunday is the day my Mom gave her heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. My mom made sure we all remembered this day, every year she would tell us the story. Now that she is With Christ in heaven, this story is so Special.
58 years ago today, Easter Sunday 1953, My Mom went to Easter Sunday Services with her Mom and Dad. Her Dad had recently received Jesus Christ into his heart and wanted nothing more then to have his Daughter receive Him also. My Mom felt the Holy Spirit in that service and went forward to receive Jesus Christ into her heart when the minister gave the Alter Call. That night she went back to Evening Services and received the Holy Spirit, with evidence of speaking in tongues. She lived the next 57 years telling everyone she met that Jesus Christ had saved her, and He could save you also. She spread the message of Christ to all. The Mailman, the people at the grocery store, the post office, her hairdresser, the people at Sears, people she came across in her everyday life. The mechanics that worked on Mom and Dads cars for the last few years came to her funeral, because she was not just a customer to them, she was a friend. She shared her faith to them each time she was there for service on her car. Mom lived her life for Jesus like no one I have ever met. She "preached" at her family, manily me, right up to the day she died. She loved people, and wanted everyone to know what had happened to her on Easter Day 1953. You could not know my Mom and not know Who she served. She would shout it from the housetops.
You see Easter Sunday is special for more then one reason to me and my family, God Rose from the Dead, and my Mom started her long life in Christ. Thank you Lord, for Dying for me and taking my sins to the Cross, And thank you for saving my Mom and fillling her on the same day 58 years ago. When my Mom was saved, it paved the way for me to know Him. I celebrate this day for these reasons.
Thank you to my niece, Andrea, for reminding me how special this day really is.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Ramblings
At the time I thought it was the worst day of my life. I opened the mailbox to find a legal envolope from a lawyer, I knew this day was coming, but was shocked. I could not open the envelope I threw it on the coffee table, and there it sat for a day, a night, another day. Finally Friday night arrived and I sat down in my easy chair and looked at the envolope some more. Ironic the lawyer's name was the same as my wifes: Mary Ellen something.
I tore open the envelope and read the cover letter: From offices of blah blah blah, we know how hard this is blah blah blah,,,,,,,,,,,As you know our client has filed blah blah blah, please sign the enclosed papers so this matter can be taken care of and you both can get on with your lives,,, blah blah blah...................
Then there was a legal document with little stick on arrows showing me were to sign. "My Divorce papers had arrived. My first insticnt was to just not sign the papers, I didn't file for a divorce, I did not want a divorce. I would just ignore these papers and continue being married. But as the weekend wore on, I realized, I had no marriage , my wife had filled for divorce and had made it clear she could no longer stay married to me.
So, by Monday I had signed these papers, and dropped them in the mail, before going to work.
So, that's it, right? Papers signed, process in motion, wait untill the divorce becoms final and move on? NO, that is not it. You see, I still love my now ex-wife, and I believe she loves me. But there was a "trust issue". You see, I had lied to her many times in our 24 years of marriage, I had used her, emotionally, I had turned the trust she had in me as her husband to my advantage and taken what I wanted. I will not go into any detail, but for the last 24 years, I had loved myself, more then my wife and kids.
She had had enough, and could no longer be my wife.
This all happened about 7 years ago, and it still haunts me today. Why, who do I blame, is it all my fault, what if I had done so and so , or not done so and so. WHY? Answers don't come easy, but when I am honest with myself, it is easy, I was selfish. I wanted what I wanted, more then I wanted what she wanted. I loved "ME" more the anyone, including my God.
I felt this was the lowest my life could go for about 4 years, untill my Mom was diagnosed with Cancer.
For the next 2 years, my Mom slowly died in front of my eyes. There had been words from the Lord through people, realiltives, that she would be healed, We all stood on those words, and believed. This distracted us from believing the truth that was staring us right in the face, Mom was dying. It was hard to accept, we did not make any arrangments until the final days. The weekend before she died, my ex wife came by for a visit with my daughter. She saw what we did not, that the house was a mess, Mom, needed constant care, and we were all uncapable to do anything because we were in shock, morning and refusing to see what was coming.
So, Mary, took a few days off from work, stayed with my Mom and Dad, waited on them hand and foot, cleaned up the place, and about 1 AM on Monday the 10th of April 2010 my ex wife Mary, was the one who had to call me at home sound asleep, and tell me my Mother had died. She also had to wake up my Dad and tell him the same thing.
So, that day I received the letter in the mail almost 6 years ago, now, wasent the worst day of my life anymore, this was it.
Why am I telling you all this? I don't really know, I just feel that there is someone out there that needs to hear it. You see, when I look back over my life I see 2 days that stand out in my mind , as the worst two days of my life. The loss of my marriage, and the loss of my Mom.
The first loss, was avoidable on my part, I made wrong choices, I made mistakes I wish I never had made, regrets, oh the regrets. The second loss, My Mom, was not my doing. She died of a awful disease that takes many many people in this world. If I could have done anything to keep her here, I would have, but there was nothing I could have done. I know she is in Heavan with Jesus, I know that more then anything else, but I don't think she would come back, given the chance.
I am pretty sure my ex-Wife , Mary, still cares about me and my family, just look at the things she did for my Mom, before her death. I have so many regrets.
Let's get to the point, shall we? REGRETS, what do they accomplish? Nothing but making us sad, depressed, lonely, down, ...............................
God has recently showed me that "living with regrets all our life, is living to die.
How do we stop these regrets, I don't think we actually do, but we do learn from them.
If the Lord sends someone my way, and we fall in love, and get married, I will never take them for granted, I will try my best to meet her needs more then my own. I will try Not to be so selfish, or sink back into my "same ole ways" This is what I have learned from this. I have trouble even thinking , sometimes of getting into a relationship with anyone else, but I am lonely. I have prayed for God's direction in this matter, and try and trust Him.
Do you have regrets? Are they holding you back from serving, worshipping God? Do you feel "Unworthy" God, how can I praise and worship you, when I have done this and this...................What part of "the East to the West", do you not understand? God promises to have thrown our sins (this includes those "Regrets") as far as the east is from the west. You know how far that is? Forever, the east will never met the west.
But we still remember "Those things I did" Well God dosen't He has thrown them into the "Sea of Forgetfullness" You see, He is God, He can remember everything from anytime ever, but He chooses to forget those things we have asked Him to. Did you get that, selective memory, He chooses to forget our repentent sins.
So, if you, like me, are having trouble with past choices, sins, deeds, and aren't worshiping, listening to God like you know you need to, then ask God for forgiveness of those things that you regret doing, and Move on. If God forgets them, surely you can.
I tore open the envelope and read the cover letter: From offices of blah blah blah, we know how hard this is blah blah blah,,,,,,,,,,,As you know our client has filed blah blah blah, please sign the enclosed papers so this matter can be taken care of and you both can get on with your lives,,, blah blah blah...................
Then there was a legal document with little stick on arrows showing me were to sign. "My Divorce papers had arrived. My first insticnt was to just not sign the papers, I didn't file for a divorce, I did not want a divorce. I would just ignore these papers and continue being married. But as the weekend wore on, I realized, I had no marriage , my wife had filled for divorce and had made it clear she could no longer stay married to me.
So, by Monday I had signed these papers, and dropped them in the mail, before going to work.
So, that's it, right? Papers signed, process in motion, wait untill the divorce becoms final and move on? NO, that is not it. You see, I still love my now ex-wife, and I believe she loves me. But there was a "trust issue". You see, I had lied to her many times in our 24 years of marriage, I had used her, emotionally, I had turned the trust she had in me as her husband to my advantage and taken what I wanted. I will not go into any detail, but for the last 24 years, I had loved myself, more then my wife and kids.
She had had enough, and could no longer be my wife.
This all happened about 7 years ago, and it still haunts me today. Why, who do I blame, is it all my fault, what if I had done so and so , or not done so and so. WHY? Answers don't come easy, but when I am honest with myself, it is easy, I was selfish. I wanted what I wanted, more then I wanted what she wanted. I loved "ME" more the anyone, including my God.
I felt this was the lowest my life could go for about 4 years, untill my Mom was diagnosed with Cancer.
For the next 2 years, my Mom slowly died in front of my eyes. There had been words from the Lord through people, realiltives, that she would be healed, We all stood on those words, and believed. This distracted us from believing the truth that was staring us right in the face, Mom was dying. It was hard to accept, we did not make any arrangments until the final days. The weekend before she died, my ex wife came by for a visit with my daughter. She saw what we did not, that the house was a mess, Mom, needed constant care, and we were all uncapable to do anything because we were in shock, morning and refusing to see what was coming.
So, Mary, took a few days off from work, stayed with my Mom and Dad, waited on them hand and foot, cleaned up the place, and about 1 AM on Monday the 10th of April 2010 my ex wife Mary, was the one who had to call me at home sound asleep, and tell me my Mother had died. She also had to wake up my Dad and tell him the same thing.
So, that day I received the letter in the mail almost 6 years ago, now, wasent the worst day of my life anymore, this was it.
Why am I telling you all this? I don't really know, I just feel that there is someone out there that needs to hear it. You see, when I look back over my life I see 2 days that stand out in my mind , as the worst two days of my life. The loss of my marriage, and the loss of my Mom.
The first loss, was avoidable on my part, I made wrong choices, I made mistakes I wish I never had made, regrets, oh the regrets. The second loss, My Mom, was not my doing. She died of a awful disease that takes many many people in this world. If I could have done anything to keep her here, I would have, but there was nothing I could have done. I know she is in Heavan with Jesus, I know that more then anything else, but I don't think she would come back, given the chance.
I am pretty sure my ex-Wife , Mary, still cares about me and my family, just look at the things she did for my Mom, before her death. I have so many regrets.
Let's get to the point, shall we? REGRETS, what do they accomplish? Nothing but making us sad, depressed, lonely, down, ...............................
God has recently showed me that "living with regrets all our life, is living to die.
How do we stop these regrets, I don't think we actually do, but we do learn from them.
If the Lord sends someone my way, and we fall in love, and get married, I will never take them for granted, I will try my best to meet her needs more then my own. I will try Not to be so selfish, or sink back into my "same ole ways" This is what I have learned from this. I have trouble even thinking , sometimes of getting into a relationship with anyone else, but I am lonely. I have prayed for God's direction in this matter, and try and trust Him.
Do you have regrets? Are they holding you back from serving, worshipping God? Do you feel "Unworthy" God, how can I praise and worship you, when I have done this and this...................What part of "the East to the West", do you not understand? God promises to have thrown our sins (this includes those "Regrets") as far as the east is from the west. You know how far that is? Forever, the east will never met the west.
But we still remember "Those things I did" Well God dosen't He has thrown them into the "Sea of Forgetfullness" You see, He is God, He can remember everything from anytime ever, but He chooses to forget those things we have asked Him to. Did you get that, selective memory, He chooses to forget our repentent sins.
So, if you, like me, are having trouble with past choices, sins, deeds, and aren't worshiping, listening to God like you know you need to, then ask God for forgiveness of those things that you regret doing, and Move on. If God forgets them, surely you can.
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