Here in Austin Memorial Day brings back memories. Just before I got out of the Navy in 1982, there was a terrible flood here in Austin. Memorial Day 1981 one of the "small" creeks here flooded, and 13 people were drowned. I remember after my wife and I moved moved back to Austin from Washington state when I was discharged, we looked at an apartment that still had the marks of were the flood waters had been above the first floor.
Memorial Day is about remembering those that died, serving our country, though. Yes we here in Austin remember that terrible flood, and those that died, but the National Holilday is set aside to remember the Military personal that died defending our country. I have been watching war movies all weekend on AMC and TCM, and seeing those of WW2 batteling the enemy. John Wayne was a great leader in war, it seems. I watched "Saving Private Ryan" Friday night, and the first scene of that movie always has me tearing up as the horrors of D-Day come to life on the screne. Many soliders died right there before they even set foot on Omaha beach or other beaches in France. These men are heros, they died defending our country and our freedom. They died so that we could live. This brings me to my point:
Jesus Christ died for ALL of us, everyone who has ever lived, or will live. He took the "sins of the World, both past present and future" on himself. The Romans did not kill Jesus, the Jews did not kill Jesus, YOU and I did. Our sins is why He suffered. Our sins are why He received those stripes on his back. The Movie "The Passion" shows how horrible He suffered. I have a friend who thinks that movie was to violent, but he loves "Saving Private Ryan". They both happened, and I think the movies more then likely portrayed them fairly well.
Jesus Christ Suffered like no person has ever or will ever suffered, why" Because He loves me, and you and everyone ever born or to be born. It was the only way, we as human beings had pretty much blown it, and a sacrifice had to be made, I am very thankful He made that sacrifice.
I am also thankful that Soliders, Sailors, Airman, Marines...........................were willing to go and fight In WW2, WW1, Korea, Vietnam, Afaganastain, Somilia, Iraq, Iran, .........................and all the wars in between. These men and women, did not know if they would return of not, but they went anyway. Thank you.
And Thank You Jesus Christ. without you these decisions to go and fight would not have been possible. God Bless America.
Thank you Lord for saving my soul, and Dying on a tree for my sins.
Hope you pause today and thank a Vet and a family of a slain Solider, Sailor, Airman, Marine................And more importantly, thank Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for without His sacrifice, the fires of Hell would burning us right now.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The Butterfly Effect.
My Pastor preached this morning on "The Butterfly Effect". I remember watching a movie with that title, wasen't that impressed. But, our pasror explained what this effect really is. It was named after the wind created from a butterfly wings that was on one side of the world, could possibly create a hurricane on the other side. Impossible, you say? Well, as he went on, the action of one, could possibly have major consequences to others. His point was that "actions matter". If you talk to a neighbor, friend, co-worker, family member..............and they ask Jesus into their hearts, what will become of that life? Could they become the next Billy Graham and have millions saved because of their ministry? Will they have a son or daughter who becomes the next Gandi? Will millions be saved because of some discovery they made? Will the have a child, who creates a miracle drug and save millions of lives? We never know what one life can mean. Thus : "The Butterfly Effect."
Nothing we do is useless, our decisions matter. I used to think, "What does the things I choose to do , or not to do, have to do with anything?" Well I now realize they matter a lot.
There was a pretty bad movie I watched some time ago: Someone had invented a time "Portal" where you could go back in time and visit historic dates. They had made this into a "attraction" where people would pay quite a bit of money to visit historical dates in history. On one such trip, they were visiting the Dinosaurs. A "Pathway" would appear and the "visitors" were to stay on it. They were very careful not to change anything, because it could have drastic effects on their persent. Of course, you saw it coming as everyone did, something happened and the future they went to was vastly different then the one they left. Why? Because they changed something in the past.
So, our dicisions we make, everyday, matter. What if we did not go to work today, don't feel "that good"? And in our absence, we do not talk to our co-worker, who is having marital problems. We don't advise them to "stand up" to their spouse, and not take the abuse anymore. They continue to be abused, and end up being killed. Then what if their spouse who is now in jail for the rest of their life, was not witnessed to by someone, and did not became a christian. Now suppose this person had become a head of a Drug Rehap center who led people down the recovery path, by sharing Jesus with them. Then they don't lead that future missionary to the Lord, who talks to the future leader of a terrorist organazation and gives his heart to the Lord, and dosen't become a terrorist.
Pretty far fetched? You never know, this could happen, just because you wanted to take a day off.
I am not saying never take a day off, what I am saying is: Think about your decisions, and their consequences. God has plans for us, and those plans have to do with other plans, which have to do with other plans..........................it's a micacle anything gets done. But there are alternative plans, which, I am sure, God has to change on the fly, because we mess things up.
When the Holy Spirit prompts us to say something to someone, or just be nice to such and such, their is a reason, maybe just for that person, and for us, but ultimetley there may be much more.
Follow His direction, read His word, listen to that "still small voice" and remember our decisions matter.
Nothing we do is useless, our decisions matter. I used to think, "What does the things I choose to do , or not to do, have to do with anything?" Well I now realize they matter a lot.
There was a pretty bad movie I watched some time ago: Someone had invented a time "Portal" where you could go back in time and visit historic dates. They had made this into a "attraction" where people would pay quite a bit of money to visit historical dates in history. On one such trip, they were visiting the Dinosaurs. A "Pathway" would appear and the "visitors" were to stay on it. They were very careful not to change anything, because it could have drastic effects on their persent. Of course, you saw it coming as everyone did, something happened and the future they went to was vastly different then the one they left. Why? Because they changed something in the past.
So, our dicisions we make, everyday, matter. What if we did not go to work today, don't feel "that good"? And in our absence, we do not talk to our co-worker, who is having marital problems. We don't advise them to "stand up" to their spouse, and not take the abuse anymore. They continue to be abused, and end up being killed. Then what if their spouse who is now in jail for the rest of their life, was not witnessed to by someone, and did not became a christian. Now suppose this person had become a head of a Drug Rehap center who led people down the recovery path, by sharing Jesus with them. Then they don't lead that future missionary to the Lord, who talks to the future leader of a terrorist organazation and gives his heart to the Lord, and dosen't become a terrorist.
Pretty far fetched? You never know, this could happen, just because you wanted to take a day off.
I am not saying never take a day off, what I am saying is: Think about your decisions, and their consequences. God has plans for us, and those plans have to do with other plans, which have to do with other plans..........................it's a micacle anything gets done. But there are alternative plans, which, I am sure, God has to change on the fly, because we mess things up.
When the Holy Spirit prompts us to say something to someone, or just be nice to such and such, their is a reason, maybe just for that person, and for us, but ultimetley there may be much more.
Follow His direction, read His word, listen to that "still small voice" and remember our decisions matter.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Security
I was thinking the other day about my kids births. Both my children are grown, 27 and 24. My oldest a girl is a high school math teacher, and my son is a very good drummer in a band that tours, it seems, constantly.
When they were born, I remember how proud and in love I felt. As a new dad, I was holding a precious gift the God had lent me and my wife. The first time I held my daughter, is a feeling I will never forget.
She kinda smiled at me, and opened and shut her eyes. Before we took her and my wife home, after her birth, she had started grabbing my finger with her little hands.
Through the next couple of months she would hold on to my fingers everytime I held her.
I remember my son, did this also. I guess it was a bonding between parent and child, but more I believe it gave a sense of security and peace and love to my children
Over the next several years after my kids were born, they crawled, they started walking, they started running, they started riding bikes, but always within the sight of one of us, their parents.
When learning how to walk, I would let them hold my fingers, and lead them from between my legs and genlty pull them along. As long as they were holding onto my fingers, they were brave, no problem. But then I would let go of one little hand, and that usually got a wide eyed, look of fear.
I can only assume what they were thinking, "Daddy is letting me go, oh no". But I wasen't any less concerned for their saftey, I just was giving them a little push towards walking by themselves.
As my kids grew, I held their hand as we crossed streets, going into the Doctor's office, where there was no dobt that a shot was in order. the first day of school, when they were scared of the unknown. Many, Many times I or my wife would hold their hands, and show them that we were not going to let anything happen to them.
I remember when my son was about one year old, he had a habbit of reaching up for my hand, any time I was next to him. He knew I would grab it and thereby making him feel secure. I wonder how he would have felt if I just ignored his hand and walked on ahead of him? I don't know, because I did not do that, he was my son.
Did you know that God, Himself, is our Dad? He is reaching down from heavan right now, in hopes that we will grab onto his hand, if we need to feel secure. I can still picture my son right thumb in his mouth, left hand reaching up to take mine, and away we would go. I usually would pick him up and carry him before 2 or 3 steps, though, as his little legs couldn't keep up.
As a parant, I would do anything for my kids, I would run in front of a speeding bus if it was barreling down on them. I know if you have kids you feel the same. God is waiting to hold our hands, swing us up by one arm and carry us, stop a speeding bus to protect us, do whatever it takes to help us. But there is one catch, we have to grab hold of His hand when it is offered.
Grab ahold of God's hand, right now, let Him make you feel secure, loved, and at peace. He loves spending time with his children, and protecting us, making us feel secure.
When I was a kid, I remember getting into arguments and fights over who had the toughest dad, I thought my dad could do anything. My dad is 79 now, and dependent upon me to pretty much take him places, make sure the repairs aroung the house are taken care of......................But I still talk to him, reach out to him and share my intermost thoughts and dreams with him, I mean afterall, He is my Dad.
Is this how you feel about our God? Why not, I mean afterall He is our Dad.
When they were born, I remember how proud and in love I felt. As a new dad, I was holding a precious gift the God had lent me and my wife. The first time I held my daughter, is a feeling I will never forget.
She kinda smiled at me, and opened and shut her eyes. Before we took her and my wife home, after her birth, she had started grabbing my finger with her little hands.
Through the next couple of months she would hold on to my fingers everytime I held her.
I remember my son, did this also. I guess it was a bonding between parent and child, but more I believe it gave a sense of security and peace and love to my children
Over the next several years after my kids were born, they crawled, they started walking, they started running, they started riding bikes, but always within the sight of one of us, their parents.
When learning how to walk, I would let them hold my fingers, and lead them from between my legs and genlty pull them along. As long as they were holding onto my fingers, they were brave, no problem. But then I would let go of one little hand, and that usually got a wide eyed, look of fear.
I can only assume what they were thinking, "Daddy is letting me go, oh no". But I wasen't any less concerned for their saftey, I just was giving them a little push towards walking by themselves.
As my kids grew, I held their hand as we crossed streets, going into the Doctor's office, where there was no dobt that a shot was in order. the first day of school, when they were scared of the unknown. Many, Many times I or my wife would hold their hands, and show them that we were not going to let anything happen to them.
I remember when my son was about one year old, he had a habbit of reaching up for my hand, any time I was next to him. He knew I would grab it and thereby making him feel secure. I wonder how he would have felt if I just ignored his hand and walked on ahead of him? I don't know, because I did not do that, he was my son.
Did you know that God, Himself, is our Dad? He is reaching down from heavan right now, in hopes that we will grab onto his hand, if we need to feel secure. I can still picture my son right thumb in his mouth, left hand reaching up to take mine, and away we would go. I usually would pick him up and carry him before 2 or 3 steps, though, as his little legs couldn't keep up.
As a parant, I would do anything for my kids, I would run in front of a speeding bus if it was barreling down on them. I know if you have kids you feel the same. God is waiting to hold our hands, swing us up by one arm and carry us, stop a speeding bus to protect us, do whatever it takes to help us. But there is one catch, we have to grab hold of His hand when it is offered.
Grab ahold of God's hand, right now, let Him make you feel secure, loved, and at peace. He loves spending time with his children, and protecting us, making us feel secure.
When I was a kid, I remember getting into arguments and fights over who had the toughest dad, I thought my dad could do anything. My dad is 79 now, and dependent upon me to pretty much take him places, make sure the repairs aroung the house are taken care of......................But I still talk to him, reach out to him and share my intermost thoughts and dreams with him, I mean afterall, He is my Dad.
Is this how you feel about our God? Why not, I mean afterall He is our Dad.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Rescue
Our Pastor preached on "Rescue" today. He remembered the Phrase "May Day" because it was the first day of May. "MayDay" repeated 3 times is a request for "Rescue". Airplanes, ships at sea, ........say "MayDay, MayDay, MayDay and then tell who they are, what their situation is, and where they are. When you hear "May day repeated 3 times on a short wave radio, it' serions.
Our Pastor continued to tell some dramatic rescues that God had performed for himself, and members of his faimly over the years.
This got me thinking and I have one of those May Day moments also.
Some years ago I drove a garbage truck. On one of those days, my "helper" Kevin and I were finished for the day., it was a Friday and we were in a hurry to get home. The "Dump" sorry the Landfill, don't want to be non politically correct here. Our Trash truck was full of garbage, but as I said it was Friday and we didn't want to go dump it, we wanted to go home. We past up the dump and went down the long hill toward our yard, to fuel up and head home for a nice 3 day weekend. At the bottom of this long hill was a light, and the road that lead toward a lake, and Rodeo Grounds. I let the truck coast, so that if the Green light changed before we got there it would be easier to stop. As we coasted, the full heavy truck gained speed and I applied the breaks. Sure enough the light change to yellow and then red, I calmly applied pressure on the breaks, but the truck was still moving too fast. I looked ahead of me, 3 cars had come to a stop at the red light, I was moving way to fast to stop, I put both feet on the brake pedal and still wasen't stopping fast enough, I remember yelling "Kevin, hold on" as I steered toward the shoulder on the right and hoped we could just cruise up the hill leading to the lake, and avoid those cars.
The heavy filled garbage truck headed into the curve and up the hill, "Were going to make it" I yelled, and looking over Kevin was wide eyed and hanging on with all his might. Then the truck's right tires came off the ground, and we started to tilt to the drivers, side, At this point, I remember, saying: "Jesus, Lord help us". From that moment, everything went into slow motion,. The truck tilted ever so slowly to my side, I saw my lunch box flying through the air, I remember thinking; "Why didn't we put our seat belts on?" One of the bad habits as trash men, is that you get in and out so much on your route, that we would not put on the seat belts, this is a habit I broke that day.
The truck hit the ground hard, on the left side, the windows broke, still in slow motion, and that is the last thing I remember for several seconds, everything went quiet and when the sounds started again I was lying on my back on top of Kevin who was screaming like I never heard anyone scream before. We had flipped 3/4 the way over. Hit the left side, then the top then came to rest on the right side.
One of our mechanics was on his way back to our yard, when he saw us, He stopped his truck and ran over to see if we were OK. Kevin was screaming hurt obvisiously pretty seriously.
The ambulances arrived, the cops arrived the fire trucks arrived, and Kevin and I were rushed to the hospital
I was checked out, and given a drug test, part of the process anytime there is a wreck in a commerical vehicle. All the time hearing Kevin screaming from down the hall.
My wife came, my Mom and Dad came, I basically was fine. I had a small cut in my left eye brow, which took a couple of stitches. I had a bruise on my chin, left side also in the shape of a hand, obviously my hand had been caught there?
Nothing more wrong, no broken bones, no bad cuts, no bad bruises, nothing. My friend and coworker, didn't get it so easy, he broke a vertebra and henceforth never walked again.
I KNOW an angel came and padded me as the truck rolled, I know he kept me from getting seriously hurt. I know that just a sure as I am writing this experience down. I just wished I had prayed for the safety of Kevin also. He had just come to church with me a few Sundays before that, and was asking questions. I never say or talked to him again. I felt guility that he had been hurt so badly, and I had nothing wrong with me. My company insisted I take a week off from work. They paid me for that week, I know they were worried about a lawsuit. I don't think there was anything wrong with the truck, I think we just should have gone to the dump, I mean we passed right by it, but we wanted to start enjoying our weekend and thought we would go Tuesday morning. I am sure the truck was overloaded, happened all the time, we could stuff those trucks with so much garbage, you would be surprised. We had a competition at the yard to see who could stuff the most garbage on which truck. Your "Dump Receipt" would have the total weight and load weight printed on them. It was a pride thing if you could stuff more trash on a particular truck then anyone else.
I took off two weeks, which my employer paid for, I was really shaken up, I think more for Kevin then for myself.
God answered my prayers, even if they were pretty short, He "Rescued" me. I went back to work 2 weeks later and had a hard time driving a trash truck again. Especially "that" intersection.
I've looked back at that incident many times over the last few years, and asked myself, God, anyone who knows the story, why? Why did God save me from certain pain, or worse? What did He have in store for me? God has told me many times, that He did it because I called out to Him. My Mom prayed everyday for my safety while I drove those trucks. God honored our prayers. He loves me, and you and will do "Whatever we ask or think" I still think that bruise in the shape of a hand was the mark of a Angel's hand.
I think our " Seniors"Pastor, Vic Schober for his message this morning, because it made me once again go over the events of that day, and remember how much God loves me, that He answered "Because I called" He "Rescued " me and He will do the same for you.
Ask God to help you, anytime you feel you need help. It doesn't matter if it is just "JESUS" in the moment, He WILL be there.
Our Pastor continued to tell some dramatic rescues that God had performed for himself, and members of his faimly over the years.
This got me thinking and I have one of those May Day moments also.
Some years ago I drove a garbage truck. On one of those days, my "helper" Kevin and I were finished for the day., it was a Friday and we were in a hurry to get home. The "Dump" sorry the Landfill, don't want to be non politically correct here. Our Trash truck was full of garbage, but as I said it was Friday and we didn't want to go dump it, we wanted to go home. We past up the dump and went down the long hill toward our yard, to fuel up and head home for a nice 3 day weekend. At the bottom of this long hill was a light, and the road that lead toward a lake, and Rodeo Grounds. I let the truck coast, so that if the Green light changed before we got there it would be easier to stop. As we coasted, the full heavy truck gained speed and I applied the breaks. Sure enough the light change to yellow and then red, I calmly applied pressure on the breaks, but the truck was still moving too fast. I looked ahead of me, 3 cars had come to a stop at the red light, I was moving way to fast to stop, I put both feet on the brake pedal and still wasen't stopping fast enough, I remember yelling "Kevin, hold on" as I steered toward the shoulder on the right and hoped we could just cruise up the hill leading to the lake, and avoid those cars.
The heavy filled garbage truck headed into the curve and up the hill, "Were going to make it" I yelled, and looking over Kevin was wide eyed and hanging on with all his might. Then the truck's right tires came off the ground, and we started to tilt to the drivers, side, At this point, I remember, saying: "Jesus, Lord help us". From that moment, everything went into slow motion,. The truck tilted ever so slowly to my side, I saw my lunch box flying through the air, I remember thinking; "Why didn't we put our seat belts on?" One of the bad habits as trash men, is that you get in and out so much on your route, that we would not put on the seat belts, this is a habit I broke that day.
The truck hit the ground hard, on the left side, the windows broke, still in slow motion, and that is the last thing I remember for several seconds, everything went quiet and when the sounds started again I was lying on my back on top of Kevin who was screaming like I never heard anyone scream before. We had flipped 3/4 the way over. Hit the left side, then the top then came to rest on the right side.
One of our mechanics was on his way back to our yard, when he saw us, He stopped his truck and ran over to see if we were OK. Kevin was screaming hurt obvisiously pretty seriously.
The ambulances arrived, the cops arrived the fire trucks arrived, and Kevin and I were rushed to the hospital
I was checked out, and given a drug test, part of the process anytime there is a wreck in a commerical vehicle. All the time hearing Kevin screaming from down the hall.
My wife came, my Mom and Dad came, I basically was fine. I had a small cut in my left eye brow, which took a couple of stitches. I had a bruise on my chin, left side also in the shape of a hand, obviously my hand had been caught there?
Nothing more wrong, no broken bones, no bad cuts, no bad bruises, nothing. My friend and coworker, didn't get it so easy, he broke a vertebra and henceforth never walked again.
I KNOW an angel came and padded me as the truck rolled, I know he kept me from getting seriously hurt. I know that just a sure as I am writing this experience down. I just wished I had prayed for the safety of Kevin also. He had just come to church with me a few Sundays before that, and was asking questions. I never say or talked to him again. I felt guility that he had been hurt so badly, and I had nothing wrong with me. My company insisted I take a week off from work. They paid me for that week, I know they were worried about a lawsuit. I don't think there was anything wrong with the truck, I think we just should have gone to the dump, I mean we passed right by it, but we wanted to start enjoying our weekend and thought we would go Tuesday morning. I am sure the truck was overloaded, happened all the time, we could stuff those trucks with so much garbage, you would be surprised. We had a competition at the yard to see who could stuff the most garbage on which truck. Your "Dump Receipt" would have the total weight and load weight printed on them. It was a pride thing if you could stuff more trash on a particular truck then anyone else.
I took off two weeks, which my employer paid for, I was really shaken up, I think more for Kevin then for myself.
God answered my prayers, even if they were pretty short, He "Rescued" me. I went back to work 2 weeks later and had a hard time driving a trash truck again. Especially "that" intersection.
I've looked back at that incident many times over the last few years, and asked myself, God, anyone who knows the story, why? Why did God save me from certain pain, or worse? What did He have in store for me? God has told me many times, that He did it because I called out to Him. My Mom prayed everyday for my safety while I drove those trucks. God honored our prayers. He loves me, and you and will do "Whatever we ask or think" I still think that bruise in the shape of a hand was the mark of a Angel's hand.
I think our " Seniors"Pastor, Vic Schober for his message this morning, because it made me once again go over the events of that day, and remember how much God loves me, that He answered "Because I called" He "Rescued " me and He will do the same for you.
Ask God to help you, anytime you feel you need help. It doesn't matter if it is just "JESUS" in the moment, He WILL be there.
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