A week or so ago, my lovely wife and I took a road trip to Omaha to visit my son and his family - especially my grandson :). I was familiar with the route, and didn't need directions. But, as we got closer, I plugged in the GPS to help me find the motel we would stay at.  As we drove merrily along, having a great conversation about our plans for the week, the 'lady in the dash - I call her Shiela - instructed us to exit and go to the right. We did.  I had a vague feeling something wasn't quite right, but what the heck, Shiela knows what she's doing, right? Well... Several miles and a few confusing turns later, we find ourselves on a dirt road somewhere, we think, in Kansas..or was it Missouri? At this point, I pulled out the old torn up atlas and found our way.

Our christian walk is a lot like this little story.  We sail along, thinking we know where we are headed ,but we let the world grab us up and lead us down a path headed to disaster. Until we ignore the confusing directions, and pick up a map (bible) and look for the true way, we will remain lost.
Don't depend on wordly directions, go to the source and walk a straight path.

Lord, be with us and guide us every step of every day. Let us be deaf to the directions that will lead us astray. Let us focus on the truth of your word to be our map and plan for living. Amen

Until next time, God Bless you!

Easter has passed, and unfortunately, with it the memory of what the cost of the resurrection really was. I wrote this a while back, and want to share it with you.
 
A couple of months ago, my pastors’ sermon started  with a bit about John 3:16.  This  got me to thinking about how well known this verse is, and wondering how well it  was understood. I wondered what would happen if I put the words- “For God so  loved the world, He gave his only begotton Son…” – into a modern context. It  went something like this.

 Hey, Son. What’s up?

 Oh, nothing much. What do you  need?

 Well, I have all these people down here that aren’t doing   right.

 What can I do to help?

 I need you to come on down and help me save  them.

 That would work, I just got a new suit with an awesome hat I want  to wear.

 I think I’d dress down if I were  you.

 Why?

 Well, when you get here they will arrest you, give you a bogus  trial, and sentence you to death.

 Ouch!

 That’s not all. You’ll be forced to carry a heavy cross across  town to the top of a hill, while people throw rocks at
you.

 Double ouch!!

 Yeah, they’ll take your clothes and gamble for them. Then a crown of really sharp thorns will be pushed on your
head.

 Gee, you sure make this sound like so much fun! 
 
Have I told you that they will nail your feet and hands to the  cross and raise it up, leaving you to  die?

 Noooo…

 Will you come?

 Yes, Father. I will be right  there.

 
Stop and think about the tremendous sacrifice that both God and  Jesus made. Could you, would you ask your son to do this? 

Would you agree if YOUR Father asked the same of  you?

The adventure of starting a brand new blog brings with it great responsibilities.  Just what does one post, to set the tone and encourage others to want to read it, as well as future posts. I have finally decided on the following. I hope it blesses you. I must add this disclaimer, though. Any mistakes are mine and mine alone, and all glory goes to God. If you wish to share anything I write, please do so. I only ask that all credit goes to God, as I need none, for I am but a simple messenger.

A while back, I was driving my beautiful wife, Debbie, to the doctor. On the way, we tuned into a random christian radio station. This is what I have chosen to share with you.
  The story was about a small church in a medium sized town that suffered from poor attendance. Unfortunately, a fire broke out in a back room during a Sunday service. As the members fled,  the deacons grabbed something to carry with them to save. Among these items was a rather non descript, if not ordinary picture of Jesus. Of course, a crowd of curious onlookers gathered, to 'see the show'. The fire department responded and put out what turned out to be a small blaze in a closet. Slowly, the congregation went back into the church, one by one. Yet the rather large crowd stayed, seemingly transfixed by the simple picture of Jesus. The pastor, a grizzled veteran, asked why they were so amazed by the picture, as it had hung in the foyer for all to see for many years. After a short pause, someone said, "this is the first time you have brought Jesus out into the street."
  If there is a moral to this story, it is this: If you want the many, rather than the few, to know about Jesus, the church (that's me and you, bubba) have to get Jesus out in the streets where He can do the most good.