This Verse Caught My Attention

While listening to a podcast today, I found myself zoning out on the words in some places. It was as if I was trying to "check off" each podcast I'm behind on, so I can effectively "catch up". But, I'm finding that the word of God doesn't work like that, if you expect to gain knowledge. You can't rush through it. Each book, chapter and verse is a tasty morsel that must be thoroughly chewed and savored.

Today, this verse caught my attention. for some reason, I kept thinking about it and pondering all of the potential meanings:

Psalm 34:10 (English Standard Version)

The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Lions are pretty powerful predatory animals. They're skilled hunters who rarely go hungry in the scheme of things. The Word says that they will experience lack, but those who put their faith in the Lord and seek Him will not lack anything. That's a pretty strong hedge of protection!

Good Night

I've Not Been Doing What I'm Supposed To...

The daily routine of listening to the Daily Audio Bible podcasts hasn't been consistent this week. In fact, I'm about 2 weeks behind in the devotionals. Because of this, I believe I'm 'drying up' spiritually. I'm also finding it more difficult to blog each night. I repent of not putting God first in my thoughts, or in the wise use of my time these past couple of weeks.

I do not doubt my salvation; Jesus is my Lord no matter what I end up doing [or not doing]. Eternal life is not merit based, nor given to 'good people'. Knowing this, I'm not shaken in my belief that I'll go to heaven when I pass away.

But soaking in The Word does make a difference in our daily lives on this earth. If I were to go without food or water for an extended time, my physical body would perish. Likewise, my spirit needs to be nourished if it is to remain healthy and thrive in this world.

"Lord Jesus, please grant me the discipline to continue the journey of hearing and meditating on your word each day. Please let the spiritual seeds that have already been planted in my soul come to fruition and let that harvest continue to bring me closer to you. In the end, all I need is you. Let everything that I've built up as an idol be torn down and put into their rightful places; take my time, family, finances and creative energies and use them all for your will. I trust you. I love you. Amen."

Good Night

It's Family Dinner Time!

After a lazy morning wake-up, my wife and I enjoyed a nice walk around the neighborhood before getting started with our day. After lunchtime [for the kids], we put in a movie and popped some popcorn for them to enjoy. Meanwhile, my wife and I whisked off to the local eat-in cinema for our own date lunch.

The movie of the day was "The Expendables"; which was a supercharged-action-mega-movie if I've ever seen one. There were so many big name stars which seemed like ornamental garnish, I didn't know which way to look. I can't even begin to fathom the number of gunshots which were fired, but all in all it was a testosterone-fest that was worth watching on the big screen, in surround sound. If I had practical use for Terry Crews' fully automatic shotgun, I'd figure out a way to buy one!

But the crowning jewel of the day will be our family dinner in a few minutes. It's lasagna and garlic bread, but it's the company and conversation with the kids that has me excited. We're truly blessed to be able to come together for such a meal. Thank you, Jesus for every good thing you've given us today!

Good Night

Going All In

Tonight at church, our pastor spoke of the adventure in Acts 27, where Paul and others set sail for Italy, on a potentially ill-fated voyage. Paul warned the soldiers that it would be dangerous, but they set sail anyway. The boat ran into a storm which lasted several days, the boat nearly came apart, men were terrified and the situation looked completely dire. Surely death was knocking at the door. However, God stepped in and told Paul exactly what to do; take courage and follow His instructions. When the men followed Paul's guidance, they made it to shore alive.

I've blogged about the shipwreck in Acts 27 before, but after listening to our pastor tonight, I have new insight for applying this to our own lives.

1. When the situation you're facing is dire, pray for daylight. Ask God for assistance!

2. After affliction strikes, cut the ropes. Sever ties to anything that keeps your focus from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Instead of taking things into your own hands to escape, drop the lifeboats so that you're wholly dependent on the Lord instead of depending on yourself (or idols that you take refuge in).

4. In the midst of turmoil, throw out the grain. This could mean anything that is weighing you down. Dig into the Word for strength and nourishment and then jettison everything that isn't essential for your "journey".

5. When God begins to work in your life, lose any anchors which may be dragging along, slowing your progress. This could include feelings and emotions, or "what if" scenarios of the past. Embrace the new thing that God is doing!

6. Untie the rudders and let God be in control of your life. He knows where you're supposed to go better than you do.

7. Jump wholeheartedly into God's will. Jump overboard and don't look back- put yourself out there and trust in the Lord for provision, protection and direction.

8. Get to Land, which represents your relationship with Jesus. He is your rock!

Acts 27 (English Standard Version)

1And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. 2And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. 3The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. 4And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. 5And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. 6There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. 8Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

9Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10saying, "Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives." 11But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. 12And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

13Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. 14But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. 15And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 16Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship’s boat. 17After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along. 18Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. 19And on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

21Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. 22Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.' 25So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26But we must run aground on some island."

27When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. 28So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms. 29And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. 30And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship’s boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, 31Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved." 32Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it go.

33As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. 34Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you." 35And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. 36Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37(We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) 38And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

39Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. 40So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. 41But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. 42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.

For September, my wife and I signed up for WSFC's "All-In" program. Basically, we've made a commitment with the church, stating that we're putting God first in our finances and have pledged tithes for the next three months. The challenge is to tithe cheerfully for three months and see what God has done in our lives during and afterward. If we find that we are not absolutely blessed, we'll be given a refund of the whole amount. Personally, I hope to tithe and step further into God's will and protection.

It's not that I want to "give" in order to "get". Rather, I'm interested in pushing my own fiscal fears and insecurities aside and jumping completely into faith that God will take care of us, even if the numbers don't add up on paper. This is one of the most exciting, yet frightening things we've ever done. It's where we jump into His arms with reckless abandon and take a real risk. I'll be certain to share more information with you, as this season unfolds.

Good Night

I'm So Very Thankful It's Friday!

I'm sure it seems like I say this every Friday, but I've got to tell you that it feels GREAT to finally be enjoying a fine Friday evening. After running a quick errand and whipping out dinner for the kids, my wife and I enjoyed dinner and a movie.

This weekend holds some chores around the house, but for the most part it will be a time of rest. For once, we don't have plans, nor any place to be except for church tomorrow evening. Thank you, Lord! I pray that whatever you're doing this weekend, you're blessed.

Good Night

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Comes to Salem!

ABC has selected Salem/Keizer as the next site for a home extreme makeover and the kickoff meeting was held at our church, West Salem Foursquare this very evening! I was assisting the technical staff with various things, as the tradespeople flooded through the doors for a pizza feed before the EMHE production crew officially introduced themselves. Live music was provided by the local band "IV" and the Portland Trailblazer dancers made an appearance before the kickoff began. Many, many people were on site and there was electricity in the air.

Many people signed up to help the family, which has yet to be revealed, in the first week of September. However, volunteers and donations of all kind are still needed. This website is a great place to sign up if you can build, paint, donate furniture, provide gift cards, take photographs, etc. This is a great opportunity for our community to come together and make a real, lasting difference in the lives of a family. Please consider stepping up this week.





Good Night

Ups and Downs

It's late. I'm tired and feeling uninspired this evening. I'm not depressed, but I just don't have a lot to give tonight, and it's only Wednesday. So, before I scoot off to bed, I'll share a tradition that my family has adopted at the dinner table: "Ups and Downs". Usually, as we're eating, we take turns going around the table and sharing the best (or worst) "Up" and "Down" for that day.

Usually, someone has both good and bad things to share. It gives a chance for each of us to experience what's going on in the lives of the other family members; to celebrate the good times, or talk through the bad times. The very best days are when everyone shares a positive experience, but no negatives are encountered.

My Up today was coming home to my family after quite a long day. I'd gotten to work early and then headed to a company picnic directly afterward, which placed me home just after 8:00 PM. It was wonderful to see my beautiful wife and children when I walked through the door.

My Down today would have been a low level of productivity at work. I got one task mostly complete, but elements of the task keep dragging out. My spirit craves better performance, more accomplishment and passion. It felt like I was sleepwalking through the day.

The next time you sit down for a meal with your family, perhaps you should try "Ups and Downs" as well.

Good Night

I'm Done

I've been out of whack the last couple of days and today, things finally came to a head when 2 of my kids came to blows over a silly situation that didn't even need to happen. We ended up having a family dinner tonight and talked about the things that the family isn't doing very well and what we expect in the future in terms of actions and behavior. My wife and I are absolutely wiped.

I'd planned on sharing some pretty incredible things I've been listening to in 1st Corinthians, but I just don't have it in me tonight. It's funny though; some of the scriptures I was going to post actually apply to the situation above. Instead of talking about the unchecked corruption in the church eventually causing issue in the whole body, I find that the very same lessons apply to our own families, even though the context is slightly different.

Anger, bitterness and hatred can destroy a family like a form of cancer. All it takes is one hurtful comment to begin the chain reaction. If left uncorrected, the damage will grow and spread. Before long, everyone is fighting, saying hurtful things and the family as a whole is no longer healthy- they're stressed out, depressed and defeated.

Let's kick out the damaging habits, words and actions which may be occurring right at home. How can we expect to share the good news with the world, if we can't even manage our most precious human relationships?

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 (English Standard Version)

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

1 Timothy 3:2-7,12

Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap. A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.

Good Night

Life Often Takes Unexpected Turns

On our trip back home this weekend, we were guided by the GPS in my smart-phone. We knew the basic heading we wanted to take, but were dependent on the turn by turn directions to get us through the journey. We couldn't see the whole picture at the time and we ended up making a stupid turn in downtown Tillamook that we never needed to take.

Life can be like that, too. Due to personal choices, sin and free will, sometimes we can find ourselves doing things and going places we never intended to go. Factors outside of our control can also impact the route we take in this life. However, no matter the variable, if we set our focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, we'll end up where we need to go. Don't lose your spiritual orientation!

Good Night

Return From Paradise

Well, It's been a long weekend (a long vacation week, actually), but as I type this, I'm sitting in my jammies. I'm awaiting the sweet bliss of sleep for the next 8 hours. Then tomorrow, it's back to work.

I'm very thankful to have been able to go on this weekend trip to the coast. Our family has never been away overnight and this experience was a bonding event for all of us. We had some laughs, some good (and bad) food, treats and got to see a whole lot of God's glorious creations. In many cases, it was mind-blowing to think that all of these animals, trees, mountains, dunes and skies exists simply because He wants them to.



Thank you Lord! I can't wait to see what you have in store for tomorrow...

Good Night

Greeting From Paradise - Part 2

Tonight marks our final evening in Cannon Beach. We've had some fun exploring the nearby beaches and ventured into the tourist town of Seaside this afternoon. Many pictures were taken and we visited an aquarium and the end of the Oregon trail as an "educational element" of the trip.

I've wrestled with stress from trying to keep the house in order and control the kids in the name of keeping the peace. It didn't work very well and as a result, our time here was marred to a degree. I'm sorry for that, and I hope my family understands I'm just trying to do the right and honorable thing.

It's been a good experience overall and I'm so very thankful that we were blessed with this opportunity. I'm not sure of how many family vacations are in our future, but it's been a great break from the day to day routine.

Good Night

Greetings From Paradise - Part 1

Tonight's blog comes to you from the iPhone and the beautiful oceanfront of Cannon Beach, Oregon. A dear friend's family has entrusted us with their incredible beach house for the weekend. So, we're living like kings (or queens) for the next day or so. The trip to the coast was broken up by a visit to the Tillamook factory, where cheese, ice cream and other delicious products are produced.

After settling in to the house and testing out the local cuisine for dinner, the family settled in to an abandoned fire pit (which was still burning) and toasted some marshmallow-y goodness. Our family has never been on such a vacation, or overnight getaway.

After the goodies on the beach, we set up the children for bed and settled in for the evening. It's been a blessing of a day. Thank you, Jesus for such a great experience with my family!

Good Night

I Have Vision!

I'm really tired after an insanely full day today. However, I wanted to share one simple triumph this evening; my visual acuity is rated at 20/60. Granted, to those of you with a "normal range of vision", being between 20/20 and 20/40, I see poorly by comparison.

However from birth I've had visual defects due to complications from prematurity. I've progressed from not really being able to see at all, to being classified as legally blind as a small child. Then, the visual acuity unexpectedly improved to the levels above legal blindness and beyond. Currently, I believe I've got the visual ability of many senior citizens. Considering the road I've walked in regard to my eyesight, this is a major victory.

I thank God and all of the prayer warriors who I'm certain had a hand in the good report from the doctors today.

Good Night

Heading Up To OHSU In The Morning

Thanks to those of you who've prayed for me today. Tomorrow will begin at 6:00 AM, followed by a trip up to OHSU/Casey Eye Center, for my annual checkup. With my condition, I don't simply pop into a Binyon's or Lens Crafters for a 10 minute eye exam and a new pair of spectacles.

I meet with specialists whom carefully inspect my eccentric retinas, walk through acuity and field of view, then ultimately judge whether or not my vision is stable. Thankfully, the last few years have been solid. However, as my body begins to age, I ponder the future of my vision. How many years of quality eyesight do I have left? Will I be able to see my family through to my retirement? What will happen to my family, if something were to happen to my eyes?

What is God's plan? Hopefully, a long life, with full vision!

Good Night

An Afternoon With Ryan

Although I'm off of work this week, the original plan for the vacation days (building prototypes for my "vaporware" speaker company) have given way to more common things; vacuuming, dishes, preparing and cleaning up after meals and doctor's appointments for eyes, teeth and gearing up for school. Vacation? I think not. However, there have been a couple of bright spots in this 9 day stretch thus far. One such highlight was an outing to Target this afternoon with my wife and son, Ryan. (I've included an older picture of him here, impersonating the caricature of Napoleon Dynamite)





It may not sound like much, but a trip to the store to gather up some essentials was a kick in the pants. My wife and I took full advantage of the rare one-on-one time with our quiet son. He is hilarious! It's these precious moments that I'll file away in the savings account of my mind, for later withdrawal.

A recurring theme of my posts has emerged; relationships are what matter most. Our relationship with our God and Savior is key. Relationships with our families and friends are vital. It's not about "stuff", It's about people. In this world of iPhones, video games, whiz-bang cars and fancy houses where money matters, it's easier than ever to get lost in materialism and forget why we were created- and who we're created for.

My reminder came in the form of an 11 year old boy, a salted pretzel and blue-raspberry slushy.

Good Night

Happy Birthday (To Me)!

It was a pretty good day today. I was greeted by several friends and relatives on Facebook as I sipped my morning coffee. It was touching to see that so many kind people took a few minutes to wish me their best.

Later, my wife's parents came over for a mid-day BBQ for my birthday and it turned out to be a really nice afternoon. I really have the best family a man could ask for. Now, it's time for some shuteye!

Good Night

I Love My Wife

Tonight, the only thing on my mind is my wife. God has certainly blessed me with the best chick on the planet. Not everyone gets to marry their best friend, or one of the funniest people they know, or someone that still "gets their motor running" after being together for over 15 years. I've been blessed with all of these things in my wonderful wife.

God had blessed me with this amazing woman, when I clearly didn't deserve her in my youth. She was (and is) too good for me. However, I'm thankful that she's chosen me to spend the rest of her life with. Life's better with her around.

Good Night

Lazy Day

There isn't much in terms of biblical wisdom or insight to talk about tonight, but I did want to share a couple of small things. First, it was a very nice day today, and I didn't do anything special around the house or out in the world at all!

This morning was met with an unexpected hours long Facebook chat session-turned-troubleshooting-turned-iChat session with my mother. It was great to talk with her and help with some technical issues she was experiencing with her laptop and wireless router. Things are in a good place now and she was able to walk around her house whilst chatting visually with me (Macs rule!). She loved catching up with the family and it was great for the kids to finally see their grandmother's house (she lives in another state).

Then it was dinner for the kids and a date night with my wife. We didn't eat the dinner we'd originally planned, nor were we able to rent the DVD we'd hoped for, but it was a great night nonetheless. That's about it. Nothing much more to share at this time, but it's days like this that I can sit back, take stock and see how incredibly blessed I am. Thank you for the reminder, Jesus!

Good Night

Thank God For Weekends!

I had to work late tonight, so this is going to be a short post. The day was long and the maintenance period at work didn't transpire as smoothly as I'd have liked. Regardless of the outcome of the work week past, we're entering into the weekend.

What's better, beyond Sunday I've got a week of vacation scheduled. There are surely some housekeeping items that I need to tend to, but I hope to do something fun and spiritually productive in the days to come.

Thank God!

Good Night

Please Agree With Me In Prayer

Tonight, I ask that you help me by praying for the complete restoration of the health of several people; my wife (whom suffers from chronic migraines), Cory (worship leader at church, who severely injured his shoulder while setting up for last week's service), Kevin (youth leader at church whom has battled with back injuries) and Denise (the mother of a friend of mine who's been struggling to maintain her health).

All of these individuals are children of the Living God. They're our brothers and sisters in Christ. It seems the enemy is wreaking havoc on the bodies and minds of God's beloved in this time of warfare. Please stand with me in prayer:

"Lord, I know that you love each one of the people I've mentioned above. You know them intimately, inside and out. I have to believe that it hurts you when you see them suffer, and a life in turmoil is not your design. I know your will is for us to be over-comers, conquerors and victors. It says so in your word and we stand on that tonight. Thank you for being a loving, good God! Amen."

Romans 8:36-39 (New International Version)

36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Good Night

You Want Proof?

I wish I could take credit for the wealth of information I'm posting tonight, but I can't. I can only share my personal beliefs and ideas about the existence of God, and then farm things from the Bible and other people who may be wiser and smarter than I am.

As for my thoughts on the matter:

#1 If the Earth were any farther from the Sun, all life would freeze. Any closer to it and all life would burn up. We're in a perfectly balanced and for the most part hospitable environment to sustain life. This rarity in the universe is something that scientists are searching for in other galaxies, but have yet to find anything resembling life as we know it.

#2 It isn't coincidental that humans inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide as waste. Trees happen to live with exactly the inverse use of these gases. It's an elegant, symbiotic relationship.

#3 When I look at trees, I see patterns. The patterns in different kinds of leaves, flowers and berries closely mimic other items in nature. Case in point: The tree and the human lung. The trachea is clearly represented by the trunk of the tree. The branches and vines closely resemble the bronchi which branches and rebranches into the alveoli, which are synonymous with leaf clusters or berries. (Miniature versions of this model are available in broccoli and cauliflower plants, as well as the human brain)

#4 If we were in fact evolving instead of being created, where are all of the 'evolving' species which are either slightly ahead of (advanced) or behind (retarded) the human race in terms of composition? Wouldn't the 'missing link' still be around and plentiful, like other primates or mammals?

#5 No one doubts that airplanes, toasters or cars are man made, created objects. There isn't anyone I know of whom would dispute that these items were conceived first in thought, spoken into a plan, lovingly engineered and finally built into something tangible by human hands. People are more complex than aircraft, infinitely more useful than toasters and a beautiful woman bears elegance and grace that no Ferrari can match. God is surely the master designer.

#6 Bumblebees can fly. Although I didn't come up with this, there are arguments as to whether or not the bee violates the laws of aerodynamics. I don't think that's the point. They can fly and if it's not by simple means, all the better. Complex systems further allude to intelligent design, instead of happenstance. (Further, when flying a bee builds up an electrostatic charge, and as flowers are usually well grounded, pollen is attracted to the bee's pile when it lands. When a pollen covered bee enters a flower, the charged pollen is preferentially attracted to the stigma because it is better grounded than the other parts of the flower.)

And then there are these juicy tidbits from others on WikiHow:

#1 Establish the reliability of the Bible as a credible source. The opening statement of the Bible declares that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Contemporary science although not absolutely certain on exactly when has theorized that the universe did in fact have a beginning with what is known as “The Big Bang.” It flies in the face of common sense for anyone to assert that absolute nothing could produce something thus making it more reasonable to infer that God is that something with no beginning which produced everything that we know of which has a beginning. The Bible says, “He stretches out the north over empty space And hangs the earth on nothing.” (Job 26:7) Perhaps only divine revelation could account for the Bible’s accuracy in detailing these and other facts about our universe far in advance of us developing the technology to verify such assertions.

#2 Show how the Bible paints a picture of God as a Being who is omniscient, omnipotent, immaterial, omnipresent, eternal, immutable, indivisible, perfect and loving. The Bible says that, “God is spirit…” (John 4:24) and it says that “God is love…” (1 John 4:8). The awesome complexity and incredible elegance pervading the entire universe suggests the existence of a superhuman architect of immense knowledge and power. The minds of human beings are taking what seems like an eternity to completely discover what the original mind or the divine mind actually accomplished in creating the universe and all it contains. The Bible says that God created mankind in his image (Genesis 1: 26-27) and it is logical to conclude that the human mind is able to increasingly make progress in understanding the universe because the human mind is a replica of the divine mind.

#3 Discuss how Jesus fulfilled dozens of Old Testament Messianic Prophecies and did things which no ordinary person could ever do. Jesus was recorded to have been born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) of the Tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10), and to have visited the Temple (Malachi 3:1) and to have risen from the dead (Isaiah 53:11). Historical sources and archaeological evidence establish the legitimacy of Jesus of Nazareth as an actual person to an extent comparable to that of any other notable historical figure. The gospels document the life and teachings of Jesus and the existence and expansion of Christianity as a major religion is evidence of its plausibility rather than an example of human gullibility.

#4 Elaborate on the issue of an imperfect world but one in which the good conspicuously outweighs the bad and one which any person could imagine as possibly being much worse if it were simply accidental or unintended. It seems that the universe provides us with life and the things necessary to sustain, enhance, and enjoy life. There are luxuries which are not essential to survival and reproduction such as art, music, and ever-evolving technology. Is this indicative of an indifferent cosmos or more indicative of one which is somewhat friendly to humans? It seems more reasonable to conclude that the universe materialized due to the presence of an intelligent force when one takes the time to learn how so many things had to go right in order for us to be here and how difficult it would be to possibly explain how not one of those things went wrong without making reference to God. It also seems as though the universe was designed for people when one considers how human beings are the phenomenal creatures with the rare capacity to maximize the somewhat hidden potential of creation.

#5 Explain that there are many examples showing God's existence, but one has to be able to look and realize its truth. Accept it instead of doubting it, see it instead of shutting your eyes and you will believe that God exists. Consider how the usefulness and attractiveness of things produced by human beings are not accidental qualities when present but are a result of our intelligent nature and our natural delight in order, balance, and beauty. In a similar way, it is unreasonable to conclude that the surpassing usefulness and attractiveness of things throughout nature are accidental qualities but it is rather more reasonable to conclude that they are the result of the existence of a surpassing intelligence which also delights in order, balance, and beauty. The Bible says that God created everything and was quite pleased with his work.

#6 Advise people to look around and look at the world. Does he or she see only the trees but not the forest? Obviously God exists, because HIS creation, is not only with humans, but with the world, and the galaxy that the world is in, and the universe that the galaxy is in. One intermingles with the other. The universe and all of life operates according to sophisticated and precise instructions. Who formulated these instructions? The Bible indicates that God is the being who spoke the first words and that God is the source of life.

#7 Mention that we are all born with the knowledge of right and wrong. The human mind has the capacity to calculate and it is not natural for people to take pleasure in destruction. Read the Bible and see that the knowledge of good and evil comes from God.

#8 Discuss the fact that we each have a desire to seek love. From childhood on, we try to fill that gap that exists within us. Sharing a life with another person, enjoying the companionship, stems from Adam & Eve, and God saw that Adam was lonely and so he created Eve to fill the desire to love and be loved, and as a means of creating a world of mankind. If we believe that, then it follows that there is a God.

#9 Familiarize yourself with some famous quotes you can use to argue that the Christian God exists.

o When I see all the glories of the cosmos, I can’t help but believe that there is a divine hand behind it all. Albert Einstein

o People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars and they pass themselves by without wondering. St. Augustine

o I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. C.S. Lewis

o Some people complain because God puts thorns on roses, while others praise God for putting roses among thorns. Author Unknown

o If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him, just to say thank you. Pastor Robert Schuller

o A heathen philosopher once asked a Christian, 'Where is God'? The Christian answered, 'Let me first ask you, Where is He not?' Aaron Arrowsmith

o What I am really interested in, is knowing whether God could have created the world in a different way; in other words, whether the requirement of logical simplicity admits a margin of freedom. Albert Einstein

o My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive With our frail and feeble minds. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible Universe, forms my idea of God. Albert Einstein

God is Real!

Knowing this, are you at peace with the Lord? Have you accepted the fact that one day you will pass away and when that time comes, you will stand before Him and give an account of your life? Friends, please accept the free gift of eternal life, through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Good Night

Goodbye Family!

Tonight we had an impromptu dinner with our family out in Stayton. Our brother and sister (in law for me) were in town from Montana this past week with their sons. We'd already spent time with them earlier in the week and had said our goodbyes on Sunday evening. The offer for one last dinner tonight was a surprise and it turned out to be a great time; BBQ and s'mores and great company. What an unexpected gift.

The drive home brought about conversations of visiting Montana at some point in the future. It's fun to dream of road trips, but now that we're home it's time to head to bed at a decent hour.

Lord, thank you for a loving family and great food and the freedom to enjoy both. Amen.

Good Night

Clean From The Inside Out

This morning, when I was trying to catch up on the Daily Audio Bible Podcast, 2nd Chronicles chapter 29 told the story of King Hezekiah's restoration of the Temple of the Lord. It had been previously desecrated and was dirty and in desperate need of renovation.

Now, this was the restoration of an physical building, but I felt the Lord tell me that just like the literal restoration of the temple, our bodies are the temple of the Living God and we too are restored from the inside out. It's not some eureka! moment, but I thought it was a nice parallel to ponder.

2 Chronicles 29:15-19 (English Standard Version)

15They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD. 16The priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it and carried it out to the brook Kidron. 17They began to consecrate on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the LORD. Then for eight days they consecrated the house of the LORD, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. 18Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, "We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils. 19All the utensils that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and consecrated, and behold, they are before the altar of the LORD."

Matthew 23:25-26 (English Standard Version)

25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

2 Corinthians 6:16 (New International Version)

16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

Re-read these scriptures if you need to. Remember that we are all works in progress and that we're being cleansed from the inside out every day.

Good Night

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Castor!

Today was pretty hectic; there was the morning rush to get the house in order and the kids cleaned up followed by the dash up to Clackamas for the weeding of my wife's cousin, Tracey. It was beautiful. The venue was a golf course and the wedding occurred in a private, outdoor area. God provided an absolutely gorgeous skyline and a cool breeze. I can't imagine a more perfect day for a wedding.

God Bless the New Couple!


Our Place Setting


Present Cake


Amazing View

Good Night

United

It was a great day today. Our church services on Saturday and Sunday united into one body this weekend for outdoor fun and worship down at the Riverfront Park in Salem. Face painting, sno-cones, cotton candy, volley ball and basketball were enjoyed by all. Attendance was well over 1600 people and several of those people gave their lives to Jesus Christ tonight.

During the worship song service, my little girl purely and proudly raised her hands to the Lord in praise. I was filming the service at the other end of the park at the time, but my wife took this picture in the moment. It was something that really touched my heart and I wanted to share it with you, too.

Thank you Jesus, for a safe and smooth setup, performance and tear-down today. Thank you for the team of staff, volunteers, ministers and musicians who came together to lead the lost sheep back to the flock. Amen!

Good Night

Camp CanyonView 2010!

God is truly good. It was a beautiful Friday evening with some family and a whole campground full of kids at Camp CanyonView. There was a wonderful potluck dinner and plenty of entertainment from the camp counselors and assistants was on tap.

When we'd finished, we all piled into the back of Papa's truck for a ride back to our car, which was in a parking lot quite far from where we were at the time. We rode down the dusty road with the wind in our hair and bugs in our teeth! It was just a really, really nice evening and a perfect end cap to a full week of work and day camp.

Thank you, Lord for this experience- for the great memories.

Good Night

It's Totally Worth It

This morning when I got up, I had no idea of what would occur as the day unfolded. Once I was ready for work, I spent almost a half an hour on the phone with AT&T trying to activate my son's hand me down iPhone (my wife bought a new iPhone so he inherited the first generation unit). Once that task was complete, it was off to work; but not before stopping in at the church to drop off the kids for camp.

I'm glad I did. The fast pace of the morning broke long enough for me to catch a glimpse of my beautiful, happy children. That's the good stuff. On most days, I'd already be at the office and would have missed such an opportunity. I can tell you with conviction that on my death bed, I'll not think about the 28 minutes I was late for work. I'll think of the beautiful faces of my children- frozen in that perfect moment in time.

My supervisor talked with me about the unplanned tardiness, but I wouldn't have changed a thing this morning. It's little moments such as these that make all of the rest of the day worth it.

Thank you, Lord for these subtle reminders of what's really important in this life. Amen.

Good Night

Too Tired to Say Much

It's late and I've just activated my wife's new smartphone. This means I'm doing the whole "bump down" upgrade for my son as well. It's after 10:00 PM. I'm tired, grumpy and don't feel like talking too much. Regardless of how I feel tonight, God is still on the throne and he loved us. That's good news, even for a "Grumpy Gus" like me.

I'll talk to you tomorrow, take care.

Good Night

Straighten Up!

While commuting to work this morning, I felt sluggish and unwilling to comply to the impending daily grind. I fantasized about the thought of giving notice and being free from the confines of "cube life". God knows I want to run my own business at some point, but I suspect he was trying to snap me back into focus this morning. In timely fashion, the following scripture rang through my ear-buds:

Romans 13

Submission to the Authorities

1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

After I chewed on the passage above for a minute, I began to think about those who were placed in authority over my life. I thought about my feelings toward them, my attitudes and comments, both past and present. Then, the next verses cut to the heart:

Fulfilling the Law Through Love

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

11Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

This was a lesson in personal integrity. Remember to respect our leaders, to genuinely love others and to walk uprightly in our word and deed. We're set apart from the rest of the world- don't forget who you are.

Good Night

Take A Minute and Say Thanks

I know, I know. I've said this several times before, but I mean it. We need to often pause and take stock of our lives and remember to thank God for all things. Remember, the fact that even the air in our lungs is not our own, but a gift from God is something to be thankful for.

"Lord, I would like to give thanks to you for all of the things in my life, both good and bad. I thank you for the loving family that you've blessed me with and the friends who walk this journey with me. I thank you for the good times; these produce the laugh lines that I wear with pride on my face. I also give thanks for the bad times, as these moments build character and hope. I know that you have your hand upon my life, in the areas I understand, as well as in ways I cannot comprehend. Thank you, Lord, for everything you've done and for everything you're about to do. Amen."

Romans 5:3-5 (English Standard Version)

3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Good Night

It's All About the Cross

Church Service was truly moving today. From the Camp Crestview video which included touching clips of my son opening up to the Lord with tears streaming down his cheeks, to the truly moving performances of the youth worship team. God was present and it was awesome. Our pastor said that the cross is where humanity and divinity collide. It's the crux of our whole being- the "point" of everything. I firmly believe that's true.

There's no way around it. Jesus, wholly God and wholly man, was crucified for our sins. He paid a debt that we couldn't pay for ourselves and then offered all of the benefits of an eternal, blameless life to all who choose to follow him. To get away from the message of the cross, would be an ill-fated effort to sidestep the path to life itself.

It's an unfair trade in our favor, really; we trade our sin-ridden and filthy life, for one that is life. We die to ourselves and are raised with Christ.

Good Night