Motivational Posters IV

I don’t know why these make me laugh so hard.  Hope you enjoy!!

Home again, home again

Wow!  I finally have some time to sit down and write about my insane weekend! 

It started at 3:45 am….well it should have started!  I hit snooze a couple of times to many.  This resulted in me almost not making my plane.  The ticket counter would not check me in and they would not check my bag.  So I had to run through the terminal carrying my bag which I was not planning on checking.   Of course the airport is in massive reconstruction so they drop you off a quarter mile from the area you need to be in when you take the long term parking shuttle, only have one security checkpoint, and then at 6 AM only have two of the lines open.  They took away my shaving cream, shampoo and starch.  Have you ever tried to run through the airport holding your shoes, your belt, holding your pants up while pulling a fully loaded suitcase and dodging people with little children who are oblivious to the danger of a 6′5″ 225 pound man running at full speed in his socks on a slick tile floor?  It should be an Olympic sport!  I would pay money to see how many people could skillfully negotiate that rather dangerous route!  Anyway, I made my plane.  I finally got some coffee in Denver at a great little coffee stand called Caribou Coffee.  Really really good stuff. 

I landed in Dallas at 1:22 pm.  Greg Henry, my older brother, (inside joke for all of you who don’t know) picked me up and we went straight to Heaven, er I mean Pappadeaux’s!  Oh my good Lord in Heaven!  I almost killed myself!  Within about thirty minutes of landing I was face down in a plate of cheese and oyster fondues loaded with shrimp and crawfish!  AHHH.  It was fantastic.  And then I added the crawfish trio etouffee, fried and some other kind of crawfish dish that was incredible.  I could barely stand up when I finished that HUGE dinner. 

We made it to Wichita Falls about 7:30 pm.  Late as usual because Greg took forever getting dressed.  Since it was the installation service of a family member I couldn’t just slip in and sit down on the back row.  Oh No!  We had to make the walk all the way down to the second row.  I really enjoyed the service though.  Bro. David Bernard did a fantastic job and as an added bonus it was short!!! 25 minutes.  Surely the presence of the Lord was in that place!  HA.  Anyway there was a great reception afterward with chocolate fountains, a live band and a myriad of different food and beverage choices.  It was really a lot of fun being able to see people that I hadn’t seen in 4 years or so.  In fact, I have some new cousins that are 3 years old that I had never seen before. 

Saturday was a big dinner at the Roadhouse.  That poor poor waitress!  There was a lot of peanut throwing, yelling children and loud boisterous conversation.  It was a blast to sit at the “kids” table and just chat.  Of course the “kids” are all either close to 30 or over 30 with children!  In some cases multiple children.  No, not me!  haha.  We talked about how we will always be the kids no matter how old we will get.  It was a crazy, fun, loud time! 

I woke up at 3 am PST to get on an airplane in Dallas and fly home.  I made it home at around 10:30, got my bags and headed off to Hollister.  I made it home after a quick stop at In and Out and got dressed and made my way to church just in time to preach!  We had an awesome service!  I was exhausted and made it to bed about 9 that night! Wow, what a wild and crazy weekend.  It was so much fun and I vowed not to let it be 4 years before I see everybody again.

More funny stuff

Sigmund the Sea Monster goes to jail

Just for fun

 

In response to the comments…..

That the previous post generated.  I wanted to write one post in response. 

First let me say that there may not be an easy answer to this question.  Each and every person has to make a decision at to how they will proceed on this issue.  I do feel rather strongly about the church being a place of salvation and helping people become the best Christians possible.  However, this is America and you have the right to your own opinions and systems of beliefs. 

In 1 Corinthians chapter 2, the apostle Paul, makes this statement: “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified”.  If you read the entire chapter Paul expounds on the difference between God’s knowledge and mans.  I do not think that I am taking this scripture out of context.  People were always trying to trip up Jesus and the apostles with questions and conundrums.  It seems to me that the world would like to use the the same type of tactics to get us off point.  Paul, one of my favorite’s in the Bible, was the apostle to the Gentiles.  That is all of us who are not Jewish.  So I believe that this passage of scripture is vitally important to us even in the modern day. 

I honestly believe that the best way to influence people into changing their views is to preach and teach them about the love and redemptive power of Jesus Christ.  If you have ever watched the conversion of a person from sinner to sinner saved by grace you are aware of the awesome changes that Jesus brings about in a person.  They change from the inside out!  If we believe that the Gospel message we preach is indeed the most powerful message of change and hope in the world then we have need to stand up on our platform’s and expound on issues outside of what our mandate is! 

Let me break it down even further.  Here in California we just had to vote on Proposition 8, an amendment to the constitution of California to say that marriage is between one man and one woman.  This is the second time that we have voted on this issue.  I feel very strongly about this issue as do almost all of the saints in my church.  However, I doubt very seriously, that anyone who has visited my fathers church for any length of time has any question on what he believes in regards to homosexuality.  Why then would he take the time to speak about an issue that everyone already knows he supports (ie voting yes on Prop 8)? 

I, and this is a totally personal opinion, will align myself with Jesus Christ and apostle Paul.  I don’t want to know anything except Jesus Christ  and him crucified.  That’s the message I preach, that’s the life I live.

Concerned

The election is over.  Thank God!  No matter what your views were/are concerning what happened this past Tuesday, I think that we are all grateful that we will not be bombarded by images and new reports of the two candidates standing in a farm in Ohio droning endlessly about their type of “change”.   However, this election cycle has brought a very concerning trend to the fore; the level of political activism being practiced churches across the country.  Before you all decide to hang me from the nearest light pole let me explain.

I have been accused of burying my head in the sand, letting the world pass me by, not being aware of the “very important issues” that were represented in this election, etc.  I am none of the things that I have been accused of.  You will probably not find a person who is more in tune with what happens in the political, financial and global arenas than I am.  Politics affects my everyday job in a way that most people will never experience.  Taxes being raised or lowered has a direct impact on my company and MY wallet.  So these accusations can not be true in any way.  I am also not advocating people not voting their conscience, abstaining from voting or anything like that.  Here are my concerns:

1. We, the church, run the risk of becoming irrelevant if we allow our houses of worship to become political platforms for either party or causes.  This is not what we are called to do!  Our mandate from God is to “go ye therefore” (Matt 28:19).  It does not say to promote a political cause or movement.  Baptizing…yes, teaching….yes, converting….yes.  But not to become a political organization.

2. A congregant should never be made to feel poorly about their political views by the pastor, ministry team member or fellow parishioner!  Never!  We must realize that we are reaching a truly diverse world.  It is not my or your place to judge someone on the basis of their political views.   It should never even enter into the equation.  Only the love of God will convince a person to change over a period of time.  Me, as an assistant pastor, getting up and speaking my political views over a pulpit that is dedicated to saving someone from hell will not change their opinion and I run the risk of doing more damage than good!  This is especially true in extremely diverse areas of the country like California.  Am I saying that I sacrifice my politics or belief systems?  NO, but I do leave them at the door and not take them to the platform with me. 

3.  Any church that pushes a political agenda from the platform runs the risk of having their 403b and tax exempt status taken away.  This would in turn hamstring many of our churches and their ability to pay the bills, give to missionaries, evangelize their communities, etc.

4.  Jesus Christ, who we all say that we are following and trying to be like, made it a point to distance himself from ANY kind of political maneuvering or posturing.  When he was asked if he was the King of the Jews he replied, “You have said so” (Luke 23:3).  The disciples and the nation of Israel were desperate for a Messiah who would return them to their “rightful place” in the world.  In fact, Jesus was rejected partly because he wasn’t a political figure.  His message of peace, salvation and love was rejected by the Jews because they wanted to throw of the political tyranny of Rome.  You can bet that if Jesus had come and organized the people to overthrow the Romans they would have lined the block trying to sign up.  When Jesus was asked by the people if they should have to pay taxes to Caesar, he replied “Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are God’s”. (Luke 20:25).  You have to understand that this issue was as important to the people of Israel as abortion and same sex marriage are to us.  They believed that they had the MORAL right to oppose these things.  The business of the Church is to get people to yield the things that are God’s to God!  We have no business making political proclamations from our pulpits and Sunday school bible stands.

5.  Any person in a position of leadership should be extremely careful of stating their political views in any type of forum.  Remember, your blog, Facebook, MySpace, Plaxo, Twitter, etc., are read by many different types of people.  It would not be prudent to offend a member of your congregation simply to make a point or let of a little steam.

This election has stirred up a lot of negative feelings.  Race and gender are always hot button issues that run deep in all of us.  However, as Christians/Christ imitators, our duty is to be like him.  Not to push a political agenda or issue.  We should let the love of God work on people and let their political views mature over time.  We do this with standards.  The wise pastors don’t immediately began to tell people what they have to change.  We let God and time work on their hearts.  They inevitably will come to you to discuss things that they are doing that no longer feel right.  Why do we feel like we have to change their political views as soon as possible? 

In all of this we need to remember that “the king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1).  It doesn’t really matter who is President or Governor.  God’s will will be done.  If we truly believe that “all things work together” then we need to leave the political arena, never to return, and get back to what we are supposed to do…….GO WIN SOULS!!

Time for reflection

Those of you who know me know that I am not given to deep introspection!  I’m more of a fly by the seat of my pants guy.  I don’t stop to smell the flowers very often.  I live a very busy life and I love it, but the facts are that it is not condusive to stopping and taking stock often.  Today is my birthday.  Yea for than, ok ok.  That’s enough.  I’m not writing this for birthday wishes, although send your cash directly to my wallet!  I turn 27 today.   I have lived almost 3 decades now and I have the gray hair to prove it.  My 27 years have been filled with happiness, a lot of love, heartbreak, and all of the other things that every other person who is born and lives a reasonable amount of time experience.  My life has been better than some and no doubt maybe a little rougher than others.  All in all I can’t complain at all.  I have a great family who loves me, even my sister, haha!  I have some of the best friends in the world.  I have a great church family.  I have a job that I actually look forward to going to everyday, even though it’s very stressful at times.  It’s a pretty good life.  I’m happy, content, in the perfect will of God and happy….did I mention that? 

I have regrets.  Sure, everyone does.  I wish that I had finished college and not stopped.  I made some poor decisions when I was a little younger that sent me on paths I should have never walked down.  I opened myself up to things that changed my life and not in a good way.  However, I am the sum of my experiences.  Who I am, for better or worse, is because of what I have gone through, been defeated by or overcome!  I have lived, loved, lost, laughed, cried, yelled, screamed with excitement, seen many cool things and had some of the greatest experiences you could ever want to have.  I’ve seen the Grand Canyon, the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean, some of the greatest cities in the world, Yosemite, Old Faithful, Yellowstone, the Rocky and Sierra Nevada Mountains, etc. 

On to other things.  I’m so glad that the election is over.  I’m not going to tell you if I was happy or upset with the results.  You don’t need to know.  I did enjoy watching history being made.  Can you imagine the emotion you would have experienced last night if you were an African American who went through the Civil Rights Era.  I can’t.  I know that several times I teared up watching the emotions play across people’s faces last night.  Whether you agree with President Elect Barack Obama or not is no longer the issue.  He will be our President in January and he deserves, at the very least, our prayers and a chance to prove himself as a leader for this great nation.  The United States of America and it’s ideals were validated last night with the first ever election of a minority to the highest office in the land.  I do so hope that he will prove worthy of the trust that this nation has put in him.  I’m a little skeptical but I’m willing to give the man a shot.  I hope and pray that you will as well.

Randomosity

It’s Monday and it’s raining.  Great!!  California maniacs, er people, have no clue how to drive in the rain.   So if you like playing slip and slide with the other 10 million people driving on our terrible roads come on out and join the fun!!  It is a great mystery to me how no one seems to realize that a nice sedate 55 mph is better than 35 or 85!  Grrrr!

If you hear that I have given myself over to worshipping false god’s don’t believe it.  However, there may be photographic evidence of me laying prostrate before a gas station sign!  I was not bowing I was knocked out!  We are finally below $3.00 a gallon!  I paid $2.91 at a Shell station the other day.  When gas what at its highest point, over $4, I was paying almost $1000 a month.  It’s amazing that I didn’t go completely insane!  Oh, wait………

I tried to swear off Starbucks. It’s all apart of the new Nathaniel!  I’m serious about saving money for the first time in my life.   Over the weekend I told myself that I wouldn’t go to Starbucks for my daily quad mocha and oatmeal (which is really good by the way).  Well, it lasted until about 8:30.  The first person who asked me to go and get coffee with them breached my defenses and I found myself standing in line paying for my $5 coffee!  Argh!  I didn’t get the oatmeal though.  Small steps, small steps.

One of my favorite sayings is, “Not so much”.  It is usually accompanied by a sarcastic smile and maybe a little shoulder shrug!  Example.  “Are you enjoying the election this year?”  Me, “Not so much”.  “Doesn’t getting your teeth pulled with no pain meds sound fun?”  Me, “Not so much.”   It works for so many situations when you are not really allowed to state your true feelings, (“Not only would I never do that but to even suggest such a stupid, idiotic, non-sensical, absolutely moronic idea proves to all of the world that you are and always have been a complete and utter….”) well, you get the idea!  Use it.  You’ll know what you mean and people will not feel so bad about you!  I love giving you these little tips.  It just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.  

While in Starbucks I saw an ad campaign that asked this question: What if we all cared as much all the time as we do on Nov. 4th?  That’s not the exact wording but it is pretty close.  That got me to thinking.  How many areas of our lives can we apply that simple question too? 

Speaking of warm and fuzzy, Bring on the Holidays baby!!  I can’t wait to gather around the fire and sing Kumbaya while wearing ridiculous holiday sweaters and sipping egg nog!  But if one more person says “Happy Holidays” I will punch them in face.  I mean right in the nose!  Just say Merry Christmas! 

Have a great week!