The Word and Who I Am

When you read the Bible, do you ever wonder how the stories between its pages really apply to your life? How they are relevant to the circumstances or situations that you may be facing? I know that I have often heard the Bible called "just a book full of stories", "myths" and so on, but in truth the Word is much more than just a book of stories. It is our our manual, the manual, for living a life of success.

If there is an experience in life--the Bible is your road map and guide through it. It is more than just words in ink, placed on paper for us to read. Within its pages, flowing from Genesis through The Revelation, you will find the answers to every problem, challenge and circumstance that you will face. As you read the Word, meditating and digesting it, you will find that it will also begin to shape your "image". It is God's desire for us to live and function on Earth as He does in Heaven. The bible will provide you with the image of the living God, His character and His nature. The more that you read the Word, and meditate upon it, the more it will influence how you see yourself and the outcome of your life. Being able to know who you are "from the Word" and then taking action on what you learn, allows you to conform more and more to the image of God. In the book of James, 1:23-24, we are told about the person who reads the Word, but doesn't let it move him to take any action. It says, "For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was." There is no doubt, as we look into God's Word that we will discover who we truly are. If we allow the Word to speak to us, and meditate upon it, we will come to know our true identity.

In our lives, when challenges and circumstances come, we shouldn't bow down and submit to them believing things have to remain that way. It is during those tough times that we need to go to the Word and seek out how God wants us to respond. Pray, asking God to lead you into an understanding of the Word, so that you can understand how to apply it to what's going on in your life. Use the Word. Just remember, there were many people in the Bible who found themselves experiencing the same emotions, thoughts and circumstances that people are facing today. One of my favorite men from the Bible is David. David had a tremendous destiny before him, but just think of the trials, situations and circumstances he faced on the way to his destiny. In Psalms we hear David crying, pleading, praising and worshiping, finding himself in the lowest valleys and on the highest mountains. He experienced so much of what many people are facing today in their own lives. Yet, David declared in Psalm 119:105:

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

David knew that the Word would provide the guidance that he needed. That it would reveal who he really was and provide the strength to choose the right paths. It is no different for us today, the Word will still reveal our true self, while providing the strength and light we need. David could have allowed the circumstances of his life to stop him, prevent him from fulfilling his destiny...but, David understood who he was and David knew his God. We need to let the Word shape us, form us...molding our identity. Each day, we can face life and what it throws at us...because we will know who we are and we will know our God. Until the next time.

Here's A Miracle

"I'm amazed that I'm standing here today, after all the trials that have come my way
Through it all The Lord has been so good to me
Now here I stand for all the world to see.

Here's a miracle right before your eyes
I was down so low, I thought that I'd never rise
But here's a miracle right before your eyes".

If it were not for God, where would I be. Just as the words of this song...in my life, I have been down so low, that I thought I'd never rise. There have been times I fought just to see the next day, struggling just to hang on. I've been in some pretty low places and known my share of pain...but, I'm still standing, a miracle for all the world to see. Thank God...for His grace and His mercy, but most of all--for His love.

America and Freedom

I never really believed that in my lifetime that I would see our country in the state it is today. It seems that it continues to spiral toward socialism at a maddening speed, while so many simply stand by. I suppose, naively, I have clung to the belief that when it really came down to it, America would stand up. In fact, I have based my life and my family's life on that very belief. I can't accept that my fellow citizens will allow the destruction of our history, the betrayal of all our sacrifices in war and just stand by as we continue to speed toward socialism.

The reality is that you and I have allowed ourselves to be worn down for a final assault, a battle that has been raging for a while now. Our national moral has been beaten down to an all time low, while our colleges continue to drive "morality" from our youth as they teach right is wrong and wrong is right. The mindset that so many of our citizens have now adopted. It will only be by an enraged and unrelenting "people" that our fate may be changed. It will be those of us who have felt the pain of loss imposed on us by a president who is ready to take our freedoms. It will be us who choose to fight back with a strength unexpected, who will give our all in this ultimate fight for our freedom. It will be us, a people who refuse to simply roll over and give in, but instead who will rise and stand for what we believe.

The reality today is we will either survive as a free people, or perish defeated. The stakes are extremely high for all of us who are lovers of our country. I refuse to live as a slave, that just isn't an option for me. Obama surely seeks to lead our country to that state where we all will be slaves in his communist America. I pray that our country will survive and emerge in victory, free and strong. I do know that it will only be by God's grace and those of us who will continue to stand for freedom, that there is any hope. We must resist this administration's bullying and refuse to quit. How long will American patriots just stand by? We see corrupt officials demand that we pay our taxes, who have been placed in cabinet positions "having not even paid their own taxes". Eric Holder, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama...have we ever experienced such disgrace in our history as a country.

It has taken a long time, in fact hundreds of years now, but it seems our country continues its slide toward socialism. Patriots, constitutionalists, anti-abortionists, militia supporters, UN haters, gun rights activists are all now found on the lists for government action and many of us believe that "action" is now pending. We as a country have seen millions lose their retirement plans and savings, which were meant to provide peace of mind for those who had "worked" to provide for themselves. Who had "worked". Today, there are millions who have done nothing and yet reap the benefits being tossed out by Obama and his cohorts in government. It is time we draw the line in the sand, and clearly, openly identify the enemy. It is past time...and instead of standing by, waiting, we need to plainly point out the enemies we are facing. There are cities around our country who style themselves as "sanctuary cities", for illegal aliens. Politicians such as Jesse Jackson excuse these cities and turn their heads. We must face the issue of illegal immigration immediately and take control of our borders, if our country is to survive. Period. We must wage a war against the onslaught of illegal aliens that come to our country to violently take property, jobs, benefits and the possessions of the American people. I reject, as our nation must, the acceptance of sodomy, gay rights, gay marriage and gay acceptance of any type. We must identify and pursue at all costs maniacs who murder and molest our children, deal drugs, and provide for the pornography trade. There should be no safe place in our communities, and most certainly not under protection of the law, for any of them.

We have reached a time in our country, when we who still love freedom, join with one another to defend our great nation. A force that will refuse to give one inch to the invaders and those who have sold us out. The time is at hand, and the battle wages for the future of America. On which side will you be found? On bended knees, seeking God's guidance and for strength, I will continue to stand for the freedoms our forefathers have fought and died for. I will never disgrace the graves of our fallen by giving up. Their sacrifice will not be in vain, for our country has been bought by their blood and lives. The time is at hand...where will you stand.

Open Letter to Mr. Perez Hilton

Good Evening Mr. Hilton.

I would like to apologize that I haven't responded sooner to your "encounter" with Miss California. I have been here in Tennessee with my beautiful wife, a woman who also is opposed to gay marriages. Just to set the record straight here in the beginning Perez, in Tennessee this is called "normal". You know...marriage between a man and a woman.

I'm sorry, and disgusted, to hear that you referred to Miss California with the "p-word", the "b-word" and one that I hear you are found of...the "c-word". All this because the young lady doesn't hold your view as her own. Do you get this upset when anyone disagrees with you Perez?
I am sorry to hear that you still find yourself to be the more tolerant in this dispute, come on now, I have listened to both of you speak. America has listened to both of you speak and I find it difficult to believe that you can be oblivious to the fact that Miss California's view is the majority view of America. Yours, however, is not. I know some other countries might possess your views, have you considered moving to one of these.

It is regretful that you were unable to keep your political opinions out of the Miss America Pagent. I am sorry that it seems gay men are unable to keep the subject of "gay marriage" out of any conversation or event. It bothers me that we as a people are simply afraid to talk about "gay marriages", because we don't want to upset people. Your smug arrogance and attacks I know will lead to only a minor "impact" against gay marriages in America, but I sure wish it would be major.

Miss California provided you with the answer from her heart, and stood on her faith. I loved the comment she made in regards to an "earthly crown" and a "heavenly crown". I, as many others, applaud her and support her for remaining true to her beliefs, even when it cost her the title of Miss America. You see, Perez, she knew before she answered what the outcome would be. Yet, even knowing she would lose the title, this young woman refused to give in and spoke the truth. Is it that hard for you to know that there are those who will refuse to roll over? As Miss California has recently said, we will be praying for you.

The View From Here

Angels In The Room

This has to have become one of my favorite gospel songs. I love the message, and the way these ladies sing the song. I hope it blesses you as well.

He Will Carry The Load

I am sure that we all, at one time or another, have faced that situation which seemed impossible to us at the time. In the midst of it, it just seemed there was no way out and the burden only grew heavier. If we are honest, we may even have felt totally hopeless, lost and not really knowing what to do. Have you ever felt alone in the middle of a really tough time? With people all around you, your family and your friends, yet you feel so alone...as the circumstances you face continue to beat away at you. Sometimes, we count it a victory to have just made it to the next day. It is in the these times, and these circumstances, we have to let go of the load we are trying to carry...and let God carry it for us.

The facts of our condition (circumstance) may look bad, but it is the the truth of God's Word that brings hope and deliverance. The facts are--we can't handle life's challenges all alone and God has never wanted us to. The God we serve loves us, more than you or I could ever know, and we have access to Him all the time. One of my favorite scriptures is found in Romans 8:38-39:

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. He will always be found loving us, and wanting to help us. It is us, who by choice, place a separation between us and God. Never allow the enemy to convince you that God doesn't love you or care about you. That is a lie of the Devil to deceive us. If the devil can steal our confidence in God, then he will lead us into feeling we are isolated from God's love. If we end up feeling like God doesn't love us, then our circumstances will be magnified as we begin to lose hope and life fills with chaos all around us. In this battleground, we will be more focused on the storms that are striking at us, than on the promises of God.

If we allow the pressures and stresses of life to influence our lives negatively, we will likely make decisions that will keep us bound in the "situation" we face. If you and I are to overcome, we must place our attention on the Word and the promises we have been given. In our lives, we will always be facing good and bad moments, days and circumstances. It is a reality of life and it will never change. If you are like me today, you may be facing one of those tough circumstances and deep down, wondering when God is going to show up. Sometimes, its tough and there's just no way around that. However, the Word tells us that nothing can separate us from God's love and knowing this, let's us know we don't fight our battles alone. I may not understand every detail of God's plan for me today, but I do know, that like the 3 Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace---there was a 4th man and they did not walk alone.

With total confidence in God, trusting in His Word, I will continue to stand on the promises that He has given us. I know that I can cast all my cares on Him, for He truly cares for me. It doesn't matter how "tough" it may seem in my "situation", I serve the God who cannot fail and the God who will never forsake or leave me. He knows just when to step in and help us when we need it the most. We don't have to carry the load alone. Until next time.

Grayson

This is our son Grayson, a very active three year old, who steals hearts at every opportunity. Grayson was born prematurely, and weighed one pound six ounces. His mom and I spent three months beside him, in East Tennessee Children's Hospital, as we became very familiar with the NICU. Grayson fought many battles while in the hospital, and some of our days there were "hard", as he fought for his life. Today, he is living proof that God still works miracles and that He is still a healer. I am honored to be Grayson's dad...and though he is only three years old, he has already made me so proud of him. As you can see, he is an "awesome" young man...and as the doctors have told us, he is perfect in body and mind, totally healed. I just wanted to take time out tonight, and give God the honor and glory He deserves, for every time I look at my son....I see a living miracle. I love you son.