You talk back

When Calvin Coolidge was Vice-President, his successor as Governor of Massachusetts, Channing Cox, paid him a visit. Cox asked how Coolidge had been able to see so many visitors a day when he was governor, but always leave the office at 5:00 p.m., while Cox himself found he often left as late as 9:00 p.m. "Why the difference?" he asked. "You talk back," said Coolidge.

I like this story because it shows the value of communication in a slightly funny way. I have read many blogs that talk about many things. It is on my heart to write encouraging messages
that can uplift and inspire all of us.

I could talk about many things, the accident in 1982 where we hit a semi truck head on and the two people in the front seat died, the person next to me on my left, spent 3 months in ICU and I came away with no life threatening injuries. Or about my son Matthew that died at the age of 9 months due to a genetic disorder. Or my journey to overcome verbal abuse at the hands of my father. Or my sister-in-law, who is now in jail for aggravated murder.

I like what Paul says in 1st Corinthians 14:19 "But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue."

To paraphrase Paul, I would rather write five words of encouragement than to write ten thousand words about nothing.

I encourage you to talk back to me, I just don't want to hear myself talk. I have heard enough of that.

Separated but Connected

Ephesians 2:12-13 (NIV)
".......remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ."
** **
Because of a business trip to San Antonio, Texas I was separated from my family.

But I found a way to make a connection. Before I left I discovered on the internet, a web camera that points down to the corner of Houston and Navarro. I called my wife and said, "Get on the internet at 10:15 AM. I will stand on the corner and you should be able to see me."

So I walked to the corner of Houston and Navarro in downtown San Antonio and stood and looked up at this camera hoping that my family was watching. I felt a little silly with people who were going about their business and here I was looking at a camera six stories above me, hoping it was working.

We do the same thing every Sunday morning but with a better promise. We are separated from God. We sit in our building while people drive by outside going about their business.

Our connection is through Jesus.

Jesus say in John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

In Matthew 18:20 it reads, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

And Paul writes in Romans 8: 38 –39 about how we cannot be separated from God. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither 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."

I felt alone on the corner of Houston & Navarro, but in fellowship with other Christians, God has promised to be among us.

Let us celebrate that connection.

Darwinian vs God

One day a group of Darwinian scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one Darwinian to go and tell him that they were done with Him.

The Darwinian walked up to God and said, "God, we have decided that we no longer need you. We are to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."

God listened very patiently and kindly to the man. After the Darwinian was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this" Let's say we have a man-making contest." To which the Darwinian happily agreed.

God added, "Now, we are going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."

The Darwinian said, "Sure, no problem," and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.

God looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"

The Link posted at the right that says "Warren" is about my nephew who has cancer.

In reading "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis, I came across this passage:

"Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of. An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible."
Chapter 9, page 132.

This statement amplifies the point that life is a journey and that if we discipline ourselves now or allow God to discipline us, good will come of it. We are called to grow in relationship to God and to others.


Philippians 2:11-13 (New International Version)

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

An atheist is hiking up in the mountains on a beautiful spring day and he is really enjoying himself. As he climbs higher on the trail, he hears a noise behind him.

He turns and looks and sees the biggest bear he has ever seen; a grizzly bear!

As he turns to run he hears the bear roar. He starts running as fast as he can. He doesn't need to look back because he can hear the bear's grunts and roars as the bear continues the chase.

Panic stricken now, he turns to God. Breathlessly, he says, "I know I have not believed in you but I would like to ask for some help."

He can feel that the bear is gaining on him just by the smell and sounds behind him.

A few feet farther and the man trips, falls and screams: "Lord, Help me!" The bear is almost on top of him.

Suddenly, a bright light shines down on the hiker and bear stops in mid-jump.

A voice comes out of nowhere and says: "Son, why are you calling on me now when for so long you have denied my existence?"

"God", comes the shaky reply; "I am frightened and could use a miracle at this moment."

The voice replies: "Okay". The bright light fades away and the bear resumes his growling and leaping but then stops.

The bear then bows its head, puts it's paws together and prays: "Dear Lord, Thank you for this food that I am about eat."