The Legend of LEON

I don't know if you have Leon living at your house or not, but apparently Leon lives here. Ever since Glenn was a little boy, Leon would come out at Christmas time and find Jan's prized NOEL Christmas Ornament and change it to his name and find a new place to rest. For the last several years, Leon has been fairly quiet. No one knows why for sure.

But this year, Leon has come out with a vengeance! He has been found in a variety of places around the house and I have documented this occurrence in hopes that this poor lost soul can maybe one day find his way home. As you can see below, I have found Leon above Jan's portrait, over her bed, in the window seal and among the decorations. And - most dastardly of all - he has found his way to settle in among Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus themselves.



For the most part, I have been able to find Leon and put him back in his rightful place before Jan stumbles across him. I have found the need to do this because she will either blame Sharon or I for this hideous activity. I know, that as unlikely as that sounds, Jan is certain that this phenomena could not be of supernatural origin. However, early this morning, I found him once again - and finally the explanation is clear. I found him... in Glenn's old room... at the foot of his bed.


Now, if isn't obvious by this time that there is no way that it could be Sharon or myself that made this happen, I don't know what is!!! It also, apparently, clears Glenn from any wrong doing so many years ago. I'm sorry that I doubted you son. The Legend of Leon continues and will go on I'm certain for many, many years. We must be ever vigilant to catch this evil perpetrator.

So, I warn all of my friends and family to keep your eyes open! Who knows what might be next???

Hey, Dad - Can I Borrow the Smite Button?

Dad, do you mind if I borrow the Smite Button for the day? It seems like you could use a little help in this category. Frankly, Dad, I'm a little disappointed. It's been 10 years since the terrorist attacked and, honestly, I thought there would be a whole lot more smiting going on. So, if you don't mind, just let me borrow it Sunday, 9/11.

Now, there are a few things I would like to know about this button before I use it. First, does it have a "Group Feature"? I mean, if it does, I'll just send a note to Leon Panetta and let him know to prepare to bring our troops home on the 12th. Because, given a few minutes and a push of a button, we won't lose another one of our own.

I know, before I hit the button, I'll be sure to offer up a prayer for them - I mean, you do say to love our enemies. I'll make sure I give them a couple of minutes to make a decision.

And if you don't mind, while I have the button, I think I'll do a little more clean-up for You. I'm thinking about those that exploit our kids. Use them in horrendous ways. Dad, you've been a little lax on this front. So, I'll offer up a prayer for them and then "SMITE"! Of course, by this time, you might want to let St. Pete know that there will be a few extra visitors on the 11th.

We have a little clean-up down south of us as well. I mean, we can't even get over the border to take Your Word down to those who really need to hear it because of these drug cartels and bullets flying. Dad, we really don't want to put our high school kids in the line of fire. I know You know that and, really, we trust you to do just about anything keeping us safe - but, you know, just one stray bullet and, well we just can't have our kids hurt spreading the gospel. You understand, I'm sure.

Of course Lord, I want to give You all the credit for this! Far be it for me to take the credit! I mean, when the world gets the news that the Smite Button has been dusted off, then I'm sure there's a bunch of folks that will fall back into the straight and narrow! I certainly want to give You all the Glory! I worship you! And you know I'm only thinking about You in doing this!

But, I have to ask a favor Dad. I mean, yes, all these groups could use a little smiting. But, I have a few personal ones that I want to use it for as well. I promise not to get slap happy and go around smiting everyone, but just a few. You know, there are a few people who have had some "not so" true statements to say about your kids down here. I mean, I really do love everyone - you told us to love You and love our neighbor. I really try to do that! Even at church, we put this sign on the marque and I know that is very inviting.

And really, who can drive by that church and not think they are welcome? And when they come in the door, we do everything we can to welcome them - that is if they look like they would belong. We sure wouldn't want to let the wrong crowd in, now would we Dad? So, if you don't mind, let me flip that switch to manual and I'll just pick off a few that believe we might be a little self-righteous.

Well, thanks Dad. I'll be looking for my answer. And here will be the sign. When I walk into my office Sunday morning before church to spend a little time with You, I'll see that little red button sitting on my desk.

Love ya Dad!!!

Your son,

David

Leadership 101

In our lives, there are times we look at things we don't understand and make assumptions. We typically choose to err on the side of things we know. If we choose to go down the path we have always traveled, it is safe, stable, secure. If we witness something going on that we don't understand, our first reaction is to hunker down. Pull up the armor and get into the bunker. Protect those around us and cast shadows around the intruder. Even when we send out scouts to check it out, and they come back with amazing stories of the "enemy", then we determine the scout must have been brainwashed and is therefore no longer a reliable source. We burn the bridges and set up the rear guard. No, we will not let the intruder in here.

And yet, we look around and some more of our number are starting to peak over the wall and see the sun rising and the "enemy" actually enjoying themselves. Maybe they are not so bad after all. Some decide to crawl over the wall and they are labeled as traitors and our mentality begins to evade all logical reasoning. We have to make excuses or present evidence as to why the enemy is the enemy. Before long, we look around at our miserable selves and finally decide... It really was Father just calling us home.

I am amazed at the story in Acts 11. Stephen has been stoned, people of "The Way" had been scattered all around the known part of the world. Some landed in Antioch. Eventually, they began talking to the Greeks. Wait a minute - why would they do that? They are not Jews. But, instead of the bunker mentality, the leaders in Jerusalem sent one named Barnabas to see what was going on. Instead of returning with news of an enemy, he found that God was with everything that was going on there and threw himself into the middle of it.

We could sure learn a lot from this little story. I hope it impacts you the way it does me.

Acts 11:19:24

Those who had been scattered by the persecution triggered by Stephen's death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they were still only speaking and dealing with their fellow Jews. Then some of the men from Cyprus and Cyrene who had come to Antioch started talking to Greeks, giving them the Message of the Master Jesus. God was pleased with what they were doing and put his stamp of approval on it—quite a number of the Greeks believed and turned to the Master.

When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on things. As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives. He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit's ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master.

If the Good Samaritan Were Told Today

Somewhere in hypothetical church land...

One one occasion, the senior pastor of a large church stood among the leaders in a specially called meeting and asked Jesus - “what must one do to inherit eternal life”.

Jesus answered, you know the scripture – what does the bible say. The senior pastor replied “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength and love your neighbor as yourself.”

“You have answered correctly”, Jesus said. “Go and do likewise and you will live”

But, wishing to drive his point home and prepare for this weeks sermon, the senior pastor pressed the question. “Then Jesus, tell me, who is my neighbor”?

Jesus replied. There was a certain man that had beaten down by life. His family had left him, he resorted to alcohol, pornography and drugs. His life was in shambles. Yet something kept him returning to church. Each time the church met, he would come in late, sit at the back and stare into the distance. Many times, he would exit the auditorium, especially during a passionate song and just sit in the foyer asking himself, does anyone even care.

An elder would come into the foyer and, seeing him sitting by himself asked “How are you today”? After receiving the expected response of “Fine, just fine”, he would walk away saying “Now there's a good man” and proceed to check on those that were counting the contribution.

A deacon would show up in that same foyer, and knowing the individual personally, and knowing the mess he made of his life would say to himself, “I can't believe he still shows up after what he did to his family and friends. I need to tell Sally that he's at it again. Boy, what a loser.”

But a sinner in the midst saw him and loved him. He came along side of him and asked “How can I help?” He stayed with him and fed him and promised to come by and check on him. He ministered to him on a daily basis showing the love of the Father in everything he did, provided him with everything he needed to show him someone cared.

Which of these 3 do you believe showed the love of the Father by showing mercy to his neighbor?

BLog Redefined!

Well, it's been a long time. I mean, it's not like I have run out of things to say, I've just not posted anything in a long time. You see, when I originally began this blog posting, it was my intent that it be a forum for anyone who within our group who wanted to share something with others, particularly those that had the shared experience of going to Quest or HeartQuest. What I determined is that a shared blog is called Facebook. Go figure. So, from this moment forward, this would be called "my blog". Now, I may feel free to post something of yours if you would like me to, but for now, expect to hear my heart.

Father has given me a direction that He wants me to share. So, over the next few weeks, I will unwrap some things on my mind. You are welcome to read them or not. You are welcome to comment or not. If your thoughts are positive and uplifting, I will leave them up. If not... I own the delete key!

So, I'm signing off for now. Blessings as you journey along the road that Father has laid out for you today. Enjoy the scenery. The purpose is the journey - the reward begins along the way.

sin vs GRACE!!!

While the following may be a revelation to some, I wonder how many of us really believe it? How many of us are consumed with the day to day law-breaker mentality? If we choose to live every day thinking about what we may have done to "cross the line" - what kind of freedom is that? I choose today to be consumed with the grace of God! I choose freedom, not bondage! I choose life!

^20-21All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life—a life that goes on and on and on, world without end. (Romans 5:20-21, The Message)

Live large and live free!

Live BIG!

2 Corinthians 6

Staying at Our Post

Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us,

I heard your call in the nick of time;
The day you needed me, I was there to help.

Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing. Our work as God's servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right; when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.

Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!

Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That's not partnership; that's war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God's holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way:

"I'll live in them, move into them;
I'll be their God and they'll be my people.
So leave the corruption and compromise;
leave it for good," says God.
"Don't link up with those who will pollute you.
I want you all for myself.
I'll be a Father to you;
you'll be sons and daughters to me."

The Word of the Master, God.