Is Jesus Real?

 Today's question is directed to the doubter/non-believer.  Maybe you can relate to Thomas, one of the 12 closest followers of Jesus who simply could not fathom the idea of someone brutally killed coming back to life again.  His friends saw him but Thomas was away.  Thomas told his friends, "I need to see the wounds in his hands and thrust my hand into his side before I believe."

Jesus came back again.  He asked Thomas to examine his hands and thrust his hand into the side where the Roman soldier lanced Jesus with his spear.  That was the moment Thomas believed.

If Thomas didn't believe in the Resurrection until he became an eye witness, how are doubters to believe when we have been over 2,000 years removed from the event?  I like the documentation from all the historical accounts.  I thrive on all the supernatural events that are all around us.  One of the greatest mysteries is the Mother of Jesus.  How can she keep visiting even though she was born over 2,000 years ago.  Are these visitations real?  If you are a doubter/nonbeliever, I challenge you to examine these visitations.  Have a great day.

In a Pickle Today

 The temps are cooling off outside while things are heating up indoors at our local recreation center next door.  We have out of town company visiting.  We are headed to the pickle ball courts for some mixed doubles.  This is day two.  My wife is my doubles partner.  Yesterday we learned the rules.  Today we are putting it all together.  I'm super excited.  Have a great day.

Got Overflow?

Scarcity seems common in these times.  If you are one of those people experiencing lack, consider the possibility of a new source of abundance.  When I speak of abundance, the kind of abundance I'm referencing is beyond human imagination.  This story won't do this idea justice because I'm limited in my capacity to express the idea from my human viewpoint.  I only see glimpses from my perspective.  Those who have crossed over ahead of us are living in an eternity of overflow.  

King David of the Old Testament discovered this overflow and he wrote about it in order to inspire future generations.  You can find this and other quotes from him in the Book of Psalms.  Part of Psalm 23:5 goes like this..."My Cup Runneth Over."  In my opinion, a great way to understand this verse is to think about what you need in your life.  If you are thirsty, think of a cup of water.  Drink the cup and soon you get thirsty again.  That's scarcity.  What if the cup had a hose connected to it and the hose was connected to a spring?  There is no "off" valve so the cup is always overflowing.  There is so much water coming from this spring that you feel compelled to share the cup with others who are thirsty.  That's what living in overflow mode looks like.  Connecting your hose to the spring is like finding your own connection to God.  I believe God will always provide more than you need if you seek him.  Have a great day. 

Happy Labor Day

 We have much to be thankful for in our household today – out of town visitors, time off from my day job, and sunny skies.  A third "granddog" was added to our extended family when our daughter adopted her second pet who was pulled out of a river just in time by a fishing guide who saw him fighting for his life.  In my opinion, rescue pets are the best because they seem to have an instinct for gratitude.  That's what I'm feeling today – gratitude.  May your day be blessed.  Happy Labor Day.  Have a great day.

The Joy of a Good Decision

Those of you who have followed my stories see a familiar theme; I'm the guy who seems to make mistakes often.  There are enough missteps in my life to reach the moon and back.  One may wonder, how can one guy mess up so much?  Perhaps it comes down to one simple thing – decision.  Everything that is good begins with a good decision.  Are you with me?  If not, think back to a time in your life when you made a bad decision.  What happened?  I bet you discovered the bad decision led to trouble.  Perhaps you wish you could take back some of those bad decisions.  

If small decisions lead to small victories, what happens when you make big decisions?  I'm referring to decisions that are life altering...decisions with eternal consequences.  Sure, I may have blown it most of my life when it comes to poor small decisions.  Despite all these wrong turns, I made one very good decision that cancels out every screw up.  This decision is my choice to get closer to God.  For those of you who don't know God, my recommendation is for you to discover who God is.  Not knowing God is a decision albeit a choice that will get you in hot water.  Ignorance is simply a bad choice.  

Like it or not, your judgment day will come at the end of your life.  Jesus is going to look you in the eye and ask, "Are you with me?"  Your life on earth will be your answer.  You can't cheat on your answer.  Make a good decision today.  Choose to be closer to Jesus with every step you take.  Should you make a misstep, ask Jesus to forgive you and try again.  My prayer for you is that you discover the joy of a good decision.  Have a great day.

Family Time Ahead

 There is a three-day weekend on the horizon.  It's not really over the weekend but close enough.  I'm spending three days in a row with family beginning on Monday.  Before that begins I need to crack the whip and take care of the people we serve today and tomorrow.  All I can say is I'm super excited to be with my family soon.  Have a great day.

This is a Great Time to Be Bold

 The world is upside down.  The debt ceiling rises.  Fear is creeping back in.  In my opinion, this is the time to be bold.  This is the time to celebrate all the good that is all around us.  There are times when it's hard to see the good.  Perhaps that's why I cut the cable years ago.  My heart broke when my wife told me Maui was on fire.  I didn't even know because I was so disconnected from the news.  Well, there happens to be some good news coming out of all that devastation on the island we feel so connected to.  The house of worship we attend on family vacations in the center of all the devastation still stands.  Not a single flower wilted inside.  The people of Lahaina need hope.  They need our prayers.  They need a place to seek God in the midst of their tragedy.

How about you?  Are you facing turmoil in your life?  How are you going to face your challenges?  If you feel overpowered and you have nowhere to turn, why not visit your local house of worship and ask God to give you the gift of boldness?  If you feel weak, ask God to give you strength.  Yes, this is a great time to be bold.  Have a great day.