Jesus Warned Me About This

I should have known better.  The signs were everywhere.  How could I be so blind?  Maybe it's because I'm human and all of us are fallen.  Our fallen nature leads to everlasting challenges.  As I look in the rear view mirror I see all the times in my life when Jesus was there.  His track record is absolutely perfect.  Look at his promises.  I challenge you to find one time when he said he was going to do something and he didn't.  In spite of his impeccable record of healing the blind, casting out demons, and raising others including himself from the dead, I hesitated to trust him with my finances.  I tried to do it my way.  This put enormous stress on me, my wife, and my family.  There was a better way.  I didn't pay attention until I reached the end of my rope.

Jesus warned me what would happen if I tried to act on my own.  Why did I wait until I was on the edge of bankruptcy to turn my finances over to the one who makes all things new?  God knows why.  He allowed me to flail until I came to my senses and let him be fully in charge of every area of my life including the finances.  Turning liabilities into assets doesn't rank up there with rising from the dead but it sure changed my thinking about letting go.  Letting go is not failure.  Letting go is trusting that God knows what's best.  I may be a slow learner but I'm 100% on board with Jesus.  I'm about to be a free man.  Thank you Jesus.  You get all the credit.  You get all the glory.  You really do make all things new.  I promise to listen to you and heed every one of your warnings.  My prayer for you is that you hear his voice and follow Jesus.  Have a great day.

Dear Mr. Putin

Dear Mr. Putin,

This letter is difficult for me to write.  I don't know if you will ever read it.  I'm not writing for political reasons because that's not my area.  I'm writing regarding your soul.  You have made some great speeches from the orthodox churches in your country about the importance of Christianity.  Recently I watched in awe when you made the sign of the cross in front of Mary, the Mother of God.  That's why I'm so troubled now.  Mary is the intercessor.  She is the one who visits when her children are in distress.  Her son allows this because He loves her deeply.  Your actions regarding Ukraine are against a brother country who worships the same God you worship.  You are allowing innocent people to die.  Your soul is in grave danger as a consequence of your actions.

Mr. Putin, I urge you to return to prayer.  Visit Mary in silence when the cameras are turned off and ask her what her son, Jesus, thinks about your attacks on the people of Ukraine.  There is time for you to be a man of God.  That is where the real power is.  This world is temporary.  God can forgive you for all the wrongs.  You have time to come back to Jesus.  Give God the glory.  I ask you to do this in Jesus name.  I'm praying for you, for Russia, for Ukraine, and for the world.  Have a great day.

signed,

A believer in the United States

What Lesson is in Exodus 40?

If you're struggling with deadlines, delays, or any other issues involving time, I know exactly how you feel.  I often wonder why so many road blocks keep showing up in my life.  I feel like I'm a type A trapped in an episode of the Outer Limits, a TV show that aired when my concept of time was forming in my young brain.  As much as I want to control time, I realize that's impossible.  The solution is found in Exodus, the second book of the Old Testament.  Chapter 40 teaches us how to trust God with anything related to time.  Warning.  This is a rather challenging lesson, especially for the type A's of the world.

The Chosen Ones had no clue when they were going to reach their destination.  Most didn't because they disobeyed God.  The 40 years of wandering is a consequence of not following God's plan.  God decided to keep it simple with the clock.  He told Moses to set up camp in the desert.  Once the camp was set up, God  sent a cloud to the tabernacle in the center of the camp to show he was with his people.  When the cloud was present, the Chosen Ones stayed in place.  When the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle it was time to go.  Can you imagine how frustrating that must have been for those in a hurry to get to the promised land?  I feel the same way with my book writing.  I have this need to advance while the cloud from Heaven remains in a fixed position.  The last 40 years of my life have been a time of wandering in my own personal desert.  I need to pay close attention to Exodus 40 if I'm ever going to find my way, trusting in God to lead me according to his perfect timing.  Refer to the Bible for more great lessons like the story in Exodus and see if this helps you find your way.  Have a great day.

Call 411

 Are you having contentment issues during these trying times?  One of my favorite Gospel writers, Paul, had issues of his own, often writing letters of encouragement while in prison.  I wear a wristband given to me by one of my teammates that reminds me I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  That verse (Philippians 4:12) is from a prison cell letter to Paul's buddies he met while sharing the Good News prior to his incarceration.  The verse prior to my wristband message is the focus of today's blog because I believe all of us could use some inspiring words about our own contentment during a constant bombardment of bad news in our country and in the world.  Here it is.  Call 411.  It's more powerful than 911 because it has to do with what's going on spiritually.  It's worth memorizing this verse and reciting it every time you need a boost:

"I am not saying this because I am in need for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."  Philippians 4:11.

There are many more morsels just like these sprinkled throughout the Bible.  These are the words I relied upon during all my trials.  Never let your circumstances dictate your contentment.  Have a great day.

Preparing for Final Approach

The runway is in sight.  Three weeks until touchdown.  This is the closest I've ever been to financial freedom.  The world is in turmoil.  The financial markets are shaky.  My prayers go out to the innocent who are now involved in war.  With the exception of prayers, there is not much I can do except focus on my own challenges and do my best to reach financial independence three weeks from today on St. Patrick's Day.

Yes, the world is a scary place.  It's even scarier when your own household is out of control financially speaking.  Our sacrifices have been great.  I'm looking forward to sharing more about our journey.  Have a great day.

Spiritual Playbooks

There are two playbooks in play during the epic war between Heaven and Hell that started long before we were born.  One side wants to share the playbook while the other prefers to hide theirs.  Spectators can be enlightened when they see inside Heaven's playbook.  The same spectators can also be confused when the dark side is on offense.  If you want the reader's digest version of the outcome, Heaven wins.  It's in the playbook, a.k.a. the Bible.

I've been listening to Heaven's playbook on a daily podcast for over fifty consecutive days.  The Old Testament refers to the beginning of the world, Noah's Ark, and many stories about God's Chosen Ones.  The daily commentary helps me understand that this playbook isn't just for the Chosen Ones as there are many hidden secrets in the playbook that are for our benefit in these modern times.  

Be wary of the dark side's playbook.  It's meant to distract, divide, and confuse us.  There is nothing in writing like Heaven's playbook.  Instead, the dark side prefers to use it's minions to get inside our heads with messages such as, "You really don't need to read Leviticus, it's old news and there's nothing there for you." or, "You can look at the Bible tomorrow when you have more time, maybe tomorrow."  Another favorite mind game goes like this, "Why bother praying?  God doesn't have time for your petty problems."

Keep in mind how the fight started.  One player on the God's team decided he was better than God.  He wanted to be in charge of the playbook.  God told his player if he wanted to be in charge he would have to leave the team.  Surprisingly, one third of the team followed the disgruntled player.  We humans have our own free will and we can decide to follow God's playbook or abandon ship.  The Evil One wants you to falsely believe his drowning is good and reining in Hell is better than serving in Heaven.   The truth is the Evil One can't stand to be around we humans.  Maybe the Evil One hates us because we are a reflection of our Creator.  Don't let the Evil One use his trick plays to deceive you.  Follow God's playbook.  Memorize the plays.  Become intimate with the quarterback who enters the game at halftime.  He gave his life so you can get the ultimate prize, eternity with our Creator.  Have a great day.

Deuces are Wild Today

It's 2/22/22 today.  It's doubly odd because Mother Nature is doing something rather annoying outside.  She's dropping snow from a high elevation that's turning to rain as it passes through a warm layer of air and then returns to snow as it hits the ground at below freezing temps.  That's double trouble for commuters due to the icy road conditions.  I already ventured out early this morning to drop off our daughter at the airport.  All I can say about my experience is I'm glad she trusted me with the driving and that all of us our safe.  To all my Iowa friends and family, be safe on the roads.  The deuces may be wild but today is not a good day to gamble with Mother Nature.  Have a great day.

Family Time Continues

It's President's Day.  The heat is on.  Most of the family is off.  We're enjoying 50º weather and sunny skies today.  This will be our final day of family time before we all return to our day jobs.  My oh my, the time is flying.  It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating Christmas.  All I can say today is I'm thankful to be with my family.  There is no better time than family time.  Have a great day.

Christmas in February?

 Our pastor cautioned his congregation not to end the Christmas season too soon.  We listened.  I don't think he meant for us to take this message to the extreme but it is for good reason.  This year we celebrated Christmas without our daughter and promised her we wouldn't take the Christmas tree down until she was able to visit us in Iowa.  That time is now.  We are together.  This is a huge blessing for us as Christmas is our daughter's favorite time of the year and we didn't want her to miss out on a family celebration.

Our church may be back in ordinary time right now.  Not us.  Family time is always extraordinary.  This will be on my mind and in my heart while I'm proclaiming God's word during our church service this morning.  If feels good to be returning to my assignment to share God's messages during our worship.  This was stopped during the pandemic to help keep the community safe.  Slowly, we are returning to normal and the lay people are returning to their duties.  Whatever you may be celebrating today, I wish you joy and happiness.  For my family, I say, "Merry Christmas."  Have a great day.

Family Time Tonight

If you were to visit our home today, you would be surprised by something a bit peculiar.  A Christmas tree is in our basement.  All of our decorations are still up.  Why?  Because we promised our daughter we would wait for here to celebrate until she could visit.  The time is now.  All three of our adult children are with us today and tomorrow.  If feels like I'm going back in time.  By the way, this is a very good feeling.  A light layer of snow fell last night adding a cherry on top of our family weekend.  Before we can celebrate, I need to hustle to my day job this morning.  The roads are icy so I will need to be extra cautious.  Have a great day.

Try This in Times of Uncertainty

Are you finding it challenging to find good news these days?  If you watch the news long enough, you may feel like the end is near.  Maybe it is.  One of the best decisions I made a while ago was to cut my cable.  My cable company tells me they miss me.  I'm happier without them and I really don't miss those high bills they sent me every month.  I don't need them to tell me how bad things are in this world filled with uncertainty.  I have another solution and it happens to be free.

Before I share my solution for dealing with uncertainty, I would like to share other ideas I tried that didn't work.  The first is to try to force certainty by controlling every aspect of my life.  This does not work.  It also increases anxiety.  Fighting others with opposing views is also a bad idea.  Sadly, I lost some friends by sharing too much about things in this world that really don't matter except to people who love to fight.  There is only one solution I know of that helps in times of uncertainty.  Give prayer a try.  Give up fighting for control.  Let go.  Stop trying to change others.  All you need to do is pray.  Will the uncertainty go away?  No.  What will change is your own attitude.  That's all that matters.  Start with the little things, like praying for patience.  When you see improvement in your sense of well being, try praying for bigger things.  The more confident you become in your prayer life, the better you will feel about uncertainty.  You may even begin to welcome it in your life.  Have a great day.

The Price of Temptation

Before you cave in to the temptation to join the crowd and spread gossip or do anything that is rooted in evil, please read this story.   Temptation begins with a subtle nudge to do something that appears harmless.  It's as if the Evil One knows your weakness.  He does.  This is his false world where the Evil One is the supreme ruler.  He uses temptation as your ticket into entry.  Temptation leads to disaster.  

Imagine what would have happened to all of humanity if Jesus caved to temptation.  We would still be lost.  Heaven would still be closed.  The Evil One knew that Jesus was facing the challenge of a lifetime.  I don't know about you but 40 days in the desert with no friends, no food and no comforts we take for granted would put me in a dangerous position to deal with the dark side of temptation.  Any temptation you face is a false promise.  This is the Evil's Ones wheel house.  

The best way I know to beat temptation is to pray.  We may not be able to see Jesus but we can receive a gift from Jesus that can be used to tame all of our temptations.  This gift is the Holy Spirit, an invisible part of God that knows exactly what we need to defeat temptation.  I bet the Holy Spirit was with Jesus in the desert countering every move the Evil One made.  A simple prayer is all that is needed to call the Holy Spirit.  Try it.  Have a great day.

Why Today is Your Most Important Day

 There is no day better than today.  This moment you are in right now is where you get to experience all there is.  You woke up.  You're breathing.  The world awaits your presence.  Maybe you're thinking, "What about all the uncertainty I'm experiencing in my life?"  For me, that's the beauty of today.  It can go in any direction.  It may turn out to be quite scary.  You may encounter someone who can change the entire direction of your life.  If you allow this day to unfold without forcing anything, you can experience something that can help you grow.

Take a look around.  What blessings to you see in your life at this present moment?  If it's in the people around you, make sure you acknowledge them.  Whatever you do, don't worry about tomorrow.  Savor this day.  Soak it up.  Have a great day.

30 Days to Financial Freedom

I see the finish line.  This race has been the ultimate ultra marathon.  My confidence is growing.  The eyes of my debt monster that once glared at me with the intensity of General Patton have become droopy and near lifeless.  The blame for my financial woes falls squarely on my shoulders.  I was the one who caved into temptation to spend beyond my means long before I met my future wife.  This debt monster seemed so lovable when he first entered my home, like a new puppy that you can't part with.  He took over the household and I lost my way.  Thank God my wife checked out a library book by Dave Ramsey when we relocated to Iowa ten years ago.

Financial independence, according to Dave Ramsey, means you must live like no one else in order to live like no one else.  Ten years ago we both decided to try living like no one else.  That meant we had to stop feeding our debt monster.  It meant setting up a plan to retire all of our debts before reaching retirement age.  Three years ago I came up with something I call "Par for the Course."  It's similar to what golfers use to track scores.  Even though the first year of the game was pathetic, I stayed on the course and continued making adjustments.  The second year was mostly pars.  The third year made up for most of my rounds of bogeys.  The 18th hole will be completed on St. Patrick's Day, thirty days from today.  We are pulling the plug on our debt monster's life support system and celebrating his demise with an Irish wake.  Be careful, he may be knocking on your door.  Whatever you do, don't let him in.  The last thing you want to do is live like everyone else.  Living with a debt monster deprives you of the life you could have should you be willing to just say no.  Have a great day. 

Happy Valentine's Day

 Love is in the air.  Cupid is shooting his arrows.  I'm thankful I was at the right place at the right time to find the love of my life.  For me, love never gets old.  Like fine wine, it is appreciated.  I found a bottle from Tuscany where I traced my family roots and I will be sharing it tonight with my beloved spouse of 32 years.  

If you happen to be missing your loved one today or you haven't found love yet, be patient.  Love should never be restricted to a single day and it should be free to find you even on the most ordinary of days.  Keep in mind that the one who loves you perfectly is with you today and all days.  Happy Valentine's Day.  Have a great day.

Beware of the Illusions

 How much of what you perceive is an illusion?  Be honest with your answer.  Is it possible that there are things in the world that are really mirages?  If something is an illusion, how do you know?  I don't have the answers because I really don't know.  What I do know is that change is in the air.  It may be good change for some and bad change for others.  In my opinion, there are some perilous trials ahead.  My awareness of these trials has to do with all the trials I've been through in my life.  My faith is what keeps me going in spite of all the challenges.  

Today is a good day to seek the truth.  If you are fighting with others, you are probably living in some kind of illusion.  The fighting adds to the blindness.  If there is hatred in your heart, let go of it.  This will help you get past all the illusions in your life.  The more you can love others, the easier it is to see through any illusions that may be in your life.  Have a great day.

Lightning Morning, Lightning Blog

 I wake up every morning without the aid of an alarm clock.  This makes waking up a more pleasant experience.  The usual wakeup time is in the 4:30 to 5:30 AM range.  It's a bit longer on the weekends because these are days when my wife gets the opportunity to sleep in.  For me, this is my longest time sleeping in... 6:45 AM.  I now know I can get through my prayers, meditation, Bible in a Year Podcast, blog, and morning prep in 45 minutes without the stress of feeling rushed.

This lightning blog message was written to let you know I'm here even though it's in a bit of a hurry-up mode so I can get to my day job on time.  I will elaborate on some important lessons I'm learning through my daily podcast messages.  Leviticus is usually the point where many Bible readers get lost and give up.  For me, having a guide help me understand what's going on is helpful.  I'm off to the races.  Have a great day.

How Do You Rate Your Self-Discipline?

Don't worry.  I'm not asking you to reveal your own private answer to today's question.  It's for your eyes only.  The reason why I'm asking this question is to help you get better at reaching your goals.  I know from my own personal experience that goals are virtually impossible to accomplish without first developing self-discipline.  A good starting point is to recognize where you are right now.

Here are some questions to consider related to your self-discipline:

1. How many goals do you set for yourself every year?
2. How many goals from the first question to you achieve?
3. Considering the goals you missed in the last year, what was the reason for giving up?
4. What would your life be like if you achieved 90% or more success in completing your goals?
5. Do you believe your own self-discipline can be improved?
6. If you could change one thing about your life right now, what is it?
7. Would you say your self-discipline is getting better, worse, or staying the same over the last five years?
8. What sacrifices are willing to make to improve your self-discipline score?
9. Do you have any friends, co-workers, or family members willing to help you stay on target with your goals?
10. What is your willingness to start over when your self-discipline get out of control?

One important lesson I learned about self-discipline is that it seems to work better when I'm only working on one thing at a time, like forming a new habit.  I would rather be successful with one goal a year than try ten new goals at once and fail at all ten.  I won't try adding a goal until the current goal becomes engrained in my daily life.  Have a great day.

5 Weeks to Go

He let the lame man walk.  He allowed the blind man to see.  And five weeks from today he is allowing me to be unchained from financial slavery.  This happened on the road less traveled.  Why did it take so long?  Because at first I tried to do it on my own.  Jesus said, "Okay my son, if you want to be in charge of the money, go ahead.  I will observe from afar."

I learned a valuable lesson.  It was costly.  In fact, everything that I turned over to God, that is everything except my finances, seemed to bring me peace.  I knew God was in charge and this removed my fears.  The reason I held onto the money part of my life has to do with some challenges I faced earlier in my life prior to getting married.  I bought into the world view of spending money you don't have.  I became a slave to debt.  Something happened.  I got buried so deep in debt that the only way out was to surrender everything to Jesus.  I was at the end of my rope.  Literally.  That's when my journey to financial recovery began about ten years ago.

What is it like to give your life 100% to Jesus?  It's like flying a plane on automatic pilot.  There is no pressure because you are not the one in charge.  Why would anyone want to miss out on what Jesus can do when you let him be in charge?  Following him is the best choice I have ever made.  I may not be a lame man walking or a blind man seeing, but I am a changed man.  I'm about to be a free man.  God is good.  Have a great day.

How is Your Conversation with God Going?

Valentine's Day is next week.  It's a great time to raise the bar with our loved ones.  Flowers.  Wine.  Chocolate.  Love is in the air.  What about the One who loves us perfectly?   How are those conversations going?  Do they exist?  I'm the first to admit that conversations are a two-way street.  Just because God doesn't speak directly like our friends and family do, it doesn't mean we should shut off communication.

Think of your family for a moment.  Consider those times when communication was tenuous.  Did you ever stop loving your family because you were fighting?  Maybe you're mad at God because he is so silent when you speak to him.  How would you feel if your family was under constant attack because of what you believe, like the Chosen Ones during the Holocaust?   If I were alive during that time period and God wasn't responding to my prayers for deliverance from evil I would have a hard time keeping up with my prayer life.  Maybe these times we are in are similar.  Perhaps silence from God is making our prayers challenging.  Remember this, God is listening.  He hears every prayer.  He wants conversation.  Daily.  The deeper the crisis, the more he wants you to rely on him.  The last thing he wants from you right now is silence.

When you bring those flowers, wine, and chocolates to your loved ones next week on Valentine's Day, remember to send a prayer of gratitude to the One who created you.  If you're struggling, open your heart to God and tell him how you feel.  Have a great day.

A Match Made in Heaven

 Today is the tale of two sisters.  There is a third sister but I don't have permission to share about her here so I'm sticking with the two sisters.  They happen to be related to me.  No.  They're not my sisters.  I have three of them and I love them with all my heart.  The two sisters I'm writing about today have much in common besides sisterhood.  One of them, my aunt Marcie, chatted with me last night about an important milestone coming up in her life.  She will be celebrating her 50th wedding anniversary later in the year.  By the way, she reads this blog every morning while sipping on hot coffee.  The other sister is my mother.  These two sisters have been important role models in my life.  

While chatting with my aunt last night, I uncovered something really special that these two sisters have in common. It reminds me of Tom Cruise's line from Jerry Maguire.  Remember when Tom said, "You complete me"?  Well, these two sisters complete me in something of a spiritual nature and neither one knew the common thread.  I wish I could see the look on the faces of these two special women in my life when they read this and discover what I'm calling "a match made in Heaven."  God works in mysterious ways.  Here goes...

You've heard me mention the Bible in a Year Podcast I started at the beginning of the year narrated by a youth pastor.  My mother got excited when I told her I was going to Duluth for a day job assignment and told me about how this pastor shares stories on YouTube that she watches from her home.  It turns out that my aunt has also been doing a Bible in a year study set up by a Bible scholar named Jeff Cavins.  Jeff is the one who mentored Fr. Mike Schmitz, the pastor my mom follows online.  Jeff and Fr. Mike are the ones who collaborated to make the Bible in a Year podcast that is rocking the world.  There is a synergy with these two men of God that comes around once in a lifetime.  When these two special sisters read today's blog, they will discover how similar their spiritual journeys are.  My mother will learn about how Jeff Cavins helped her sister and my aunt will discover how Fr. Mike helped my mother grow in her faith.  I hope everyone who reads this story finds inspiration to get started with the podcast I'm listening to every morning when I wake up.  Have a great day.

The Jewel in the Palm of my Hand

My wife is the jewel in the palm of my hand.  She is more precious than gold or silver.  We will be celebrating thirty-three years of marriage this summer.  I'm thankful for every one of these years, especially the ones that came after my car accident four years ago.  Had it not been for the sheet of ice beneath my car on that day I would have been crushed to death.  Instead, my Honda pinged as if it were on ice skates and I twirled away from a near-fatal outcome landing in a ditch on the other side of the road.  As much as I wanted to see my wife at the hospital, the roads were too dangerous.  We were separated when I needed her most.  It wasn't easy for either of us or our adult children, especially our daughter who was in the car when my world fell apart.  The paramedics left our daughter behind at the scene of the accident.  They left in haste because I was struggling to breathe.  Our daughter would be the one to tell my wife what happened when we were t-boned by a van traveling at 50mph.  

There have been many times in my life when I let go of things that I wanted to hold on to.  I'm learning that holding on is not necessarily a good thing.  The exception to this is the jewel in the palm of my hand.  The Creator of the universe led me to her.  Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to share this story today.  The other day someone asked me how we are celebrating Valentine's Day.  I told her, "Every day is Valentine's Day."  Have a great day.

My Head is Spinning

There is much to sort out over the coming weeks.  In my opinion, this is Supernatural intervention.  It's all mind boggling.  I need to take some time to meditate about all that is unfolding.  I don't really understand why God uses pauses.  An example of this is the end of Genesis in the Bible.  400 years pass before the next chapter begins.  That pause is a difficult one.  The Chosen Ones feel abandoned.  They are enslaved.  Life is exceptionally challenging.  Then, a new chapter unfolds.  It's Godspeed.  That's where I am now.  The pause is coming to a conclusion.  A new chapter is unveiling itself.  I've seen glimpses of what's ahead.  Yes, my head is spinning.  It's like going outside in the sun and your eyes need time to adjust to your surroundings.  I will share more as I get my sea legs adjusted.  Sails are up.  Winds are picking up.  Thanks for your patience.  Have a great day.

Celebrating Anniversary of Horrific Car Accident – 02/05/2018

 On this day, 2/5/18, four years ago, I almost met my maker face-to-face.  Our daughter was first in line when the oncoming van appeared ready to strike her on the passenger side of our vintage Honda.  The vehicle was made before side air bags were invented and that made our situation dire.  You can visit my blog archives for details of the accident.  All I can say about it today is I'm thankful our daughter was saved from any pain and suffering sans a minor cut on her lip from the shards of glass as I was able to yank hard right on the steering wheel and change the point of impact.  I can still see clearly every moment of the impact.  I can see the horror of the driver's face as he t-boned me on my driver's side, crushing my ribs and injuring my spleen.  The recovery process was six weeks.  During that time I kept blogging, giving God the glory every day for intervening at a critical time in my life.

My wife and daughter walked into my hospital room the morning after the accident once the roads were safe.  They expected to see the worst case scenario.  God had other plans for me.  He heard my incessant prayers for healing throughout the sleepless night.  By the time my family visited, my hemoglobin levels were increasing and the doctors stated my spleen was already mending.  The look on my wife's face was priceless when she heard my doctor tell me he was planning on releasing me later in the day.  It's that look the Chosen Ones must have had on their faces when their backs were against the wall and Moses parted the Red Sea.  The doctor told me all I had to do to go home was walk around my floor twice.  Then my physical therapist asked how far I thought I could go.  "Five miles," I responded.  All I can say here is when Jesus is in your heart, seven broken bones, an injured spleen, and excruciating pain don't matter.  He is all powerful.  I went home within twenty-four hours of the horrific car accident that nearly ended my time here.  Jesus makes all things new, including my ride which was retired on this day four years ago.  Have a great day.

Life is a Pass/Fail Test

We never really know when we will face our final exam.  This test is inevitable.  There aren't enough riches in this world to buy your way out of it.  The final exam does require one prerequisite – death.  Are you ready?  Will you pass?  If you're wondering how to prepare, I'll share what I'm doing.  In my opinion, it's fool proof.  All you need to do is get to know the one who is checking your answers.  As far as I know, he's the only one who came back from the dead.  He willingly took this test because his Father asked him to do it.  Make sure he knows your name so when he judges your score he will give you a passing grade.

Besides making sure Jesus knows your name,  let him know you want him with you every day of your life.  This pass/fail test actually has nothing to do with your accomplishments.  You simply can't do enough to pass on your own.  You will need outside help.  Collaborate now with Jesus.  Get to know him personally. Do this and you have nothing to worry about.  Have a great day.

6 Weeks to Go

 St. Patrick's Day is now six weeks away.  This day has great meaning in my life.  Number one, my dad is a Patrick.  Number two, our daughter was born on St. Patrick's Day.  Nonbelievers may argue our prayers for this to happen before she was born had nothing to do with her birthdate.  I beg to differ.  I never stopped praying even when the doctor told my wife shortly before the due date to tell me "nothing was happening."  Number three, our business venture launched on St. Patrick's Day.  All of the software was invented from scratch between Christmas Eve and St. Patrick's Day.  The window of time for testing our software shrank from a comfortable two-week safety net to zero.  Our programmer/business partner pushed the button and everything worked with zero bugs.  In fact, our software never got any bugs.  We sold the software to outside companies looking to find cloud based solutions.  

There is another miracle related to St. Patrick's Day that has to do with my first book, a memoir about my dad's last days on earth with us.  My son gave me a book written by his high school wrestling coach.  They ran into each other a couple of days before my 50th birthday and my son told his coach he was looking for a gift for my birthday on the 4th of July.  His coach penned a book about self-publishing in the trenches and had a copy with him.  I skipped the fireworks and read the book cover to cover on my birthday.  It was an answer to my prayers.  Coach Pete was also a writing coach.  He invited me to join his Christian Writer's Critique Group.  When we met in July, I told the group I was self-publishing a memoir on St. Patrick's Day.  I didn't know this but the two men running the meetings went outside and had a good laugh because first-time writers simply have no clue about the work involved to launch.  Much to the group's surprise, my first book was born on St. Patrick's Day.

I can't explain how all of this happening.  God's timing is perfect.  All of this is for his glory.  My original timeline for reaching financial independence was 12/31/21.  This goal was set on 1/1/19 when our finances were in disarray.  Something big happened when we turned our financial situation over to God.  Our debts faded, one by one.  I didn't reach my target of 12/31.  I wasn't worried about this because I know this is out of my hands, just like due dates for babies, or launch dates for new companies.  The one consistency in my life is God.  Six weeks to go.  Wait for it.  This is for God's glory.  One miracle in my life is enough for me.  Well, God's not done.  Stay tuned for the rest of the story.  Have a great day.  

Primum Non Nocere

 "First, do no harm."  These words, primum non nocere, the Latin translation from the original Greek, are  promises new medical students make when they take the Hippocratic Oath.  In my opinion, these words can be applied in our relationships with others.  We may not be doctors but we are quite capable of hurting others without these pledges in our daily lives.

Consider how this applies in our words which can become weapons of mass destruction.  How careful are you to protect reputations when gossip is rampant, like omicron?  Do you allow the virus to spread?  What kind of harm are you causing?  One way to make this oath work in your relationships is to consider this litmus test:  Are the words you are hearing nice, necessary, and true?  If the words fail to pass the test, stop spreading the virus.  Are you with me?  Have a great day.

7-Headed Debt Monster Now in Hospice

I can promise you one thing about my 7-headed debt monster when he expels his last breath on this planet.  I will not grieve his loss.  Although nothing in this world is certain, it appears my debt monster is now on his death bed and he will no longer be with us as of March 17.  Defeating him is no easy task.  I'm going to send him off in style with an Irish wake similar to what my dad did in his pub named Mulligan's.  I can see my dad in Heaven hoisting a green beer alongside his siblings including new arrival, John, his youngest brother.  Most saints get one day out of the year to be remembered.  Dad turned St. Patrick's Day into a month long celebration with a dixieland band and a piano man.  He placed empty bottles in a casket for the wake.  

Pardon me for being a bit sentimental today.  There is a special place in my heart for the hospice folks.  There was one lady in particular who rode a Harley.  She took great care of my dad in the final stages of his life.  End of life is a tough subject to write about.  My last words to my dad before he passed were, "It's time to go, dad, your work here is done.  Vaya con Dios."  I'm saying the same thing to my debt monster except for the vaya con Dios part.  Monsters don't want to reside in Heaven.  They would rather reign in Hell.  Come back on March 17 and join the wake.  It's time to put the final nail in the coffin.  Have a great day.