Some announcements

First of all, the surveys are done. 50% felt like we would be making progress getting rid of Sunday School and Sunday night and the other half didn't care. Only one person wanted to keep Wednesday nights, with the numbers being roughly the same about making progress and having no opinion.

Therefore, the new direction we should go is in the direction of small groups. This will be a better fit for us for a few reasons.
1) It'll be better for us to meet at different times, rather than at stagnant times where some of our congregation can't join us due to driving with night blindness.
2) It'll make more people leaders, which we need.
3) It'll help us to cover more subjects that people want to study.

Pray for this. Please!

Rosy and I will be in Mexico almost to Thanksgiving. I am so surprised that I'm going to be travelling by plane so close to a holiday. But this is the way God wants it, I guess. Pray for that one too.

I want my Jesus back!

I remember writing a newspaper article a year ago that eventually got rejected. Not that the article wasn't any good, but because the lady who was trying to get it published pushed a little too hard with the editors. I remember showing the article to my little brother, trying to decide what to cut down. The article was well over 1200 words and I had to get it down to 500...insert long winded minister joke here.

I wrote a fictitious piece of scripture that read something like this:

Finally, brothers, petition the government. I am quite concerned about the direction of the Roman Empire. Our Emperor, Caligula, is bi-sexual, his escapades are notorious. Furthermore, he is quite insane. As you are well aware he has just appointed his horse as Consul. How can we expect God to bless our land with a government like this? Petition the government. Do what it takes to get Caligula removed!

Anyone who knows their Bible knows this has to be satire. My brother thought I was really quoting scripture. When he found out it was not in the Bible, he told me it was the weakest part of my argument.

One does have to wonder, do people really think something like this is written in scripture? I know if my brother did others probably do as well. And if they do, it's our fault. Jesus said that people will be known by their fruit. If you planted an apple tree and get oranges, you didn't really get an apple tree.

So then, we must produce the fruit that Jesus wants. Notice I didn't say better fruit. I don't think it's the quality of the fruit we produce that is our problem, I think it's that we've bought into Satan's lie of change of our society through the government. And so the fruit isn't even close to what Jesus was looking for.

And people have taken notice. Once again I include a great Neal Obermeyer cartoon. Not just because I count him as a friend, but because it's a great point. We've let ourselves be hijacked. We've let Jesus be seen as something that he's not. I know that Jesus said we'd be persecuted, misunderstood, and hated, but those things would happen because of who Jesus is, not because we aren't getting our way politically.

The solution is to go back to the Bible, especially Matthew 25, and do what he asks of us. Go and feed the poor, visit the sick and in prison, and change one heart at a time. Throughout history no revivial had really taken place until the focus was on the hearts of outsiders. Let's win people's hearts and get our Jesus back.

The Need For Affirmation

On election day I heard something odd on NPR. Apparently there were some Democrats who were loosing sleep over the election. People worried that Obama wouldn't get elected. People who felt like doom was eminent if McCain was elected. Sleepless nights. Loss of appetite. Fasting and Praying.

I had to laugh. I thought that only small town republicans got like this. Or at least that was my experience. Small town people fussing over Bush being elected. People crying when Clinton got a 2nd term. I saw some of this this year on the McCain side. I never would have figured it would have been so for the Obama side. I guess there is more insecurity out there than I thought.

I am glad these elections are over. My mailbox was getting stuff to vote for or against all sorts of people and amendments. Unions are big here, so there was this thing for voting no on #47, #49, and #54. I couldn't tell you all the ins and outs of what these amendments did. But I did vote yes on all of these because in the union advertising to vote these down they didn't mention that they were unions, or that these were anti-union, or that they would affect how unions would work. It was odd to me that in their advertising they couldn't call themselves what they really were. Are unions that insecure that they have to revert to calling it "banding together"?

I got stuff from both sides on Admendment 48 (defining the unborn as people). My house was filled with letters against the mesure. The church mailbox was filled with mail for the measure. Both told me to act and get the word out that their particular action on this amendment would insure the good for Colorado. Both seemed to be written by anxious people who seem to have everything staked on either ending abortion or making sure it's legal.

Insecurity on both sides seems to happen every 4 years. As a Nebraska fan, I notice it happening every year...or it did before Callahan took over. Every year there is hope that our great state can gain some respect in the college football world. At our pinnacle in the mid-90's, it was great to be known as the best. As the team has faltered since then, some had their self-esteem fall.

But this problem is not unique to Nebraska, I see this with Broncos fans around here. Their security is built on their team. I'm sure it occurs everywhere.

As Christians, we are supposed to cling to Christ, the One who doesn't loose (in the big picture). He is steady and secure, able to save and help in any situation. We must show faith, better put confidence, in Jesus. He is with us whether Obama or McCain win, whether unions survive, whether this nation allows abortion, or even if our favorite team is on top or bottom.

Peter once went to walk on water with Jesus during a great storm. While his eyes were focused on Jesus he was walking on liquid that normally wouldn't support him. However, Peter took his eyes of Jesus and began to sink. He saw what was around him and became insecure.

If we keep our eyes on Jesus we can do seemingly impossible things. If we look around us, there are waves crashing to and fro, winds blowing hard, and it's raining around us. We become insecure in these times where we take our eyes off of Jesus. We crave affirmation, hoping our team, candidate, idea, ect. wins and hope, wish, and pray that everyone agrees with us.

If you are in need of affirmation today, take your eyes off of whatever it is disturbing you. You may be focusing on it so hard you begin to sink in some sea of despair. Put your eyes back on Jesus, and watch Him do something great.

My Slacking Abilities Amaze Me

I realized that I fell into bad habits by not writing again. My brother pointed out to me that I'm not the greatest manager of time when I'm not under pressure.

Matt: So, why did you quit the restaurant?
Me: So I could work more in the office.
Matt: Like you do so much work in updating your blog since you've left the restaurant.

Like I said, under pressure...

Why should it even take me pressure to manage my time better? I think it's because I look to deal with the urgent rather than the important. An odd phrase, to be sure, but it makes sense.

The difference between the urgent and the important is about timing. Urgent things have to be done right now, important things have to be done right. Urgent is the football game playing in real time, important is the family member trying to get your attention.

I'm still trying to correct myself in this area. I want so badly to deal with the urgent and not the important until it is urgent.

Not a Panacea

I know it doesn't seem likely at this point in time, but I wanted to explore what might happen if McCain became president.

I know that people talk like this is the most important race in history, if Obama wins it will be doom and gloom, if McCain wins it'll all be sunshine and roses.

Right, like a president has ever been a panacea.

I'm sure McCain will do all sorts of good by lowering taxes, or keeping them low. He may even cut spending, though I'm not holding my breath on this one even if it were a slew of Republicans in there. I'm sure Sarah Palin is not as incompetent as some say she is. I agree more with his handling of Iraq and such.

Two things I guaruntee will not happen under a McCain Presidency. Roe v. Wade will not be overturned and church attendence in this nation will not magically rise up to the levels of the 50's.

A couple of months ago I read an article on this odd tale we have about America. We fought and lost when we were in Vietnam, and because Vietnam was the first war we lost, it seems like the "American Ideal" to some is to return to that time just before we entered the Vietnam war. When all was baseball, mom, and apple pie. When Ike, a Republican was president.

So we think we'll get there by voting Republican. Except, isn't that the wrong thing for us?

Jesus once said, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." If we constantly look back and pine for the "good ole' days" we'll never find them. The good ole' days are now, when God has given us to live. We must learn to live now and not depend on any politcal force or any other save the Holy Spirit. It is only through God's guidance we'll get to where we want to be...ultimately, that is heaven.

The 2nd Coming of...Wait for it...Wait for it...

I promised Monday that I would write about what life might be like under each candidate. Today I'm writing about what might happen under an Obama presidency.

Of course, someone with the name Barack Hussein Obama might sound like a good candidate for the Anti-Christ. I am bewildered by such statements. He is quite liberal, yes, and that seems to unsettle many of us. And his name is funny, there are suspicions of being a muslim, blah, blah, blah.

Let me state this upfront. Anti-Christs get in because they go through undetected. Most people do not suspect them until it is too late. And usually the error is doctrinal, which I am afraid someday people will say is no big deal.

Others seem to think this guy is the Messiah. It's like, "Wow, he's the opposite of Bush and so he'll solve all of our problems."

If Bush would have stuck to basic conservative principles and gotten us into this mess, I could bite on that one. But Bush really didn't, the size of government has grown 40% since he got in, I really can't say that an Obama is necessarily going to solve all of our woes.

So if he's not the Anti-Christ, and not the Messiah, will Obama have a second coming moment? If he does, it's another JC, as in Jimmy Carter.

Think of History. 32 years ago we had a problem with a recession caused by inflation. Fuel prices were high (for the time), causing everything else to go up. Stock market woes were taking place, and the big crashes stopped once investors accepted the idea that we were in a recession (This actually took place a year or two earlier, but since it effected the '76 election I'm going to count it as a parallel). The Republican party was in control, led by what many people thought was a "bumbling" president.

And then as now people are wanting a change, and willing to go with an relatively unkown leader rather than a well established senator. The promise was change and that the weathly would have to pay their fair share.

If only Barack grew peanuts and was a govenor, my parallels would be complete (insert evil laugh).

So there's my opinion in a nutshell (go ahead and boo). Neither Anti-Christ nor Messiah is going to be found here. Just a cruddy period in history repeating itself because we refused to study, or our teachers never got that far in American History class.

I either hope I'm completely wrong or I hope we learn our lesson this time around.

Oil prices went down again...maybe there is hope.

Monday Afternoon Impressions

I figured if I was going to keep up a better blog I had better get organized. So I think I'm going to at least get myself to write two articles a week, one having to deal with what I've seen during the week on Monday and another having to do with how a Christian should react to things in our society on Thursdays.

And then try to get stuff as I'm inspired during the week.

So here goes.

*Around the church we have a timeline for some new ideas. We hope to have these published in next week's bulletin, but if you want a copy, let me know and I will get one to you.

We also need your help in getting stuff around a Ladies Bible Study, a Necomers Bible Study, and the Children's Ministry. We need help in getting specific dates and times nailed down that would help us, and we are going to need your feedback. If you are a regular reader and attender, you can help by giving your opinion and helping others to give theirs that don't read this because of a lack of an internet connection.

*Still need help with Trunk 'R Treat. Let us know if you can help. Encourage others if you can't.

*The Huskers looked better this weekend. Moral victories don't apply to big programs, but NU has slid into mediocrity over the last two years despite Steve Pederson's promises to not let NU go there.

Which reminds me of turning our church around. I know that all that goes on could fail at any second if God is not in it. Remember to pray for our church, the elders, and for me as we all lead. I want to see God move in our midst.

*I'm baching this week...I already miss my wife, who is down in El Paso taking care of her ailing sister-in-law. I shouldn't be looking forward to Friday (when I go to pick her up) so much on Monday. Then again, I shouldn't be seeing her off within a month of getting married. Asi es.

*Sushi of the week: Josh Mittino's original JM Roll. Fried roll (not all sushi is raw, folks) with all sorts of goodies topped with Spicy Tuna. Rosy said it was great but picked off the spicy tuna toward the end. Sometimes called the Las Vegas roll by imitators. A definite must try for anyone eating "bait" in the Pueblo area.

This Thursday...I'm working on an article on what we could expect under each candidate. Stuff to think about. First will come an article on Obama, then next week McCain.