The following has been rated CA (Christ Approved)

What if films came with such a rating. It sure would make your Netflix picks or that trip to Blockbuster a whole lot easier. It's so tempting to go right up to the shelf and grab that movie you know you shouldn't be watching. But it happens every time. For me it always seems to play out in the same way. Your sitting there in your Sunday morning worship service listening to the pastor preach his message. All of the sudden you start to feel the conviction, and you say to God "OK Lord I promise, starting this week I'm gonna watch movies only you would approve of " only to find yourself 3 hours later watching Colin Farrell curse up a storm inside a New York City phone booth, as he tries to convince a sniper not to shoot him for crimes of fornication against his wife. After all is said and done your back to were you promised God you wouldn't go anymore. So until they come up with the CA moving rating I need to discipline myself in having a little more video logic. A person can only watch The Passion of the Christ so many times. If I were to see it again I'd probably invest some money in whatever stock Kleenex is selling on Wall Street. That movie really brings tears to my eyes. I feel pretty ashamed knowing the price that God paid for my sins and still not being able to do something as simple as watch the right kind of merriment. At times I'm probably no better than those people who found it enthralling to watch Christ be crucified on the cross. Perhaps saying that is a bit drastic, but never the less has some truth to it. It's good to know that in this world some things are rated CA, and that something is You.

Rock Bottom Man was a Drunk.

For those of you who don't know me, I was an Alcoholic for 13 years, and just an all around miserable person. You wouldn't have known it by the show I put up on the outside. Looking back those were not what I would call my glory day's. I'm sure my wife would attest to that as well. Those were some of the worst times of my life, but let me tell you something.......(In a Whisper) "In a weird sorta way I'm kinda glad I went through what I did". I'm not saying that I praise God for that time in my life, I guess it's just that I learned a lot from it. I now know what a Christian doesn't do. If I may let me share with you what I think some of those things are. A Christian doesn't go around trying to be someone he's not. A Christian doesn't live a life of lies, or disrespect others. A Christian doesn't throw his dinner across the room at his wife after it got too cold because he decided he wasn't finished getting drunk. He doesn't live a life of selfishness always putting himself first. He doesn't go to church or even try to establish a personal relationship with God, in fact he doesn't really think much of God at all. He doesn't threaten his loved ones with hurt full words or fit's of rage and anger. He doesn't bring his loving wife to tears just because she couldn't take his degrading insults. He just wishes that the nightmare would end. The list in my case is pretty much endless. Having said all that, I can know for the first time in my life get excited about something as simple as going on a beautiful bike ride with my wife. A nice sit down meal, the dignity of having a job, the birds singing praises to the Lord, or even just having a normal relaxing conversation with the one's you love. Sometimes in life you have to tear something down in order to build it up again. I believe that's what God did for me. He let me stray away from him in my so called Christian Liberty. He let me let myself hit rock bottom. For that I have no one to blame but me the former Rock Bottom Man. But ya see, by hitting rock bottom that paved the way for God to build me up again. It also allowed him to put certain people in my path at just the right time. In Jeremiah 29:11 it says 'For I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord, Plans for welfare and not calamity, to give you a future and a hope". God didn't put that sin in my life but he sure laid down his plans to deliver me from it. It's just so awesome to know that if you wonder a million steps away from God it only takes one step to get back. I just want to end by saying I'm so grateful for God's loving, kindness and gracious mercies. If your going through troubles and tribulations in your life, Just reach out, and HE will reach in. Thank -You for reading and God Bless.

Why do we leave expensive cars in the driveway, when we keep junk in the garage?

This thought enters my mind from time to time. Why in the world do people do this. Theoretically it makes no sense. You would think someone would put that dream machine in the garage just for the sake of protecting it. Instead we would rather have it sitting out front for the whole world to see. To see how perfect and glorious it is in the shinning light. Or how wonderful it looks just after you detailed the outside of it. Does any of this sound familiar? Does this describe you or someone you know attending your Sunday church service. It seems we want everyone to see how perfect and glorious we are on the outside, when all we wanna do is hide what's on the inside. We seem to put on this front at times like everything is just hunky dory in my life, "I don't have any problems". I think sometimes we need to be put up on a rack just to get ourselves checked out. Let's get real folks, we are not these shiny happy people we want others to see. Instead of opening up that garage and showing what we rally have inside we put on that happy smile and pretend like every thing's OK. The reason we go to church shouldn't be to impress your fellow Christians. You should be going to church to be real, not really fake. If we all just took the time to be more open and honest and pray about the real issues inside of us, we would be a lot better off. So the next time your sitting around in your Sunday school circle, and somebody asks "How can we pray for you _______ (insert name here) open up that garage and let it out man. There is true power in prayer.

II Guy's From Petra

Hello There!

Well this is my first blog ever, so I'm really not sure what to expect, or what you expect, I should say. On Sunday August 12th I had a great night out attending a II Guy's from Petra concert. If your as much of a fan of Petra as I'am you have to check out their new set up. John Schlitt & Bob Hartman get on stage and really entertain you from the start. They start out by singing some old and new Petra songs, followed by their personal testimonies. John Schlitt's is very moving. I never new he contemplated taking his life before he was saved. They also really get you laughing with their on stage antics. If you ever get the opportunity check out one of there shows, I assure you won't be dissapionted. Schlitt's vocal's still rock. Well that's all folks. Adios till next time.