Furthermore, they led us to join them in singing these words; who knows what effect this massive singing may have had.

OK, I’m being silly. After all… I’m the one who OK’d the song. I am to blame. Right?

Stop the silliness!

I am not responsible for the excessive rains and I’m fairly confident Doug isn’t either (but I’ll let him represent himself, Ha!)—Seriously…some things are completely out of our control.

It’s just superstition to think that wearing our favorite jersey will change the outcome of a sporting event or that putting the heavy coat away will keep the snow from falling.

Here’s where I’m going with this. The practical problem with superstition exampled above is that it takes the focus of our lives and thinking away from what it is that does fall under our purview of responsibility and control.

Please read above-”some things… are completely out of our control.” Not All Things! So we must take control of and responsibility for those things under our purview.

For example:
If Planned Parenthood (as they have admitted) knew of the wicked AND illegal activities of the abortion doctor in Philadelphia, they had a responsibility to report it.
Anyone who recognized the pictures released of the Boston Marathon suspects had a responsibility to call in.
We cannot change the weather or stop the rain from falling. Throwing salt over your shoulder will not save your kids (or anyone else), but introducing them to Jesus can.

I can’t stop the rain, or make it start. I can only talk to God about that. But I can do my job, love my wife, give to those in need, and so on.

Praying for dry weather tomorrow,
Pastor Paul

It flew by and I can hardly believe it’s over. On the other hand, when I’m exercising for an hour, that hour rolls by and is roughly the equivalent of 4-6 hours, depending on the “difficulty factor” of the exercise.

One more piece of evidence: Saturday night’s 8 hours of sleep is roughly equivalent to 4 hours on other nights of the week and 2 hours of my favorite TV programs.

OK, time is time. I get it. But sometimes time does “seem” to go by more slowly or quickly than it does at other times. Does that sentence even make sense?

We may have to turn to the language of the New Testament, Greek, to get a handle on this.

The Greek language has two words for time-Chronos and Kairos.

Chronos is time measured by seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades, millennia, etc… Your watch is technically a “chronometer”.

Kairos is time measured by circumstances and surrounding, external factors. This is time like “It’s wintertime in Chicago… it’s cold as ____________.” Or, “It’s time to wash my car… it’s covered with salt.”

Those are two depressing examples; how about a positive example, Pastor Paul? OK-when you meet someone you want to spend your life with, at some point it’s time to say, “I love you”. What is that point in time?”, the young person asks. You’ll know.

So here we are in the season of Lent. Didn’t we just finish Christmas? Well, yes. But now it’s time to prepare for Holy Week: Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. Lent is exactly the right time for serious reflection on our sin, our relationship with God, our prayer life, our commitment to the Kingdom, and such. The time is right to address these matters as we consider how Jesus addressed the miserable condition of humanity.

I don’t know whether the time will “stand still” or “fly by”. We’ll see.

But I do know we shall use the time wisely here at Grace.

Join us on Wednesday evenings for some time together.

Pastor Paul

I’m not jealous; in fact I’m grateful that he got the stuff. Not only can I enjoy it when I visit, but it compelled me to organize my basement and finally hook up the audio equipment that is collecting dust down there. So, Monday, after the busy-ness of the GraceGifts banquet was over, I launched into the “basement project”. Work out equipment in one area, drum set in another. Everything was coming together including speakers holding the shelf that will eventually display all my sports stuff, including my Jay Cutler poster, my college football picture, Michael Jordan poster… basically all your “rare and priceless items”.

It takes a long while to arrange all that priceless stuff, and with all five dogs assisting me, a bit longer. Since the audio equipment, wasn’t cooperating (not my fault), I finally gave up a little after 2AM on Tuesday morning.

Later Tuesday AM Sue shared that not only had the dogs assisted with the set up of the basement project, but one of them (perhaps two working in tandem) had left a “prize” for me back in the area where I store the Christmas decorations. I dutifully went down to the “man cave”, with the disinfectant wipes in hand, to deal with the doggie doo doo. I was not happy. There was no thankfulness in my heart; I was not singing, speaking, whispering or thinking, “Praise God for this opportunity to clean up dog doo!”

I was less spiritually stable by 8PM, when I finally called my neighbor to ask (beg) for assistance getting my audio equipment to work (or make any sound at all). It was either make the call or throw an amplifier through the window. By 9PM I had amplified music and by 10PM was settled in to watch TV with Sue and the dogs in the TV room. Sometime before midnight, Sue nudged (poked) me out of my “restful TV monitoring” to ask where the disinfectant wipes might be. Having utilized them for doo-doo duty, I trudged to the basement to fetch them.

Stepping into 3 inches of water on the basement floor, I quickly realized the sump pump had failed and my “man cave” was now a “man pool”. Praise God! I admit that wasn’t my first thought, but it is now.

Consider this: If my neighbor hadn’t gotten new stuff, that prompted me to begin my “basement project”, that involved assistance from the dogs, that led to the “prize” left by them, that led to the disinfectant wipes taken to the basement and left there, and if there hadn’t been a further request and quest for the disinfectant wipes… I would not have stepped into the three inches of water; which would have been 6 or more by morning when I would (might) have gone down to work out.

As it went… the back up sump pump (still in the box on the basement floor) hooked up easily. Praise God! The water was pumped out by 2AM. Praise God! No audio or video equipment was damaged. Praise God! Every thing was rescued and cleaned up by the time I went to bed at 2AM on Thursday morning. Praise God!

So… I say, “Praise God! for dog doo doo!” Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. -1 Thessalonians 5:18

Gotta go-Dogs need to be let out.
Pastor Paul

Well, now there’s the point. We have to plan for the future, but we are not guaranteed the future. It’s irresponsible to live “only for the moment”. Yet, people who are constantly looking to the future are often “not present” in the “here and now”. The Present and the Future are in tension; And that says nothing about the Past! Yes, the ceramic Lion reminds of the short-comings of my saving (and planning) plans of the Past with which I must deal in the Present. It’s a bit of a quandary, but as long as I’m staring at the Lion, let’s consider it…

First and foremost- God is Lord over all: the Past, the Present, and the Future.

For the Past… no excuses, only Pardons. The Past is over; the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross covers over all the short-comings… including the failure to “feed the pig” (or in this case the Lion). No need for the heavy burden of guilt. It doesn’t help life much, anyway.
For the Future… He’s already seen it. He knows what it holds and what the needs will be. (By the way… HE knew all the “Mayan calendar stuff” was just talk and that 2013 would arrive as scheduled). And… as the saying goes “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.” That’s comfort for the Present.

So the Present… Live securely- knowing God is in control. Live freely- knowing sins forgiven; the past has been dealt with. Live responsibly- knowing that the God who knows the future can direct you how to plan for it; consult Him for direction.

That’s all for now. I need to run up the stairs (exercise for the hip); I’m taking the Lion upstairs to feed him; Tomorrow is likely to come and I’m going to need a few extra bucks.

Peace & Blessing to all you Lion-feeders,
Pastor Paul

My contribution was met with snickers and looks of disbelief and pity.

Things have changed. I remember when my brother, Bob got his Texas Instrument hand-held calculator. He could punch the key pad and obtain answers magically, especially compared with the slide ruler (if you don’t know what a slide ruler is, you can Google it or go to a local museum). Not only was it quick, it was expensive; a few hundred bucks back then-I don’t even know what that would be in today’s money. Now, folks can just calculate on their phones. Things change.

I’ve been somewhat resistant to some of these changes. Sometimes for good reasons and sometimes less than good.

Some of the good reasons-

• It seems that technology advances can get in the way of personal relationships. The impersonal nature of relating is a high price to pay.
• I’ve seen people sitting next to each other, text-arguing, rather than having a legitimate, real-life conversation.
• Many e-mail communications have been misinterpreted and misunderstood, resulting in unnecessary pain and confusion.

Some lame reasons for resistance-

• I’m too lazy to learn new stuff.
• I’m too cheap to buy new stuff.
• I’m too busy to learn or buy new stuff.

Technology continues to move forward, so use Godly principles in evaluating use, and joyfully use the Tech Advances to Advance the Kingdom of God.

For Instance:

• I can learn more on the Internet to prep for sermons than I can in all the books in my library.
• In the future the praise band could use screens instead of music stands and paper music.
• We can share sermon podcast around the globe (no, I’m not even sure what podcasting is)
• You wouldn’t be reading the Grace E-news! Praise God!

So, I’m signing up for a class to learn how to use my (Android) phone. I-Phone is a possibility, (though I’m afraid it may require psychotherapy for me). By the end of 2013, I will have mastered my KINDLE FIRE ! Watch out!

Gotta’ Go! Need to Email this PPP to Sue so you’ll get it today! No more Pony Express for this guy!

Praising God! (through technology!),
Pastor Paul

So the boots looked great (if I do say so myself) when I was finished. You had to look real close to tell they weren’t brand spankin’ new. I like that feeling a lot.

So while I’m polishing the boots and after I’m done, I’m thinking, “I’ll bet God takes great pleasure in the work He does.” He finds used people, scuffed by the rough wear and tear of life; People like you and me. And instead of tossing us out with the trash or tossing us into the back of the closet as useless item… God takes us into His own hands, nail scarred hands, and does His polishing act on us.

Sins are forgiven. Scuffs and marks are in process of removal. And useful purpose is declared. All that accomplished through Jesus the Christ. All that offered to you and me.

That is amazingly gracious on God’s part. Amazing Grace.
Unlike shoes, passive objects, you and I can choose to refuse God’s polishing act. Sadly, some do choose to refuse God’s soul-saving offer.

What about you ? 2013 is a great opportunity for YOU to receive the cleansing, scuff-removing power of Jesus.

Happy New Year!

Thinking about polishing my shoes too,
Pastor Paul

As I reveled in my good fortune at not having to shop that morning, I suddenly realized that my coffee maker had “given up the ghost” along with her laptop.

Friends, nothing compels me like coffee, or more precisely, lack thereof.

So, I went to Target, thinking as I drove that perhaps I should have reviewed my Last Will and Testament, prior to taking this rash move. But when you haven’t had your morning coffee, every move is rash and pretty much everyone within eyesight is at risk.

To my pleasant surprise… it was not a riot in progress. Parking was easy. A blessing. The store was easily navigable. Another blessing. There were many coffee makers from which to choose. Blessing!!! And… wait for it… there was a RED coffee maker that would go perfectly in our Coca Cola Kitchen. Bright and Shiny and Red. Blessing upon blessing. The only downside was that its shiny newness, and lack of black accent parts, made my toaster look old and out of place. Otherwise… PERFECT!!!

Except for the fact that the automatic turn off did not work on the shiny, red coffee maker for which I took that risk on Black Friday. The automatic shut off did not work on the shiny red-exactly-the-same- model replacement. It did not work on the third try either. Target had no more red coffee makers, so I took the refund and sadly went on to WalMart, where every shopping day carries risk. I was truly disappointed because the shiny red coffee maker was simple and perfect… except for the automatic shut off and its making the toaster look old.

Guess what? My new coffee maker is red… wait for it… and black, thereby not making my toaster look old or mismatched. It’s simple to operate. The top opens the right way. It cost less than the shiny red allowing me to purchase the permanent coffee filter, thereby eliminating the need for paper filters (see previous PPP last year to appreciate the blessing of not running out of paper filters).

Hey! God really does work ALL THINGS to good for those who love Him. I love God! And I am truly thankful for His love for me! Especially His love through Jesus!

Happy Advent and Coffee Making,
Pastor Paul

It’s actually more than a tummy ache. It’s a truly upset stomach! A belly ache! But, …you say,… didn’t you bring it on yourself, Pastor Paul? Don’t you know better than to eat so much Taco Bell that you have an upset stomach?

Well,… yeah,… I do know better. I just don’t always do better. It’s a quandary, don’t you know? I’m pretty sure my gut is going to hurt, but I do it anyway. Why?

I suppose I could blame it on the extremely magnetic power of TACO BELL food. In other words, I could say that I’m powerless against the taste of TACO BELL. That sounds good and relieves me of any guilt.

It’s just that it’s not exactly true, though. 89 out of 90 days, I drive right past TB on the way to the church office and again on the way home, and I do not pull in to the TB drive thru (by the way, the drive thru is the only way to go if you’re purchasing food that you know is going to be problematic. If you stand inside and wait in line, you have too much time to change your mind.) Since, statistically it is proven that I do pass by so often, it seems to reason that I can pass by (even on the 90th time), but simply choose to pull in.

Am I that stupid? Well,… maybe. But my Grade Point Averages in college and seminary point to a different conclusion. Besides, my Mom reminds me, “Your mother didn’t raise any stupid kids!” That’s true too.

So why do we (I’m assuming that I’m not unique in this quandary) often do things that we know will likely turn out poorly?

Two words… MESSED UP!

We’re all messed up. And sometimes we are messed up on some very important and serious things in life. Like lingering too long at the water cooler with someone who is not our spouse, even though we know it may likely lead to something that will end poorly and painfully. Like ignoring someone we love when they’re crying for help, even though we know ignoring now will likely bring pain later.

Paul said it this way, “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do…. O, wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me?… I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7: 15, 24-25. Yes, even The Apostle, Saint Paul, struggled and sometimes made stupid mistakes (sin).

Two ideas:
Keep struggling. Don’t give in.
Turn to Jesus. Get forgiveness for struggles that ended poorly. Get Jesus Power for struggles still engaged.
Two Words,
Pastor Paul