There's A Difference Between What God ALLOWS And What He APPROVES

Because He has given us free will, God sometimes ALLOWS things that he doesn’t actually APPROVE of.  So, be careful not to let the fact that God is allowing us to do something automatically lead to the assumption that it is good, or that He approves.  What God ultimately desires and approves of is our obedience to Him.  I’m hoping to have that down pat, any day now.

Genuine Love Is Therapeutic For Our Hearts

“It has often been noted that most, if not all, problems brought to therapists are issues of love. It makes sense then that the cure is also love.” [Thomas Moore]  This quote reminds us that love is a critical part of having the emotional and spiritual foundation of our lives in order.  Think of it like this: Genuine love is therapeutic for our hearts, minds, and souls.

What Kind of Battle? A Cookie Battle

It was the aroma that I noticed first.  The smell of something baking is…well …let’s see… would “scrumptiously wonderful” be an appropriate phrase?

I had determined after a fairly early supper that I was not going to eat anything else for the rest of the night.  “That’s it!  I’m done eating for today!” I declared with a tenacious willpower and confidence that would, frankly, frighten the average man.

But, I was sitting innocently in the living room, reading one of my books and minding my own business when the aforementioned “smell of something baking” came and hit me on the side of the head.  I wasn’t hurting anyone.  I wasn’t looking for trouble.  The aroma came pushing and shoving and talking-trash, and started it up with me.

I stood and walked into the kitchen to see Nadia placing freshly baked chocolate chip cookies on a cooling rack.  “What’s the occasion?” I asked.

“Nothing.  No occasion, I’m just baking some cookies,” Nadia said.

Well, here I was, faced with a challenge.  My earlier comment—that I was not going to eat anything else for the rest of the night—was being tested.  It’s one thing to decide not to eat any thing else for the evening when all the food has been put away and the entrance to the kitchen has been sealed off with large plastic sheets and duct tape.  (That’s what we typically do after supper, like most normal families.)

But it’s something else—boy, is it something else—to resist eating when fresh chocolate chip cookies are being taken out of the oven.

Fortunately, I have an ability—cultivated earlier in my life during my martial arts training—to focus my mind powerfully on endeavors, like the passages within a book that I’m reading, and exclude other thoughts from my mind.  It’s a form of strict mental discipline that has served me well.  And I promptly put this concentrated focus to work in order to resist the impulse toward the chocolate cookies.

This discipline lasted…oh…approximately 1 minute and 28 seconds…which is pretty close to being a record if you consider the fact that my olfactory senses were being ruthlessly assaulted by fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie aroma.

You say, “Ha, ha, ha!  Dan, you caved in and ate a chocolate chip cookie, didn’t you?”

No, I can honestly say that I did not cave in and eat a chocolate chip cookie.  Really.  I did not eat “A” chocolate chip cookie.

Has anyone seen my bottle of TUMS, lately?

God Will Help Us To Know Him

If you want to know if Jesus is real—if you want to know that faith in God is real—God will help you.  We come to God in faith.  It’s important to understand that Christianity definitely involves faith.  But it’s a reasonable faith.  Even if you have doubts and times of uncertainty, be assured that God loves you and if you’re serious about knowing Him, you will find Him.

Yes The Banquet Is Important But So Is The Dessert

I was the emcee, last night, at a fundraising banquet for the Southside Pregnancy Center, a wonderful ministry that provides numerous helpful services to people dealing with crisis pregnancy situations.

When I arrived at the event, I did a visual survey of the room and tried to get a feel for the mood, the ambience, the tone of things.  This type of analysis is purely instinctual, it’s not a science, it’s a feeling.  I quickly realized that a couple of my pre-planned jokes would not work. 

You say, “How do you know such a thing?”

I could tell.  Many years of experience have honed these instincts. The setting wasn’t right for my silly sense of humor.  The feel wasn’t right.  It wasn’t an issue with the people who were present, it was me and my goofiness.  I needed to make a couple of changes.

So, I reached into my pocket and then rapidly into one pocket after another and discovered something rare and bothersome.  I did not have a pen with me.  This was rare and bothersome because I ALWAYS have at least 2 or 3 pens with me…always!  Virtually everywhere I go, I have several pens with me.  It’s an old, faithful habit.  I feel strange—I feel naked—without a pen.  In fact, I typically have a pen with me even in the shower.  (In case I need to carve an important note into a bar of soap.)

For instance, a note like this:  GLAD I HAVE A PEN WITH ME

There I am at a banquet—with several hundred people in attendance—I have to take the platform in a few minutes, but I need to make some changes to my emcee notes, and I don’t have a pen.  That’s not good.

Fortunately, I was able to improvise a couple of jokes on the spot.  I know that sounds scary and frightening to some, but I’ve done this numerous times.

“How did the jokes go over?” you ask.

Nevermind.  Let’s get to the rest of the story.

At one point, later in the evening, I was on the platform doing my emceeing duties while the dessert trays were being passed around.  From my position on the platform, I could see that the desserts were being served and eaten while I was making my remarks. 

You might be thinking, “That sounds tragic, Dan.  Desserts are being gobbled up while you are on the platform!”

You are absolutely correct.  Fortunately, this is where, once again, years of experience at these types of functions become critical.  I shortened my remarks.  I improvised quicker jokes and I got off the platform as rapidly as possible.  But when I got back to the table I saw the dessert platter sitting on the table, empty.  A few random puffs of powdered sugar were spread about as a reminder of the treats that once filled the tray.

I had tried.  I moved quickly and efficiently.  I streamlined my remarks, literally editing on my feet, but I didn’t make it in time.  The desserts were gone and I hung my head thinking of what could have been.  I suspect some of you may be wiping away a tear, even as you read this.  Don’t be embarrassed.

But that’s when my daughter, Rachel, called out to me and held out one of the dessert cookies in the palm of her hand, with a big smile on her face.

“For me?” I asked, looking at Rachel’s face.  “You saved that one for me?”

She nodded her head.

My improvised jokes didn’t exactly bring the house down…but I got the dessert.  So, all in all, it was a good night.

By the way, one of the highlights of the evening was the talk by our speaker, Lila Rose.  Lila is an intelligent, beautiful, courageous, articulate, accomplished young Christian woman, who is doing incredible work as a Pro-Life activist.  If you don’t know who she is, I encourage you to do a Google search on her name and/or check out her web site:   http://liveaction.org/

Lila has already accomplished some remarkable and impressive things, at the age of 22!  (I was still trying to figure out how to tie my shoes when I was 22!  ….Now I’ve solved that problem by wearing slip-ons.)

Rachel was thrilled that we gave Lila a ride back to her hotel.  Rachel and Lila are pictured together below.

Audio Message: Faith And Love Which Come From Hope

Go ahead take a listen.  You'll like it.

           Click Here.

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Rescued From Our Worst Problem

What’s the WORST problem that we will ever have in the course of our lives? Answer: The most terrible problem is that our sin has separated us from God. This is the problem with the most severe & most lasting consequences. When God loved us & reached out to give us genuine help, He was rescuing us from the worst problem that we will ever have. This reveals God’s compassion.

Do Something Terrific, Image-Bearer Of God

Because we are made in the image of God, human beings have capabilities and capacities and potential far beyond that of any other creatures.  As image-bearers of the Almighty, we have inherent dignity and value.  So, I’m just saying…go out and do something TERRIFIC today!

It Is Part of God's Design: We Need Each Other

Sometimes it surprises me how much we all need love and support and affirmation from each other.  It shouldn’t surprise me, though, we were created by God to need Him and to be unfulfilled without Him.  And we were created by God to need each other. This is not a design flaw. It is an intentional aspect of our design by our Heavenly Father who desires that we experience true community.

Knowing The Truth...AND Living The Truth

It’s possible to “know” all kinds of theological teachings and intellectual facts about spiritual matters and yet not walk very closely or obediently with Christ.  “I warn you—do not become one of those who has a head full of ‘the right’ Christian doctrines while failing to go on by working truth into everyday practice.” ~ Bernard of Clairvaux.

How's That Attention Span Doing, These Days?

My attention span is getting very short.  How about yours?

I’ve been noticing this when I’m watching short video clips on-line.  Yesterday, I watched a video clip that was 3:26 in length.  And it was too long for me.  As it played, I kept thinking, “Come on, come on, come on, get to the point!”  It was 3 minutes and 26 seconds!!!  And it was too boring and lengthy for me.

Someone sent me a recommendation for another video clip and I didn’t even bother because I noticed that it was 4:38.  “Uh uh.  No way.” I thought, “I’m not watching something that’s 4:38.  Are you kidding?  Do you think I’ve got all day?!?”

Is it just me or is everybody’s attention span getting shorter?

(I know, you’re probably saying, “I haven’t been paying attention…and by the way, who are you?”  Okay, I’ll grant you, that’s a good one.)

I read a lot of books and I watch very little TV, so, somehow, in my mind, I think my attention span wouldn’t be negatively affected.  But it is.

…Now, let’s see, what was I talking about?  Oh yeah, attention spans.

Last night I had another indication that my attention span is decreasing.  Rachel and I were watching “The Hulk”.  But I was also reading a biography of Jesus, during the commercials and the slow parts of the movie.  (That’s an interesting combination.  Try it sometime.  Try to simultaneously digest, mentally:  a troubled man who turns into a raging, big green monster; and the life of the Lord Jesus.)

But here’s the amazing part.  At one point, the movie was playing, I was reading the book and my mind started to wander.  The next thing I know, I began sending a text message to my son, Taylor, who had just returned to college from a weekend trip home.

So, now, there I was watching a movie, reading a book and text messaging all at the same time!  And, quite frankly, I was starting to get just a little bit bored so I reached for some headphones to listen to a little music, too.

Did I mention that I was doing all this while I was driving on icy, winding mountain roads in the fog?!? 

Okay, I’m kidding about that part, I wasn’t driving.  But sheesh!  Do you see what I mean?  Our attention spans are shot! …You know?....Hello?....Is anyone reading this any longer?....Hello?...Are you there?...Anyone?...

Oh boy, I’m going to have to start making these short notes just a little bit shorter.

Love Increases As We Extend It To Others

We cannot run out of love.  The people we love may exhaust our patience to the point that we become irritated or angry and we wind up behaving in unlovely ways.  That’s not running out of love, though, that’s running out of patience.  True Godly love does not run out, in fact, it has the unique quality of increasing as we extend it to others.