WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT BEING A FATHER!

     Yesterday was Father's Day. Fathers all over the country were honored by their families for all that they are and all that they do. No man becomes a good father instinctively. I certainly didn't! Men become the fathers that they are by being taught. They learn, I learned, from the example of their own fathers and they learn from the example of other fathers in their life. 
     It takes a "Man" to be a father. I know, some of you are probably saying "Duh! No kidding! Really?" What I mean is that any man can father a child. But, it takes a "Man" to be a "Dad", and A MAN STANDS UP! That's it in a nutshell...A Man Stands Up!
     A MAN STANDS UP when he learns that his wife is pregnant with his child. He loves her, supports her and lovingly cares for her. A man provides his wife and unborn child what's needed, physically and emotionally. A man marries the mother of his children. Way too many men walk away and abandon their responsibilities where their spouse and children are concerned.
     A MAN STANDS UP when his family is threatened financially and the bills pile up and there's more money going out than is coming in. A man stays and works through financial difficulties with his wife for the sake of his child or children. A man does what he has to do to provide for his family.
     A MAN STANDS UP when his family is threatened by the evils of this world. A man does what he has to do to protect his family from the evils of the world. There are so many dangers that lurk and threaten a family. Drugs and the evils that they cause, both inside the home and outside. Alcoholism and all the evils that it brings. A man exercises self control and keeps himself clean and sober so he can provide protection for his family.
     A MAN STANDS UP when sickness or death strikes without warning. Despite what he may feel, a man must remain strong and provide support for his family when a spouse or a child becomes seriously ill or worse, dies. He must reassure his family by being strong and in control of his emotions and he must continue to provide for his family whatever is needed  and to work with his family to get through these difficult times. 
     In short, A MAN STANDS UP! No one gets this done perfectly! Most of us are making it up as we go along. A man stays for the long haul and does the best he can. A wise man once said that 90 percent of life is just showing up. A man shows up!

"....BY THE SWEAT OF THY BROW"

     After Adam & Eve partook of the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden, the ground was cursed and Adam was consigned to getting his food by the sweat of his brow. Thus began the battle between man and weeds.
     For reasons that escape me, I decided to clear out the garden old growth and weeds and plant vegetables this year. I had the bright idea of constructing raised beds out of pressure treated wood. I had to repair the fence around the garden by replacing rotted/missing wood and rusted fencing. Between clearing the old vegetation from the garden and around the outside, roto-tilling the soil, placing the raised beds where SWMBO and I wanted them, hauling loam/compost mix from the front yard to the backyard garden, filling the raised beds and at long last planting/sowing our vegetables....whew! That's a lot of work! Who knew! 
     One interesting thing that made me go "Hmmm!" I found a dead hawk among the dead vegetation. One of its talons  had a death grip on the fencing. I have no idea how it died or how it ended up in my garden, but there it was. It was difficult extricating the talon from the fence.
     Here are some photo's or our handiwork...

Raised beds, weed block, before fence repairs.

Raised beds with weed block!

We put hay down to retain moisture and further block weeds.

...Well, the garden is in. I have gained an appreciation for producing food by the sweat of one's brow. We have planted Strawberries, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, beans,peas, carrots, radishes and onions.


      If anyone has any tips, advice, suggestions on how to be successful please forward them to me! I have a lot to learn! May God bless our efforts with a bountiful harvest! Enjoy the heat wave!

WELL, WE'RE STILL HERE!!!

     According to Harold Camping of Family Radio the Lord Jesus Christ was going to come and remove (that is, rapture) His people from the earth at 1800 hrs, Saturday, 05/21/2011.  Well, we're still here! What happened? 
     Camping leads a so called christian organization based in Oakland, CA, purportedly created to spread Biblical Christianity. Unfortunately, Camping has been wrong with his predictions before. Camping predicted that the world would end in 1994. We're still here! What happened?Nothing happened!

"Fool me once, shame on you! Fool me twice, shame on me!"

     Camping explained that the first date was wrong due to a math error. I'm no math whiz, either. So who am I to criticize someone else's math deficiencies. 
     Camping was apparently able to convince a lot of people that the May 21st date was correct. Unless you have been living on a remote island, disconnected from the rest of the planet, billboard ads were erected in major cities throughout the United States at great expense warning all of us of the upcoming rapture and subsequent end of the world.
     Camping tells us that he based his predictions on the Bible. He must have a different Bible than I do.
     Jesus told his disciples during His time on earth that no one knew when He would return again to earth. He said that even He did not know the day or hour of His return.

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matthew 24:36

...If even the Lord Jesus Christ doesn't know the date or hour of His return is it at all conceivable that a mere man could know. It is clear from the teachings of Jesus that His return will be at a time that is unexpected. He compares the time of His return to the time of Noah, you know, the guy who built the ark and took all the kinds of animals of the earth for a boat ride.

     "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriages until the day that Noah entered the ark and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be." Matthew 24:37-39

     Jesus warned that in the last days false Christs and prophets would appear and speak all manner of false things. He, as well as the Apostles, warn us to be on our guard.
     Our best defense against false teaching is for us to know what the Bible says. Therefore read the Bible for yourself and learn what it actually says. DO NOT DEPEND UPON THE INTERPRETATION(S) OF OTHER PEOPLE NO MATTER HOW WELL CREDENTIALED THEY MAY BE! READ IT FOR YOURSELF!
     Mr. Camping is a heretic! Beware of wolves who come in sheep's clothing! Read the Bible for yourself! May God bless your efforts!

  

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS OF A WANDERING MIND!

"Most people are not truly appreciated until after they're dead. Osama Bin Laden you're now dead, and we all appreciate it!"

      Unless you have been living inside a remote cave like a stoic hermit, you now know that Osama Bin Laden has met his maker and the U.S. Military graciously arranged the meeting. Members of the elite SEAL Team Six raided a compound inside Pakistan and terminated  the elusive terrorist leader with extreme prejudice. 
     These Covert Ops Operators are the elite of the elite! They volunteer for active duty military service. Next, they volunteer for SEAL Training which requires that they survive and pass months of the most rigorous training regimen in the world. Then, after several years in the Special Operations Community, if they have earned the respect of SEAL Team Six, they are asked to "try out" for the most elite of the SEAL Teams. Many do not make it. These guys are the epitome of professional Special Operations operators. I thank God that there are such men as Navy SEALS and that they are on our side!
     May God continue to watch over and protect our military servicemen and women.

       "Success has many fathers...Failure is an orphan!"

     President Obama has my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude for giving the order that sent the SEAL Team into Pakistan last weekend. Military operations are complex, multi-facited endeavors. Most operational plans survive until first contact with the enemy. After that, operators must adapt, overcome and persevere to complete their assigned mission. This mission was well planned. The SEAL Team was well prepared. The mission was executed almost flawlessly. 
      I commend the President for having the courage to give the order to proceed with the mission, knowing all the inherent risks, militarily and politically. Well done, Mr. President.

    "There is nothing terrible in life for the man who realizes that there is nothing terrible in death." - Epicurus

      The Christian has nothing to fear from death.  For the Christian, death is merely a graduation to glory, as it were. The Bible tells us that the sufferings experienced during our time on earth pales to insignificance compared to what awaits us after death.
     We live in difficult times! Finances are threatened and diminishing! Crime and terrorism are increasing! Natural disasters are increasing in frequency and severity! Oh, woe is us!
     Relax people and take a breath! God is still in control. For the Christian, no matter what happens on this earth, we win! I can't tell you how many times God says "Fear Not!" I know it is several times. He must really mean what He says! 
     So if you are not a Christian, become one so that you too can have the assurance of better things to come...AND...like the Apostle Paul you can say "Grave, where is your victory, Death, where is your sting?"


    ENJOY YOUR WEDNESDAY!

IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED - IT NEVER WILL HAPPEN....NOT EVER!

     Sometimes I like to sit and just let my mind wander. Sometimes my mind gets lost in thought. Some folk who know me would probably tell you that my mind is still lost. But, I digress.
     During one of my wanderings I considered the question "Is there anything that God has never done AND will never do...ever?" As I considered this question a few things came to mind. In no particular order, here are a few of them.
     God has never lied. Throughout the sixty-six books of the Bible there is not one instance where God has lied. In fact, God has made it clear that telling the truth is the right thing to do. God has no reason to lie. There are three passages from Scripture that are precisely on point.

"God is not a man, that He should lie." (Numbers 23:19)  

"Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago..."   (Titus 1:1,2) 

"...so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,..."  (Hebrews 6:18) 

      God has never been surprised.  There has never been a time when God has said "Boy, I never saw that coming!" God has foretold through His prophets what was going to happen  hundreds of years before it happened. 
     God told Abraham that Israel would be subjected to captivity in Egypt for 400 years and that He would deliver them out of their bondage (Genesis 15:13,14). This prophecy found it's fulfillment in the life of Joseph who was sold into slavery in Egypt. (Genesis 37 through 47) The deliverance came through Moses who led Israel out of captivity in Egypt to the land promised to Abraham. (The Book of Exodus)
     God told the king of babylon, Nebuchadnezzer, about four kingdoms that would arise through His prophet, Daniel. These kingdoms were the Babylonians, followed by the Medo-Persian which was followed by the Greek Empire which was followed by the Roman Empire. (Daniel 2:31-45)  History has confirmed that there were four great kingdoms in antiquity that followed the exact sequence as foretold through Daniel. 
     God has never failed to do what He has said He will do. From the Book of Genesis through the Book of Jude, God has never failed to do what He said He would do. After the fall in the garden of Eden God planned to redeem man by sending the Messiah, His only begotten Son, Jesus, the Christ. 
     When God said He would bring judgement upon a people or a Nation He has, without fail, done so. Examples consist of Sodom and Gomorrah, Nineveh, Egypt, Tyre and many others that were either destroyed outright or greatly diminished.
    You may note that I neglected to include the Book of Revelation in my list above. The reason for this is simple, those prophecies have yet to be fulfilled. The point is, if God has done what he said He would do in ages past you can be certain that the prophecies of the Book of Revelation will likewise be fulfilled as promised.
     The examples cited above just scratch the surface of Biblical Prophecy. 
     So, I strongly urge all of you to examine the evidence and come to know the God of the Bible. He is a loving, merciful and compassionate God. He truly loves you and desires to have a relationship with you. You will not regret it!

THEY'RE ANIMALS I TELL YOU!!!

     Over my career I have had several incidents that involved wild or domestic animals. Sometimes when recounting these events to my friends, they bust my chops because what I said isn't what they heard.
     Exhibit "A" - I was driving up a hill that curved to the right. As I entered the curve, a huge owl was flying down the hill about four feet above the ground. It missed hitting my patrol car windshield by what seemed to be inches. Imagine having a bird strike while driving a car. When I recounted the incident to friends and colleagues, without exception and without missing a beat they asked me "How high were you flying?" 
     Exhibit "B" - While driving around at night it is very common to see whitetail deer along the side of the road or in the cornfields. I also hunt deer in the fall. I'm really great at hunting, not so great at finding. 
     I always see more deer along the side of the road while on duty then I ever have see in the woods. So, from time to time I have observed to my friends "I have seen more deer, sitting in my car, then I ever have in the woods." Again, without exception and without missing a beat they ask "How did the deer get inside your car?"
     Besides errant owls and free ranging deer, I have also had to corral domestic animals that had escaped from their enclosures.
     On one such occasion a bull had escaped and was running loose in a neighborhood. Being a city boy, born and bred, I had absolutely no idea how to return the errant bovine to it's rightful place. I kept envisioning a soon to be  news account of a police officer being hospitalized after getting gored by a bull. I did once witness a bullfight in Spain while I was in the military but there's never any picadors around when you need them and I left my red cape and matador sword at home.
     Fortunately, I was able to locate the bull's owner who returned the bull to it's enclosure.
     Another time I responded to a report of a burglary-in-progress. The homeowner reported hearing something crash in the living room. Upon investigating the report I noticed that the screen from the skylight was lying on the floor. I then noticed a pair of yellow eyes looking at me. The eyes belonged to a raccoon that had climbed onto the roof, stepped onto the screen and came crashing down into the living room.
     Being a city boy was of no help here, either. I had no idea about what to do. One thing that I was sure about is that if the animal attacked and/or bit anyone I was going to shoot it. I was not going to subject myself to a rabies series for nobody!
     What did I do you may ask? I opened a window and used some lattice work to form a ladder and coaxed the raccoon to the open window. Once the raccoon was leaning out the window, a quick push on it's butt sent it scurrying off into the night.
     Being a police officer exposes you to situations that range from the common- place to the bizarre. How to handle wild animals was never covered at the police academy. Upon reflection, these incidents still make me smile! 
     Enjoy your weekend and God bless you!   

A FATHER'S SACRIFICE !

   Whatever path your life takes there are certain disciplines that are necessary to become successful. Likewise, being a christian requires certain disciplines to be successful. One of the disciplines of being a christian is reading a portion of the Bible, daily. From time to time when reading, something clicks and you are able to see the wonderful symmetry and coherence between the Old and New Testaments. Let me give you an example of what I mean.
     Last week I was reading the Book of Genesis, chapter 22. If you're not familiar with this passage it is the account of Abraham being told by God to sacrifice his first born son to Him. You'll recall that God promised to greatly multiply Abraham's seed through his (Abraham's) son. Abraham waited 25 years and was 100 years old when Isaac, the son of God's promise, was born to him. 
     Some years later, God told Abraham to take Isaac to the region of Moriah and sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering on one of the mountains God would tell him about.  
    Abraham arose early the next morning, saddled a donkey and took two servants and Isaac with him. Abraham made sure he had brought enough wood for the burnt offering. On the third day of their journey Abraham sees the mountain God told him about off in the distance. Abraham tells his servants to stay while he and Isaac went off to the mountain to worship the Lord and return. 
     Verse 6 of the chapter tells us... 

"Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife." (Genesis 22: 6) 

...While they were walking to the mountain Isaac observed that they had wood, they had fire but they did not have a lamb for the burnt offering. When Isaac asked his father about this, Abraham tells him that  God, Himself, would provide the lamb for the burnt offering.
   When they arrived at the place that God told Abraham about, Abraham builds an altar, places the wood upon the altar, bounds Isaac and places him upon the altar. At the very last second, as Abraham is about to kill Isaac, the Angel of the Lord calls out to Abraham and tells him not to lay a hand on the boy. God commends Abraham and provides a ram, caught in a thicket, for the sacrifice.

     Yesterday we celebrated the christian holiday of Easter, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel accounts tell us that God took His only begotten Son, placed a wooden cross upon his back and brought Him to Mount Calvary to be sacrificed for the sins of the world. Only this time, no one called out to stop the sacrifice. Jesus was crucified on that cross. He died and was buried in a borrowed grave and was raised on the third day.

"God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

... I was struck by the symmetry of these two accounts. God spared Isaac but He did not spare His own Son. God provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice. God provided His own Son, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, to be sacrificed.
    How much love would it take for you to sacrifice your only son? I cannot conceive of such a love, and yet, God demonstrated, in real terms, how much He loved us and how far He was prepared to go to redeem us from sin.
    God is so good and He truly desires to adopt you into His family. He strongly desires to have a personal relationship with you. Think about it, the God who created everything wants to have a relationship with you! I sincerely urge you to give serious consideration to accepting His wonderful offer. I promise you that you will be eternally grateful and  glad that you did! 
   Please let me know if I can help! May God bless you!