Why?

Why? That is the question the pastor put out there this morning...why are we here? What is our purpose? We live the first 20+ years of our lives in what we can accomplish first...our first house, our first car, our first house/apartment, our first love...our momentum of life is all about firsts. It is more about what we can achieve, how much money we can obtain, what social status we hold, and we don't have a care in the world.
But it isn't long until we all stop and think "Why am I here?" What is my purpose? Some of look upward for that answer while others start looking for a change of scenery to find their purpose...they get a new car, a new house and often times a new husband or wife. They are not finding the purpose...they are just postponing the question of "why?". Finding our purpose in life is what centers us and brings our life in to context. Matthew 5:14-16 says what our purpose is to be...

14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

We are to be a light to all who are around us. People need to be able to see "God" in us and recognize it as "God", not as mere characteristics of a nice or generous person. A little bit of light goes a long way in a lost world. We are not just "stuck" in our lives...we have be strategically placed here to impact somebody's life. We shouldn't feel abandoned in the life we have we should find our purpose and be contented with what we have and use what we have to show God to others.
Once again...a great sermon and one much needed by me during this time of reflection and looking for my purpose in life...am I doing what I was placed in life to do?

Out of Control

So the title says it all. I feel out of control of what is happening in my life and in the life of others around me. I have watching the Buck/Grate family struggle with their lives and their many obstacles and wondered what would I do if I were them, what could you do? This week has got me thinking a lot about the power that I hold in my own life. I have realized that I don't have any control of what happens. I have been through a ton of tests this week to determine if I have something wrong with my heart and they are testing some level in my body where the word cancer and tumor has come up and it has me worried. What would I do if it were something? It doesn't seem too long ago that I was asking myself these same questions when I was going through mammogram after mammogram. I have asked these questions when I was going through the death of my father from cancer, and my other times in my life...what am "I" supposed to do about this?
So, I have decided to let God work his magic. It is funny how it takes something like this to jolt us enough to throw our hands up in the air and say...Jesus...YOU TAKE THE WHEEL...I can't do this on my own.
I know I have said this before...but sorry if this doesn't make sense...It was a bit of a rambling blog.

Pray for more...

So today's sermon was on praying and making sure it is not just a routine prayer. We have had a similar sermon earlier this year from Pastor Powell but today the sermon was preached by Brent Fox, our new youth pastor. They had a skit that I thought I would try to redo here...if possible.

This is a one man praying...he starts out...

Our Father which art in heaven...

YES, son?

Baffled the man looks around...and begins again
Our Father which art in heaven...

I said yes...you called my name.

Quit interrupting me...I am trying to pray...and this would go so much faster if I could just get through this and go to bed...this is my nightly ritual...so 'shhhh'
Hallowed be thy name...

Do you know that that means?

Well...NO, I didn't write this prayer...so what does it mean?

It means my name is holy and when you speak it to me I know that you know that I am holy, but continue...

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven...

Really...do you mean it...you want my will to be done. Then lets start with you...

Wait a minute Lord...I go to church, I live a good life, better than some people...

Yeah but they aren't calling on my name right now...you are...so let's focus on you.
You could be living a better life and doing more of my will, living as an example...right?

Right, Lord...of course you are right...aren't you always.
Give us this day our daily bread...pause...

I think you have had enough bread...but continue

I am not sure I want to...you are picking on me...and I already know what you are going to say...

Maybe...but finish...please.

Ok...And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors

What about 'Amy'?

See God I knew you were going to bring her up...but you don't understand...she owes me money and I want it back and if she doesn't pay me the $3.00 she owes me...she is going to be sorry...
you can see why I can't forgive her...would you?

Yes, son I would...but you have to forgive her too...it will make you feel better...I promise...come on, say it with me...I forgive Amy.

I forgive Amy...you are right...I do feel better...
And now the anger and discord is on Amy...not you.
Ok...well I am going to finish this up Lord...this is taking a little longer than I am used to...
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil...

But have you forgotten that you need to remove yourself from places of temptation? Don't put yourself in a place where you know you can't handle...

But Lord...I don't know what you mea....OK...you are right there is that one thing...I will work on it.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
WHEW...Glad that is over with..

Thank you son...for your time...talk to you soon.

It is so often that we pray our ritual prayers and forget the meaning behind it or forget that we are having a conversation with God. Not just reading a book or listening to a teacher talk but we are having an ongoing conversation with God.

So as we go forward and Wayne and I pray about this possible mission trip to Africa...pray that we can be open to God's will for us and that we can fulfill what we are sent there to do. I added the song "Open the eyes of my heart"...I think it is fitting right now for what we need to do...let him talk to us.

Current Conditions Updated: 1153 PM EDT SUN FEB 4 2007	Sun & Moon Information
Clear Temp: 1°F Humidity: 65% Wind Speed: W 8 MPH Barometer: 30.27 in. Dewpoint: -8°F Heat Index: 1°F Wind Chill: -13°F	Civil Twilight: 8:11 AMEDT Moon Phase: Waning Gibbous Moon Sunrise: 8:40 AM EDT Sunset: 6:53 PM EDT Civil Twilight: 7:21 PMEDT

This post is for my brother...These are the current tempatures in OHIO!!! Wish you were here.

I haven't blog in a while because I am looking for the right thing to blog about. There really isn't much going on in my life right now but the kids are sleeping...so that will change in a few hours. Oh...I did get to go to a wonderful Super Bowl party...and THE COLTS WON!!! YEAH! No real surprise for me except I did have a few worries after the first play of the game...but if you are from Ohio you know that it is not the first play of a game that decides the winner.
I have still been going to church...more choir practice on Wednesdays than Sunday services...I was sick last weekend...which is why there was no summary of the sermon. This week he spoke about spreading the gospel through missions. Which has got me thinking...South Africa may not be a bad place to visit. We will be praying on whether or not God wants us to go. It is not until October so I have a lot of praying to do. I told someone that if it the tempature hits 88 tomorrow...then I know that God has sent a sign that we are supposed to go...Just kidding! So pray for Wayne and I that we can make this decision and if we do that we can get the finances for the trip all worked out.
Anyway...We had Wayne's mom and dad's 50th anniversary party this weekend and all was smooth sailing...ALMOST! It was very nice and I think everything went pretty much the way would have wanted it with a few surprises along the way. I am taking off planning anymore major functions for a couple of months. So for Josh's birthday...Buffalo Wild Wings...here we come.
Well it is late and I am extremely tired....I am starting to mixspelt my wordz. So sleeep I mut got.