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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Don't Forget God This year I am reading through the entire Bible in the Message version. It has been very eye opening. I love the way the writer attempts to put things in modern terms using language and imagery that applies to us today. He does a good job in keeping the truth and meaning of the original authors while showing how it applies to us today. In my reading a few days ago, there was a passage from Deuteronomy 8:11-12 that really stood out to me. It reads: “Make sure you don’t forget God, your God, by not keeping his commandments, his rules and regulations that I command you today. Make sure that when you eat and are satisfied, build pleasant houses and settle in, see your herds and flocksThis warning from Moses to the people of God could not be any clearer. Yet, we see throughout the scriptures that God’s people did forget. There are seven cycles recorded in the old testament of the Bible where God’s chosen people, the Israelites, forgot about God and completely turned away from him. After a time of oppression and suffering they would come to their senses and beg him for forgiveness. They would whine, cry, moan and wail for God to have mercy on them and send someone to save them. As soon as he showed them mercy, time and time again, they would fall right back into the pattern of forgetting about him. Why is this? And so it is with us. Why is it easy for us to forget about God in the good times? We don’t need God to provide when we have money in the bank. We don’t feel the need to acknowledge Him when we are lounging in our nice home with our 50 inch plasma watch our favorite show. When we have all the things we could ever want, with money to spare, there’s no need to be confined to His rules. Why in the world would we need to stop the party of life to live for a God who is full of rules and regulations that will limit our fun?! Yet, when times are tough, when the money stops flowing, when we can’t find a job, when the economy takes a hit, we cry out to him. Pretty loudly! It’s easy to remember God in the difficult times – because He’s all we have. Christian people - Don’t live like this. Don’t be the kind of Christian who forgets about God by doing your own thing and only remembers Him when times are tough. Instead, be the kind of faithful and committed Christian who keeps God at the center of your life all your life. Learn his word and then live it. Show God that you love Him. You do this by obeying his commands. (1 John 5:3) Word… Pasta’ Alex posted by Pasta' Alex # 3:59 PM 0 Comments   Monday, September 22, 2008 Special Event Christian I fear to many of us have become special event Christians. We only show up when something big and exciting is happening; something that we like or is appealing to us. “What? You are doing a night of worship, with no preaching. I love to sing – I’m so there!” “What’s that you say - a prayer meeting? That’s a bit too uncomfortable - just sitting around praying. What if I run out of things to say? No, I can’t make it, I’m busy. Sorry!” “You want me to come in an hour early and help set up? Every week? Help serve coffee? Oh, I can’t. That’s the only ME-time I have each week. You understand, right?” What if God responded to us the way we respond to Him and his business!? Some of us would be jacked! Others would be really jacked! College and Young Adults, it’s time to step up your game! It’s time to demonstrate a level of faithfulness that most are afraid will be lost with the older generations. It’s time for us to learn to be faithful in the little things so that much will be given to us. Are you content with being known as a Special Event Christian? Or do you want to be known as a young person who is faithful in their service to Christ all the time? You choose. Don’t sing it, bring it! Word… P. Alex posted by Pasta' Alex # 4:27 PM 0 Comments Wednesday, September 17, 2008 Walking with God “If you can characterize your walk with God as being easy or convenient, I would say you probably aren’t doing it right.” One of my friends told this to his congregation in a message he preached. This stuck in my mind because it’s so true. Life is hard; God never promised us that it wouldn’t be. Problems come our way, challenges spring up, difficulty is all around us and failure is waiting in the wings. But, come on, does it have to be this hard. I mean, I’m a Christian and God is supposed to have my back. Right? Not so fast. God wants to challenge you so you can grow and mature and so that your faith in Him will increase. He wants you to take the risk and step out in faith. This gives him the opportunity to show his power. He longs to bless you so that you can bless others, this will allow them to see Him through you. However, it was a guarantee that things were going to go your way, or that you were going to be blessed all the time and never have to endure hardships, this wouldn’t give him the chance to take care of you. So, along with the blessings comes the risk of hardships. He orchestrates it all according to his plan. Hold on, Pasta’ Alex, are you telling me got jacks me on purpose sometimes? Not at all! Only good things come from Him. However, he allows bad things to happen to good people sometimes. Bad things come from our enemy, Satan, who wants to jack you so that you give up and quit. He wants to take you out of the fight. The Bible says he comes to steal, kill and destroy. He is ready to battle you. Are you ready to battle him? The Bible compares our walk with the Lord as a fight. Are you ready to fight? When you signed up to be in the Lord’s Army, I hope you realized it was going to be tough. It’s not easy, comfortable or convenient. We have to be ready to stand strong for the Lord at all times. Every part of our being has to be ready for battle – our heart, soul and mind. God doesn’t want a partial commitment to the fight, He wants all or nothing. So, I repeat: If you can characterize your walk with God as being easy or convenient, I would say you probably aren’t doing it right. Can you dig it?!?! Pasta’ Alex posted by Pasta' Alex # 5:13 PM 0 Comments Thursday, September 04, 2008 Thoughts from the Morning of 9.4.08 Neighbors: My neighbor’s wife died. A couple of weeks ago, I saw him in the grocery store and he told me she had cancer. He knows I’m a pastor and he asked for prayer for her. This morning I saw him walking his dog and I inquired about his wife. He said she passed away on June 11. From the time she was diagnosed with cancer, she died 3 months later. While I was on my way to work, I became overcome with tears and I cried. My heart was filled with sadness. • I was sad for him - now he will be alone. He’s an older gentleman who walks his little dog each morning. I could hear the sadness in his voice as he talked about the situation. After I asked how she was doing, he immediately looked down and said she passed. • I was sad because I had done so little to get to know him in the two and a half years he has been my neighbor. I had seen him several times and we even golfed together once, but I had not done more to get to know him. To let the light of Christ shine. I know at one time he had attended my church but I don’t know much else about his spiritual condition. • I was sad that I didn’t know more about his spiritual condition and more specifically, the condition of his wife souls. Is she in heaven or not? I don’t know, but I should have found out before know, before June 11. Did I miss an opportunity? • I was sad because, I don’t even remember his name! All of these thoughts ran through my mind on my short drive to work. It made me realize, I need to get to know my neighbors. Jesus gave us the command to love the Lord with all of heart, mind and strength and then to love our neighbor as ourselves. How could I say I love my neighbors when I don’t even remember their name and neglected to show that I even cared in the midst of one of life’s toughest trials?! Get to know your neighbors. Children: I had Trey, Michael and Mason in the car with me and my two oldest could tell dad was a little upset. They asked a few questions about death and cancer and did the best they could for a 5 year old and 7 year old to process this deep stuff. But, I was so impressed at their childlike faith. When I suggested we pray for our neighbor, Michael said we should pray that God gives him his wife back. Trey actually said he wanted to pray after I prayed and his prayer for our neighbor was that God helps him to not be lonely. They showed more love for their neighbor than I had. Birth: Two weeks ago, we had our fourth little boy – Joshua Payton. He was 8 pounds, 13 ounces and he was 21 inches long. To say that I’m a proud papa would be an understatement. He is so beautiful and I love him so much. Before Ang and I even started to have kids, I always told everyone that I wanted 11 boys - my own football team. After we had Trey, I brought that number down to 5 boys – my own basketball team. Then after our third child, Mason, arrived, I was content to settle at just one more. So, now our life is what it is. We are the parents of 4 beautiful, healthy, wonderful boys. Words can’t express how blessed I am! Why in the world would God bless me with a desire of my heart? What’s his plan for my life, my family and the life of my boys? I have to think there is a reason our family is made up the way it is. I can’t wait for him to reveal his plan in the coming years. God is the giver of life and he has a plan for all of us – we just have to seek him to find out what that plan is. Birthdays: Yesterday was Angie’s Birthday. I felt bad for her because it was really a non-birthday. I was at church from 8am – 10:30pm. When I got home, she went to bed – exhausted from the day of being a mom to 4 kids. She has been worn out from dealing with Joshua – our 2 week old. He’s not eating very well and not sleeping very much at night. We were quickly reminded that for a 30 something year old parent of 4 kids, birthdays are just another day. Friendships: God has blessed Ang and me with so many wonderful friends. I would do them an injustice if I started to list them all because I know I would leave someone out. I am thankful for family friends like Julie Issenmann. She has been a part of our family for about 8 years now and Ang and I and the boys love her to death! She has the heart of an angel and she shows crazy love for my family. She has helped us and supported us in so many ways and we will forever be grateful and thankful for her. Everyone needs a friend like Julie Issenmann in their life. Old Friends: Last night on my way home from a long day of work, I called one of my old friends that I haven’t seen in 10 years or so. His name is Damon Frost, we used to work together. Damon taught me how to become a good salesman. When I was in college I started working at MCI doing telemarketing sales. Damon was one of the top sales people and I was fortunate enough to sit right across from him. After I had been there a few weeks I received my first commission check and I was pretty excited about it. I worked part time, only 20 hours a week, and my paycheck for the 2 weeks was $544. Damon noticed my excitement and asked to see my check and then he gave a chuckle. I asked him what was so funny. He told me when I learned to sell I would make some real money. He then handed me his pay stub that revealed he had made over $1400 for the same 2 week, period. I was a believer and from that point on I listened to every thing he told me to do. Damon went on from there to get married, have kids and move to Kansas City, MO where he and his wife still live. At the time I knew him, he wasn’t a Christian. But a few years ago he revealed to me that he and his family are now born again believers and are actively involved in his church. Last night while talking with him, I could see the fruit of his work. He told me about another young lady that used to work with us years ago at MCI who was recently diagnosed with cancer. He asked me to pray diligently for her and informed me of all the work he and his wife were doing to minister to her and meet her spiritual and physical needs. What a blessing that phone call was to me. I’m glad I placed that phone call to see how my friend was doing. Why don’t you pick up the phone and call an old friend today. Word... Pasta' Alex posted by Pasta' Alex # 1:21 PM 0 Comments |
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