Gone fishing

Are we teaching our children the skills to be "fishers"? I want to share some pointers that may encourage you.

1. Time- sometimes fishing success is simply a matter of putting time on the water. If you don't make time for it you will be 100% unsuccessful.

2. Knowledge- know your equipment and your prey. This is everything and also overlaps with time.

3. Persistance- Don't give up! Be determined. Persistance will be rewarded and counted as success.

4. Confidence- It is the best bait in your tackle box.

Last but not least, remember your children are always watching. Their mental notebooks are clicking away and you are writing their programs. Monkey see, well you know.

So add a tip of your own and help others become better "fishers" for the Kingdom.

Do we really want justice?

Bernie Madoff, AIG, the list keeps growing and I keep crying out "Justice". But when I screw up my tune takes on a softer tone like "mercy". I read versus like Romans 3:23 and say "that's right, we're all sinners" but I seem to want the playing field leveled when it takes me higher not when it brings those really bad sinners up to my level.

Matthew 18:21-35 tells my story. Having been forgiven, sharing the grace of Christ, my name written in the Book of Life, before the ink dries, I call out "get em God!" Yes, that's right. Go get them and show them the same measure of mercy that was extended to me. Change their hardened hearts and reveal to them Jesus has paid the price for all.

So, comparing yourself to perfection, what measure do you use? When sending out the Twelve, Jesus says "freely you have recieved, freely give" Matt 10:8 Do you freely give? Justice will come my friends, desire mercy.

It's going to blow... or is it?

Is this a sign of an inevitable eruption or a natural healthy release of pressure and the only way to ensure avoiding the "big one"? So... What's a healthy release look like? I would have to say timing is critical. It must happen before it builds to the point of destroying the surrounding atmosphere i.e. family and loved ones. I would also avoid back pressure. Avoid venting into the origin of the pressure. This will cause catastrophic results. As in all things safety is first. Let's talk relationships... What is a safe way and place to vent? Do you have one or is an eruption on its way?

Cut to the quick

We've all done it. It is rarely intentional but the results seem to be the same. No, I don't mean cut our nails painfully too close. It's those words that pierce our heart. Yeah they may be true or once were but the way that they penetrate our hearts can make our blood boil.

For example: " I would never let my kid do that" said to a caring parent.
With a grin we bury that feeling of unworthyness like a septic tank. Problem is septic tanks overflow. Then what? We walk through it and unknowingly track it into our homes. Can I tell ya "it stinks."

So the question: How do you deal with that blood boiling anger? Those words that cut you to the quick...

Anger Issues

So I'm waiting to pick my kids up from school and someone pulls up and parks in the handicap spot. They are obviously to me not handicap and it ticks me off! You know the kind... if my smoke bothers you too bad... If you don't like the way I drive stay off the sidewalk... Kids don't need to wear seatbelts...

I am so pathetically self-righteous sometimes I make myself sick. Am I alone?

If it looks like a duck...are you a duck?

I must become a student of my own behavior to find out what I truely believe.

This is from John Ortberg's book, Faith & Doubt. What grade would you give yourself at this? What grade would you give your sphere of the Church at doing this?