Godly Insights for the 21st Century Life

Monday, May 20 A day that started just fine Then shortly before three o'clock Sirens began to whine Before they knew it A tornado touched down And with high-powered winds Started plowing through town For forty long minutes It twisted and tore 'Til most buildings in town Were rendered no more When the dust had settled And the sky had cleared People emerged from their shelter And all were saddened to hear Of 24 lives Tragically snuffed out 377 more were injured As the twister carved its route Despite all the damage The whirlwind did commit God's still in control And can bring good out of it God, please be with Those left behind Give them strength to go on Dry the tears that they cry Help us to know That You still reign Even when we're faced With sorrow and pain Help us to remember That all of Your plans Are for our benefit Our future is in Your hands Wrap your arms around us And we will know then You'll love us forever I...

There are a lot of things infomercials are known for. They're long, they convince people to buy things they don't really need and they hide the true price by saying that the item can be received for "just five easy payments of $19.99!" But perhaps the main thing that they're known for is by saying over and over again, "But wait, there's more!" Time and time again they offer related items for no additional price (except, of course, shipping and handling). God is the same way. He is never content with just giving us one thing, but continues to add more and more blessings to our lives. However, unlike the informercials, his gifts don't cost a single thing. We are his children, and he loves to bless us far beyond our wildest dreams. But God doesn't stop there. He also loves to say "But wait, there's more" when times are tough. When we think our story is finished and everything is lost, He reminds us that He is not finished with us...

In honor of the start of Lent on Wednesday, I've decided to post my first story behind the song on a song that I wrote a year ago. On the night I wrote it, I had driven from Manhattan to Kansas City to see Winter Jam at the Sprint Center. Even though I would have given just about anything to have been on my way to Oklahoma instead for the all-Wesley retreat, I had a commitment on Sunday and was unable to. Little did I know that God had different plans for me that weekend. Writing this song was one of them. I left my apartment about 11:00 to begin the trip. I stopped about noon to eat lunch, and ended up getting a cell phone charger because my phone had died en route, and I didn't want to be worried about getting stranded without a way of communicating, especially considering I likely would not get back until well after midnight. I parked across the street from the Sprint Center and stood in line for about 5 hours before they opened the doors. During the concert,  I was swept...

"For we do not have a high priest  who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are --yet was without sin." - Hebrews 4:15 NIV, emphasis mine Have you ever  really  stopped to think about the words in this verse? Many will be familiar with it, but we don't always stop to think about what it means. Jesus was tempted in every way imaginable: the good, the bad and the downright ugly. Sure, we know that the devil tempted him with food, wealth and a chance to prove his power when he was in the wilderness. We even realize that he had some reservations about going to the cross. However, what about those temptations that the Bible doesn't even mention? It's easy to read this verse and think of a few simple temptations that Jesus would have faced. Some examples are disobeying his parents, cheating on his taxes, even occasionally smacking his disciples over the head when they started fighting amongst them...

Heavenly Father, As we enter 2013, we thank you for the blessings we received in 2012. Some started a new chapter of their lives through the beginning of a new job or relationship, the birth of a child or a marriage. Some did not personally receive these things, but were blessed enough to celebrate with friends who did.  Some were given the blessing of new experiences, such as travel and learning new skills. One thing we are all thankful for is that the world did not end last month, so we are still around to glorify You and continue the work You have put us here to do. This year also brought sadness for many. Two shooting rampages shocked America and left grieving families and friends. We lift up those who lost loved ones and ask that You continue to be with them  and comfort them in this season of loss. Help them also to find it in their hearts to forgive the young perpetrators and to trust that although the reason why will never be clear this side of heaven, You still lo...

"Now I'm not one to second guess what angels have to say, but this is such a strange way to save the world"~"Strange Way to Save the World"-4Him I was listening to this song the other day, and started really thinking about it. To those of us who grew up in the church, we've grown up knowing that Jesus was immaculately conceived by a young single woman and was born in a stable in Bethlehem because His parents couldn't find room in the inn. The idea of this happening doesn't seem strange unless we really start to think about it. The King of the Jews, the Savior of the world, was born to a young woman and her carpenter husband. Shouldn't a king come from a royal family and be born in a palace? That's the way all of the kings nowadays enter the world. The truth is, he is descended from royalty. Well, sort of. His earthly father, Joseph, was a direct descendant of King David himself. While Joseph is not Jesus's biological father, he was Hi...

According to one interpretation of the Mayan calendar, the world will end tomorrow. Or will it? I personally believe it won't for three reasons. The first is that I believe in Jesus and take him at his word. He said that we would not know the day or the hour, and I believe him. He said that he didn't know and that the angels didn't know, so any claim to know is ludicrous. Therefore, people say tomorrow is the day, so it must not be. A second reason is that there are many interpretations of the fact that tomorrow is the last day of the Mayan calendar. Some feel that the end of the calendar does not mean the end of the world, but rather the end of an era. Another is that the Mayas may not have ever thought we would still be around now. The Mayas disappeared around 950 AD, and they may have thought that the world might end long before the calendar did. Other more humorous ones include the person making the calendar stopping for a beer, wanting to play a practical joke on fut...