America Wins!

So tonight two country music singers face off against each other in a major competition. Someone wins and someone loses and the season will be over...end of story!

Well, maybe it is the end of that part of the story but there is more to the story and it may well turn out that tonight's competition may just be the beginning of a new story.

I know not everyone watches American Idol and I also know some people struggle with the title itself and I understand that. We shouldn't have idols even though we all ... oops, that's a different subject for some other blog.

However, this show is about undiscovered young talent having an opportunity to compete and to show their abilities to the world. Some very successful entertainers today are a result of this show.

Now to the more of the story part of this article. This is the first time that the final two contestants have been specifically country music artists. They are both from the south, one from North Carolina and the other from Georgia. They are the youngest two contestants to be in the final. They have outlasted older and more experienced performers to be where they are tonight.
Also, they are both being referred to as Christians and very conservative in their lifestyles.
They were favored at the audition stage and have endured to the last show together as young, family oriented, Jesus loving teenagers who are setting an amazing example.

Now that in itself is worth talking about, but lets look at the rest of the dynamic of this story.

Week after week after week, American Idol has brought on some of the edgiest , sexually explicit and might I say raunchiest performers to try and sway the voting audiences to elevate that garbage as what America wants to hear. Scantly dressed, girating and grinding and just plain vulgar is how I felt many of those acts came across. I was watching the show to celebrate the young talent and the producers are making sure to soil the whole thing with stuff I find offensive.

And, at least for this year, it hasn't worked! America has screamed out loud "Give us Scotty and Lauren". They have done so by casting record high votes to insure these two young, clean and highly talented perfomers have a chance to show their gifts and bring glory to God in doing so. In fact that is what Scotty is quoted as saying "I just pray that God will use me on stage. I do everything for His glory, because He is the reason I am here."

Well said Scotty and well done to you both! No matter the outcome tomorrow night... America wins!

Passion

What word can be applied to all of the following scenarios?

Commitment to one's occupation
To the point of pushing all else aside.

A desire for sexual sensation
Until fully complied.


An hatred for an opposing posture
to the point of violence and disrespect.

A love for all of nature,
to enjoy, record and protect.


A delight in certain food,
which makes waiting almost painful.

A determination to be rude,
arrogant, haughty and disdainful.


A burning to right a wrong,
and to be there at all cost.

A desire to live out a song,
and in love allow self to be lost.


Power to control all things,
and have others to you to bow.

Humility and all that it brings,
and respect for others to vow.


Curse the conviction of others,
and desire a great physical loss.

To die to make men brothers,
as Christ did on the Cross!


There is one word that can be used,
to answer the original question.

That word can not be confused,
all of the above fall under "Passion".


We are all passionate about something and it is not always a positive and lovely thing. Check your heart and your passions and the effort you make in living your passion out. Jesus was passionate enough to die for us. May we be passionate enough to live for him.

Challenging Times

So, it's been an interesting week.
Our president decides that laws on the books that were established by senate & house votes and signed into law by a Democratic President only apply if he says so. So he instructs his Attorney General to ignore a law on Family Values. King Barack Hussain Obama... unbelievable.

Out of nowhere, at least I didn't see it coming, is this obsene increase in gas prices. Check out the gas companies profits for the last couple of years and see how you feel about those increases.

Are we the people just crazy or what?

There is an amazing amount of unrest happening around the world today. Eygpt & Lybia have been the most news worthy adding to all the current hotspots in the world.

Some dude moves to the U.S. and plans to kill a bunch of folks in Texas, including a former president.

Have you noticed the weather lately. Some of the most active weather patterns and events this winter then we have had in years. Included in that is the fact that one day you can wear flops and shorts and the next you are doning a scarf and leather coat.

States across our country are taking hard stands on difficult issues and are faced with problems we never dreamed of. Many are simply facing what would put a family economy in bankruptcy.

Road rage is unbelievable and very very frightening.

TV commercials today would have been listed as "soft porn" just a few years ago.

On and on I could go but you may start to feel that I am practicing for a position in the National Pessimist Organization of America, but really all I'm trying to say is... "Redeem the time for the days are evil..."
Be ready ... be watching ... be praying ... be sharing ... and be close to God through His Son... for the time surely draweth nigh!

Blessings

The Precious State of Life

How tortured must a soul be to come to the place where they are convinced they have but one option?

With our normal eyes in place, life is a beautiful thing. Surely there are distractions, obstacles, road blocks and even a roadside disruption from time to time. Those things tend to shape us, sharpen us and shake us into being what we are designed to be.

With normal eyes we see flowers and birds and the smiles of children. With normal eyes we see the cracks in the walkway and the bumps in the road and the ice-cream stand on the corner. With normal eyes we see the outsretched hands of a friend, the gentle wave of a neighbor and the rushing wave of the sea shore. With normal eyes we see the evil of the world and are warned, we see the comfort of the Word and are warmed. With normal eyes we see the rock in front of the mower, the glass too close to the edge and the remote control.
It is never all too easy and without it's challenges, but yes sir, life is beautiful as seen by normal eyes.

But then there is that turn from focus. Whatever the cause and whatever the staying power of the longivity of being out of focus, the ability to see life's beauty begins to fade. Something inside changes.

Each of us could draw up long lists of reasons that people under various circumstances would chose to end their own story. No matter our list and no matter their reasons, the unfortunate truth is their story does not in fact end. In many ways it may just begin and now they would have no input to the remainder.

For those who remain, their is no end or perhaps an end that doesn't end and that just doesn't seem fair. But what good would assigning new guilt be to one who can no longer recieve it and surely did not need it had they chosen to stay.

My heart aches for those who remain. My prayer is for gentle showers of forgiveness, peace and even joy to rain down on the dry, broken spirits of the hurting.

May our thanks be to God for His attitude that says "Come unto me all you who labor and are heavily burdened and I will give you rest."

Am I Getting Old Or What?

Yesterday I preached a sermon entitled "This Old House" from II Corinthians 5:2 and talked about our earthly bodies. For emphasis for my second point concerning the fact that our bodies are deteriorating I wrote a poem and decided to share it with you here.

It's called

"Am I Getting Old Or What?"

My eyes are dimming, I cannot see & my hair is turning gray,

My ears are plugged, I can bearly hear & my teeth are going away.

My feet are sore & with arthritis my hands are bent,

My blood's growing thin, I'm getting cold again & now my energy is spent.

My bones are crackling, I wake up hacking and I think I lost some lung,

I'm not going out, I'm nursing my gout & now I watch birds for fun.

I used to play & run all day & I never seemed to tire,

But now I'm pooped & I missed a loop & I need to sit by the fire.

So, the light's still on & I still have a song but the pace has slowed a great deal,

So pass me my teeth & roll down my sleeves & get me some water for my pill.

Turn up the sound, help me sit down & get me some lotion for my skin,

Wait a minute, help me back up & point the way, Cause I think I have to go again!

My Brother, My Hero

I have enjoyed for over sixteen years being able to say that my brother was the Chief of Police in Wake Forest, North Carolina. So, let me say it now...my brother is the Chief of Police in Wake Forest, North Carolina. I can keep saying that for about thirteen more hours as of this writing as he has retired effective at mid-night tonight, December 31st, 2009.

Tuesday night I attended his retirement dinner given by the town of Wake Forest. The venue was nice, the food was good (heavy hors d'oeuvres) and the crowd was impressive. A very, very cold night in the middle of a busy Holiday season could have meant a scarce crowd but the place (actually a large heated ... almost ... tent attached to a beautiful old home which is rented for social events) was packed.

One after one, officers, town management, state officials, town employees, organizational leaders and two family members (my oldest sister and I) shared stories and appreciation and many many plagues and gifts and items of recognition.

When Greg went to Wake Forest, they were a town of just over 6,000 people and 14 employees in the police department. Today the town is over 27,000 people and the police department has 64 employees which includes 54 officers. They have their own training department and the police department has been called one of the best in the state with highly trained personnel and state of the art equipment. The crime rate in Wake Forest is amoung the lowest in the state in spite of the rapid growth and close proximity to Raleigh.

Greg is a graduate of the F.B.I. Academy and has sent several of his officers through the academy as well. He was the first to receive the first police science degree offered at Elizabeth City State University where he was an Honor graduate.

He has served as preisdent of N.C. Police Chief's Association and the state board of Special Olympics and the State D.A.R.E. program.

Greg served on the Roanoke Rapids Police department for several years was Chief of Police in Weldon, NC prior to going to Wake Forest.

I said Tuesday night and I repeat here, Chief Greg Harrington is my hero! I am very proud of him. We came from very humble beginnings and Greg has truly been an example of success and all along doing it with strong Christian values.

I was greatly moved Tuesday night by the constant mention by his peers of his strong Christian convictions and lifestyle. That's not something you hear a lot about at that level and that blesses me deeply.

I love my family and am very proud of my brother and very grateful for all the influence he has had on me and my family.

Congratulations "Chief"!!

Remember

I wrote this poem for the Step of Faith 13th annual Christmas Concert today.

Remember

Remember when life was simplier and coke was something you drank.

Remember when it wasn't abuse to give your child a little spank.

Remember three channels, four if your attena was just right.

Remember leaving your doors unlocked when you went to bed at night.

Remember your first telephone and you probably had a party line.

Remember wearing a cross to work, and everything was just fine.

Remember playing after lunch, just be home when the street lights came on.

Remember turning on the radio and actually understanding the song.

Remember having to get out of the chair just to turn the channel.

Remember when modern technology was teaching the bible with a board and some flannel.

Remember when the whole family ate together at the table.

Remember when being a Christian was not a negative label.

Remember when respect was shown when the National Anthem was played.

Remember when marriage meant, no matter what, we both commit to stay.

Remember waking on Christmas morning full of excitement and glee,

And being overwhelmed with just one or two presents under the tree.

Remember when someone told you that we are in need of saving grace.

Well, please always remember the love found in Jesus' face.

For many things have changed and few have stayed the same,

but Christmas is about eternal life ... found only in Jesus Name!