A view about manhood

Most non-Christians consider it to be a crutch. Most Christians on the other hand take offense to the question. If you think about it, it is a crutch. A crutch as defined by Websters (a support typically fitting under the armpit for use by the disabled in walking), would make this question false. I put forth here that Christianity is indeed a crutch, which I would describe as simply a support, and that the question that should be asked is - "Do you need a crutch?"  The answer to this question should be in all cases should be yes. We all need something for a support. It could be a saving faith in Jesus Christ or it could be alcohol or a similar substance. Jesus Christ is the only "crutch" that has no permanent destructive side effects.There are "side effects" but these (pain and suffering for example) will end.

            I have a great job. I manage a lumberyard for a living. Our main customer base builds single family homes. One of the best things about my job is seeing people complete their projects and someone out there having a beautiful home to live in. This constructive process is very fulfilling. We also supply materials to hospitals, churches, and schools. We supply material to many constructive businesses. This also brings joy.             Another part of my job grieves me very deeply. It involves people that use these God given resources at the expense of others. It may be someone working around the law to get something for personal gain at others expense. It could be someone building a business that will hurt other businesses.   These businesses can also be a cancer on the community. These people blindly use these materials for their own gain, not thinking about wh...

Interdependence is a long word, and a word I wouldn't normally use in a conversation. We are all interdependent. We all need someone to turn to for help. I usually try to do things myself. My pride gets in the way of realizing this point. God made us different on purpose. We all have things we can do and other things we can't do. Sometimes I can be blind to this fact. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to pick him up. (Woe is another word I'd never use.)No matter how much I prepare, there are times when I need to turn to someone for help. Cooperation has its advantages. God designed life for companionship. Life isn't made for isolation or loneliness. As we go through life, we need someone (better yet more than one) to come alongside and help and encourage us.

 Phillipians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. I can't imagine never worrying about anything. I get so caught up in this world and all the troubles of today (and tomorrow) that I lose focus on God. I know, I know about tomorrow but that's a different verse. When I lose sight of God my anxiety goes up. He does not lose sight of me.I tend to worry about things that I have no control over and things that may never come to pass. I need to focus on Him and what He can do. In this verse Paul is telling us to turn EVERYTHING over to God in prayer. We aren't to give Him the things that we think are too big for us to handle. But let God handle it all and then give Him the thanks that He and He alone deserves. Satan will use anything that he can to come between us and our Savior. The question is "Who rules over your life?" Do we allow anxiety to rule or God almighty? More ofte...

My first view of Lake Superior was that of wonder. I wondered how such a large body of water could exist about 600 feet above sea level.  The view was driving into Duluth,Minnesota from the south on I-35. It wasn't until the drive back from Grand Marais that I realized just how big this lake is. I could see the opposite shore from Duluth. The trip back, of about 90 minutes, I never saw the opposite shore. Add to that the fact the Grand Marais is a great distance from the north end of the lake. I have seen oceans and they had never struck me this way. It reminded me of God. My first thought of God years ago, I thought of God with boundaries. Such as my view from Duluth. The more I learn about God, the better I understand His limitless characteristics. His mercy and grace are limitless. He is without boundaries. We mere humans try to understand Him and put boundaries on Him. The more I learn about God, the more I understand just how limitless he is. (The more I know, I learn there ...

I had an unexpected encounter with a man yesterday. I was at work trying to catch up on some things from the previous week. We are closed on Saturdays so the door was locked and I was focused on the tasks to be completed. A man knocked on the door after walking around the office. I opened the door for him. He was an older gentleman, so he didn't appear to be a threat to me. I asked him if I could help him. He said he was lost. I told him approximately where he was (Lawrence,Kansas) and then asked where he was headed. He said he was headed home to Evansville,Indiana. I then asked where he was coming from. He said Ft. Collins, Colorado. I felt a little more at ease at this point, because it made sense because Lawrence is somewhere in between those two cities. As he explained more I become confused again. He said he got turned around in St. Louis and had been driving most of the day. It was about 4pm and Lawrence is the wrong direction to be going to get to Evansville. We tried to cal...

I attended a track meet yesterday. My twelve year old daughter was competing against other girls. Her best event is the hurdles which is one of the first events of the meet. During practice Tuesday, she took a tumble on the hurdles. She landed on the asphalt and the wounds were visible. My concern at the meet was to how she would react at the first hurdle. They hadn't practiced since Tuesday so this would be her first time over a hurdle since her tumble. I didn't get a chance to talk to her before hand, but she had stated at home that the injuries didn't bother her. She always looks out of place at the starting line as the other girls are at least 6-8 inches taller than she is. When the gun went off, she started off well with the other runners. She came to the first hurdle and stopped. She didn't have her steps right. She crawled over the first hurdle and continued the rest of the race with no problems. She wasn't able to catch the others in this short race but I wa...