I don't watch infomercials, but I've seen them. Sometimes they are like a crash site. You are horrified but yet you can't look away. In each case, they are trying to help you make money in an easy way with a minimum of work. These offers are everywhere. I have been approached several times over the years, often by dear Christian friends, with an offer to "buy into" some thing or another that would "help fund my ministry." I always politely declined because I suspected that what would actually happen would be that selling whatever it was that I would be selling would have to become my ministry. I would need to trade on the relationships that I build and get my friends to become clients. Time would have to shift more and more to that effort to try to make it work. I have yet to meet a real person (as opposed to a shiny paper testimonial) who explained to me that they made a ton of money without much of any effort. When you look at the richest people in the world, almost all of them work hard or did to get where they did. They had to learn, research, study, work, invent, put in hours and hours of attention. I guess there are a few who are rich because someone else did that for them and they didn't have to (ala Paris Hilton) but many of them are not people you want to emulate anyway. My point is that this is the same old lie from the garden of Eden. Try the easy way out. There will be no consequences. You will get something for nothing. You want it don't you? Man was meant to work. Work became a lot less enjoyable after the fall, but we were meant to work. If you want to get ahead, you will have to work hard. And not all who even work hard get ahead. The same is true in the Christian life. If you want spiritual riches, it is going to take work. Look at Peter or Paul. They gave their lives to the effort. They didn't put in a little effort here or there. They didn't dedicate an hour or two a week to the ministry. It was their life and they worked hard. May I not try "get rich quick" programs in my earthly life, or in my spiritual life. I'm sorry Satan, I don't care if operators are standing by.

Wow, it has been awhile since I let so much time pass between posts. Been a busy run up to Christmas and I haven't been in the office enough I guess. For my first note back, I want to ponder our approach to truth. I read an article this morning about teen drug use beginning to rise again as more and more kids believe that certain drugs aren't harmful. The person in the article states that as their beliefs change, so does their behavior. Now I could write about the relationship of belief and behavior, but what troubled me this morning was the approach to truth. These teens are rejecting certain facts to believe something else. They are not necessarily choosing truth, but choosing what they want to believe. Isn't that us? Isn't that our country these days. And here is my provocative thought, isn't that too often the approach of a lot of Christians? Let's consider. Global warming: What do you believe about this? I know a lot of Christians who think the whole thing is made up. At this point it is Al Gore's issue and therefore they have no use for it at all. But is it true? If you say no, why do you? Do you have proof? Did you investigate? Or did you hear that it isn't from someone who you like or agree with so you decided to believe it? Sounds just like what those kids are doing. Now let me be clear. I am not saying it is true. I honestly don't know. I read many articles from different points of view and try to get a feel for what the data shows. There is bias and political posturing on both "sides" of the issue. I haven't just chosen a side an embraced it because I am interested in the Truth. Do we tend to uncritically believe those we already agree with and automatically discount what those we disagree with have to say? Does that open us up to missing truth and accepting untruth? If the Apostle Paul was preaching this Sunday and made some categorical statements, I think most of us would accept them without question. This is, after all, Paul. But the Bereans weren't like that. They "received the word with great eagerness, and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11) In our churches, in our politics, in our whole lives, we should demonstrate an attitude of truth seeker. Although I trend pretty conservative politically, I have found that sometimes liberals tell the truth and sometimes conservatives can lie. If the Bereans aren't going to give Paul a free pass on blind acceptance, I guess nobody should get one. Check the Bible. Check the data. Let's show the younger generations that we are first and foremost committed and in love with the TRUTH!

Well, after having a great streak through the first part of November, being sick and then Thanksgiving knocked me off the blog for the end of the month. Here we are on December first and its time to get back into the cyber saddle. Today's post is a catch-all of personal items. Bought a new digital CD today of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas music. I enjoy their sound. May sample a little on upcoming radio shows. Sarah and I are taking an impromptu date night tonight. We were supposed to have a co-op meeting tonight but that was cancelled. Our baby sitter was disappointed that she wasn't going to get time with the kids tonight, so Sarah and I agreed to go out to dinner and get some Christmas shopping done so that she could still come over. Fun night with Sarah. It has been a good week where we had an "in house" date night on Friday and again last night. It will be a busy week and a busy month, so any and all time I can get with her is awesome. As I mentioned in last weeks sermon on Family, without a good husband wife relationship, you really can't do true ministry. There are many men who try it and give the impression of effectiveness, but the Bible is clear that your ministry must start at home with the care of your family. I am so thankful that I am married to my best friend and partner. I don't know how I could do life or ministry without her. I have been working today on the services of December as well as a redesign of our radio show. Pray for wisdom as I work to update the show and make it more effective and appealing to those outside the church who might listen. We really want to make this a service and outreach to those who do not come to church. It is exciting to see the work on the addition continue. CMP was out today to help connect the new electrical service. This building will provide us with some great new ministry opportunities. I am very excited. Cody has asked me to do a series of speaking in youth group. I am excited about this. It has been quite awhile since I have spoken to the teens at our own church. I am doing a Survivor inspired theme. Tomorrow I go to GPCS and get a warm up of speaking to teens. Going to be a great day. I continue to be so thankful for the relationship that I have with Nate. He is such a fine young man and so teachable. I thought he did a great job on Sunday's message. The fact that we can share our passions, be accountable to one another, work together-not just side by side, is such a blessing. Being in the senior/mentor role has been good for me as I learn more responsibility. The health of the relationship as well as his success is really on my shoulders and something that I must take great care with. Almost like being a husband, you are responsible, primarily, to make sure the relationship works well. Where much is given, much is required. Well, I guess that catches up my thoughts for today. I need to get ready to take my wife out to supper. I may try to return to the office tonight to accomplish some more things although I am not sure whether that will work out or not.

Great Article. Looks like Al did a great job and can take a break. Another great example right up there with the constantly rewritten theory of evolution why it takes a lot of faith, often very blind faith, to accept each latest pronouncement of scientific "proof". Please note that this article says that there is no evidence of global warming for 10 YEARS. Yet in the last 10 years has been the biggest push about it and the most terrible warnings. Now let's not use this as an excuse to be poor stewards of the planet. I think it is true that we have affected our climate by being poor stewards. But let's also remember that there is often an agenda in the reporting of science and assumptions can be wrong.

Been feeling rather miserable today. Slept in to try to fight off whatever is hanging around me. Still got in a good and productive day, just at slower speed. Got a lot of little things taken care of that were piling up and got a good visit in that I had been overdue on making. As a result, I don't have much deep or profound to share today. I am writing because my goal is to write every day. This is part of my working on more discipline in my life. There is always room for me to be more disciplined and I think that is probably true for all of us. We may excel in some areas but have a real issue somewhere else. When I was younger, I wasted a lot of time. These days that isn't a struggle as there is little time to waste. Now the trick is to prioritize and make sure that in the busy-ness that things don't fall through the cracks, at least too much. Top on that list is making sure that I am leaving enough time in my schedule and energy to pour time into my wife and kids. If I let that slip, everything else is meaningless.