"Some people who have used this drug have experienced..." Some of the drug commercials you see on tv can be very chilling if you really listen to possible side effects. There are side effects, it seems, to almost everything. One of the things I find interesting about the world is the way in which it won't follow directions and then complain about the results. The world has pretty much ignored most of what God has told us. They are ignoring more all the time. There are a few that they are still holding loosely onto. Let's consider the 10 commandments as a sample of God's instructions.

• 1st-No other God's before me. Nope, world ignores that.
• 2nd-No graven images/idols/other objects of worship. Have you watched...anything?
• 3rd-Don't take Lord's Name in vain. Ha Ha!
• 4th-Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy. God doesn't get days anymore.
• 5th-Honor Father & Mother. I believe the world would rather blame them. And now you don't even need both, you can have two of one. It doesn't matter.
• 6th-Don't murder. Yes they hold to that unless you want to do it to yourself, then in some places its legal, and according to the government, small babies in the womb don't count.
• 7th-Don't commit adultery. Not only doesn't the world follow this, they celebrate it on TV
• 8th-Do not steal. Ok, this one is wrong most of the time. Sometimes it is called business and high finance, but even then many in the world frown on it and it is usually illegal.
• 9th-Do not lie. Also wrong most of the time. Small ones may have a good reason, but big ones are a no-no still.
• 10th-Do not covet. The entire advertising business would collapse if the world followed this one.

Now by my count, that puts the world score down somewhere around 30% or below. Far below failing on a test. And if you followed your medicines instructions only 30%, I don't think you would be happy with the results. And guess what, our world is a mess with problems. But then this is the interesting part. People look at the unhappiness, the crime, the problems of our world and say, "How can God allow that? I don't believe in God." Interesting, you totally ignore the instructions and then use the results to say that He doesn't work. A lot of people ignore the call of God in their own day to day life, then are upset with the life that they end up with and blame God. One day we will all stand before Him and I think God will say to many, "You should have used as directed."

The last two weeks in morning service on Sunday, I have talked about the idea of what I called "good buts". This is when you say, "I know I should, but..." I've been thinking about this and Sarah and I were talking about it last night and I have a different way I want to approach it here. When it comes to our walk with God, there are good buts and bad buts. A bad but is like what I have been describing on Sunday. "I know I should read my Bible, but...", "I know I shouldn't do this, but..." We know what the right thing to do is but we talk ourselves out of it. We explain why that is not an option for us. "I'm too busy, tired, I want it too much, I'm too weak willed, its not that bad..." etc. etc. Now a good but looks different. "I want to do this, but..." "I don't want to do this, but.." Jesus actually had a good but. He says, "My Father, let this cup pass from me, BUT not my will, but yours be done." So the difference between a good but and a bad but is which will is being put aside when you say but. If you know God's will, but you set it aside with a but, than that is not a good sign for you. If you are admitting your own weak will, and set it aside with a but, than you are dying to self and living for God. Best to have a good but.

So I am almost all better. This illness has certainly kept a grip on me. The coughing is getting a little better although when it comes, it makes up for it. Had a great lunch meeting today with our CB cluster over at Hope Baptist Church. Randy & Kathy Keely were there and it was great to get a good connect with the larger CB world. My high point was seeing Brian Church, pastor at South Lewiston, after all these years. It was great to connect with him. Hopefully he and I can get together some time and also connect with the pastor at Turner Village. Rode over with Scott Wilson, pastor up at Rangeley. We had a great talk and he gave me a neat idea to add to our Sunday morning. A kids quiz that they can fill out based on the message and turn in to try to win a prize. I already came home and worked on one for this Sunday. May take us a little to perfect it, but I think this has the potential to add to the morning for the kids who stay upstairs. Youth group tonight and the Paintball tomorrow night. I am sore and tired just thinking about it! Actually, I am looking forward to the fun and the time that we will get to spend with the teen guys. Should be a fun night and morning. I am excited for this weeks message. I feel like it is going to be very challenging to us all as God speaks through Hebrews 4. Nate and I met a couple of days ago and got the next series set up that will take us through the end of the year. I am excited to get these things taken care of. Well, time to run to youth group.

Well, the last two days have been a bit of a bust with me in bed most of the time either sleeping or coughing. Finally, tonight things seem to be a little better. Tomorrow will have to be a work day with morning service to finish up and evening service to work on as well. I am very thankful that I have had morning service almost finished for awhile now so it won't be too much to finish up. Wednesday was a busy day and probably was the reason that I died Thursday and Friday, but it was great to spend the day with the kids and staff at GPCS. InterVarsity at UMF seemed to go well that evening, although at that point I felt bad enough that I don't remember the entire night. Although I wasn't there, reports are that Cody did a great job Thursday at youth group. A good turn out with more new kids. Exciting new year in the works. Well, this was just a personal entry. Tonight I felt good enough to be able to spend some quality time with my kids. They are so much fun and they so enjoy any and all attention that I can give them. #3 and I had a special time after supper which was good. They are great kids and I am so thankful for them. Sarah and I spent the evening cuddling on the couch (between hacking coughs) and watching NCIS. A great episode tonight (actually, aired on Tuesday. Love the DVR).

People are always commenting on how our kids talk, that they use big words and phrases. I remember my parents telling me they used to get the same response about my sister and I. The answer they gave is the same that Sarah and I give now, we talk to our kids normally. THIS ARTICLE is great on the need of children to be talked to, sung to, and read to. It mentions the danger in this digital age where parents are talking to their kids less because they are using electronic communication more. If you are a parent of young children, finish reading the blog, turn off the computer, the IM, the Facebook, the cell phone, the TV/DVR and talk to your kids. ARTICLE