Say "Yes"

    You ever think you've heard from God and He's asked you to do something that seems impossible or even stupid? Your answer may have been, "Heck no, I can't do that," or, "You must not know what you're asking."

    Look at the story of Ananais in Acts 9. Ananais was disciple and must have had a intimate relationship with God. God called him and he answered, "Here I am." They have this give and take conversation and Ananais is instructed to go find Saul (hasn't become Paul yet). Can you imagine what was going through Ananais' mind has he agreed? After all, Saul not too many verses earlier was "breathing threats and murder against the disciples..." I know I would have second thoughts going through my mind.

    At church yesterday I walked away with the message "Just say yes." Through the worship music and preaching the message was allow God to change you and when he calls answer him with, "Yes." It's basically, be what God wants you to be and if that involves change - change. Take that message with a recent devotional involving "change." In that devotional a statement rang out: "Change what you can and let God change what you can't." It's apparent God wants to grow me in some way and we all know I can use some growing. I'm going to do my part and allow Him to have His will with me. Hopefully when He calls I'll be able to answer, "Here I am God" and what ever He asks me to do I'll be able to do.

    Just thought I'd share my morning thoughts with you. Until we chat again may God bless you and your family. Take care, Vernon

Get Up and Get Going

     I am blessed to have a good job as a merchant marine working in New York harbor and to work for a great company that takes an care of it's employees. So what do I do you may ask? Basically, I'm a floating "gas station" attendant for commercial ships when they come to New York. I don't pump gasoline but a blended "bunker fuel" and there's no nozzle, but rather a 6" diameter hose that's hoisted up to the ship and bolted to a flanged fitting. I deal in metric tons instead of gallons and usually pump at a rate that would fill up the standard SUV in about 2 seconds. It's a cool job, but it has it's drawbacks and that's what I'd like to share with you in this note.

     One of my struggles with my job is loneliness and depression. I'm not talking about "can't get out of bed" or "wish I was dead" depression, rather a "funk" that comes over you and makes it hard to get going. I'm sure a lot of these feelings have to do with being away from my family 28 days at a crack and I know the men and women who sacrifice and serve our country know what I'm talking about. It's not that bad when you are busy though. When there are multiple loads and discharges and you get into a routine the time seems to fly by and the next thing you know your time is up. But what happens when we're slow and there's no routine? What happens when it's your turn to go hang on the mooring buoy for day after day? Well for me the funk cloud starts to settle and I pound the cookies and keep the Direct TV tuned for re-run movies, ESPN, and Fox News.

      I share that with you so I can share this. Yesterday I started reading a book titled Heaven is for Real, by Todd Burpo and its a story about his 4 year old son, Colton, who has an out of body experience during an emergancy surgurey. I don't know if you're a person of faith or believe in God or Heaven and maybe that's a conversation for another day. But I am a believer and I though I don't know where I stand on out of body experiences its a pretty cool story. A lot of what Todd goes through in his trial is similar to what Deb and I went through 20 years ago with our Colton. Again, another story for another day. Anyway, I haven't been spending too much time reading my Bible lately. I know, bad Christian, no wonder you feel mopey. I get it. This morning instead of the usual Mike and Mike or Fox and Friends I chose to watch Joyce Meyers. She's a Bible teacher on TBN and her messages are pretty straight forward and today's message was no different. She said, "If you don't like the circumstances you're in than change them. Change what you can and let God change what you can't." That struck a cord with me.

      You see I can't change the fact that there's not enough work to go around. I can't change the fact that my barge is stuck on the mooring buoy. But what I can change and did change is my attitude. Instead of moping around trying to eat everthing in the cabinet, I studied a couple of verses and had a quiet time with the Lord. I was led to the story of Saul on the road to Damascus. It's in the book of Acts, chapter six, and tells how the incarnate Jesus meets Saul on the right and strikes him down, blinding him. After the two share some conversation and Saul becomes a believer (changed his name to Paul), Jesus says "Get up and go..." Jesus was giving Paul instructions and it's like those four words jumped off the page and slapped me right in the face. Get up and go, get up and go, get up off you sorry tail and go do something. You know what I did? I got up and did something. Nothing to exciting. I Changed the oil in one of our generators. I washed the outside of our deck office, prepped and painted the deck office. Not bad. Then I came in, cleaned up, and desided to share this note with you.

     I don't know how you're feeling today. I do know there's a God who loves you and he has a plan for you. You might not know what that plan is. But you know what? You'll never find out unless you "Get up and Go."

Day Nine - John Chapter Nine

    One of the questions I'm supposed to answer as part of the 21 Day Challenge is what does the chapter tell about Jesus. Through out this gospel you read about Jesus having compassion for this person or that situation and He takes action. His actions are met with ridicule and disdain from the religious leaders and the Jewish establishment. The miracle performed in chapter nine of John's gospel follows the pattern set so far. Jesus continues to be compassionate towards the hurting and heals without being asked and this time it's to prove a point.

    When you read the story of the blind man in chapter nine you come away feeling both amazement and sorrow. Jesus is walking along and comes across a blind man. The man has been blind all his life and was not looking (pardon the pun) for a miracle. Yet to prove a point, Jesus spits on the ground, makes some clay and puts it on the man's eyes. He instructs the man to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. I'm not sure on the significance of the pool but the man does what he's told to do and he comes back "seeing." The amazing thing isn't just the miracle, but the faith the man showed, as well as the reaction the Pharisees demonstrated. The amazement turns to sorrow when you see the circus the religious leaders put this guy and his family through after he's healed. I tried to find a word that described the comical disbelief but my vocabulary is not that extensive. When you read the encounter you'll see what I mean.

    So what am I to believe and what am I to take away, or do with this story? I think it's a question of faith. Am I counting on God's provision in my life or am I just sitting like the blind man not looking for a miracle (or God.) I can look at times in my life when it's been all Pilot Vernon and no God and it's usually during those times life is real hectic and not a whole lot of fun. I'm not in one of those seasons now but this story is a nice reminder that Jesus in there for me even if I'm not looking for him.

      "Wow" probably isn't the word I would use to describe the reaction the Pharisees showed toward the miracle. I would use the word "Really". I mean you're "really" going to question the man's blindness. You're "really" going to call the man's parents into account? You're "really" going to call out Jesus for performing another miracle on the Sabbath? Then you're "really" going to throw the man out of the synagogue for believing Jesus healed him and gave him sight? I guess "wow" and "really" kind of go hand in hand on this one. I hope you enjoyed my take on John Chapter Nine. Until next time God bless.

Day Eight - John Chapter Eight

   One thing I wanted to accomplish when I started the 21 Day Challenge is to actually do it in 21 days. I haven't been the least bit successful. It's one thing to read and digest what you read, but it's something entirely different to find the time to put your thoughts into words. That's my struggle and it's kind of funny how the eighth chapter of John's gospel points this out to me. Verse one reads, "But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives." It's a simple statement linking chapters seven and eight but it's a little more than that. At the end of chapter seven Jesus is debating the religious establishment and crowds are dividing and taking sides. There's a lot of people and in verse 53, "everyone went to his home." Not Jesus; He goes to the Mount of Olives all by himself so he can be by Himself. Jesus does this a lot in the Gospels. It's during these alone times He could pray, meditate, communicate with His Father. I think these times are what gave him the power to challenge the leaders of the day.

   Looking at Jesus' example, I need to find time to be alone with God. It can be challenging at times working on an oil barge with schedules and such. But, I have not done all I can to carve out my "Mount of Olives" time God wants to have with me. Verses 31 and 32 points this out, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." The word "abide" means to live in, dwell, hold on to. How can I "abide" if I can't find the time? I Can't.

   Getting back to the challenge. Chapter eight is more debate and teaching on Jesus being the Son of God and the Messiah. The leaders try to trip him up with a woman caught in adultery but can't. They try to trip Him up and ancestories and history lessons but can't. So they resort to name calling and say he's demon possessed. Sticks and stones right?

   The wow factor in this chapter to me is the simple "coolness" of Jesus. For example, they bring out a woman caught in the act of adultery. Something that's still frounded upon in the middle east to the point of stoning to death. Jesus simply kneels down and starts to write in the sand and then he blows them up with, "He who is without sin umong you, let him the throw the first stone at her." They couldn't do it and walked off. Its this same confidence He exudes all through His confrontations with the religious leaders. It just cool to me. Read the chapter and it'll be cool to you. God bless.

Day Seven - John Chapter Seven

   The thing that sticks out in the seventh chapter of the Gospel of John is how polarizing  and controversial Jesus was. Funny how He is still that to this day.

   The chapter starts off with his brothers telling him they didn't want him around. Then He has to secretly sneak into Judea so He can attend one of the jewish feasts. While there Jesus teaches in one of the synagogues and stirs up the pot. The jewish leadership had a totally different idea of who the Messiah would be and what he would look like and do. This chapter tells me Jesus was that guy but He definately didn't fit into their mold. Again, that's sort of how most people like thier god (little g); able to fit him into what ever box they can.

   I think that is how I used to be. When I first came to know the Lord I certainly was not sold out. Shoot, I didn't know that much about Him. All I knew is I was dead in my sin, and the only way to bridge the gap between me and God was to confess and believe Jesus died for my sin. Over time I have come to know who Jesus is and how much He loves me. now there have been seasons in my life when I have neglected that love and it's usually during those times I manage to mess things up. You know what? He is always there waiting for me.

   I'm a little taken back at how Jesus' brothers blow Him off. He's the oldest and yet in another part of the Bible you read how they thought He was nuts. You got to believe His mother had told them about the miracle He did at the wedding in Cana. News had to be moving around as to how Jesus was healing people and feeding thousands with a "bag lunch." Nope, they didn't want any part of Him. Funny, same today. Hopefully, if you follow me the rest of the way on this 21 Day Challenge, you won't see Jesus how His brothers did. Until next time, God bless.

Day Six - John Chapter Six

  Did you catch the Superbowl this past Sunday? I took the day off from the 21 Day Challenge to enjoy a little sports action. Reflecting back on the game, I think God has something to share with me. I'll get to that in a few minutes.

  The sixth chapter of the Gospel of John has so much in it it would be difficult for me to compose something worth reading. In the chapter are two of the coolest miracles performed by Jesus, but that's just my opinion. Still, these miracle point to what Jesus is as well as who He is. The first miracle tells how Jesus fed the multitudes with just "five barley loaves and two fish." It's a cool event but I'll let you read about it. The other miracle is how Jesus came to the disciples "walking on the sea." The rest of the chapter is a lengthy teaching from Jesus on the "bread of life," "true food," and "true drink."

   The first question to answer in the challenge is what does the chapter tell about Jesus. Reading about the miracles and the discourse Jesus is the true provider, the calmer of the storms in life, and again the Savoir; "...everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." John 6:40. I believe exactly that, and although I can't explain the why about it, I do.

   Now comes the part of figuring out what Jesus wants me to do. The answer is found in the first miracle in the chapter: Feeding the multitudes. If you read the story you see the Bible doesn't mention anyone else except a young boy having any food to eat and if they did they weren't going to share it. The boy has a bag lunch and he wants to share it. I don't know if he knew Jesus could do something with it or if he thought he could pool it with everyones elses lunch and have a little 'pot luck'. The point is the boy gave all he had. God wants all I have to offer. Reflecting about yesterdays sporting event, I didn't give God anything. I didn't give Him any time, any thought, anything at all. He just wants a real relationship with me. I need to tighten up!

   The wow in this chapter has got to be the lunch Jesus provided for the thousands of people on that hill side. The multitude in itself is amazing. The way a little boy shows up prepared. The people physically saticefide with food left over. The whole thing shouts AWESOME! God bless.

Day Five - John Chapter Five

Chapter five of John's gospel opens with another miracle pointing to Jesus as the Savior. Again this miracle is followed by a pointed Jewish response and Jesus setting the record straight for the established religious leaders.

Jesus entered Jerusalem for a feast and was passing by the Pool of Bethesda when he saw a man with some type of handicap. The pool had several handicapped and sick people around it because they believed an angel would come down and stir the water. The first one in would be healed. The man Jesus saw had been "38 years in his sickness" and when asked if he wanted to get well the man explained how he was unable to get into the water. Jesus said, "Get up, pick up your pallet and walk." The man did just that and he was healed. Jesus again demonstrates His divine power by healing the man.

The rub in this chapter is how the the establishment reacts to the healed man and Jesus. They weren't the least bit interested in the healing. They were only interested in why the man was carrying his "pallet" on the Sabbath. Then they wanted to know who healed him and why he did that on the Sabbath. All of this points to a show down between Jesus and the religious leaders. I'll let you read those for yourself starting at verse 19 and finishing the chapter. These verses contrast Jesus as Savior against what the establishment believed.

Verse 24 shows me what the Bible wants me to believe about Jesus. He say, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word, and believes He who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgement, but has passed out of death into life." I believe this but the leaders in Jerusalem did not want to hear that and it only added fuel to the fire as to why they wanted Him dead. There's another verse Jesus blasts them with and hit me as well. In verse 38 He says, "You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him who sent Me." I don't have a belief problem, I have an "abiding" problem. "Abiding" means to live in, to pitch a tent and stay a while. I've read the Bible, some parts several times, and I believe every word in it but there are times in my life when my actions would say I "abide' somewhere else. I need to change nieghborhoods and quit visiting.

The wow factor in this chapter has got to be the faith of the handicapped man. He was in his condition for several years and the Bible doesn't say how long he was poolside. But his belief or faith, although it be misguided, was incredible. Day in and day out he tried to get in the pool but couldn't. How easy it would have been to give up but he didn't. His faith is inspiring and I hope you are moved by it too. Until chapter six, God bless.