Heaven!!! ... Have you got your ticket?
Did ya ever just sit and wonder what heaven would be like? I am sure we all have different ideas. I bought one of those tickets for a lottery worth 162 million the other day. But even if I won ... it wouldn't be like heaven to me. It sure sounds real good and I would certainly find things to do with some of it but ... what's the point of thinking heaven is like winning 162 million when you have already lived most of your life.
I heard about a guy who won a big lottery when he was in his mid-eighties. He must have yelled, "Yee Haw", and then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
I think I would imagine having marmalade on toast was like heaven if I made it to my eighties.
"Bill! BILL! BILL! You won ONE HUNDRED and SIXTY-TWO MILLION dollars."
"Oh, that's nice. Did you say the marmalade was at the back of the bottom shelf or on the front of the top shelf? Have you got any of that WHOLE wheat bread?"
Heaven has to be a place where you are in your PRIME TIME. I know I ain't gonna look like this! My wings are gonna be sassy and big to carry me around! So if you're looking for me up there ... I won't be looking like Lumpey Rutherford from Leave It To Beaver. We will all be looking great compared to the mess we are now. As Billy Crystal used to say, "You know it's better to look good than to feel good" ... but in heaven you're gonna feel good too.
There are verses in the Bible that say that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. I liked translating that into the fat will be skinny and the skinny will be fat ... but that wasn't really the point being made. It means that those who selflessly serve here will be served there. That's going to surprise a lot of us.
Can you imagine having a job that you thoroughly love? Can you imagine working for the King of Kings? I don't think we will tire of that kind of job. I don't expect people to be running off the job early. Here on earth we hate to feel used by people. In heaven we will love the feeling of being used by God to accomplish something for Him.
Many people think we won't work at all in heaven. They think we will just sit around chanting boring songs and trying to memorize the Bible we couldn't remember here. It's funny ... but some people seem to think that the God that made Australia ... would make a boring place for us to hang out for all of eternity. What if heaven was just as perfect as the earth was in the very beginning? Well it will be even better.
I also think we will eat in heaven and that there will be "awesomer" food than here. I actually think many wild things while on my meds! I look forward to seeing Christ. And my Dad and my grandparents and other believers who went hundreds of years ahead of me. It's going to be an incredible reunion. Have you got your ticket? It's free!
The more cashews you eat ... the more weight you will lose. Flights that don't just serve peanuts and Diet Dr. Pepper. Everyone will love their jobs and have 12 weeks vacation to spend in resorts that are free and there will always be room for you. The kids won't slip and fall at the pool. And if you eat in the restaurants ... you select your $25 steak and they bring you the steak and the $25 dollars just to thank you for coming because oh ... by the way ... they work for the King too.
No one is sick! No one is EVER sick! You can ride all the rides in the amusement park 50 times and there is no line, you just stay on and you never get sick. You will never be down on the beach and get a call on your cell phone to hear that Auntie Alice is under the weather. In fact, I want to be the guy in heaven who calls you on the beach and says "Hey Doris, have you heard about Alice? SHE'S STILL DOING GREAT!" And then hang up laughing!
People will be polite. Are you sick of being shouted at on a Monday morning when you're driving slow to work while taking pictures out the window? Oh, that's just me! Well, there's no crying in baseball ... and there's definitely no being nasty or mean in heaven. Imagine not locking your doors. No one is dangerous. The more tattoos you have ... the nicer you are! Ha! I had to knock somebody! Everyone has a Harley. The ones that owned Harleys while here on earth ... will have two Harleys in heaven and no one will be jealous.
Jesus is on the throne ... we won't need lawyers! There won't be any he said she saids.
The Government will rest upon His shoulders. If you don't find that encouraging ... you have had your head in the sand for a while. It seems no matter who it is in politics ... you know it ain't all good. Many people just want to throw the incumbents out because it's too difficult to figure out which ones aren't corrupt. GLORY! One day that will never concern us a bit. All hail King Jesus!
Well, I honestly just had a horrible day today. Sometimes I need to think about life after this life to pick myself back up and get a bit of an eternal perspective on what a bad day here really means. It's small taters. God is still on the throne. Nothing happened anywhere on earth today that had Him lean forward and say "My, My ... Who Saw That Coming?" He remains in control. God is not watching the stock market yelling, "SELL, SELL, SELL!"
I know some of you are thinking I should, "Get A Grip" after reading something like this. But I am here to tell you that heaven is far more incredible than we can imagine. Your wildest dream won't come close to its glory. And heaven can be your future home just for the asking. The Bible says in Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." Trust Him!
And after a day like today ... I just get a kick out of thinking about things I have still yet to see. I hope you are one of those on the beach that I can call to tell you about Alice.
Have a great weekend. I am really going to get some rest.
NikonSniper Steve
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Friday, July 15, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Thanking God For Our Provisions
I just came home from breakfast with some friends.
it's just a bunch of guys that get together once a month. I am hardly able to be with them due to my travel schedule. Today, it really seemed like everyone had major concerns with the economic situations in which we live. JOBS! Truthfully, I find that when my personal world gets cloudy … the entire world might as well be off kilter.
I guess I feel sometimes like I am living my very own BP Oil Spill Crisis.
As we went around the table talking this morning it was very clear that everyone is having some degree of concern or worry about tomorrow. Where is our provision going to come from? When will it show up? What will be the next hardship to get ready for? Why is this happening to me?
Lost employment. Cut employment. Home foreclosures. Death of young loved ones. Hardships in relationships. Marital difficulties. Kids (need I say more).
Do you ever wonder why so many turn to excessive alcohol, drugs or something else to help them cope? I sure don't!
Pain and suffering are everywhere. In the USA, we know very little about pain and suffering compared to many parts of the world … but we are certainly learning how fickle our way of life is becoming.
I want to write my view on why bad things happen in another post in order to also hear your responses as well.
Tough times! Who will provide a solution? Who is the provider? I believe … HE HASN’T CHANGED A BIT!
The Bible teaches us that whether we believe in God or not … all things come from above.
James 1:17 says - Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
It says … if it’s good … if it’s perfect … it comes from God above.
I will address our pain and suffering encounters in a future post. BUT just for now, just for this moment ... focus on these words: If it’s good … if it’s perfect … it comes from God! God alone is the source of all things "good".
That means … whether or not you believe it … anything from a well timed tuna sandwich to a carefully structured retirement fund is from God above. Air is from God!
Now, I know some of you don’t believe that! And I am not saying that it is true!
I am telling you it IS what the Bible says … and I'm telling you that I believe what the Bible says. You may not! And I will fight for your right to your view and ... we can still be friends.
And I just want you to know that you can think me to be an idiot for believing in such an old book! No offense taken (I actually get that a lot). But in the end I believe your argument isn't with me at all.
I believe your argument is with God.
Who is the provider? I believe … HE HASN’T CHANGED A BIT!
He is waiting on us.
Maybe we don’t talk to Him enough.
He wants relationship with us, not Churchianity. I mean it isn’t about going to church with a rubbadub-dub, sing the song, clap the hands, take communion, leave some cash and head home to get the holy suit and tie off.
God is trying to infiltrate every aspect of your life. He wants to talk to you. He wants you to talk to Him. He wants to hear your tears and pain. He wants to hear your joy and laughter. He wants to hear your praise and worship. He wants to be acknowledged as the good provider that He is for you. He loves you and gave His life for you.
Thank Him and accept His provision today!
Real quick here. So, how do I find this God that you say is as real as the car in the driveway?
Throughout the Bible there are declarations that if you really seek for God ... you ARE going to find Him. Many people think that God is trying to hide from them. In fact, quite the opposite is true on two fronts.
1. God is has been trying to get your attention ... even now when you read these words. You were brought here at the right time.
2. Many people are trying to hide from God. Deep in their guts they don't want accountability. They think if the don't fully encounter God they won't be subject to His standards. So they really are not seeking Him.
Hey, there's HOPE out there!
God loves those rebellious people! How do I know? I ARE ONE. But Thank God I found Him ... through painful and tough situations in my 53 years to be exactly who He said He is. I am still learning and still trusting (slower than most) but I am resisting less and less.
Are you really looking for God?
In Jeremiah 33:3, it says, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
In Matthew 7:7-8, it says 7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
If you really want to find this God ... you must be open to actually finding Him. Don't deny that He is there in your mind and tell others you are searching for Him. He's there! Wanna find Him? Earnestly pray this ... God if your out there ... help me to find you. Amen. Pray THAT every day. God wants to talk to you! And God keeps His promises! If YOU really SEEK, YOU will really FIND!
Back to Thanking God For Our Provisions.
When I worry … I like to read a passage of Scripture in Matthew, Chapter 6:25-33. Jesus is talking in what is known as The Sermon on the Mount.
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
I am still learning to trust God one day at a time.
May God bless you all in these tough times. Scatter your prayers at the feet of King of Kings!
NikonSniper Steve
it's just a bunch of guys that get together once a month. I am hardly able to be with them due to my travel schedule. Today, it really seemed like everyone had major concerns with the economic situations in which we live. JOBS! Truthfully, I find that when my personal world gets cloudy … the entire world might as well be off kilter.
I guess I feel sometimes like I am living my very own BP Oil Spill Crisis.
As we went around the table talking this morning it was very clear that everyone is having some degree of concern or worry about tomorrow. Where is our provision going to come from? When will it show up? What will be the next hardship to get ready for? Why is this happening to me?
Lost employment. Cut employment. Home foreclosures. Death of young loved ones. Hardships in relationships. Marital difficulties. Kids (need I say more).
Do you ever wonder why so many turn to excessive alcohol, drugs or something else to help them cope? I sure don't!
Pain and suffering are everywhere. In the USA, we know very little about pain and suffering compared to many parts of the world … but we are certainly learning how fickle our way of life is becoming.
I want to write my view on why bad things happen in another post in order to also hear your responses as well.
Tough times! Who will provide a solution? Who is the provider? I believe … HE HASN’T CHANGED A BIT!
The Bible teaches us that whether we believe in God or not … all things come from above.
James 1:17 says - Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
It says … if it’s good … if it’s perfect … it comes from God above.
I will address our pain and suffering encounters in a future post. BUT just for now, just for this moment ... focus on these words: If it’s good … if it’s perfect … it comes from God! God alone is the source of all things "good".
That means … whether or not you believe it … anything from a well timed tuna sandwich to a carefully structured retirement fund is from God above. Air is from God!
Now, I know some of you don’t believe that! And I am not saying that it is true!
I am telling you it IS what the Bible says … and I'm telling you that I believe what the Bible says. You may not! And I will fight for your right to your view and ... we can still be friends.
And I just want you to know that you can think me to be an idiot for believing in such an old book! No offense taken (I actually get that a lot). But in the end I believe your argument isn't with me at all.
I believe your argument is with God.
Who is the provider? I believe … HE HASN’T CHANGED A BIT!
He is waiting on us.
Maybe we don’t talk to Him enough.
He wants relationship with us, not Churchianity. I mean it isn’t about going to church with a rubbadub-dub, sing the song, clap the hands, take communion, leave some cash and head home to get the holy suit and tie off.
God is trying to infiltrate every aspect of your life. He wants to talk to you. He wants you to talk to Him. He wants to hear your tears and pain. He wants to hear your joy and laughter. He wants to hear your praise and worship. He wants to be acknowledged as the good provider that He is for you. He loves you and gave His life for you.
Thank Him and accept His provision today!
Real quick here. So, how do I find this God that you say is as real as the car in the driveway?
Throughout the Bible there are declarations that if you really seek for God ... you ARE going to find Him. Many people think that God is trying to hide from them. In fact, quite the opposite is true on two fronts.
1. God is has been trying to get your attention ... even now when you read these words. You were brought here at the right time.
2. Many people are trying to hide from God. Deep in their guts they don't want accountability. They think if the don't fully encounter God they won't be subject to His standards. So they really are not seeking Him.
Hey, there's HOPE out there!
God loves those rebellious people! How do I know? I ARE ONE. But Thank God I found Him ... through painful and tough situations in my 53 years to be exactly who He said He is. I am still learning and still trusting (slower than most) but I am resisting less and less.
Are you really looking for God?
In Jeremiah 33:3, it says, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
In Matthew 7:7-8, it says 7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
If you really want to find this God ... you must be open to actually finding Him. Don't deny that He is there in your mind and tell others you are searching for Him. He's there! Wanna find Him? Earnestly pray this ... God if your out there ... help me to find you. Amen. Pray THAT every day. God wants to talk to you! And God keeps His promises! If YOU really SEEK, YOU will really FIND!
Back to Thanking God For Our Provisions.
When I worry … I like to read a passage of Scripture in Matthew, Chapter 6:25-33. Jesus is talking in what is known as The Sermon on the Mount.
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
I am still learning to trust God one day at a time.
May God bless you all in these tough times. Scatter your prayers at the feet of King of Kings!
NikonSniper Steve
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The Exclusiveness Of Jesus
So, Why do people seem to have such anger for Christians?
Well, the truth is … many of us are insensitive jerks in the way we speak to people. By the way … I am including myself here! I have not arrived and God is still working on me. The fact that “God is still working on me” isn’t an excuse or a plea for license to be a jerk. I am just saying sometimes I lack the tact needed in certain situations.
Often we say things that leave people with the impression that we Christians think we are better than them. I say, we are not better AT ALL … but if we have chosen Christ as our Savior … we are forgiven. The fact that we are forgiven is also not a license to lack love in what we say.
Often our concern for others causes more heat than light. I have discovered that there is no reason to keep talking when you are causing heat in a conversation. You can’t argue someone into God’s family. Rarely does someone ever stand up and say … I became a Christian because I lost a heated debate. The only thing I have really ever seen help lead someone to Christ over a varying period of time is a lot of love and a lot of prayer.
There is a time to defend what you believe. Too many people think that … in order to have Christian faith, you must flush your brains down the toilet. Not true! I can rationally debate any subject in support of faith in Christ. I am saying that I have found that choosing Christ … was a step of faith but after years I have learned it was also an intelligent decision.
Notice I didn’t say it was a popular decision.
My defense of the gospel doesn’t always cause a person to see the light (so to speak). In fact, get this straight … if you share your faith with someone, … you’re done!
You can’t cause the blind to see. Look at 1 Corinthians 3:6. This verse clearly states that only God can make a seed grow. Only God gives sight!
So, why do so many people object to Jesus? I mean Jesus … seems to be the cuss word atomic bomb that gets thrown around by everyone. Why not Buddah?
Why is Jesus such a target for religious abuse?
I believe that simply said, … People don’t like the obvious accountability to the exclusive nature of Christ’s claims!
I am saying that people get John 14:6! They just don’t believe it.
I bet if you ask someone, … Who said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” they know the answer!
I also bet you could quote thousands of things other religious leaders have said and people would not be able to tell who said it … nor would they likely be offended by the statement being quoted. John 14:6 and similar statements made by Jesus are considered the most controversial.
Why? Because, … People don’t like that kind of exclusive claim. Before they even examine the claims of Jesus, many decide He was wrong.
Jesus declares many things in this verse.
1. He declares to be the way … not one of many ways.
2. He declares to be the truth … meaning “Hey, I’m not kidding here!”
3. He declares to be the life … meaning you are still dead and have never lived unless you come to me.
4. Then Jesus wraps it up again for those who think He might be saying He is one of the ways to God by saying that no man will get to God except through Him.
Now please remember … I didn’t say this! My words don’t mean a thing.
However, remember Jesus did say this! That does mean something! That means everything!
I believe Jesus!
Jesus was put to death in the most vicious manner because He declared equality with God over and over in hundreds of ways and direct statements. They put Jesus to death some 2000 years ago because they didn’t like the exclusive nature of His claims either. They fully understood what He was saying. They charged Him with blasphemy! They were blind sinners nailing Him to a cross. I did that too! That was me out there nailing Him to the cross with my sin.
People back then and people today are not at all interested in being accountable to any God. People want to believe that they themselves are god or ... people want to believe there is a bit of truth in every religion so that everybody (if they are good by their own standards) gets to go to heaven, no matter how kooky their beliefs may be.
Well, read John 14:6 again! Jesus sure didn’t sign up for being one of many ways to God. Jesus declared to be the only way to God. That makes ALL the difference.
Maybe you think Jesus was a liar? Maybe you think He was a lunatic? But, please do not suggest that Jesus was just another good man! Not even possible! A good man would not mislead people to believe He was God knowing He wasn’t. The power and truth discovered in His teaching was and IS far too incredible for Him to be considered a lunatic!
Anybody can say whacky stuff. Anybody can die for a disillusioned cause. Jesus backed His words up with His actions. The words and works of the Lord Jesus Christ have changed millions of lives. Millions have discovered the truth of His claims!
Consider the Apostle Paul, formerly known as Saul. Paul spent his time chasing down Christians with such vigor in order to put them to death. Paul wanted to squash the message of Christ right in Jerusalem. Paul had a face to face encounter with Christ and discovered he was wrong. He was knocked to his knees and learned from Jesus Himself that He was in fact the Messiah and that He was indeed God and that He had conquered death and had risen from the grave! How did this change the man who went about killing Christians? Paul later died a martyr’s death after living a life spreading the news of the risen Christ. Paul refused to deny what he had seen!
Paul said this about Jesus: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Read Acts 4:12.
Jesus is exclusive!
People don’t like exclusive accountability.
So why do people seem to have such anger for Christians?
Jesus answered that Himself.
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well. John 15:18-23 (NIV).
Friend of mine, … Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. There is no other way to approach God. I pray that my words do not strike you in an arrogant way. I fully understand there is nothing I can do to water down the claims of Christ and still be telling you the truth.
Truth said in love is often not truth read in love. I pray you would see these things clearly. I pray that God opens your eyes to the truth of His word. I pray that when you read these words that something inside you confirms the truth that is found only in Christ.
May God bless you in every way!
NikonSniper Steve
Well, the truth is … many of us are insensitive jerks in the way we speak to people. By the way … I am including myself here! I have not arrived and God is still working on me. The fact that “God is still working on me” isn’t an excuse or a plea for license to be a jerk. I am just saying sometimes I lack the tact needed in certain situations.
Often we say things that leave people with the impression that we Christians think we are better than them. I say, we are not better AT ALL … but if we have chosen Christ as our Savior … we are forgiven. The fact that we are forgiven is also not a license to lack love in what we say.
Often our concern for others causes more heat than light. I have discovered that there is no reason to keep talking when you are causing heat in a conversation. You can’t argue someone into God’s family. Rarely does someone ever stand up and say … I became a Christian because I lost a heated debate. The only thing I have really ever seen help lead someone to Christ over a varying period of time is a lot of love and a lot of prayer.
There is a time to defend what you believe. Too many people think that … in order to have Christian faith, you must flush your brains down the toilet. Not true! I can rationally debate any subject in support of faith in Christ. I am saying that I have found that choosing Christ … was a step of faith but after years I have learned it was also an intelligent decision.
Notice I didn’t say it was a popular decision.
My defense of the gospel doesn’t always cause a person to see the light (so to speak). In fact, get this straight … if you share your faith with someone, … you’re done!
You can’t cause the blind to see. Look at 1 Corinthians 3:6. This verse clearly states that only God can make a seed grow. Only God gives sight!
So, why do so many people object to Jesus? I mean Jesus … seems to be the cuss word atomic bomb that gets thrown around by everyone. Why not Buddah?
Why is Jesus such a target for religious abuse?
I believe that simply said, … People don’t like the obvious accountability to the exclusive nature of Christ’s claims!
I am saying that people get John 14:6! They just don’t believe it.
I bet if you ask someone, … Who said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” they know the answer!
I also bet you could quote thousands of things other religious leaders have said and people would not be able to tell who said it … nor would they likely be offended by the statement being quoted. John 14:6 and similar statements made by Jesus are considered the most controversial.
Why? Because, … People don’t like that kind of exclusive claim. Before they even examine the claims of Jesus, many decide He was wrong.
Jesus declares many things in this verse.
1. He declares to be the way … not one of many ways.
2. He declares to be the truth … meaning “Hey, I’m not kidding here!”
3. He declares to be the life … meaning you are still dead and have never lived unless you come to me.
4. Then Jesus wraps it up again for those who think He might be saying He is one of the ways to God by saying that no man will get to God except through Him.
Now please remember … I didn’t say this! My words don’t mean a thing.
However, remember Jesus did say this! That does mean something! That means everything!
I believe Jesus!
Jesus was put to death in the most vicious manner because He declared equality with God over and over in hundreds of ways and direct statements. They put Jesus to death some 2000 years ago because they didn’t like the exclusive nature of His claims either. They fully understood what He was saying. They charged Him with blasphemy! They were blind sinners nailing Him to a cross. I did that too! That was me out there nailing Him to the cross with my sin.
People back then and people today are not at all interested in being accountable to any God. People want to believe that they themselves are god or ... people want to believe there is a bit of truth in every religion so that everybody (if they are good by their own standards) gets to go to heaven, no matter how kooky their beliefs may be.
Well, read John 14:6 again! Jesus sure didn’t sign up for being one of many ways to God. Jesus declared to be the only way to God. That makes ALL the difference.
Maybe you think Jesus was a liar? Maybe you think He was a lunatic? But, please do not suggest that Jesus was just another good man! Not even possible! A good man would not mislead people to believe He was God knowing He wasn’t. The power and truth discovered in His teaching was and IS far too incredible for Him to be considered a lunatic!
Anybody can say whacky stuff. Anybody can die for a disillusioned cause. Jesus backed His words up with His actions. The words and works of the Lord Jesus Christ have changed millions of lives. Millions have discovered the truth of His claims!
Consider the Apostle Paul, formerly known as Saul. Paul spent his time chasing down Christians with such vigor in order to put them to death. Paul wanted to squash the message of Christ right in Jerusalem. Paul had a face to face encounter with Christ and discovered he was wrong. He was knocked to his knees and learned from Jesus Himself that He was in fact the Messiah and that He was indeed God and that He had conquered death and had risen from the grave! How did this change the man who went about killing Christians? Paul later died a martyr’s death after living a life spreading the news of the risen Christ. Paul refused to deny what he had seen!
Paul said this about Jesus: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Read Acts 4:12.
Jesus is exclusive!
People don’t like exclusive accountability.
So why do people seem to have such anger for Christians?
Jesus answered that Himself.
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well. John 15:18-23 (NIV).
Friend of mine, … Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. There is no other way to approach God. I pray that my words do not strike you in an arrogant way. I fully understand there is nothing I can do to water down the claims of Christ and still be telling you the truth.
Truth said in love is often not truth read in love. I pray you would see these things clearly. I pray that God opens your eyes to the truth of His word. I pray that when you read these words that something inside you confirms the truth that is found only in Christ.
May God bless you in every way!
NikonSniper Steve
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Lord, There Is None Like You!
Chief Of Medical Staff
UPDATED: 9:00PM - Prayer Request
Our friend, Scott, had his surgery this morning and I understand it went very well.
Scott, We praise God for this news and we will continue to pray that He will speed your recovery.
What a Savior!
Please continue to pray for Scott and his family in Illinois.
Great to have good news. Listen again to "There Is None Like You" by Michael W. Smith.
I leave very early on Thursday for Washington DC. Back home for the weekend. Los Angeles and San Diego next week. I heard it will be 60 degrees in Chicago tomorrow. That should help melt our snow but I have been suckered into thinking of early springs here too many times to fall for that awful joke.
Take care all yall.
NikonSniper Steve
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The Future IS Bright In Christ
Prayers for you who are hurting. Prayers for those who need jobs. Prayers for you who have severed relationships that need repair. Prayers for you who are heavy burdened.
We all have trials. Boy, I sure do! And we can spend so much time worrying about tomorrow.
If you are struggling with worrying about the future. Read Matthew 6:25-34 over and over.
If you feel like you are doing well right now ... stop and pray for those in need. Try to think of any ways that you can encourage and help those who are done ... and do it!
This week I saw another political poll. I am not taking sides with any political party here. Let's just say ... I only believe in a political party that is yet to come. It won't be here until Jesus reigns on earth.
The poll I saw simply asked, "What is America's most concerning issue RIGHT NOW?"
5,634 votes for "Get America out of debt"
4,879 votes for "Fix the economy so businesses can create jobs"
2,000 votes for "Fix or repeal the health care law "
1,964 votes for "Secure our borders"
1,499 votes for "Promote patriotism and a belief in God"
918 votes for "Reset the nation’s moral compass"
211 votes for "Fix our public education system"
193 votes for "End the war in Afghanistan"
166 votes for "Step up the fight against terrorism"
157 votes for "Strengthen the military"
79 votes for "High speed rail for most of America"
24 votes for "WiFi access for America"
19 votes for "Secure the Internet from attack"
These issues hit all of us! In America, both sides of the political aisle seem to clueless and leadership voids. No offense intended, ... but the world is already crying out for real leadership.
I am not saying that there is no one who has leadership value in America. There are those whom I believe are outwardly well intended. They just seem to be harder to spot.
Look at the world. Keep your eyes on Egypt. Do you think this situation will end up being positive? It might, but I doubt it. Corruption in America and throughout the world is at an all time high.
I am a simple person, ... and I have learned painfully to trust no one in my world other than my family and a relatively small circle of friends. Think of it. How many names of people would you write on a sheet of paper saying I totally trust this person?
One day this will all be fixed!
The Bible says there is a coming kingdom that shall never end.
The older I get ... I long for this day.
In Isaiah 9:6-7a, it reads ...
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
No matter where you are tonight, no matter what your situation, no matter how lost you feel ... JESUS IS the answer. The Future IS bright when you choose Him!
God bless.
NikonSniper Steve
We all have trials. Boy, I sure do! And we can spend so much time worrying about tomorrow.
If you are struggling with worrying about the future. Read Matthew 6:25-34 over and over.
If you feel like you are doing well right now ... stop and pray for those in need. Try to think of any ways that you can encourage and help those who are done ... and do it!
This week I saw another political poll. I am not taking sides with any political party here. Let's just say ... I only believe in a political party that is yet to come. It won't be here until Jesus reigns on earth.
The poll I saw simply asked, "What is America's most concerning issue RIGHT NOW?"
5,634 votes for "Get America out of debt"
4,879 votes for "Fix the economy so businesses can create jobs"
2,000 votes for "Fix or repeal the health care law "
1,964 votes for "Secure our borders"
1,499 votes for "Promote patriotism and a belief in God"
918 votes for "Reset the nation’s moral compass"
211 votes for "Fix our public education system"
193 votes for "End the war in Afghanistan"
166 votes for "Step up the fight against terrorism"
157 votes for "Strengthen the military"
79 votes for "High speed rail for most of America"
24 votes for "WiFi access for America"
19 votes for "Secure the Internet from attack"
These issues hit all of us! In America, both sides of the political aisle seem to clueless and leadership voids. No offense intended, ... but the world is already crying out for real leadership.
I am not saying that there is no one who has leadership value in America. There are those whom I believe are outwardly well intended. They just seem to be harder to spot.
Look at the world. Keep your eyes on Egypt. Do you think this situation will end up being positive? It might, but I doubt it. Corruption in America and throughout the world is at an all time high.
I am a simple person, ... and I have learned painfully to trust no one in my world other than my family and a relatively small circle of friends. Think of it. How many names of people would you write on a sheet of paper saying I totally trust this person?
One day this will all be fixed!
The Bible says there is a coming kingdom that shall never end.
The older I get ... I long for this day.
In Isaiah 9:6-7a, it reads ...
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
No matter where you are tonight, no matter what your situation, no matter how lost you feel ... JESUS IS the answer. The Future IS bright when you choose Him!
God bless.
NikonSniper Steve
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Thanking God For The Voice
Do you ever feel like you are a long way from God?
You wake up one day and you wonder, ... How in the world did I ever get this far away from Him. How did I ever get here?
Deep within your heart, when you hear truth, you know it.
When you hear someone utter the words of Jesus, you hear a confirming voice within you that screams, "YES, THAT'S TRUTH!" And you know it.
It makes you wish but for a moment that you could get back to where you know you ought to be ... but in disappointment, you hang your head and quickly give up the idea, because you know ... You Can't Live The Christian Life.
Well, that's me, over and over and over in my life.
Friend of mine, I have learned most things the hard way. It seemed I just lived to test things out so I could hit my thumb with every swing of the hammer. I have failed God in so many ways, everyday when I tried to live Churchianity. Slowly, I have learned that I was never supposed to try to live the "Christian Life". Rather, I was to yield my life to Him so that He might live it through me. The Bible teaches this VERY CLEARLY ... but Oh NO, I had other ideas.
Yielding your life to Christ really does change everything. But that's not what I set out to say to you this morning.
I want to get back to that voice you may hear inside you. Perhaps that voice hears the truth of Christ and you are quietly saying YES, THAT'S TRUTH. I mean, you don't want anyone to hear you and totally think your fruit loops. Actually, I don't even care about that any more. It is a foregone conclusion!
Perhaps you have accepted Christ as your Savior and you know your life isn't what it ought to be ... but you keep hearing the voice inside confirming you when you do something RIGHT, something GOOD or when you hear TRUTH. You will also hear that voice speaking to you in a VERY different way when you do things you shouldn't.
Did you ever think of thanking God that you can even hear that voice? That is the Holy Spirit living inside you as proof that you already HAVE eternal life with Christ ... OR it is the Holy Spirit convicting you of sin and calling you to accept Christ so that you CAN HAVE eternal life with Christ.
Either way, God is trying to talk to YOU! That's right! The God of the Universe isn't trying to hide. God is trying to get to you.
The effort of man trying to get to God is called "religion".
The effort of God trying to get to man is called "Christmas".
Would it surprise you to know that I don't believe in religion, at all? I believe in a person. Christ alone.
Listen to Lord Have Mercy and read the words. Is that you? Have you built other gods in your life? Have you avoided Him? Call on Him! He is there and He WILL rush to you.
Back to the voice! I know I have eternal life (John 3:16, 1 John 5:13). So, I know exactly what that voice is in my life. That is the Holy Spirit guiding me when I am off track. It is proof positive I am going to heaven (Hebrews 13:5). And I am NOT kiding myself. I know VERY WELL that I don't deserve it. It is only because of Christ (Ephesians 2:8,9).
So today, I just want to encourage you. If you hear that voice, ... if you do nothing else, THANK GOD that you hear it. Most people do not appear to hear it.
To those of you who have never heard that voice ... I am aware that you may think I am from the undiscovered planet of Zinnon and that they may have held me under the water too long during swimming lessons ... but I challenge you to earnestly pray ... "God ... IF ... you are really out there ... help me to find you." Revelation 3:20.
Also, remember, ... the road back to God can begin for you right now. God isn't trying to hide from you. He is calling you to Him. No matter how many times you fall flat on your face ... He's there. How do I know? Let's just say my face is fairly flat and well covered with egg. Jesus is calling you. Will you come?
Read Luke 15:11-32 and have a great day.
NikonSniper Steve
You wake up one day and you wonder, ... How in the world did I ever get this far away from Him. How did I ever get here?
Deep within your heart, when you hear truth, you know it.
When you hear someone utter the words of Jesus, you hear a confirming voice within you that screams, "YES, THAT'S TRUTH!" And you know it.
It makes you wish but for a moment that you could get back to where you know you ought to be ... but in disappointment, you hang your head and quickly give up the idea, because you know ... You Can't Live The Christian Life.
Well, that's me, over and over and over in my life.
Friend of mine, I have learned most things the hard way. It seemed I just lived to test things out so I could hit my thumb with every swing of the hammer. I have failed God in so many ways, everyday when I tried to live Churchianity. Slowly, I have learned that I was never supposed to try to live the "Christian Life". Rather, I was to yield my life to Him so that He might live it through me. The Bible teaches this VERY CLEARLY ... but Oh NO, I had other ideas.
Yielding your life to Christ really does change everything. But that's not what I set out to say to you this morning.
I want to get back to that voice you may hear inside you. Perhaps that voice hears the truth of Christ and you are quietly saying YES, THAT'S TRUTH. I mean, you don't want anyone to hear you and totally think your fruit loops. Actually, I don't even care about that any more. It is a foregone conclusion!
Perhaps you have accepted Christ as your Savior and you know your life isn't what it ought to be ... but you keep hearing the voice inside confirming you when you do something RIGHT, something GOOD or when you hear TRUTH. You will also hear that voice speaking to you in a VERY different way when you do things you shouldn't.
Did you ever think of thanking God that you can even hear that voice? That is the Holy Spirit living inside you as proof that you already HAVE eternal life with Christ ... OR it is the Holy Spirit convicting you of sin and calling you to accept Christ so that you CAN HAVE eternal life with Christ.
Either way, God is trying to talk to YOU! That's right! The God of the Universe isn't trying to hide. God is trying to get to you.
The effort of man trying to get to God is called "religion".
The effort of God trying to get to man is called "Christmas".
Would it surprise you to know that I don't believe in religion, at all? I believe in a person. Christ alone.
Listen to Lord Have Mercy and read the words. Is that you? Have you built other gods in your life? Have you avoided Him? Call on Him! He is there and He WILL rush to you.
Back to the voice! I know I have eternal life (John 3:16, 1 John 5:13). So, I know exactly what that voice is in my life. That is the Holy Spirit guiding me when I am off track. It is proof positive I am going to heaven (Hebrews 13:5). And I am NOT kiding myself. I know VERY WELL that I don't deserve it. It is only because of Christ (Ephesians 2:8,9).
So today, I just want to encourage you. If you hear that voice, ... if you do nothing else, THANK GOD that you hear it. Most people do not appear to hear it.
To those of you who have never heard that voice ... I am aware that you may think I am from the undiscovered planet of Zinnon and that they may have held me under the water too long during swimming lessons ... but I challenge you to earnestly pray ... "God ... IF ... you are really out there ... help me to find you." Revelation 3:20.
Also, remember, ... the road back to God can begin for you right now. God isn't trying to hide from you. He is calling you to Him. No matter how many times you fall flat on your face ... He's there. How do I know? Let's just say my face is fairly flat and well covered with egg. Jesus is calling you. Will you come?
Read Luke 15:11-32 and have a great day.
NikonSniper Steve
Thursday, February 3, 2011
I Am Resting My Entire Destiny On Jesus
OK, so I gotta say something.
Today I was speaking to someone I have known for years. Let's call her Lucy!
As we were talking, Lucy essentially told me that she did not think that someone should be able to write about their personal faith in Christ or "religious stuff" on Facebook. Lucy told me that someone she knew was doing this ... and that this someone professed to be a "born-again" Christian. In fact, this "born-again" Christian was even shoveling her driveway for her during this recent snow storm. Lucy found his Facebook page and saw that he was speaking about "religious stuff" and she said she thought that it should not be allowed and that it "creeped" her out.
Lucy has told me a couple of times that she believes in Christ so I was really kinda surprised.
I told Lucy for about the hundreth time that I was one of those "born-again freaks"! I told Lucy that I often speak about my faith in Christ on this photo website. I even showed Lucy exactly where to locate my words about my faith in Christ. Maybe I did this so I could creep her out on a more regular basis.
I told you that to tell you this.
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, it is recorded that he came to the disciples to commission them. In Matthew 28:18b-20, it reads:
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Jesus was saying, "Hey, ... Now go tell the world what you have seen and what you have heard. Don't worry because I am going with you and I will be there with you to the very end".
Jesus didn't say ... "Hey, It would be cool if you mentioned that you thought I was a pretty nice guy to a few people".
Now I told you that to tell you this.
You may think I am a complete fool! And if you wish to mock me I will post your reply. I am not trying to edit out objectors as long as you aren't profane.
I am telling you that I believe in Christ. I love Him! And I want there to be enough evidence in my life to convict me of being one of His believers. But, if I say I believe in Him and ... and I really do ... shouldn't I want to tell you? Even if it's on Facebook?
Folks, ... The reason I want to tell you about Christ is because I really believe it. I really believe that YOU must receive Christ as your Savior. Some people may not tell you that so directly ... but that is what I believe because that is what the Bible says.
Jesus Christ sets people free today. I am a flawed man. I am not smarter than you. I am not cooler than you. Take a look at my photo, I am surely not better looking than you! The only thing I have going for me eternally speaking is the blood of Christ has covered my sin. I AM FORGIVEN! Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
Don't look at me as a model of how to live. I will let you down. The Bible says we are to look at Christ as our example on how to live.
Lucy! I care about ya! Don't live your life so close to me for all these years and miss the message of Christ. Jesus is the way, the truth and life. John 14:6.
God bless you all.
NikonSniper Steve
Today I was speaking to someone I have known for years. Let's call her Lucy!
As we were talking, Lucy essentially told me that she did not think that someone should be able to write about their personal faith in Christ or "religious stuff" on Facebook. Lucy told me that someone she knew was doing this ... and that this someone professed to be a "born-again" Christian. In fact, this "born-again" Christian was even shoveling her driveway for her during this recent snow storm. Lucy found his Facebook page and saw that he was speaking about "religious stuff" and she said she thought that it should not be allowed and that it "creeped" her out.
Lucy has told me a couple of times that she believes in Christ so I was really kinda surprised.
I told Lucy for about the hundreth time that I was one of those "born-again freaks"! I told Lucy that I often speak about my faith in Christ on this photo website. I even showed Lucy exactly where to locate my words about my faith in Christ. Maybe I did this so I could creep her out on a more regular basis.
I told you that to tell you this.
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, it is recorded that he came to the disciples to commission them. In Matthew 28:18b-20, it reads:
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Jesus was saying, "Hey, ... Now go tell the world what you have seen and what you have heard. Don't worry because I am going with you and I will be there with you to the very end".
Jesus didn't say ... "Hey, It would be cool if you mentioned that you thought I was a pretty nice guy to a few people".
Now I told you that to tell you this.
You may think I am a complete fool! And if you wish to mock me I will post your reply. I am not trying to edit out objectors as long as you aren't profane.
I am telling you that I believe in Christ. I love Him! And I want there to be enough evidence in my life to convict me of being one of His believers. But, if I say I believe in Him and ... and I really do ... shouldn't I want to tell you? Even if it's on Facebook?
Folks, ... The reason I want to tell you about Christ is because I really believe it. I really believe that YOU must receive Christ as your Savior. Some people may not tell you that so directly ... but that is what I believe because that is what the Bible says.
Jesus Christ sets people free today. I am a flawed man. I am not smarter than you. I am not cooler than you. Take a look at my photo, I am surely not better looking than you! The only thing I have going for me eternally speaking is the blood of Christ has covered my sin. I AM FORGIVEN! Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
Don't look at me as a model of how to live. I will let you down. The Bible says we are to look at Christ as our example on how to live.
Lucy! I care about ya! Don't live your life so close to me for all these years and miss the message of Christ. Jesus is the way, the truth and life. John 14:6.
God bless you all.
NikonSniper Steve
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas 2010
Well, folks, it's that time of year again. I am shutting down till January 2nd. So that's it for 2010. Your comments will be displayed here as usual but there will be a few days without any new postings. I need to just soak in the time with family.
And, there's no chance I'm quittin' on ya. I hope I can shoot and post photos for the rest of my life ... but a rest is good for the mind too. I want to thank you all for your kind wishes at this season. I hope you have a blessed Christmas with your families. May God bless you with His mercy and grace. Wise men still seek Him today.
Catch you in a few days.
NikonSniper Steve
Catch you in a few days.
NikonSniper Steve
Friday, December 17, 2010
What A Wonderful World
I am still basking in the new joy and excitement of another granddaughter (Javey Elizabeth Baird) born earlier this week. Have you ever heard the song "What a Wonderful World"? I love that song more and more the older I get. Louis Armstrong's raspy voice is beautiful when he sings it.
I know, I know ... it's very clear that the world is flawed. We earthlings have problems on the horizon everywhere.
I used to watch TV but for the most part ... I quit doing that. I guess I got tired of being told in every commercial and TV show that I wasn't good enough to own this car, that house, this boat, these vacations, this body, that portfolio, this lifestyle or that career. Crime is rampant and it is advertised moments after it happens in gruesome detail. It seems like bad news is broadcast wider than anything good. Any given day you can encounter stories telling us that we are heading to disaster with the O-Zone layer, famine, poverty, the destruction of human life and on and on and on.
So I shut it off.
It's not hard to see a very gray world. I just gotta stop! You may think I have put my head in the sand when I say this ... but this old boy can't deal with that picture anymore. I am not invincible ... as I once believed. I am older. I looked at my skin up close with a high power microscope and wow does that look scarey. I really am living under a curse. Nobody gets outta here alive!
This is why I photograph anything beautiful. I want people to see the remaining beauty in this world that is everywhere ... and it is screaming for our attention. When I take these pictures I feel incredibly blessed. I can also worship the creator God who breathed these things into being. I see God when I look at Javey's perfect little hands.
I celebrate the majesty of His creation. I am humbled by His willingness to provide a way for me to find Him personally. I am a very flawed man. Just ask anyone I work with or live with ... but in Christ alone I have been given great hope for eternity. Do you know Him?
One day, Jesus will repair this earth and it will be even better. Yes! Better! Can you imagine what it looked like thousands of years ago? One day I will have hands that look like Javey's again. Everything will be restored again. What a wonderful world. What a wonderful God! What a wonderful Savior IS JESUS my LORD!
Rejoice and be glad!
NikonSniper Steve
NikonSniper Steve
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Was It Something I Said?
Did you ever have one of those days when you received 41 useless emails offering you everything you DON'T want? You know, ... offers that include everthing from identity protection and discount cruises to aluminum siding for your brick house. Obviously, ... It's the summer! Not as many significant emails. Our regular informers and many of you are just looking in on NikonSniper on the fly between swimming pools and patio barbeques. And I don't blame ya! I had messages this week from some of you traveling on vacation. I had an e-mail from someone that said they were trying to get on NikonSniper for 20 minutes in a hotel lobby. Now, that's a compliment! There always seems to be a line for computer access in a hotel lobby. Everyone arrives at the same time to check their email.
Well, I hope there has been a well deserved lull in the action over the past few weeks because you are getting to do things you can't do in bad weather. I hope you are all taking in the summer! I know it's officially summertime when 3/4 of my emails are offers for Viagra. UH, ... Was it something I said? Who puts you on that list? I also think it's funny that the same e-mail address sends these things every 15 minutes ... as if to say, How 'bout now?
Well, I pray all your travels are safe. May you inhale some relaxation ... even if you can only manage to find those moments in the midst of everything else going on in your everyday life. God desperately wants you to hear Him. It's a lot harder to hear Him if we are always running with an iPOD blaring in our ears. We all need to find stillness. I'm praying you find times to relax, read His word and think for a bit!
God bless you all.
NikonSniper Steve
Well, I hope there has been a well deserved lull in the action over the past few weeks because you are getting to do things you can't do in bad weather. I hope you are all taking in the summer! I know it's officially summertime when 3/4 of my emails are offers for Viagra. UH, ... Was it something I said? Who puts you on that list? I also think it's funny that the same e-mail address sends these things every 15 minutes ... as if to say, How 'bout now?
Well, I pray all your travels are safe. May you inhale some relaxation ... even if you can only manage to find those moments in the midst of everything else going on in your everyday life. God desperately wants you to hear Him. It's a lot harder to hear Him if we are always running with an iPOD blaring in our ears. We all need to find stillness. I'm praying you find times to relax, read His word and think for a bit!
God bless you all.
NikonSniper Steve
Sunday, June 27, 2010
God Wants Something From You
Do you ever wonder, … WHY?
If there is a God, … why is the world so stinkin’ screwed up?
Oh, and folks, in case you haven’t noticed … the world, UH, IS SERIOUSLY screwed up!
I am not saying that there is no good at all. I am just saying … world hunger, corruption, murder, evil, mass slaughter of the innocent people and unborn children, floods, earthquakes, terrorism, war, racism, … you could go on and on and on, but I won’t. You get the point! And don’t forget that BP pipe line camera that showed us the constant flow of death into the Gulf of Mexico for months. That’s a mess that might take a century to repair.
Let me first say that I DO believe there is an all-powerful, loving, just, creator God. BUT it isn’t hard to see why many people ask questions about having that belief. To many people, it doesn’t seem to add up.
Like, … If there is a God that is all-powerful and loving … why isn’t He stopping all this craziness? Why isn’t God bringing justice to these problems? Why are sickos torturing children? Why do so many truly horrible things happen to people? Why isn’t God doing something about this mess?
Some will argue, … Maybe there is NO God at all. Or, Maybe God isn’t all that loving. Or even, Maybe God isn’t powerful enough to stop these problems.
How did all this mess start if there really is an all-powerful, loving, just, creator God?
The Bible teaches us that God wants something from you. Imagine that! God wants something from me, you and every person that ever lived.
In fact, I think God wants many things from us. But, today, I want you to consider that there is a God who desperately wants something from you. And I want you to consider that He was willing to take all these temporary awful results of man’s sin to get what He wanted from you.
I believe that God created man with the ability to really love Him.
I mean, … God made man in a way that gave him the ability to choose to love God, or not. In order for God to do this, He had to create man with the full ability to choose NOT TO LOVE Him.
God wants you to love Him genuinely … not in some robotic kind of love. So, God made you and gave you the ability to really, really, really, love Him by choice … And He made you with the ability to flat out deny that He exists, deny that He is good, or deny that you need Him at all. He made you with the ability to stick your head in the sand and try to ignore Him for your whole life … And He made you with the ability to really love, praise, worship, and talk to Him as you struggle through the ups and downs of life.
God wants your love so much … He’s letting you choose!
The Bible teaches that all of our current troubles and evil on earth are the result of millions and millions of sins and wrong decisions that have been made by man. This includes the millions of sins and wrong decisions before you and I were born … and the millions of our very own sins and wrong decisions in our short lifetime.
God wants us to choose to love, praise, worship and have a real relationship with Him.
The Bible teaches that we are sinners and that God must punish sin because He is a God of justice.
BUT, the Bible also teaches that God is full of mercy and grace. So, God provided one way of escape from His wrath.
God sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for the payment of our sins. If we accept His payment, it covers all of our sin. If we reject God’s provision of payment … His wrath and eventual justice remains upon us.
God provides a way through His Son Jesus for us to be completely reconciled to Him. God provides a way for us to be forgiven through His Son Jesus. God offers us a way to escape the wrath of our sin through His Son Jesus.
In John 14:6, Jesus declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
In Acts 4:12, it reads, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Rejecting Jesus remains a choice that we can make. God made you so that you could choose to reject His only offering of payment for your sins. BUT, God wants you to choose His Son Jesus without delay. God wants you to choose to love Him. God wants your love badly enough to really make it your choice. He wants your love badly enough that while you were still a sinner He offered up His Son, Jesus to a humiliating death on the cross to pay for your sins … if you will just accept it.
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God is a God of choice! He wants you to choose His Son as payment for your sins.
One day the mess of what we have done on earth will be made right. There will be no more of these horrible things that happen to all of us. Evil on earth will end someday. Jesus will set the record straight! Wrong doing will not prosper forever. God is being patient with us now.
He wants your love so bad … He is allowing you to choose.
God provided a way through His son Jesus Christ to receive the free gift of eternal life. Choose Him, my friend.
All the best, NikonSniper Steve
If there is a God, … why is the world so stinkin’ screwed up?
Oh, and folks, in case you haven’t noticed … the world, UH, IS SERIOUSLY screwed up!
I am not saying that there is no good at all. I am just saying … world hunger, corruption, murder, evil, mass slaughter of the innocent people and unborn children, floods, earthquakes, terrorism, war, racism, … you could go on and on and on, but I won’t. You get the point! And don’t forget that BP pipe line camera that showed us the constant flow of death into the Gulf of Mexico for months. That’s a mess that might take a century to repair.
Let me first say that I DO believe there is an all-powerful, loving, just, creator God. BUT it isn’t hard to see why many people ask questions about having that belief. To many people, it doesn’t seem to add up.
Like, … If there is a God that is all-powerful and loving … why isn’t He stopping all this craziness? Why isn’t God bringing justice to these problems? Why are sickos torturing children? Why do so many truly horrible things happen to people? Why isn’t God doing something about this mess?
Some will argue, … Maybe there is NO God at all. Or, Maybe God isn’t all that loving. Or even, Maybe God isn’t powerful enough to stop these problems.
How did all this mess start if there really is an all-powerful, loving, just, creator God?
The Bible teaches us that God wants something from you. Imagine that! God wants something from me, you and every person that ever lived.
In fact, I think God wants many things from us. But, today, I want you to consider that there is a God who desperately wants something from you. And I want you to consider that He was willing to take all these temporary awful results of man’s sin to get what He wanted from you.
I believe that God created man with the ability to really love Him.
I mean, … God made man in a way that gave him the ability to choose to love God, or not. In order for God to do this, He had to create man with the full ability to choose NOT TO LOVE Him.
God wants you to love Him genuinely … not in some robotic kind of love. So, God made you and gave you the ability to really, really, really, love Him by choice … And He made you with the ability to flat out deny that He exists, deny that He is good, or deny that you need Him at all. He made you with the ability to stick your head in the sand and try to ignore Him for your whole life … And He made you with the ability to really love, praise, worship, and talk to Him as you struggle through the ups and downs of life.
God wants your love so much … He’s letting you choose!
The Bible teaches that all of our current troubles and evil on earth are the result of millions and millions of sins and wrong decisions that have been made by man. This includes the millions of sins and wrong decisions before you and I were born … and the millions of our very own sins and wrong decisions in our short lifetime.
God wants us to choose to love, praise, worship and have a real relationship with Him.
The Bible teaches that we are sinners and that God must punish sin because He is a God of justice.
BUT, the Bible also teaches that God is full of mercy and grace. So, God provided one way of escape from His wrath.
God sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for the payment of our sins. If we accept His payment, it covers all of our sin. If we reject God’s provision of payment … His wrath and eventual justice remains upon us.
God provides a way through His Son Jesus for us to be completely reconciled to Him. God provides a way for us to be forgiven through His Son Jesus. God offers us a way to escape the wrath of our sin through His Son Jesus.
In John 14:6, Jesus declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
In Acts 4:12, it reads, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Rejecting Jesus remains a choice that we can make. God made you so that you could choose to reject His only offering of payment for your sins. BUT, God wants you to choose His Son Jesus without delay. God wants you to choose to love Him. God wants your love badly enough to really make it your choice. He wants your love badly enough that while you were still a sinner He offered up His Son, Jesus to a humiliating death on the cross to pay for your sins … if you will just accept it.
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God is a God of choice! He wants you to choose His Son as payment for your sins.
One day the mess of what we have done on earth will be made right. There will be no more of these horrible things that happen to all of us. Evil on earth will end someday. Jesus will set the record straight! Wrong doing will not prosper forever. God is being patient with us now.
He wants your love so bad … He is allowing you to choose.
God provided a way through His son Jesus Christ to receive the free gift of eternal life. Choose Him, my friend.
All the best, NikonSniper Steve
Monday, June 14, 2010
Arizona Drive
I don't know what it is ... but somedays like today, I feel like Jesus is trying to get my attention about every 50 yards. I know ... that's crazy huh?
Friday, May 28, 2010
Happy Memorial Day 2010
This Memorial Day has the most incredible significance to our family in Woodstock, IL. My father was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. My mom was born in Toronto, Ontario. I was born in Toronto and my wife was born in Windsor, Ontario. Our two oldest of five children were also born in Canada ... which brings us to our third child.
Her name is Tara. She is by nature a peace lover. I mean she was for the most part a peace maker in a large family. She is the first Baird in our line of the family to be born in the USA and she leaves on Memorial Day for Fort Sill, Oklahoma to train to be a "Six-Eight Whiskey" or 68W Combat Medic in the United States Army.
Her name is Tara. She is by nature a peace lover. I mean she was for the most part a peace maker in a large family. She is the first Baird in our line of the family to be born in the USA and she leaves on Memorial Day for Fort Sill, Oklahoma to train to be a "Six-Eight Whiskey" or 68W Combat Medic in the United States Army.
The primary role of 68W healthcare specialists in the United States Army is providing medical treatment to wounded soldiers. These medics serve as the basic or first tier of the Army medical system accompanying units as small as platoons (approximately 12-40 soldiers) during training and deployments. Medics provide initial emergency medical care, evacuation, and supervision to other soldiers with medical training (such as Combat Lifesavers) as well as provide medical advice to unit chains of command. Uh, ... I have no clue what this really means ... I just copied it out of Wikipedia. That's one of the benefits of having a daughter that is actually trying to do this stuff ... you are allowed to just copy stuff off the Internet like you're Al Gore. Like Bravo-Seven-Alfa-Four-India-One-Niner-Romeo-Delta-Zulu. Sounds cool when you are calling in coordinates to the nearest Panera Bread.
I guess I can say we are a bit nervous at this moment. And, this is a form of anxiety we are experiencing for the first time as parents. Honestly, I think I am a bit worried for her ... but it is being outweighed at this time by a sense of pride for her desire to serve her country in this way. Tara will begin basic training this coming week at Fort Sill in Oklahoma and I believe the plan is to go to Fort Sam Houston in Texas for advanced individual training if everything goes well in Oklahoma.
I am sure for centuries that American parents have worried about their children heading off to military service in very similar ways. For most of my life, I have heard that "freedom isn't free" ... but today it takes on new meaning in the Baird household. We wish you all a very safe and happy Memorial Day! Please take a moment to pray for our troops everywhere.
Tara! You know we love you. You know we have said it hundreds of times since you were a little girl. I will never forget the day you told me that this is what you wanted to do. Seek God in all things. He's where we can't be for you!
Psalm 32:8 - I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
We are tremendously proud of you.
Love, Mom & Dad
Tara! You know we love you. You know we have said it hundreds of times since you were a little girl. I will never forget the day you told me that this is what you wanted to do. Seek God in all things. He's where we can't be for you!
Psalm 32:8 - I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
We are tremendously proud of you.
Love, Mom & Dad
Sunday, May 23, 2010
More Half-Baked Thoughts
Just for this post:
1. Suppose I consider you one of my friends. And I do ... allbeit from a distance.
2. Suppose I have incredible wealth ... and I don't ... but just suppose for this post that Bill Gates is too poor to be my limo driver.
3. Suppose that I couldn't spend my wealth in millions of life times.
4. Suppose you are in desperate need.
5. And Suppose I make no effort to intervene and try to help you with my unlimited resources.
Am I really your friend?
Why do I want to paint this half-baked scenario? Bear with me and read on.
Well, OK ... I deeply believe that Jesus Christ is the only answer for the worlds problems and for the problems of each individual. I believe Jesus alone holds the keys to an eternity with God. Please understand that I am not declaring this to be true! I am merely stating that the Bible clearly teaches this within its covers. All I am saying is that I believe what the Bible says.
Again, if you disagree with me ... please don't be offended. I am not stating this in any judgemental or arrogant way. This is a faith issue. I am even now ... NOT good enough or smart enough to earn heaven! I am still a very flawed man. I DO believe that I am going to heaven because getting there isn't based upon me. I believe that everything I have eternally speaking is completely the result of what Jesus did for me on the cross.
Now, I told you that ... to tell you this!
Most Christians believe what I have just stated. We would definitely say it differently but most Christians DO believe what is declared in the Bible. In fact, Christians deeply believe that Jesus is the only way. They are placing their faith, belief and trust in his very own declaration to be "the only way." See John 14:6 and Acts 4:12. In fact, go ahead and freak out a Christian you know, ... walk right up to them and ask them, "Hey, Dude is Jesus the only way to heaven or not?"
Just remember that Christians aren't declaring that Jesus is the only way! Jesus himself declared that! Christians are merely trusting and believing in his words and placing their faith in him alone. Simply said ... Christians believe that Jesus IS who HE said he was. Jesus didn't come to earth, walk around, teach love and understand and leave to be followed by a bunch of Christians that sat around and said "Hey, let's tell everybody that Jesus is the only way to get to God." Jesus declared that for himself ... and by the way he backed it up by predicting his own death and resurrection! Christians only recorded that he did these things. Many Christians were put to death because they would not deny what they saw in his bodily resurrection. I think this takes it far above a religious experience and makes it one of fact for them. However, since I didn't see the risen Savior myself ... some 2000 years later it becomes a matter of faith for me based on those historic events.
As a result, Christians are taught in scripture (John 14, 1 Corinthians 15) that there awaits an enternal and glorious home for them. Scripture also teachs simply that if someone rejects Christ they spend an eternity separated from God. This separation from God is referred to in the Bible in many ways but we most often refer to it as hell.
Now IF I am a real Christian and IF I really believe that the difference between an eternity spent in heaven or hell was earned simply by faith in Christ ... and I really believed that with my whole heart ... Why on earth wouldn't I tell you out of concern for your well-being? If I tell you that you are my friend ... and I truly believe that heaven or hell awaits us all and that Jesus is the difference, in fact the ONLY difference ... How could I say you were my friend ... and yet choose to keep Jesus a secret or mystery from you? I should tell you if I really believe it and care for you. Shouldn't I?
The Bible teaches that we can't earn heaven. Jesus makes heaven possible for us if we will trust in him alone ... so I grabed that incredible gift! Jesus paid it all.
How could I let you live your life thinking that you need to be really, really, really good to get to heaven? Read Romans Chapter 3:10 & 3:23, it says no one is good enough. Read Romans Chapter 3:20, it says no one will be declared good enough by trying to be good enough. It also says that obeying the law was NEVER designed to save people. The law was made so that we would know we were sinners. If there was no law ... there would be no sin. God's standard had to be written so we would know that we were sinners. If there were no laws in your town ... you could do anything you want. The law was written but it wasn't written in order to make it possible to get to heaven by obedience to it! You aren't good enough. Me neither!
That means I could never even possibly be good enough to earn heaven and God knew that so he provided a way for all men to have eternity in heaven through His son, Jesus. Read Romans 6:23.
Now PLEASE hear me here! You can think I'm completely and absolutely WRONG! That's OK! I will still value your oppinion! You can think I am a complete nut job and that is also OK. And YES, you can tell everyone that I am turning into a lunatic. But I ask you again, ... IF I really believe that a decision for Christ is the difference between an eternity in heaven or hell ... and I never tell you ... How could I ever say that you were really my friend?
After you think I'm wrong, crazy or a lunatic, I just hope you know that I care enough to tell you and that I can't be silent. In no way would I even think of being condemning because I am not the judge and we are told not to judge. We are however, told to tell others about the free gift that is good news available to you from God through Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19,20). Too often I have been silent ... and the more I think about it ... being silent seems like I only care for myself.
Now, there's a nutty post for ya!
God bless. Jesus loves you ... this I know!
NikonSniper Steve
1. Suppose I consider you one of my friends. And I do ... allbeit from a distance.
2. Suppose I have incredible wealth ... and I don't ... but just suppose for this post that Bill Gates is too poor to be my limo driver.
3. Suppose that I couldn't spend my wealth in millions of life times.
4. Suppose you are in desperate need.
5. And Suppose I make no effort to intervene and try to help you with my unlimited resources.
Am I really your friend?
Why do I want to paint this half-baked scenario? Bear with me and read on.
Well, OK ... I deeply believe that Jesus Christ is the only answer for the worlds problems and for the problems of each individual. I believe Jesus alone holds the keys to an eternity with God. Please understand that I am not declaring this to be true! I am merely stating that the Bible clearly teaches this within its covers. All I am saying is that I believe what the Bible says.
Again, if you disagree with me ... please don't be offended. I am not stating this in any judgemental or arrogant way. This is a faith issue. I am even now ... NOT good enough or smart enough to earn heaven! I am still a very flawed man. I DO believe that I am going to heaven because getting there isn't based upon me. I believe that everything I have eternally speaking is completely the result of what Jesus did for me on the cross.
Now, I told you that ... to tell you this!
Most Christians believe what I have just stated. We would definitely say it differently but most Christians DO believe what is declared in the Bible. In fact, Christians deeply believe that Jesus is the only way. They are placing their faith, belief and trust in his very own declaration to be "the only way." See John 14:6 and Acts 4:12. In fact, go ahead and freak out a Christian you know, ... walk right up to them and ask them, "Hey, Dude is Jesus the only way to heaven or not?"
Just remember that Christians aren't declaring that Jesus is the only way! Jesus himself declared that! Christians are merely trusting and believing in his words and placing their faith in him alone. Simply said ... Christians believe that Jesus IS who HE said he was. Jesus didn't come to earth, walk around, teach love and understand and leave to be followed by a bunch of Christians that sat around and said "Hey, let's tell everybody that Jesus is the only way to get to God." Jesus declared that for himself ... and by the way he backed it up by predicting his own death and resurrection! Christians only recorded that he did these things. Many Christians were put to death because they would not deny what they saw in his bodily resurrection. I think this takes it far above a religious experience and makes it one of fact for them. However, since I didn't see the risen Savior myself ... some 2000 years later it becomes a matter of faith for me based on those historic events.
As a result, Christians are taught in scripture (John 14, 1 Corinthians 15) that there awaits an enternal and glorious home for them. Scripture also teachs simply that if someone rejects Christ they spend an eternity separated from God. This separation from God is referred to in the Bible in many ways but we most often refer to it as hell.
Now IF I am a real Christian and IF I really believe that the difference between an eternity spent in heaven or hell was earned simply by faith in Christ ... and I really believed that with my whole heart ... Why on earth wouldn't I tell you out of concern for your well-being? If I tell you that you are my friend ... and I truly believe that heaven or hell awaits us all and that Jesus is the difference, in fact the ONLY difference ... How could I say you were my friend ... and yet choose to keep Jesus a secret or mystery from you? I should tell you if I really believe it and care for you. Shouldn't I?
The Bible teaches that we can't earn heaven. Jesus makes heaven possible for us if we will trust in him alone ... so I grabed that incredible gift! Jesus paid it all.
How could I let you live your life thinking that you need to be really, really, really good to get to heaven? Read Romans Chapter 3:10 & 3:23, it says no one is good enough. Read Romans Chapter 3:20, it says no one will be declared good enough by trying to be good enough. It also says that obeying the law was NEVER designed to save people. The law was made so that we would know we were sinners. If there was no law ... there would be no sin. God's standard had to be written so we would know that we were sinners. If there were no laws in your town ... you could do anything you want. The law was written but it wasn't written in order to make it possible to get to heaven by obedience to it! You aren't good enough. Me neither!
That means I could never even possibly be good enough to earn heaven and God knew that so he provided a way for all men to have eternity in heaven through His son, Jesus. Read Romans 6:23.
Now PLEASE hear me here! You can think I'm completely and absolutely WRONG! That's OK! I will still value your oppinion! You can think I am a complete nut job and that is also OK. And YES, you can tell everyone that I am turning into a lunatic. But I ask you again, ... IF I really believe that a decision for Christ is the difference between an eternity in heaven or hell ... and I never tell you ... How could I ever say that you were really my friend?
After you think I'm wrong, crazy or a lunatic, I just hope you know that I care enough to tell you and that I can't be silent. In no way would I even think of being condemning because I am not the judge and we are told not to judge. We are however, told to tell others about the free gift that is good news available to you from God through Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19,20). Too often I have been silent ... and the more I think about it ... being silent seems like I only care for myself.
Now, there's a nutty post for ya!
God bless. Jesus loves you ... this I know!
NikonSniper Steve
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Jesus Wasn't Just Another Good Man
Listen up!
I want to make sense here. I am not trying to start a riot.
Sometimes I hear things that make my brain scream inside. I guess I just need to start somewhere.
I recently heard a discussion where someone proposed that perhaps Jesus was just a really good man. I wanted to yell, "No Way" as loud as I could. I know this person did not say this about Jesus in order to cause a conflict. In fact, they may have said it in order to deflect any possible objection to their view. I sat quiet and did not interupt. I guess I just believe that it is absolutely impossible that Jesus was simply a good man.
What would you say? If someone asked you, "Who do you say Jesus was or is?", ... what would you say? I hear so many people say or indicate in some way that Jesus was a good man or a good teacher. I almost think it's funny now ... because if you think about it ... Jesus being a good man isn't really even a possibility.
After all, ... Would a good man deceive the world? Would a good man tell people to throw all their trust upon him? Would a good man tell the world that he was the only way to get to God? Remember, it was these claims and others that got him crucified. I believe only a wickedly cruel man or a perhaps a complete whackjob would make these claims if it were not truth. I think I owe a lot of my thinking on this subject to a writer named Josh McDowell.
Josh writes that Jesus either:
a. willfully told people that he was God while knowing full well that he wasn't, or
b. was delusional, sincerely claiming and believing he was God when he in fact wasn't, or
c. was in fact God.
So, either Jesus was Lord, a Liar or perhaps a Lunatic. Others have written that Jesus could also have been just a Legend proposing that perhaps he never really existed. What do you think? Don't worry ... all views aren't right ... but all views will be tolerated here!
I think most people are happy and very accepting of all kinds of world religions. I think if I started a blog telling people that I was in to Zen, Krishna, Marijuana and Yoga ... most would think that was cool! It's very interesting that as soon as you evoke the name Jesus ... it seems many want to run for cover or poke fun at the idea of believing you need a Savior. I believe many people simply do not want to confront the person of Jesus at all and that possibly there are many who may believe that if they put their head in the sand every time Jesus is mentioned that they may not have to be accountable if in fact Jesus is Lord.
I dunno. What say you?
NikonSniper Steve
I want to make sense here. I am not trying to start a riot.
Sometimes I hear things that make my brain scream inside. I guess I just need to start somewhere.
I recently heard a discussion where someone proposed that perhaps Jesus was just a really good man. I wanted to yell, "No Way" as loud as I could. I know this person did not say this about Jesus in order to cause a conflict. In fact, they may have said it in order to deflect any possible objection to their view. I sat quiet and did not interupt. I guess I just believe that it is absolutely impossible that Jesus was simply a good man.
What would you say? If someone asked you, "Who do you say Jesus was or is?", ... what would you say? I hear so many people say or indicate in some way that Jesus was a good man or a good teacher. I almost think it's funny now ... because if you think about it ... Jesus being a good man isn't really even a possibility.
After all, ... Would a good man deceive the world? Would a good man tell people to throw all their trust upon him? Would a good man tell the world that he was the only way to get to God? Remember, it was these claims and others that got him crucified. I believe only a wickedly cruel man or a perhaps a complete whackjob would make these claims if it were not truth. I think I owe a lot of my thinking on this subject to a writer named Josh McDowell.
Josh writes that Jesus either:
a. willfully told people that he was God while knowing full well that he wasn't, or
b. was delusional, sincerely claiming and believing he was God when he in fact wasn't, or
c. was in fact God.
So, either Jesus was Lord, a Liar or perhaps a Lunatic. Others have written that Jesus could also have been just a Legend proposing that perhaps he never really existed. What do you think? Don't worry ... all views aren't right ... but all views will be tolerated here!
I think most people are happy and very accepting of all kinds of world religions. I think if I started a blog telling people that I was in to Zen, Krishna, Marijuana and Yoga ... most would think that was cool! It's very interesting that as soon as you evoke the name Jesus ... it seems many want to run for cover or poke fun at the idea of believing you need a Savior. I believe many people simply do not want to confront the person of Jesus at all and that possibly there are many who may believe that if they put their head in the sand every time Jesus is mentioned that they may not have to be accountable if in fact Jesus is Lord.
I dunno. What say you?
NikonSniper Steve
Saturday, March 20, 2010
faith? that's for old people!
Keep the faith! People have said those words to me over the years.
I guess for most of my life I have thought, ... "and just HOW do I do that?" Keep the faith? What faith? I have known people who I thought "had" great faith ... but I sure wasn't one of them. Most of them were wrinkled. And IF they weren't seriously wrinkled ... well, they were really quiet praying kinda people. People with faith, ... I guess I have always thought that flies never landed on them. You know, those dear wrinkled souls ... never really seemed to have any serious problems.
By nature, (OK, I think I am getting over some of this) I am and have always been a control freek. I hate change. Not even Obama has been able to make change sound good for me. Change SUCKS! I remember to this day the trama of seeing my oldest daughter after her first haircut. It's weird! How am I going to get used to that?
Well, we had five "wild" (generally speaking) kids in comparison to many families we knew ... but our kids are no where near as wild as I was (at least that I know about ... and believe me, I don't want to know about it either). So, we saw our fair share of change.
I can tell you countless stories of having to deal with REAL change in our world. Some really BIG stuff! Not just haircuts! Our kids were absolutely darling! I mean I love them to death and am very proud of them all ... but I can tell you other stories of years of pure "HELL" that my wife and I survived trying to be parents without a good clear cut manual. Sometimes we lived in terror of things coming apart at the seems. Those years changed us forever. Now we can laugh (a bit) at the past.
I think everybody experiences the kinds of things that change our worlds and our thinking. We don't experience the same stuff ... but our worlds change in different ways. It's all tough to deal with ... we just get different stuff to carry. I know people that have gone through the turmoil of divorce and the splitting up of their family. I know others that have lost children by disease and sudden tradgedy. I know of joblessness, homelessness and of others who were and seemingly ARE utterly alone in the world. I have known of so many horrible things that are real life changers. I'm sure you do too!
Where is faith in all of these trials? Where is God? Doesn't He care? Why is this happening to me? Is God getting some kind of pleasure watching me suffer? If there is a God, ... is He good? Or is He powerless to change things? Can He hear me? GOD, ... DO YOU HEAR ME NOW? I am calling out to you ... and I need to know you are there and that you at least hear me. Will you please talk to me and tell me what to do?
Have you ever wondered these things ... or shouted them from a hilltop into the starry night?
Perhaps, you don't believe there is a God at all. I understand that! And I have questioned what I believe countless times.
Faith? What is faith? And exactly how do I "keep the faith" that I can't fully grasp? Some of you hate reading these words. Perhaps, you may not even want to know if there is a God. Maybe you think ... if you don't fully understand that there is a God ... you won't be held accountable for sticking your head in the sand to avoid Him.
Some of you are searching for God. I believe that God is desperately searching to get through to you and yet you might feel like He is hiding or running from you every time you get close. Try praying this (without any predetermnined ideas on what or who God IS). Pray, ... God if you really are out there ... help me to really find you. Every time you wonder if He is there or if He really cares for you, ... pray that!
Faith? Mine never grew that much when I was young or when our kids were young. The truth is ... if my wallet could solve the problem ... I found that my faith had little opportunity to grow. I think faith can only grow when you remove yourself (or God removes you) from the equation so that you have to allow God to take control. I rarely ever had the guts to do that. So, I had and still have a somewhat retarded faith so to speak! I think those wrinkled faces I have seen were probably owned by people who struggled with their faith when they were younger too. I believe they learned to be faithful from lessons that they were given that were far too big for their wallets or any other resources to solve. I believe it is quite possible that they were forced to wait upon God because they could do nothing to solve their problems by themselves.
Have you ever experienced having a problem so big that you could not solve it? If you haven't ... I believe it is really difficult to have deep rooted faith. You likely lack faith wrinkles, which is OK, but life is not likely going to grant you that forever. The absence of wrinkles doesn't mean you don't have faith. It just means it hasn't had the opportunity to really grow. I'm saying, ... I think if you win the lottery every week ... it's a lot harder to need God ... and I think it's a lot more difficult for your faith to be stretched.
Have you ever seen a huge problem solved by God's hand? OH, ... I sure haven't arrived when it comes to being a "man of faith". I am not even close, ... though I think I am becoming a bit more weathered (wrinkled) every day. The Bible teaches us that "Without faith, it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6).
Have you ever felt you needed a sign from God that He even heard your prayers? I sure have. I wished that I could have those signs every day. It would have made the days a lot easier.
Remember the story of Thomas the disciple after the resurrection of Jesus? (See John 20)
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
You know, Judas of course is considered the worst of the disciples but Thomas wears that "doubting Thomas" label because of this account. What a slouch! Thomas you are such a loser! Oh wait, ... that's me too! So many times I have to see things in order to believe or to have faith. I am often a doubting Thomas. Is that you too? Maybe you won't even believe in Christ ... because He won't die on the cross for you this year and rise from the dead so you can see it for yourself and have it reported in your local paper. We all doubt. We all lack faith.
I want signs that God hears me everyday. Isn't that a form of doubt too? Jesus said to Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Jesus is talking about you and me here. If you believe in Christ, you had to do it without seeing the evidence Thomas was given. That means you need greater faith in one sense and you are blessed. Maybe It doesn't please God that I am always looking for a sign of His presence. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. If it takes a daily morning video conference call with God for me to be convinced He cares and that He hears me ... how much faith do I really have in Him?
Waiting on the Lord and letting Him provide answers in His timing takes greater faith. Those wrinkled men and women of faith I have seen were likely shaped by the times in which they had no other choice but to wait for answers and see God provide in His way. But they were also shaped by accepting the answers that were provided. I guess I think the wrinkled people have spent more time being observers to what God is doing rather than being control freeks trying to do it themselves. They pray more and worry less. They pray BIG things that they know only God could possibly do. I admire them. I hope that one day I will be counted among them.
Faith? That's for old people! And for me.
Have a great day. It's great to be home ... even though it snowed again.
NikonSniper Steve
I guess for most of my life I have thought, ... "and just HOW do I do that?" Keep the faith? What faith? I have known people who I thought "had" great faith ... but I sure wasn't one of them. Most of them were wrinkled. And IF they weren't seriously wrinkled ... well, they were really quiet praying kinda people. People with faith, ... I guess I have always thought that flies never landed on them. You know, those dear wrinkled souls ... never really seemed to have any serious problems.
By nature, (OK, I think I am getting over some of this) I am and have always been a control freek. I hate change. Not even Obama has been able to make change sound good for me. Change SUCKS! I remember to this day the trama of seeing my oldest daughter after her first haircut. It's weird! How am I going to get used to that?
Well, we had five "wild" (generally speaking) kids in comparison to many families we knew ... but our kids are no where near as wild as I was (at least that I know about ... and believe me, I don't want to know about it either). So, we saw our fair share of change.
I can tell you countless stories of having to deal with REAL change in our world. Some really BIG stuff! Not just haircuts! Our kids were absolutely darling! I mean I love them to death and am very proud of them all ... but I can tell you other stories of years of pure "HELL" that my wife and I survived trying to be parents without a good clear cut manual. Sometimes we lived in terror of things coming apart at the seems. Those years changed us forever. Now we can laugh (a bit) at the past.
I think everybody experiences the kinds of things that change our worlds and our thinking. We don't experience the same stuff ... but our worlds change in different ways. It's all tough to deal with ... we just get different stuff to carry. I know people that have gone through the turmoil of divorce and the splitting up of their family. I know others that have lost children by disease and sudden tradgedy. I know of joblessness, homelessness and of others who were and seemingly ARE utterly alone in the world. I have known of so many horrible things that are real life changers. I'm sure you do too!
Where is faith in all of these trials? Where is God? Doesn't He care? Why is this happening to me? Is God getting some kind of pleasure watching me suffer? If there is a God, ... is He good? Or is He powerless to change things? Can He hear me? GOD, ... DO YOU HEAR ME NOW? I am calling out to you ... and I need to know you are there and that you at least hear me. Will you please talk to me and tell me what to do?
Have you ever wondered these things ... or shouted them from a hilltop into the starry night?
Perhaps, you don't believe there is a God at all. I understand that! And I have questioned what I believe countless times.
Faith? What is faith? And exactly how do I "keep the faith" that I can't fully grasp? Some of you hate reading these words. Perhaps, you may not even want to know if there is a God. Maybe you think ... if you don't fully understand that there is a God ... you won't be held accountable for sticking your head in the sand to avoid Him.
Some of you are searching for God. I believe that God is desperately searching to get through to you and yet you might feel like He is hiding or running from you every time you get close. Try praying this (without any predetermnined ideas on what or who God IS). Pray, ... God if you really are out there ... help me to really find you. Every time you wonder if He is there or if He really cares for you, ... pray that!
Faith? Mine never grew that much when I was young or when our kids were young. The truth is ... if my wallet could solve the problem ... I found that my faith had little opportunity to grow. I think faith can only grow when you remove yourself (or God removes you) from the equation so that you have to allow God to take control. I rarely ever had the guts to do that. So, I had and still have a somewhat retarded faith so to speak! I think those wrinkled faces I have seen were probably owned by people who struggled with their faith when they were younger too. I believe they learned to be faithful from lessons that they were given that were far too big for their wallets or any other resources to solve. I believe it is quite possible that they were forced to wait upon God because they could do nothing to solve their problems by themselves.
Have you ever experienced having a problem so big that you could not solve it? If you haven't ... I believe it is really difficult to have deep rooted faith. You likely lack faith wrinkles, which is OK, but life is not likely going to grant you that forever. The absence of wrinkles doesn't mean you don't have faith. It just means it hasn't had the opportunity to really grow. I'm saying, ... I think if you win the lottery every week ... it's a lot harder to need God ... and I think it's a lot more difficult for your faith to be stretched.
Have you ever seen a huge problem solved by God's hand? OH, ... I sure haven't arrived when it comes to being a "man of faith". I am not even close, ... though I think I am becoming a bit more weathered (wrinkled) every day. The Bible teaches us that "Without faith, it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6).
Have you ever felt you needed a sign from God that He even heard your prayers? I sure have. I wished that I could have those signs every day. It would have made the days a lot easier.
Remember the story of Thomas the disciple after the resurrection of Jesus? (See John 20)
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
You know, Judas of course is considered the worst of the disciples but Thomas wears that "doubting Thomas" label because of this account. What a slouch! Thomas you are such a loser! Oh wait, ... that's me too! So many times I have to see things in order to believe or to have faith. I am often a doubting Thomas. Is that you too? Maybe you won't even believe in Christ ... because He won't die on the cross for you this year and rise from the dead so you can see it for yourself and have it reported in your local paper. We all doubt. We all lack faith.
I want signs that God hears me everyday. Isn't that a form of doubt too? Jesus said to Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Jesus is talking about you and me here. If you believe in Christ, you had to do it without seeing the evidence Thomas was given. That means you need greater faith in one sense and you are blessed. Maybe It doesn't please God that I am always looking for a sign of His presence. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. If it takes a daily morning video conference call with God for me to be convinced He cares and that He hears me ... how much faith do I really have in Him?
Waiting on the Lord and letting Him provide answers in His timing takes greater faith. Those wrinkled men and women of faith I have seen were likely shaped by the times in which they had no other choice but to wait for answers and see God provide in His way. But they were also shaped by accepting the answers that were provided. I guess I think the wrinkled people have spent more time being observers to what God is doing rather than being control freeks trying to do it themselves. They pray more and worry less. They pray BIG things that they know only God could possibly do. I admire them. I hope that one day I will be counted among them.
Faith? That's for old people! And for me.
Have a great day. It's great to be home ... even though it snowed again.
NikonSniper Steve
Monday, March 15, 2010
Is God Green?
Hello, NikonSniper followers. Well, my trip to the Los Angeles area is coming to a conclusion. That's right, dear ... I'm coming home!
One of the things I do for comfort when I am alone and away from my family for great lengths of time is to listen to sermons online. I know, I can almost hear you shouting "BORING"! OK, OK, some of you are about to quit NikonSniper for good! You've heard enough. I have just proved to you that I am completely looney!
Well, some of you know I was a bit of a creative kid. I was A.D.D. before being A.D.D. was cool! So I was, ... let's say, a bit of a handfull. For those of you who are new, here's a little Background to give you an idea of what kind of rodeo clown I was when I was a kid. Anyway, I tell you this so you don't go around thinking I have my head in the clouds with no clue of the real world.
Anyway. I was raised in a Christian home. More than that, ... my father was the pastor of a large church that we attended (sometimes in handcuffs). Oh, please don't cast me as some kind of religious fanatic. In fact, truth is ... I don't believe in religion whatsoever. I believe in a person and YES I know Him. And that God-man is Jesus.
Anyway, ... I don't want to scare you off ... because I DO completely respect your views. Here's what I wanted to say.
I find that as I age (get more older and more wrinkled-er) I appreciate nature more. If you would have told me when I was 30 that I would enjoy photographing butterflies one day ... well, I woulda told you that you were a complete ding-dong (probably not those words though). I so often feel at peace when I am sitting on a bench watching God's wonders. Like seeing wild deer up close just staring at you, giving you a close look, like they were sent to you. Well, I recently watched a sermon about the Christian in nature that I enjoyed called, "Is God Green?" You can hit the link and watch it if you like. It's good! It is by one of my favorite speakers named John Ortberg from Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, CA. He won't bore you!
Go on, give it a listen ... I dare ya ... it's a risk free way to tell your mom that you went to church. Pastor Ortberg speaks on how we are to respect the world of the Creator.
I hardly ever lift my camera in the mountains, or near rivers, streams or great oceans without thinking about ... How Great Is Our God!
I hope you have a wonderful day!
NikonSniper Steve
One of the things I do for comfort when I am alone and away from my family for great lengths of time is to listen to sermons online. I know, I can almost hear you shouting "BORING"! OK, OK, some of you are about to quit NikonSniper for good! You've heard enough. I have just proved to you that I am completely looney!
Well, some of you know I was a bit of a creative kid. I was A.D.D. before being A.D.D. was cool! So I was, ... let's say, a bit of a handfull. For those of you who are new, here's a little Background to give you an idea of what kind of rodeo clown I was when I was a kid. Anyway, I tell you this so you don't go around thinking I have my head in the clouds with no clue of the real world.
Anyway. I was raised in a Christian home. More than that, ... my father was the pastor of a large church that we attended (sometimes in handcuffs). Oh, please don't cast me as some kind of religious fanatic. In fact, truth is ... I don't believe in religion whatsoever. I believe in a person and YES I know Him. And that God-man is Jesus.
Anyway, ... I don't want to scare you off ... because I DO completely respect your views. Here's what I wanted to say.
I find that as I age (get more older and more wrinkled-er) I appreciate nature more. If you would have told me when I was 30 that I would enjoy photographing butterflies one day ... well, I woulda told you that you were a complete ding-dong (probably not those words though). I so often feel at peace when I am sitting on a bench watching God's wonders. Like seeing wild deer up close just staring at you, giving you a close look, like they were sent to you. Well, I recently watched a sermon about the Christian in nature that I enjoyed called, "Is God Green?" You can hit the link and watch it if you like. It's good! It is by one of my favorite speakers named John Ortberg from Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, CA. He won't bore you!
Go on, give it a listen ... I dare ya ... it's a risk free way to tell your mom that you went to church. Pastor Ortberg speaks on how we are to respect the world of the Creator.
I hardly ever lift my camera in the mountains, or near rivers, streams or great oceans without thinking about ... How Great Is Our God!
I hope you have a wonderful day!
NikonSniper Steve
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