HOW TO LIVE LONGER

Do You Really Think You’re Gonna Live Forever?

Every year people spend billions of dollars to look younger, stay healthier, and live longer. Most people want to live a long life. I want to be around to hang out with my grandchildren, in fact, I want to dance at their weddings!

If people spend billions of dollars to “live longer,” what might they pay to live forever? Living forever to some may just be a fairy tale, or science fiction. But, it is not only God’s desire for all human beings to live forever, but He came up with

PRAYERS CONTINUE

We Join Thousands And Thousands Who Continue To Pray.
Prayers for all those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Prayers for all those affected by the dozens of fires, especially in the Western United States.
And now, prayers for those bracing for Hurricane Irma.
Yes, there’s always a lot of things to pray for, but in these recent days, there’s a lot more!

GOD MADE ME THAT WAY

Some Striking Differences Found In Human Beings

On a recent visit to see our new granddaughter in Charleston, South Carolina, I got to take my son’s dog for a walk a couple of times. While it was no match for spending time with baby Betsy Rose, I really enjoyed it. Jack is a “golden,” and he’s a great dog.

On one of those walks, I was reminded of something I saw years ago on an episode of Dog Whisperer, where a lady told Cesar Millan what she said to her dog when it misbehaved. It was a very long sentence, threatening to take him to the pound if he ever did it again. Cesar looked at her and said, “And you really think he understood all that?”

Humans and animals are indeed made differently. It’s not our brain size that distinguishes us from all the animals. While they may be really cool creatures, there are obviously many striking differences. Here are just a few:

  • Communication: Animals understand simple words, gestures or tones. They do not comprehend sentences. On the TV show, Cesar made that very clear to the lady. Meanwhile, we humans have developed hundreds of languages, along with thousands of dialects. I have to say, I did not notice Jack having any kind of a “southern accent.”
  • Humor: Your cat or your dog, or an elephant or frog for that matter, is not able to appreciate or express humor. Humor requires the ability to see the odd, surreal or ironic. So, I avoided trying to get Jack to laugh.
  • Appreciation of beauty: If you take your dog on a trip here in Arizona to the Grand Canyon to gaze on its magnificent splendor, it is simply breathtaking. But does your dog enjoy the beauty? Nope. She’s probably busy looking around for a tree, or a squirrel, or another dog, just like Jack was on our walks.
  • Morality: Animals do not have a conscience, or the desire to build character. They learn by training which involves reward and punishment. We, on the other hand, can choose to control our thoughts based on what we consider right or wrong. Unlike animals, we have the unique ability to analyze actions before they are performed.  Jack had full intention of going after that squirrel!
  • Worship: In every part of the world, in every culture, humans exhibit a desire to seek, to follow, and to worship a “higher power.” Animals do not. Jack is really an affectionate dog, but trust me, I am not a higher power he has been seeking.

Why Did The Creator Make Us This Way?

There’s a verse in Psalm 139 that talks about how we humans are fearfully and wonderfully made. That means distinctly awesome, or distinguished. But why did God single out human beings to be made in that way? Why did He purposely make us awesomely unique?

Those awesome, distinct qualities I mentioned above, and many more, we have as human beings. Animals do not. The Creator purposely and intentionally gave us free will to choose, and a desire to seek and know a higher power. It is built in; He made me this way.

God did not make us to seek Him and worship Him instinctively, or automatically, like breathing. We breath without thinking; we blink without giving it a thought. Rather, God designed human beings so that worshiping Him would be our free choice. He made us so we could, if we choose, freely seek Him, freely worship Him, freely love Him. He made me this way.

Looking For God

Over the centuries, and to this day, there are those who seek and find the Creator. There are others who choose to worship something other than the One true God. The Bible, in a number of places, refers to the latter as “strange gods.” At one place it says they, “worshipped and served the creature [creation] more than the Creator.”

God certainly knew He was taking a big chance by giving us free will. He could have made us robots – human drones that just automatically praised Him all day long. He didn’t want that.

But the very first two humans used their freedom of will to make a very, very bad choice. In order to fix that catastrophic mess, God sent His Son to atone, to pay the price necessary for all human beings.

And now, as a result of His Son’s completed work, any human being can choose to accept Christ or not. Isn’t it stunningly remarkable that, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

True Or Not?

God made made me this way. I can choose to believe anything I want to believe. But just because I believe something, doesn’t make it true; just because I don’t believe something doesn’t make it not true.

The Creator gave us free will not so we would determine what is true, but so we could choose to believe what is true. Truth is truth, period. Truth is truth whether everyone believes it or no one believes it.

We human beings are awesomely unique and distinct in having free will. We can choose to seek and find God, the Creator, in His written Word that He gave so we could know Him, love Him and worship Him. In doing so, we will clearly see His Son, Jesus Christ, is God’s promise and plan to give any human being everlasting life.

Jack is a great dog. But it is baby Betsy Rose who can someday choose to accept Christ and gain eternal life. God made her that way!

SEARCHING FOR TRUTH

Are You Searching For Truth Or For Something That Just Feels Good?

Truth is truth regardless of who speaks it. An evil person or a good person could each declare the earth orbits the sun. They would both be correct.

Truth is truth whether anyone believes it or not. Someone who believes the earth orbits the sun does not make it true. Someone who doesn’t believe the earth orbits the sun does not make it untrue.

Are Your Beliefs Based On What Is True? What? 

Ask that question to a thousand people and I doubt anyone would answer, “Oh, no; my beliefs are based on things that are not true.” We all believe what we

BIBLE STUDIES AT THE WHITE HOUSE

A Reminder To Pray

I recently read an article about Bible studies at the White house. I was not aware how long it’s been since this has happened.  There is a link to that article below.

It reminded me to continue to pray for all our leaders.

I Timothy 2:1 and 2
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Bible Studies at the White House

STOP WHINING AND START WINNING!

We Can Choose To Win Or Just Keep Whining

Winning and whining – we do have a choice.

John Maxwell once said, “The difference between winners and whiners is, winners, they know they have to do the right things and then they feel good; whiners, they want to feel good before they do the right thing.”

The dictionary defines a whiner: “a person who makes frequent complaints usually about little things; an irritable and complaining person.”

Whiners complain. They are negative, pessimistic, and blame others; they sniffle, grumble and grovel; they rarely

WORKING FOR THE MAN

Some Perspectives About Working Many Don’t Understand


Lots of employees see themselves as just “working for the man,” meaning they are working for the boss or owner in order to make them rich. Some have distorted perspectives about business owners which then leads toward resentment. Why do so many not understand some basics about working for someone?

Recently I spent seven years working, as an employee, for a brand new company. It started very small; 3 owners, two technicians in the field, and me doing all the book work and payroll from my home. After about 3 months we were

REMEMBERING OUR INDEPENDENCE

Celebrating 241 Years - Some Quotes

This July 4th marks the 241st anniversary of the USA.  One of our founding fathers, John Adams, talked about remembering and celebrating this anniversary:

“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty; it ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” John Adams

Those who fought for the freedoms for the new country, while having differing opinions, knew we needed to

FATHER’S DAY 2017

To Dad's Everywhere - Happy Father's Day!

A shout of congratulations to all men who work diligently and tirelessly to be a good father, whether a biological father, a stepfather, or a spiritual father.

This Sunday, June 18, is Father’s Day. My dad is not alive, so, I can’t give him any personal praise or recognition, or even say, “Thanks. Dad; I love you. ”  But, I’m sure many dads will hear that from their children. And, as a dad,

IT HAPPENS FOR A REASON

Does Everything Really Happen For A Reason?

I was recently involved in a little “fender bender.” Actually, it was the rear bumper on my truck, and it was only slightly damaged. But, I can absolutely assure you, it happened for a reason.

There are people who believe everything happens for a reason. Some go as far as to say that everything that happens is “meant to be.” Others go even further, believing that God has a reason for everything that happens.

Does Everything Really Happen For A Reason?

Yes, of course, everything happens for a reason because of the Law of Cause and Effect. The result is the effect, and the reason it happens is the cause. So everything does happen for a reason. But to say that everything that happens is “meant to be,” or