October 31, 2007

Good morning and a happy Halloween to you! Tonight I will be visited by hordes of little costumed children. I hope that I have enough candy for them all. Today is that day before lock down at work, I wonder how many last minute changes await us? So many things going on today, and so many yesterday and just as many await the day after, how are we to cope with this? Hurry, hurry, rush, rush, when do we have the time for each other? When do we take time for God? Your employer will be glad to send you to classes to schedule and record your time better, make you more efficient, and more productive. Is that what we really need? Do we need to account for every moment in our service to Christ? I don't know how you feel, but to me that does not seem to agree with "my yoke is easy and my burden light", the words Jesus spoke to us so many years ago. Those words resonate now in this very hectic rush about world. Since those who seek shall find, I propose that we start seeking peace. Yes, that same peace that Jesus gave to us; it is time we started seeking it. Through that search I suspect that we can come to know Jesus better and find more of His will for our lives.
Not as the world gives... that seems so right.
Bucky

October 30, 2007

Good morning to you. Did all of you go to your jobs and question whether it could really be your God-given destiny yesterday? I know that I did. The thought came to me this morning that perhaps some of us are not yet in that destiny, but we are in training to move into what God wants us to do. I heard the message of the God-given destiny from Pastor Joel Osteen on Sunday, but that does not mean that the message was meant for all of us. It may be that some of you looked around at work, at the events happening to you and around you, and nearly wept from despair. I don't think that we all have found our calling just yet, and I praise God for those that have. You may not find that destiny God has for you until you retire from your career. Suddenly one day, or night, you may realize that all those years were simply training you for where you are now. What we can do, in even the worst job situation, is to work on that attitude. It may take practice and dedication, improving our attitude just a little each day, but we can change the way we look at where we are. This attitude change can work in the home, a marriage, a relationship with friends, and in many other areas of our life. Jesus didn't send us out into the world with the crack of a whip, but with the whisper of love and an arm around our shoulders.
Praise God for the everlasting love of Jesus!
Bucky

October 29, 2007

Good Monday morning! Today, if you haven't already, you go not to a job, but to your God-given destiny. "What part about my job don't you understand!" someone would be glad to ask me. Yes, it may seem strange to start thinking about your work as a part of your destiny in Christ. Change that negative thinking, and walk in the light Jesus' love for you!

Last night our Rockies completed the cold part of their hot-cold run to finish the season. Yes, they get to go home now after four losses in the World Series. We kept up with it while working on various installations and upgrades. Where? Yes, at my God-given destiny! After midnight my destiny felt kind of goofy and light-headed from sleep deprivation, but we accomplished much last night.

My sister reminded me that IT never sleeps, and then I got a dose of it myself. God and His angels never sleep, even while we do. I have never woken up and seen an angel guarding me, but I am assured that they are there. Entities exist that we cannot perceive by sight or touch, but that does not mean that they are not there, for good, ill, or indifference to us. When I get all Halloween like, and start thinking about those kinds of things, it is good to know that God, the Father, is still in control of everything.

Praise our God, the Father of our Lord Jesus!

Bucky

October 28, 2007

Good Sunday morning! I see the critics are after us again, this time proclaiming deep divisions in the evangelical Christian movement. To tell you the truth, I'm not exactly sure what the evangelical Christian movement is. I believe in Jesus, I don't think that we should allow the murder of unborn babies, and I vote. If that makes me a part of some movement, then I guess there it is. However, we are united in our belief in Jesus Christ and the relationship that he gives us in Him. After that, we may disagree on which political candidate to vote for, what laws should or should not be passed, and many other issues of the day. I don't see a "deep division" between myself and another Christian who wants to vote for some other candidate. If one of us does not approve of something, or even everything, that the President has done in his two terms, then hooray for both of us. My apologies to the world though, I still don't see that as a "deep division" between us. The only deep division that concerns me is between Jesus and those who refuse to believe in the Son of God. That is the great divide that we should worry about, for some that we love are standing on the other side of it right now. Whether you immediately think of some friend or relative, some celebrity, or the billions that remain in the world; there is someone over there who is waiting anxiously for a shaft of light to shine in their darkness. Let us shine it on them today.

Praise God for our unity in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

Book recommendation:
Max Lucado's 3:16, you can pick it up in Wal-mart, Amazon,or your local bookstore. This one is a keeper, a wonderful in-depth discussion of the center verse of our faith. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. I like the mantra formed in that verse and pointed out in the book:
God loved... He gave... we believe... we live.

October 27, 2007

Good Saturday morning to you! It seems that by some guidance, I have let slip by the anniversary of the start of this thing. Yes, about 20 days ago the 365th posting of this devotional on the blog went past. While that is an interesting date, I think it was let go because it just isn't that important. I should hope that many hundreds, even thousands of devotional messages will come from God and through my fingers before this is done. For in that is hope for those still lost in the darkness. If those like you and me, who spread the Word, the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus are called home, who will deliver the Good News to a lost world? And what hope does the world have if God gives up on it? None whatsoever without that light shining in the darkness spoken of in Isaiah so many years ago. Today, that light shines through us, in many different forms. This appears in an e-mail and on the web, your testimony may come in song, the verse of poetry, the pages of stories, in sermons, in novels, in television scripts, in everyday conversation, in your living, giving, accepting, and in your stand for Christ. May we not forget that in praying for another, especially one who does not know that he or she is the object of that prayer, that we show great love for them, and God does not forget that.

Today began very early and I do not yet know all of what lies in store, but it seems that I did need to get up to find out. Did you realize that Christmas is but two months away? If not, I am more than glad to let you know! Merry Christmas to you, and may God's blessings overflow your cup this weekend!

Bucky

October 26, 2007

Good morning! What a time for a streak to end; the Rockies now cannot seem to win. Hopefully a return to Denver will help them. I see an article about aircraft, firefighting aircraft that is, being grounded during the wildfires; that will surely stir up a firestorm of a different type. I am glad that the winds have eased and they now have a chance to contain the fires. Praise the Lord for the power of prayer! I read in Pastor Rogers' devotional about the sting of criticism. Is that ever the truth or what? Criticism can really sting, if we let it. It took years for me to learn that criticism of what I do or write is not criticism of me. I once took every kind of criticism as a rebuke of myself and my worth, and such is not the case. In this life we will make mistakes, do things that others do not agree with, and generally incur criticism of some sort on most days. However, Jesus still loves us enough to die for us, and that trumps any earthly criticism. Use criticism to improve or examine it and toss it away if it is of no value, but don't take it personally.

What if they criticize something about you that you cannot change? That hurts too! All of us have some physical trait or other that we might wish that we didn't have. The world is often quick to point these out to us, over and over and... Yes, that can be difficult, but once more we must trust in Jesus. You know, people can be afraid to speak to those who are very attractive; it can be tough for them to spread the love of Jesus when no one will approach them. Notice that I carefully exclude myself from the "very attractive" group. :-) I am probably among the many who don't give themselves enough credit. Well praise God that I am not a supermodel, people tend to attribute no intelligence at all to those poor folks.

May God grant you a wonderful weekend!

Bucky

October 25, 2007

Good morning! I have heard twice now about GoodSearch (goodsearch.com) a search engine that donates to charity with each search. We may want to check that out, and don't forget our friends at Maranatha Camp when you do! The fires in California show signs of easing as the wind dies down, good job on those prayers and keep 'em coming! In viewing the news reports, I cannot help but be reminded of the Biblical judgments in the last days. No, I don't believe that the fires are any more than the usual California fires, but it does make one think about how the world is growing ripe for the end times. Droughts seem to be in the news almost constantly and they are the precursors of huge wildfires. Should we despair over the events a day brings? That is the test; we must hold firm in our faith. God is still in charge and no event is out of His control or knowledge. Pray for the firefighters and those who have lost their homes, but trust in God first and have joy in Him this day.

God bless you!

Bucky

October 24, 2007

Good morning! Is there any special significance to October 24th? A quick look on the Internet, that fount of information, shows that October 24 does have some significance. October 24, 1929 is known as Black Thursday, the day of the great Wall Street crash that began the Great Depression worldwide. It is also no wonder that no one would want to commemorate that day since the Great Depression was not a time of financial joy and easy living. We have been assured by some of those talking head economists that such a thing cannot happen again, but they said similar things about the Titanic, the Hindenburg, the... you get the picture. As always we should, we must, place our trust only in God. No institution, government, organization, strength, weapon, or any other worldly thing can save us from death and destruction.

Now, since that is a bit of a heavy note to start the day. Let's move on to something else before going off to work with a cloud of doom over our heads. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. I do not believe that He meant just in the next life, but that He wants us to have abundant life in this existence too. He may not mean that all of us are going to be rich, fat cats laying in the sun for the remainder of our lives. The world produces plenty of those folks, and they are generally only useful as fodder for the tabloids. Having abundant life probably lies more in the area of enjoying the company of friends, coming through a time of danger or distress, helping out someone without being paid or rewarded, doing something special with your family, and many other wonderful things that are available to us in this life. Yes, life in heaven with Christ will be much better, but not all of the good things are put on hold until we get there.

Enjoy a bit of life in Christ this day!

Bucky

Prayer requests!
The fires in California have become very bad in a short time, please pray for the people out there who have lost homes and been evacuated to shelters. Pray for the winds to ease and the rains to come.

October 23, 2007

Good morning! Whew, I am a bit groggy and feeling that emotional letdown of yet another class passing by. May the Lord be with you on this fine day. Today, I thought of the old explorers, one in particular, and their search for famous cities and the Fountain of Youth. Ponce De Leon, if my recall hasn't failed me, was the one searching in Florida for that fabled fountain. We look at that in the history books and we laugh at his efforts; "fountain of youth, ho, ho, ho" However, if we look at the news reports today, that search still goes on in this world. DNA, gene therapy, stopping aging, all of these are in the news from time to time, and the possible halting of the aging process is thought now to be possible within the next 50 years. How would that change the world if it comes true? Would only the rich be able to afford it and thus become richer? Would there be a huge revolt against the "ageless ones" and start that dreaded final war? I don't know, perhaps the 50 years is as good as forever, God may not allow such a thing to come about. Or perhaps He will and the resulting arrogance will cause everyone to choose God or the world, and the end times will indeed come to pass.

It is interesting to ponder these things, but we are not at that bridge just yet. Today, let us go forth in the Lord's grace and show joy and peace in a world that is still searching for the Fountain of Youth. There is no dread spectre of Death waiting to grasp us, only the welcoming arms of our Lord Jesus.

Have a Hallelujah day!

Bucky

October 22, 2007

Good Monday morning to you! Have you ever wondered why ministers of the Christian faith speak their own words? What I am referring to is the world of television and cinema, where actors don't speak their own words. That great actor or funny comedian is fed their lines by skilled writers who may not perform their own words. A comedian may be hilarious because the team of writers behind them has carefully worked out those hilarious lines and depends upon the comic actor's timing and delivery. Would not a team approach work well in the ministry?

You know, I don't think so. I believe that God has hung out a "No Actors" sign on the Christian ministry. God wants us, has commanded us, to bear witness to the world. Our witness is our own words, our own experience in Christ Jesus. While one minister may write out his sermon word by word, another may only make a few notes to guide her sermon. One minister may speak one on one with people in coffee shops or on the street, another may write, and another may sing, but all are ministers bearing witness to the Son of God. A Christian singer may sing hymns written by someone else many years ago, and we all sing songs of praise to our Lord. Not everyone can sing well and so God has provided talented performers. All of us use words though and your witness is from your heart, your words, and God has made you and those words special.

A person may not be able to read and write, but in Jesus that person still bears a powerful witness of the Risen Lord. You may quote those who have a God-given talent for stringing words together, but your witness is YOU, and a wonderful witness you are!

God loves you and so do I!

Bucky

October 21, 2007

Good Sunday Morning! The light of the Lord shines upon us this day. The paws of a cat are also messing with my mouse and keyboard, so I apologize for any odd characters or spaces today. Actually I do a proof read before sending so you shouldn't see any of them. This morning starts out cool and wet; it didn't snow yet, but there is a chance that we could see our first snow flakes of the season today. I am glad that we have the opportunity to gather together in this way or together in person somewhere. In the next week I begin my introduction to sociology and the forces of the world are gathering even now. The one thing I see already is that in order to study a religious group, the sociologist must remain detached or dispassionate. I have no problem with that in studying religions, but how can one remain dispassionate in a relationship with Christ? A person either believes and cannot remain detached or does not believe and is detached already. If one cannot truly understand belief without experience, the sociologist will never truly understand what it is to be in Christ and have Him in one's heart. To me there is a line that divides completely. A person can join most any other group and remain inside while observing in a detached manner, but this belief of ours is just not compatible with the wisdom of the world.

What else will I learn about the "science" of sociology in this course? It should be interesting, that much I can see already.

God bless you!

Bucky

October 20, 2007

Good Saturday morning! We are one in the Lord on this fine day. Today I said a short prayer for our football team. I heard they were booed this year after more than one disappointing performance. It is especially bad to be booed in your home stadium. I must admit that I haven't been among their supporters this week as their performance has been truly miserable. Do you know what I hope they remember? That Jesus loves all of us, no matter how well we perform, no matter whether we meet some one's expectations or not, no matter what we have done or have not done; Jesus loves us more than I can describe in words. He proved it first in His death on the cross and second upon His Resurrection. No greater love than to lay down His life for us and then to take it up again has been shown to us since time began. Let us rest today in the overcoming love of Jesus.

God loves you on this fine weekend!

Bucky

October 19, 2007

Good Friday morning! Another weekend begins tonight, use it well. I wonder what today will bring? It has been an interesting week and isn't every week or day that way? We do not know for sure what may come. We can plan and have lists of to do's; we can hope and dream, or pray and sing, but we do not know what will come on any given day. Things that are dreaded; shots, chores, a trip to the doctor, a bit of nasty cleanup... these things, like juggernauts, seem to rush toward us, unstoppable. Good things don't arrive fast enough. Over all of that we know that God is sovereign. No bad thing is coming that He cannot stop, divert, or grant us the strength to overcome. No good thing is so distant as it seems, for God wants us to have every good thing.

Praise the Lord for the coming of His great day!

Bucky

October 18, 2007

Good morning! It is a great day in the Lord! Hallelujah! Sorry, some days it is difficult to stop, and why stop? I am up a bit early today as help is needed in one of the eastern stores. One of the fun things about building things to the east is that you must get up early to support them.

Throwing your worries upon the Lord, how hard is that? It might seem easy to do, but our conditioning and training in this life teaches us to be self-reliant. This is at odds with trusting the Lord! We must unlearn that self-reliance and become God-reliant. I may seem to go on and on about this, but it seems more important to me in these days of information overload and job burnout than ever before. We are overwhelmed in this life by what is available. We think we need more time, but what we really need is that inner peace and joy that comes from God. As knowledge and tech-knowledge increases in this life, we will see it becoming faster and faster. We must look up and concentrate on Jesus. Rest in His peace and joy, trust in Him completely in this most hectic life.

God's grace go with you this day,

Bucky

October 17, 2007

Good morning! I have been struggling with a worry and asked for an answer. Today I received that answer and it is right out of the Bible. It is good to know that when we seek, just as Jesus said, we shall find. The problem and the answer are not as important as the fact that an answer was provided. The challenge for me now is to obey, which requires keeping my mouth shut. You might think that would be easy for me, and usually it is. However, you also know that when you are angry or have something you think is funny rattling around in your head, it can be especially difficult to not speak it aloud! Praise the Lord and His glorious name!

You might check out the interview in Newsweek with Eric Prince, the leader of Blackwater. I won't say good or bad, but will let you make your own conclusions. There is one what you might call a Biblical gaffe in the interview that I cannot let easily pass by. I will give you a hint: it was Nehemiah. The weekly survey of the Old Testament has apparently put some Biblical knowledge in my head that has grown roots. We also studied Nehemiah in depth a couple of years ago. One good use for our Bible studies, and all of us should be reading daily from the Word, is in making sure that the media gets it right.

May God's joy and peace be with us all on this great day!

Bucky

October 16, 2007

Good morning! The Rockies will play in the World Series! Despite the miserable playing of our football team, we do have something to cheer about. I see they canned the Husker athletic director yesterday; I wonder if that has anything to do with the Rockies winning? No, sometimes we look for patterns and signs where none exist. That may be a part of our nature or it may be a symptom of the modern electronic media. We get news so quickly these days that it is easy to make connections where none exist. We are to be watchful and there are signs that the last days are upon us and Jesus return is closer than it has ever been. We do see a polarization of the world from those who will believe on one side to those who refuse to believe on the other. People all over the world rush about trying to "get ahead" and make more money. Not that long ago it took a couple of months to cross the Atlantic; you had time to regret taking on the journey well before arriving at the destinations. Today, a few hours in a plane and you are in a totally different culture and still trying to sort out your feelings and thoughts. However, the speed of the Internet and satellite news is perhaps the most breathtaking of all. News developments in far countries can be seen live in many cases. Overwhelmed? You bet; we can be overwhelmed with information today and we see the mental disorders that go with it.

Seek and ask for God's peace today. He promised it, and we know that our God never goes back on His Word. Trust in the Lord Jesus and enjoy a life of peace and joy in Him!

Bucky

October 15, 2007

Good Monday morning! The world awaits our presence with some cringing, for we are the salt and Jesus is the light in this dark world. Does that seem strange to you? That the world should fear us may seem backwards. After all there are billions of people, governments, corporations, armies, and all of popular and religious culture out there. In our own power certainly we are weak, but we come in the name of the creator of all the universe. Our armor is provided by God and our strength is in the name of Jesus, who rose from the grave to glory. Yes, the world should fear us. The salt of our words stings the wounds of sin, the light of Jesus causes the darkness to flee, and the authority of Jesus' name cannot be denied.

Do not fear the day, and do not fear the shades of gray, for Jesus is Lord!

Bucky

October 14, 2007

Good Sunday morning! So often we begin to think that some sin or other, or the sum total of the sins that immediately come to mind, is somehow greater than God can forgive and forget. Perhaps we forget just who our God is, but we become depressed remembering and writhing in shame over the sins that the accuser parades through our mind. This morning I read in the sixth chapter of Isaiah about his vision of God in Heaven on His throne. I noted, after however many times that I have read this, something kind of new. This vision has an example of how powerful and gentle is our Lord's forgiveness.
Then one of the seraphim flew over to the altar, and he picked up a burning coal with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, "See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven."

We read here of how a seraphim touched Isaiah's lips with a hot coal, yet he was not burned but forgiven, a gentle touch. But wait! What is that we always read over? The seraphim, a being powerful enough to fly while in the presence of God, used a pair of tongs to take the coal from the altar! The seraphim are described as mighty earlier in the passage, yet they need tongs to grab God's coals. How powerful is the forgiveness of God! We see that so often, sometimes to the point of taking it for granted, the power and gentleness of God displayed as one.

Praise God for His strength and gentleness,

Bucky

October 12, 2007

Good morning! It's Friday once more! Does it seem like the weeks are just sliding by us? It does to me as another weekend of school work arrives. Praise the Lord for the opportunity to learn more. Deep thoughts are with me today, and on a Friday at that. Questions and pondering, are big changes ahead or simply a time of trial, at the end of which I will look back and wonder at dark thoughts? At the moment, I don't know. I am anxious to start writing for the Lord, but is the time right? A time of soul searching is upon me. Will it be gone by Monday? Or am I facing great changes that will take a while to work through?

One thing is true, perhaps I shouldn't write before breakfast! It is odd how such a seemingly small thing can affect our thinking so much. Let the glory of the Lord rise above my little problems. I know those problems are not little to you and I, but they are small to our awesome Lord. The answer to my deep thoughts is in Jesus. Perhaps I cannot answer my questions alone and need to come first to Him in prayer and then to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Pastor Rogers' devotional starts out with a very interesting verse regarding this matter. "My times are in Thy hand." It would seem that my worries are too! Have a blessed and wonderful Friday!

Pray for each other on this fine day!

Bucky

October 11, 2007

Good morning! Last night we finished Ecclesiastes in our Bible study and it does end with a wonderful conclusion. "Fear God, and obey His commandments." Solomon shows the wisdom that God gave to him after a lengthy experiment in finding meaning under the sun. Jesus said much the same thing during His ministry upon the earth. Trying to find satisfaction and meaning in this world is useless for it does not satisfy more than briefly and its meaning is vaporous. It is, as Solomon would say, "like chasing the wind." Truly we want to store up treasure in heaven.

Give glory to the one true God,

Bucky