Rainy Days Don't Always Get Me Down 6/7/2015

Good Morning,

The brew filling my mug this morning is a hot serving of Door County Jamaican Me Crazy Coffee. It is doing exactly what it needs to do, wake me up a little and welcome the day with me.

Our weather is windy and rainy today. We have a prayer walk scheduled with our mission team today and I am afraid they will experience a little foul weather. I am not going to let the weather ruin the day. This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Isaiah 55:10-11, ESV For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

In my mind it would be better if it rained on Monday instead of a Sunday. But hear me out. In our part of the country planting season was upon us a couple weeks ago. The corn in the farm fields now needs the rain, my wife's flowers needed some moisture and I am always appreciative when the Lord fills the water sources for me to hunt in later in October.

If it did not rain today I would have had my usual devotional and quiet time, but since it is raining I have more time to spend with God's word.

Psalm 84:10-12New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
¹¹ For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless.

¹² Lord Almighty,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you.

 

That pretty much sums up my thoughts today. Better is an extra hour dwelling with God and his word than anywhere else I could be.

 

God bless,

Marty

Summer Bratwursts 6/6/2015

Good Morning,

The word contentment describes me this morning. With a full cup of Door County Cherry Crème Coffee next to me and our dog sleeping on my feet contentment can be the only word to use.

I have plans to meet some good buddies at the shooting range today to hone our shot gun skills on some clay targets. We like to try and stay sharp for duck hunting season which is only 4 months away, but who is counting????

I would like to talk about bratwursts this morning. For those of you who do not know what a bratwurst is////

A bratwurst (German: [ˈbʁaːtvʊɐ̯st] ( listen)), also known as a brat in American English, is a sausage usually composed of veal, pork or beef. The name is derived from Old High German Brätwurst, from brät-, which is finely chopped meat and Wurst, or sausage.

Grilling bratwurst or as they say just a little North of us "having a brat fry" is a summertime tradition in these parts. I for one like mine served with a little spicy mustard and some sauerkraut on top.
The "brats" need to be grilled enough to be done, but can accidentally be overcooked causing the juices in them to overheat and burst the sausage. The temperature rises too fast causing a brat explosion, often causing a grease fire of immense heat, which then has you eating a dried out meal. This is usually accomplished when the fry master is a rookie or is in too much of a hurry. Good things always take time. Patience is the key to not having a blowup.

People are like bratwursts. They can get to an internal boiling point in a situation so quick and are ready to blow up because they don't take time to see another persons point off view and intentions.

For instance I was passed on the road yesterday by a man in his car who was driving rather erratically. My first assumption was that he was a fool who bought his drivers license at Target , he was drunk, or just a rude person. I happened to arrive at the hospital parking lot where I was to work for the afternoon and saw him running from his car to the emergency room. Obviously he was either injured or was rushing to a loved one who was ill or injured. My first assumption was to be angry with him, but I really did not know his situation. Not taking time to pray helped to take me to anger.

What I should have done was this. I should have prayed. "Lord, that man is driving somewhat crazy. Please protect him and others. You know why he is doing this action. He is Your child and I come before you on his behalf. Father your will be done." Once I saw him running to the emergency department guilt hit me and I did pray on his behalf and whoever he was running to.  Like the rookie at the grill I over fired and went to a blowup.

Luke 6:31 - And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

This verse is the ultimate key to having patience with other people and avoiding an explosion and fire that just takes a contentment filled day and ruining it.

Last bit of advice. Take time to have a picnic with friends. Whether you eat peanut butter and jelly, bratwursts, burgers, cheese and crackers, it doesn't really matter, take time to enjoy the company of friends and celebrate your love for one another. We want to plan one soon, but are waiting until our good friend can walk right into our yard. She has been laid up with a serious injury for 6 months. I have the brats ready to celebrate her first steps which we hope is soon. And if you are short of friends send me your address and I will bring the potato salad and mustard.

God bless,
Marty
 

Riding A Bike 6/5/2015

Good Morning,

Friday came again. I hoped it would. I am hoping for a shorter day than yesterday. It looks to be a fun weekend with some mission trip prep work. So with my Door County Raspberry Crunch Coffee by my side I write and then head out the door.

Isaiah 46:4New International Version (NIV)

⁴ Even to your old age and gray hairs
    I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain you and I will rescue you

In an effort to streamline this old body my bicycle came out of the garage last night. And on a warm and humid summer night I kick started the engine (me) and it was off to tour the neighborhood. I was a little shaky at first and it reminded me of my first time riding a bike and my dad running next to me in case I was going to fall. Only this time my Dad was not running along to make sure I would not fall. Once I got going and made a few laps around the neighborhood I put my big boy pants on and took myself out on to the main road. I wasn't sure if I was sweating from the work out or from nerves wondering if I had made the right decision after not riding for a long time. I was determined to get up that hill and then fly down at high speed with the wind blowing in my face. I did it! Soon after, I was regaining my cycling skills and gained some confidence. It was like I had never stopped riding a bike.

Last year God had me sit out a summer from short term mission trips. To be honest, my health would not have supported it. But this summer I am back at it. This trip won't be too tough at all but it will be an adjustment to new people, eating and sleeping arrangements and some strenuous work. Who knows what will be needed spiritually? A week ago I began to have some doubts as to whether or not I could still do it. I was in prayer when I read Isaiah 46:4. I had been petitioning God, asking Him to strengthen me for the upcoming trip and preparations.  I knew then that I could make it. I was rusty but it would be just like riding a bike again, only my Dad would be there all the way.

Have a great day.

Marty

Love Is A Beautiful Thing 6/4/2015

Good Morning,

I pray that your day is going to be a good one. I am looking forward to coming home from work tonight to some smoked salmon and fresh tomatoes for dinner. In the mean time my breakfast of oatmeal and dried apples washed down with a cup of Door County Blueberry Cobbler Coffee will be counted as my morning blessing. I am glad that we dried those apples last fall.

Love and hate are exact opposites. I relate it to a cool clear drink of water compared to drinking a big glass of what is found in a cesspool.

Let's look first at the definition of hate.

Hate 

v. hat•ed, hat•ing,
n. v.t.

1. to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest.

2. to be unwilling; dislike: I hate to accept it.

v.i.

3. to feel hatred.

n.

4. intense dislike; extreme aversion or hostility.

5. the object of extreme aversion or hostility.

 

hat′er, n.

syn: hate, abhor, detest imply feeling intense dislike or aversion toward something. hate the simple and general word, suggests passionate dislike and a feeling of enmity: to hate autocracy. abhor expresses a deep-rooted horror and a sense of repugnance or complete rejection: to abhor cruelty. detest implies intense, even vehement, dislike and antipathy, besides a sense of disdain: to detest a combination of ignorance and arrogance.

 

Now let's look at the definition of love from the secular dictionary.

 

love

ləv/

noun

noun: love; plural noun: loves

1. 1.

   an intense feeling of deep affection.

   "babies fill parents with intense feelings of love"

   
   

   synonyms:

   deep affection, fondness, tenderness, warmth, intimacy, attachment, endearment; More devotion, adoration, doting, idolization, worship; passion, ardor, desire, lust, yearning, infatuation "his friendship with Helen grew into love"      care, caring, regard, solicitude, concern, friendliness, friendship, kindness, charity, goodwill, sympathy, kindliness, altruism, unselfishness, philanthropy, benevolence, fellow feeling, humanity "their love for their fellow human beings" relationship, love affair, romance, liaison, affair of the heart, amour "their love will survive"

   antonyms:

   hatred

   • a deep romantic or sexual attachment to someone.

     "it was love at first sight"

     
     

     synonyms:

     become infatuated with, give/lose one's heart to; More informalfall for, be bowled over by, be swept off one's feet by, develop a crush on "she didn't mean to fall in love with him" infatuated with, besotted with, enamored of, smitten with, consumed with desire for; captivated by, bewitched by, enthralled by, entranced by, moonstruck by; devoted to, doting on; informalmad/crazy/nuts/wild about "he's in love with Gillian"

   • a personified figure of love, often represented as Cupid.

     noun: Love
   • a great interest and pleasure in something.

     "his love for football"

     
     

     synonyms:

     liking of/for, enjoyment of, appreciation of/for, taste for, delight for/in, relish of, passion for, zeal for, appetite for, zest for, enthusiasm for, keenness for, fondness for, soft spot for, weakness for, bent for, proclivity for, inclination for, disposition for, partiality for, predilection for, penchant for "her love for fashion"

   • affectionate greetings conveyed to someone on one's behalf.

     synonyms:

     best wishes, regards, good wishes, greetings, kind/kindest regards "my mother sends her love"

   • a formula for ending an affectionate letter.

     "take care, lots of love, Judy"

     
     
2. 2.

   a person or thing that one loves.

   "she was the love of his life"

   
   

   synonyms:

   beloved, loved one, love of one's life, dear, dearest, dear one, darling, sweetheart, sweet, angel, honey;

Now let's look at the Biblical definition of love.
The primary meaning of the word "love" in Scripture is a "purposeful commitment to sacrificial action for another." In the Bible it is a fact that loving God is equated with obeying His Word. The two are inseparable.

Powerful emotions may accompany love, but it is the commitment of the will that holds true biblical love steadfast and unchanging. Emotions may change, but a commitment to love in a biblical manner endures and is the hallmark of a disciple of Christ. Sadly, the opposite is also true.   Emotions will vary, but a commitment which has its basis in biblical love will not be affected by the whelm of emotion or of one's circumstances.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7New International Version (NIV)
⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

It's a no brainer for me. I choose Biblical love!

Have a great day.

Marty

Walking Alone 6/3/2015

Good Morning,

My beverage this morning is a hot cup of Door County Highlander Grog. I am in prayer today and I am hoping to be able to pray without ceasing today.

My heart is heavy for a friend with job issues. It seems as hard as he tries something always comes along to slap him back down. He was explaining his woes last night to me. I almost made a huge mistake by saying "I am praying for you", while we spoke on the telephone. That would be wrong anytime. I am not saying that prayer is not important. But what is important is that we show one another that they are important enough to stop what we are doing and pray right now, that very moment. Why wait?

Colossians 4:2New International Version (NIV)
² Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

The prayer with my friend was most important. The timing was perfect because he could join me and for a short time he knew someone cared.

Let someone know you care by stopping to pray and build up their emotional bank account. Don't let them think that they are walking alone. God does not leave us alone, sometimes He sends you.

God bless,

Marty

Keep Going. God Loves You. 6/2/2015

Good Morning,

May your day be blessed from above. You are important to me. You need to know that. We might never meet but you are loved. I just filled my mug with a hot serving of Door County Coconut Crush Coffee.

It seems that wherever I turn the world has just landed a killer blow to someone's life and has knocked all the wind from their sails.

The sailors mom who is helping him to rehab from a terrible accident, my coworker who's marriage is crumbling, my friend who is struggling with her children, my friend who was just dumped by her boyfriend, my close friend who just told me that his wife has cancer, are just a few of the examples I could give.

I pray for them and will continue to pray. I have been there myself and the best and only thing that carried  me was God and His Word. I am leaving some Scripture that helped me to endure dark times.

God cares for you! 1 Peter 5:7New King James Version (NKJV)

⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

 

God gives direction!   Proverbs 3:5-6New King James Version (NKJV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct^[a] your paths.

 

God gives us strength. We are not alone! Isaiah 41:10New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁰ Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

 

God hears us when we cry out! Psalm 145:18-19New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁸ The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
¹⁹ He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them.

 

We can have peace despite seeing the circumstances! John 16:33New King James Version (NKJV)

³³ These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will^[a] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

These are some of my favorites and I cherish them more that words can describe. I pray that you will find comfort for your situations. Find it in God. He has never let me down. Keep going! Don't quit. God loves you. that's all you need to know.

God bless,
Marty

Good Job Son 6/1/2015

Good Morning,

I really had a full weekend and it will be a full week of work. The last thing I did yesterday was to burn a chicken dinner on the grill. Luckily there was a pot of soup in the refrigerator to bail me out. It was just one of those days. My coffee is Door County Highlander Grog.

It seems as if the subject of Baptism is a hot topic for some these days. I preached on the subject a couple weeks ago/ I have fond memories of Baptizing a teen or two at a water park in the Wisconsin Dells as they made a statement of commitment to Jesus.  Let's take a look at the baptism of Jesus. I have added commentary in blue.

Matthew 3:13-17

John Baptizes Jesus

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

At first it seems that Jesus coming to be baptized has no purpose at all. John’s baptism was the baptism of repentance. And Jesus himself was sinless. Jesus did not need to repent. There are good reasons why it was just for John to baptize Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry. Jesus was about to set out on His great mission, and it was fitting that He be recognized publicly by His forerunner. John was the “voice crying in the wilderness” prophesied by Isaiah 40:3, calling people to repentance in preparation for their Messiah. By baptizing Jesus, John was declaring to all that here was the One they had been waiting for and wanting, the Son of God, the One he had predicted would baptize “with the Holy Spirit and fire”. I find this also to be an awesome act of humility and obedience.
 ¹⁴ And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”
¹⁵ But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

Jesus’ baptism also showed that He identified with sinners. His baptism symbolized the sinners’ baptism into the righteousness of Christ, dying with Him and rising free from sin and able to walk in the newness of life.
2 Corinthians 5:17New King James Version (NKJV)
¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  ¹⁶ When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He^[c] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. ¹⁷ And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”



Perhaps most importantly, the event of the public baptism recorded for those there and for all of us to come the perfect embodiment of the Trinity revealed in glory from heaven. The testimony directly from heaven of the Father’s pleasure with the Son and the descending of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus. Now of note. It is not the baptism that saves the sinner. Jesus came to seek and save the sinner. The Holy Spirit convicts the sinner of His sin of rejecting Jesus (The need of a Savior) and draws the believer to the Father through the Son.  John 14:6New King James Version (NKJV)
⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

A loved one of mine has committed to follow the Lord in Believers Baptism this coming Sunday. I am truly proud of his decision. I am thrilled for the whole family. What holds other Christians back from being obedient? I wonder?

Have a great day.

Marty