I listen to radio news driving back and forth to work and they are always talking about how we are affected in the wrong ways with technology. For instance: people don’t look other people in the eye anymore, their heads are down and in their phones. They can’t keep schedules, remember  up and coming events, don’t really read emails, or stay in contact with others. People talk through text not face to face. They complain about their phone is not working correctly or they have no service.

As far as video games go. Oh boy. I don’t have to name them. If your child is better off because of anyone of them please let me know I would love to see it. I have debated whether or not to have some of them in my house. I wonder if it will help my boys. I have a couple of guys at work who tell me not to get any of the game machines for my family. They said their kids are like zombies when it come to that stuff and thats all they want to do when they are in the house. I say no to them.

Facebook, twitter, seems to me that it is just a matter of time before the true “you” will come out. Even some people on secular radio stations have been talking about how it leads us down the wrong paths.

I have never heard anyone say “life is better, or my relationships are more enriched” because of my Iphone, Playstation, Wii, Android, DS, Facebook or Twitter account.

Look at it this way. If money matters in your home are tight, your relationship are really lacking,they are not making you smarter, and you are really not enjoying life more because of them? Is it worth it?

I say we need more of Him and His word than we need any of this.

P.S. There was a little boy in the cabin I was a counselor in this past weekend. He kept saying I just want to go home and play my video games. Its boring here. Grandma would let me play all I want. Next thing you know 8 out of 9 of the boys we had were on the swings. That boy ended up saying “swinging is better than video games”. I loved that.

Where are you?

I watched a lady (senior) as she worshipped the Lord. She was waiving and clapping her hands, swaying back and forth all in rhythm with the music. Her body language said a lot about her love for the Savior.

Are you a worshipper? What does your body language say? Better than that what direction is your heart in your worship? The way your heart is is the way your body language will be. ” Above all else guard your heart for it affects all you do” , or it is the “well spring of life”, or ” out of it flows the springs of life” (depending on versi0n). A spring is fresh, clear, clean water. Or a “spring in your step”. 

Thanks Todd, Berl and Steve for leading us in worship. Keep on keepin on!!

Make Your worship real.    Love you all  Patrick

Trying to hang blinds in the boys’ room today. Should’ve taken 20 min. it took an hour, thanks to them playing with my tools, losing them, having to follow every move I make, not to mention “wanting to help”. I learned a valuable lesson.

They don’t care if they have blinds or if I finish the task in a timely fashion. They just want to spend time with me (it’s crazy their love for me). They want to have quality time with me (it’s great). Their love is unconditional.

Their love towards me is exactly like the Father’s love toward us. They pursue me, work around what I am doing just to get to spend time with me. They are like Mary and I am like Martha. Things and tasks don’t matter to children. Relationship does.

Where are you at with all of this? What kind of time are you spending with the children around you? Are you spending time with Him or just doing stuff? Knowing Him comes first not just saying we do. It shows if you are.   

Adam was told to “tend and keep the garden”, and “not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”. We know that didn’t happen, and how terrible it has been every since (we would have done the same thing). “Then the Lord God called to Adam and said, Where are you?”

Where are you? Do you think for 1 minute that God didn’t know where he was? Or how to find him? Maybe God’s GPS was broke? Give me a break. Don’t forget He is omniscient (all-knowing).

So let me ask “Where are you?” With what He has placed in your hand, in your heart, given you the ability to accomplish, made you the watchman over, etc. How are you handling your resources? Are your dreams going anywhere? Let’s be honest, How is your neighbor? Do you know? Are you leading well? Where are you with all that?

I’ll tell you where we need to be, we need to be deep in love with Him (song by Michael W. Smith “Deep in love with You”) If we are deep in love with Him, we won’t have a problem with the things in the above paragraph.

Wouldn’t it be great when one day we stand before God and He says, “ Remember on April 19, 2009, I cried out, Where are you?” and He recorded your response as Deep in love with You. Our highest calling is to fall prostrate before Him (worship). I would encourage you to let go of things that have you and fall deep. Quit hiding and do what He wants. What He wants is you.

     Recently we all have heard about Michael Phelps pot-smoking gaffe. He said that his behavior was “regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment” which I believe is true. He also said that he “acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me”. I never knew Michael until he won the gold medals in the Olympics, and I would venture to say that is true for most of you. Even though I know who he is, I sure don’t know him enough to say what kind of actions that I would expect of him. How do you expect people to act that you don’t know?

      Michael said in one of the news articles that his “actions were not acceptable being the role model that he is”. Just because Michael is a great swimmer doesn’t make him a great role model. As far as swimming goes he is the best role model, I definitely will not take that from him. I think that we need to look at the definition of a role model :A person who serves as a model in a particular behavioral or social role for another person to emulate. According to the definition he doesn’t have to be that in every area. He’s not known for his private life (morals, character, integrity, etc.) but for his public life (swimming), please let me repeat that SWIMMING. What about your private life? Can I follow you around with a camera? Do you want the world to look into it? I doubt it. But there is someone watching, GOD and He sent the greatest role model to dwell among us. That’s right the All-time undisputed undefeated Champion of Love, none other than  JESUS. He stands alone when it comes to role models.

     I have really thought about this “role model” thing in the last two years ( I have had two boys in the last 2 years). Man I have to admit at times I am not worthy of being their role models. Lord please help me!!! There are some things about me that are good but there are some things that are not. How about you? We need God’s grace (Jesus). I guess it’s like this. Soldiers are a role model for freedom. Pastors and Priests are role models for religion. Athletes for sports. Parents for children (good or bad). Politicians for ? (just kidding we do have some good ones). But one things for sure Jesus is a great role model for all of us, in every area.  

     Michael maybe you have a standard to meet for the Olympic committee, or your sponsors, but not for me. I love you just the way you are and I used to do worse than that. But that was before I met the Savior. Keep swimming great, enjoy life, and pray for His guidance.

Patrick