Evil at work

I find it interesting to think how few times I really take into consideration what is around me. Let me explain. Earlier this week I was cleaning out a house that I manage. Things were normal for the most part. Big mess, lots of junk to discard, the normal. I have been having trouble getting ahold of the tenant however and so I decided to put his things in the garage in case he wanting the left behind junk. I opened the garage door and found a pentagram made of what appeared to be ashes with a evil looking cup in the middle of it. It was filled with some kind of liquid. Instantly I became aware of what took place in this garage and instantly I began to pray out loud. I left that place later with a heavy heart. Probably due to the spiritual battle going on along with the sadness I felt for this young man. Hear is my question to me though: Why did it take a demonic sign to make me realize that there is a spiritual war going on? It is a daily thing and yet I am snoozing at the wheel so often. I need to get my head in the game.

Kids

Fall is always a busy time for me. On top of husband, dad and work responsiblities I coach 2 football teams. I love it and wouldn't change it. One thing I have observed over this past month is that kids think they run the world. For instance, one of my children, whom I will leave nameless, told me they couldn't do something the other day. Let me explain. Our family were all together one Sunday after church. We had to stop at Walmart to pick up a tire for my wife's van as it had developed a flat overnight. I had started to ask this particular child to put down what she was holding and go into Walmart to...they interrupted me with an I can't. I said ok stay there we didn't need that anyway. This person said need what? Lunch I said. We didn't need Subway anyway. Oh, I can go they said. No we can eat leftovers, I said. Now this may seem silly or even mean to you but how often do I let my kids get away with this crap? I need to be on top of it all the time. One of the kids on my football team was out of control for the first two practices. Yelling at other kids, cussing and being disrespectful to adults. After several attempts to get him to stop I finally pulled him aside and said, "I am not your dad, I'm not your mom. I am not going to put up with this behavior any more. If you don't knock it off I will have you doing up downs for the rest of practice. If you don't want to do up downs and still want to act this way you can go home but don't come back." He has been a perfect angel ever since. Why do we put up with kids acting this way? This isn't kids being kids. This is called parents and adults just tolerating bad behavior. It needs to stop and the great thing is that we have the intelligence to make it stop. I need to remember to always take the timeto do it right with my kids especially.

Go with your gut.

Have you ever felt that you should do something but it just seems plain crazy? Once in a while this happens to me. Sometimes it is just me being Kraig. However, many times it is God wanting me to do something outside my comfort zone. Sometimes it works out and sometimes I think God just wanted my faith to grow a bit. A couple of case and points. Several years ago while having my quiet time I felt God tell me to go to my local high school and meet up with a student there. Understand school had just started so my next question was, "What will I do when I get there? Stand in an empty hallway and talk to myself?" I heard God telling me to just go. So I went. This young man was walking out of his class as I entered the building. Just him...no others walking down the hall. I spoke with him that morning. Nothing important happened in his life that morning. (I asked him several years later) However, something huge happened to me that morning. I went there with the intentions of helping a fella out. Instead God taught me about His faithfulness. Since then I have done some pretty strange things at times but only because I felt His call. I just did something that I would deem as strange this morning because I felt called. I wonder what He has in mind this time?

The Family Man

Building off of my thoughts from yesterday I found myself very happy about some things. Have I given up on a few dreams? Sure....who hasn't. Should I revisit those dreams. Sure. But in doing so I also realized the dreams that have come true. I have always aspired to be a great dad and husband. I have been so fortunate in the way things in my life have unfolded. I have been given a great job by God which allows me to spend so much time with my wife and children. Not to say I don't work but I control my schedule for the most part. It has allowed me to continue to see that dream come true. Of all my dreams it has always been the most important to me. I am so glad that as a young man God put that dream in my heart. No matter what my dreams I missed out on have been without that dream all others would be futile. Thank you Jesus.

Must be football season

I have the honor of coaching both my sons in tackle football this year. What a wonderful experience. They play on different teams but are both doing well. This is the 4th year of tackle for Chase. I remember his 1st year and how he was doing well as a third grader but didn't really like it all that much. Contact is a different kind of animal. Now he has become a dominate offensive and defensive lineman. It has been a fun ride to watch. Peyton has bigger aspirations. He wants to be a quarterback. I told him going in how hard that position is to play and the toughness it takes. He dreams of playing in the NFL like Ben Roethlisberger he says. After one week of contact he was ready to cash in those dreams for anything else. He told Hope he doesn't like tackle all that much. Now understand he is an all out kind of kid. He has been hitting harder than anybody on the team. I think he has hurt others and himself more than any other player in our hamburger drills. Knowing how well he was doing this was a bit of a shock to me. I sat down and talked with him about how your body adjusts and gets used to the contact. I had him talk to his big brother who had bruises all over his arms but didn't even notice the pain that went with them. It got me thinking. How often do we give up on dreams as it got too tough to achieve. Without the supporting cast around us what have we given up on? A better question is what have I given up on? I think it is time for me to revisit some dreams of mine and see what I can come up with.

Mistaken identity

I was at Arby's yesterday with a friend. We ordered and they were running behind on my friends fry order. A few minutes after we had sat down a person brought him his fries. I was taking a bite of my sandwich as my friend said thank you sir. I still hadn't looked up at this person but I would have bet my wife's new van that it was a lady. I said you mean ma'am. My friend then says sorry to this person. After I said those words I looked up and saw to my horror a young man delivering the fries. What do you say at that moment? Sorry I thought you were a woman based on your voice. Then another thought popped into my head. What if it is a woman? Do I insult her? I learned a lesson yesterday. First of all, always look before speaking. It is a good rule of thumb. Secondly, I need to be careful with folks. Here is a young man....I think who could be hurting because of my carelessness. Is it kind of funny? Yes but not to him. How often do I judge someone based on the sound of their voice? By the clothes they wear? By the company they keep? I need to look deeper at a person than just the surface. Point taken.

Greece

Greece. The third world power in the history of the world. Their reign of world domination was just before the coming of Christ. They lasted just over 300 years as the top dog before Rome took over. Their research and development was second to none. They made a blueprint for the first steam engine among other things. Yet they, like all world powers, fell to the next world power. I got to thinking about us. (America) Do I need to worry about the USA? What may happen to our super power status. Should I plunge into the political arena and worry about stupid policies being made? With the now famous phrase "What Would Jesus Do?" I will try and answer. If Jesus were walking around here today as he was 2000 years ago I say he would be thinking about people not governments. This thought hit me recently and it changed my perspective on the current situation we as Americans find ourselves in. So here is my challenge to myself. Don't worry about the ignorance known as our government. Be about the people living near me. Don't worry about whether my children will know the America I grew up with as far as being a super power. Instead try and make America a place that resembles our future home as believers in Jesus Christ. After all this is but a temporary home for us. Treat it as one.

Self Esteem

Self esteem has not been much of a problem for me in my life. I don't know why that is exactly. I know I'm not the best looking cat on the planet. I'm 37 and gravity is fighting me hard to physically stay in respectable shape. I am smart but there are plenty smarter than I. I came from a good family but not one that didn't have its issues. I have been pondering this issue of self esteem, however, because it seems to be attacking so many people around me. Why do I feel so self assured and others don't? I still don't know the answer to that one but I have gotten a better understanding of what goes on when someone struggles with self esteem. I think childhood plays a huge part in this and that is nothing new to anyone. What I think also plays a part is perception. In American culture sex/sexiness has become super significant. For a woman that is huge. If they don't feel pretty then that hits the self esteem hard. I think that plays a big role today. Not only that but the "housewife" title has been beat to a pulp by media. No longer is it seen as a positive. It is the butt of so many jokes in mainstream America. Couple those and no wonder self esteem in women is down. For men, we wrap so much of ourselves up in what we do for a living it's sad. I can't help but think with the economy hurting means more men are questioning their own abilities. Hence low self esteem. I will continue to explore this topic but thought I would share what I'm thinking for today. Have a good one.

And...action

I do not like manual labor all that much. The good is that you get to see results first hand. The bad is that...well I just don't like it. However, I was asked yesterday to help a fella out in laying carpet in his camper. Now for a guy that doesn't really care for manual labor I am pretty good at it. Having said that usually something stupid happens that prolongs the project when I am involved. I think it has to do with me praying for patience every day. Today, however, I was able to help this guy out and we did a real nice job with no gliches. It feels so much better helping someone out just because than to receive a paycheck for it. Now money is a necessary evil so I can't do it every moment but it sure felt good to do it for the sake of the kingdom. For love or money.....love wins in my heart every time. Well it should anyway and most of the time it does.

Give it up

What am I willing to give up for Christ? An even better question is what am I not willing to give up for Christ? Christ says "go sell all you own and follow me. " Not a big problem for me. As I've lived I find the more junk I have the more junk breaks. (just had to replace a dryer) The hard one for me is would I be bitter if I lost my kids or wife to tragedy? Would I turn my back on God? I'd like to say no I wouldn't turn on God with every degree of certainty in my body. I'd like to be like my grandma who has shown she is a rock in her faith as she has lost two husbands and two children in her life not to mention friends and other family members. Would I stand by God no matter what? I am going to go public and say yes. Now it is your job to hold me to it. I just pray that you never have to.

America

For quite some time we hear some say that we are experiencing God's punishment for the way America has turned its ear from God. What if we aren't experiencing God's punishment but his mercy? He knows that continuing down the path of riches and power will keep us on the path of hell. "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for the rich to get to heaven", Jesus said. Our lack of a dependance on God has allowed us to think we can make it on our own. We typically have all we need on any given day. We don't have to go outside every morning and pick manna off the ground. We have a fridge stocked full of goodies. Maybe the economic slow down is a good thing. Maybe, just maybe we as a county will realize we are ulitmately in control of nothing. If not the country, then at least maybe you and I.

If today was your last day...

If today was my last day I think I would play with my kids, have a long talk with my wife, call a couple friends who I have been praying for and spend time with God. Sounds like a good day so maybe I should live like it is my last day. After all the Bible says life is like a vapor.

One big Guy

"Once every fifty years God shows us just how small we really are." Bonus points if you can nail down the movie that quote is from. The truth of the matter is God shows us how small we are every day if we look for it. I was reminded of that today. We are a part of such a vast universe. So many galaxies, planets, stars and yet God chose this little planet to send His only Son to die. I cannot begin to fathom the why. I don't think that is my job to figure out the why. Bottom line my finite mind couldn't put it together even if the answer stared me in the face. What I do know is that God loves me. I know that He is worthy of my praise. He is to be feared. He made this vast place we call the universe in 6 days. I can barely clean up my garage in a day with the help of my entire family. God is big. God loves me. God is God. Which leads me to this thought: Who am I to question anything He does.

Do I miss it?

I was reading about the life of Jesus and wondered. Was Mary confused? She was told that she would bring into the world the Messiah, the King of Kings. Yet she saw Him hanging on a cross. Jesus was never a King. Not a King like we think of. Did she question God as she watched her Son hang on a cross? My bet is she thought Jesus would not die there. If I were her I would probably have expected God Himself to come out of the heavens and start tearing things up. Mary had much faith to believe the way she did from such a young age but my guess is her faith was rattled for those three days Jesus lay dead in a tomb. Thoughts of why or how could you take my Son from me. May I always remember that God is in control. If I can keep my focus on Him my vision will always be perfect.

Let me say thanks for taking your precious time to check my thoughts out. Let me be the first to say I am not an English major nor a man who sees himself as having things figured out. I, to be truthful, am doing this so that I might grow closer to God in conveying my thoughts daily. I thought friends have probably been wondering for years what is going on inside my head so here is your chance. Enter at your own risk.

Is it any wonder?

Is it any wonder that we killed Jesus? If Jesus were in human form today would we treat him any differently than he was treated in the days he walked the earth? For example: He was seen by many as a form of entertainment. "What is this Jesus fella going to do next? Did you hear he brought some guy back to life the other day? I can't wait to see what He does next." Yet when life and death hung in the balance where were his "fans"? "Poor sap must have done something wrong. Idiot claimed He was God. I sure will miss His cool magic tricks though."
So how do we view Him today? "Oh Jesus if you help me out of this I won't do ______ anymore. I promise." "Church was kinda boring today. I felt the pastor was just a bit off his game." Would we as proclaimed people that love God be willing to lay our lives on the line for Him? I have often thought I would. However, am I living like I would? Just like in a marriage we husbands would brashly say we would die for our wife or kids. But.....but are we daily giving of ourselves to our families or are we all about self. The same applies to our walk with God doesn't it? So I ask myself again, would I die for Him? More importantly, am I living for Him?