The best purchase I have made in the last year was a GPS (global positioning satellite). I can get directions to and from anywhere in the country. The directions are clear and precise. The soft voice alerts me to upcoming turns, and if I make a wrong turn or miss the directions the GPS will give me a friendly reminder that I need to turn around. I have become so fond of the voice in my GPS that I have gone as far as to give her a name. Her name is Brandy and some of you have already met her. Since my arrival in Oak Ridge two months ago, Brandy and I have been virtually inseparable. If I am in my car, she is there with me.
Now, to make a long story short, for a brief time two weeks ago, I remembered that I was a man and did not need Brandy to get me where I was going. I knew exactly where to go and where to turn. Now this would not have been such a problem anywhere else, but I found out real quick if you make a wrong turn in Oak Ridge, you may end up surrounded by men with guns strapped to both arms and both legs, as well as bomb sniffing dogs. Yes my friends, if you make a wrong turn in Oak Ridge, like me, you may end up at the gates to Y12. Unlike Brandy, these less than friendly voiced men, did not speak in a nice soft voice telling me that I needed to turn around. Instead, in a voice that could make a grown man cry, I was told to turn the car off, place the keys on the dash, and do not move. Now, many of you may know by now that I am seldom at a loss for words, so I made it known to men that I was a minister and I was just going to turn around and go about my business. (FYI- normally the whole minister thing works in certain situations, but obviously not at the gates of Y12). After 15 minutes of interrogation, an identification check and an unsuccessful attempt at evangelism, I was allowed to turn around and find my way back in the right direction. If only I would have had Brandy with me, this whole thing would not have happened; I would not have made a wrong turn. You can bet she was back in the car with me the next morning.
Well, I think that life in general is like that. At times we make wrong turns and sometimes we get off track. Do you know why that happens? It is because we refuse to listen for that still small voice that comes from our other GPS, the bible. We refuse to believe the directions God gives us for living are clear and precise. We do not take the time to read and apply the bible to our everyday lives, as we should. Then when we are faced with problems, we get the attitude I had, when I did not need Brandy to get me where I was going. We know how to get through life on our own and we do not need anyone’s help. Then suddenly we find we have made a wrong turn and it may take us a while to get turned around and find our way back in the right direction. Friends, if ever you are searching for direction and not sure which way to go, you do not have to figure it out on your own. Listen for the directions, which come from the bible and you, will see that it truly is a GPS full of Godly Perspectives and Strategies on direction for your life.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
We are Breaking Ground and Moving Dirt!
The grading and building permits have been issued, the equipment is arriving on the site and First Christian Church is moving forward.
Join us in celebrating!!
Stay tuned for weekly updates during the service and in weekly emails from Michael.
Monday, September 1, 2008
A New Way to Teach!
A couple of weeks ago, I was playing video games with one of the youth in our
church, and seeing the mural on his bedroom wall reminded of a time shortly after I
became an uncle to the greatest niece and nephew a guy could have. You see, when I
first became and uncle there were several things that I was looking forward to
teaching my niece and nephew. Since I am the smarter of my mom’s two children (I can say that as I am sure my sister will not see this newsletter article), there are certain things that Ashley and Zachary will not learn unless their Uncle Michael teaches them. One of the things I looked most forward to teaching them has now come under some revisions and I am not sure how I will accomplish the task. I so looked
forward to teaching them how to name the planets in order. Well, I have struggled how I am going to do this since some group of know-it-all scientists have stripped Pluto of its official planet status. At the time, this change led to many discussions with students at Lexington Theological Seminary as well as
some talk among other colleagues. I am sure at this point, you are wondering how this minor change will affect the way I teach them the planets in order. Well, let me explain. Not all that long ago when I was in third grade, I memorized the planets by a nice little mnemonic that went something like this. My Very Energetic Mother Just Served Us Nine Pickles. I thought this was brilliant. Each letter in the sentence corresponded with the order of the planets. (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) This was something that I was sure I would be able to pass on to children, as I grew older. Now, comes the dilemma. What will my very energetic mother serve now? Nachos? Noodles? Nectarines? I am sure I will find an “N” word that will make the planets teachable again, but is it that important. Is there something else that I can teach my niece and nephew that will benefit them as they grow? There is, and it has nothing to do with the planets or anything they will learn in school.
So often, we want to teach our children so that they can get passing grades in school, so they will receive full scholarships to college, in order to go out and get high paying jobs in the future. What benefit is that to them though? Sure, a good education helps, and we all want the best for the children in our lives, but there is something we tend to overlook. Something found within scripture. Proverbs 22:6, tells us we are to “Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.” This is not a suggestion from Solomon; it is a command. We are to train children in the faith. We are to train them up to know and believe in a loving God, we are to train them up to know the saving grace we received from the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus. We are to train them up so that in times of trials
and tribulations, they will not turn away from, but turn to God and the Bible for support and guidance.
The next time you are looking for something to teach your child, introduce them to the teachings in the greatest textbook they will ever possess. Train them up in the way of the Bible and when old, they will not stray.
church, and seeing the mural on his bedroom wall reminded of a time shortly after I
became an uncle to the greatest niece and nephew a guy could have. You see, when I
first became and uncle there were several things that I was looking forward to
teaching my niece and nephew. Since I am the smarter of my mom’s two children (I can say that as I am sure my sister will not see this newsletter article), there are certain things that Ashley and Zachary will not learn unless their Uncle Michael teaches them. One of the things I looked most forward to teaching them has now come under some revisions and I am not sure how I will accomplish the task. I so looked
forward to teaching them how to name the planets in order. Well, I have struggled how I am going to do this since some group of know-it-all scientists have stripped Pluto of its official planet status. At the time, this change led to many discussions with students at Lexington Theological Seminary as well as
some talk among other colleagues. I am sure at this point, you are wondering how this minor change will affect the way I teach them the planets in order. Well, let me explain. Not all that long ago when I was in third grade, I memorized the planets by a nice little mnemonic that went something like this. My Very Energetic Mother Just Served Us Nine Pickles. I thought this was brilliant. Each letter in the sentence corresponded with the order of the planets. (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) This was something that I was sure I would be able to pass on to children, as I grew older. Now, comes the dilemma. What will my very energetic mother serve now? Nachos? Noodles? Nectarines? I am sure I will find an “N” word that will make the planets teachable again, but is it that important. Is there something else that I can teach my niece and nephew that will benefit them as they grow? There is, and it has nothing to do with the planets or anything they will learn in school.
So often, we want to teach our children so that they can get passing grades in school, so they will receive full scholarships to college, in order to go out and get high paying jobs in the future. What benefit is that to them though? Sure, a good education helps, and we all want the best for the children in our lives, but there is something we tend to overlook. Something found within scripture. Proverbs 22:6, tells us we are to “Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.” This is not a suggestion from Solomon; it is a command. We are to train children in the faith. We are to train them up to know and believe in a loving God, we are to train them up to know the saving grace we received from the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus. We are to train them up so that in times of trials
and tribulations, they will not turn away from, but turn to God and the Bible for support and guidance.
The next time you are looking for something to teach your child, introduce them to the teachings in the greatest textbook they will ever possess. Train them up in the way of the Bible and when old, they will not stray.
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