TEST YOUR IQ and Get a FREE HOT DOG

I just tried taking one of those "TEST YOUR IQ" quizzes. I should have known something was up when I got a popup ad after the first question and nearly all of the questions are really easy. When I finished I couldn't get my brilliant test results until I gave my cell phone number. Once I gave them the good ol' 555-1234 number, clearly I am a genius, I was told that my results were only one screen away, as long as I agreed to sign up for some web service like online dating or find out who is searching for you or something dumb like that. I quickly or maybe not so quickly realized that this was not a legitimate IQ test and I was not a genius. Perhaps 10 questions is not enough to determine if you are truly a genius.

This has reminded me of a story. A long time ago, I know it is long because it was before I had any children and that seems like a really long time ago; my wife, Amy, and I were shopping at the mall. We were new to the area and this was not a mall that we knew very well. Amy stepped into a store and I decided to hang outside the store and look around. While I was standing there I was approached by this very nice lady with a clip board. Now usually when someone with a clip board approaches in the mall you quickly divert your eyes to some store you would never go in and start running away. But this time was different. She walked up to me quietly and asked if she could ask me a few questions. She even said that I could get a "FREE HOT DOG" if I was willing to help her out. My goodness, a kind person who would give me a free hot dog, if I only answered a few questions. So I said, OK. It seemed pretty harmless. A few questions and then the free hot dog.

Then she said, I will need you to come to our office, which was a few stores down. OK now this was getting a little complicated. How would I leave and not let Amy know that I would be a few stores down securing a free lunch for the both of us. But don't worry, because Amy walked out right as I was about to turn down the hot dog lady. So I quickly said to Amy, come with me I need to answer some questions and we will get a free lunch. Amy was not happy but she decided to come along anyway (this was prior to her developing her keen bad idea sniffing ability).

Unfortunately we would have to go into separate little offices to answer questions. They were actually little booths with pulled curtains. You could pretty much hear everything going on in the store. And I could hear Amy answering her marketing questions.

Yes. No. I don't know. Yes. No. Why do you need to know that? Yes. What? No. NO. NO. Johnny I am getting out of here.

Oops, I better go.

I learned that day that none of the clip board people can be trusted.

But lately I am understanding that it is not their fault. While Satan may not be behind the online IQ test or clip board people at the mall, he is behind plenty of phishing techniques that try to pull me away from God every day. It is easy to blame those slick computer spammers and hackers or the crafty clip board people, but it is my shortcomings and sinful nature that is to blame. It is probably not a sin to have fun with a game on the internet or to do something crazy and talk to a marketing person, but it is our purpose for participating that gets us into trouble.

I was most certain that I would get the highest or at least close to the highest IQ for the day, since I am so incredibly smart. Obviously I am personally responsible for my enormous IQ. I suppose I was hoping for a little self recognition and ego inflation. With all of that ego there is not much room for God.

And who can pass up a hot dog and a FREE one at that. Another desire for inflation, although, the hot dogs will stick around a little longer than the IQ test results. Food gets in the way of many things in my life. Unfortunately it is mostly God.

I started a new way of reading the Bible yesterday. It is not my own idea, it is from John MacArthur. I will read all of 1 John once a day every day for thirty days. By the end of thirty days I should have a good grasp for what is said in the book and be in a better position to apply its teachings to my life on a daily, hourly, minutely (pretty sure this is not a word, but you get my point) basis. Next, I move on to the Book of John. 1st seven chapters for thirty days, next seven chapters next thirty days, final chapters next thirty days. Then I move on to another small book. In about 2 1/2 years I will have ready the entire New Testament and hopefully retained most of it. Without that constant reminder in my soul of God's desires for me, it is very easy to let my personal and worldly desires get in the way.

This is the last verse of the Book of 1 John. "Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts." 1 John 5:21.

Mighty To Save

A few weeks ago my family visited a different church. As we were walking in, late unfortunately as usual, there were kids standing across the front of the stage singing "Mighty To Save." My wife, recently got a Michael W. Smith CD, A New Hallelujuah, which has the song on it. It is a really powerful song. My daughter, Emma, really loves it. A lot of the times she will say, "Play the song that the kids were singing." Sometimes she and I go for a ride to pick up dinner and we listen to the song and sing the words out loud. What a great feeling to hear your little girl singing a song about the vast greatness of our Lord.

I am trying to imagine the songs the little kids might have liked to sing whose parent decided that because of losing a job, the fear of losing their home, the dreadful thought of not being able to provide for their family led them to believe that life was not worth living and took the lives of their family and then their own life. I keep reading this on the news and I just go numb. It is hard to imagine a person manifesting a fear so great, so horrific that the idea of ending the lives of your little children is the best alternative available.

My God help us who know you and believe in what you have done for us to get off of our rears, to push out of our comfort zones and share the Good News that our burdens are not for us to bare and that you and you alone are the answer that we are all looking for in this world. God I pray that you use us Christians to go out and hug our neighbor who is hurting and comfort the strangers in need. Please Lord prepare us to know what to say and when to say it. Help us to seek out those who are on the verge of drastic measures.

Everyone needs compassion

A love that's never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness

The kindness of a Savior

The hope of nations

Savior, He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever, Author of Salvation

He rose & conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me

All my fears & failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in

Now I surrender

Shine Your light & Let the whole world see

We're singing For the glory Of the risen King

Jesus,You're the Savior

You can move the mountains

Lord You are mighty to save

You are mighty to save

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. He can rise superior to every condition through the strength that Christ gives.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:10-19 It is a good work to succour and help a good minister in trouble. The nature of true Christian sympathy, is not only to feel concern for our friends in their troubles, but to do what we can to help them. The apostle was often in bonds, imprisonments, and necessities; but in all, he learned to be content, to bring his mind to his condition, and make the best of it. Pride, unbelief, vain hankering after something we have not got, and fickle disrelish of present things, make men discontented even under favourable circumstances. Let us pray for patient submission and hope when we are abased; for humility and a heavenly mind when exalted. It is a special grace to have an equal temper of mind always. And in a low state not to lose our comfort in God, nor distrust his providence, nor take any wrong course for our own supply. In a prosperous condition not to be proud, or secure, or worldly. This is a harder lesson than the other; for the temptations of fulness and prosperity are more than those of affliction and want. The apostle had no design to urge them to give more, but to encourage such kindness as will meet a glorious reward hereafter. Through Christ we have grace to do what is good, and through him we must expect the reward; and as we have all things by him, let us do all things for him, and to his glory.

Off to a good start

Goodness. It has definitely been a while since I last stopped to put my thoughts into the blogosphere. I suppose the traditional reflection upon the year we just put into the books would be in order.

Many would probably characterize 2008 as a bad year. A year that had lots of awful memories. The residential market has plummeted. Gas was over $4 a gallon. The stock market spiraled. For many people, this past year was not good at all. People I know have been laid off. Others are concerned that their jobs will be lost. It is looking kinda bad.

I have the luxury of not feeling the brunt of such a rough situation. Somehow, I don't believe this is a time to sit back and hope for the best. It is a time in which many are desperate for answers. They are wondering why their "Secret" is no longer their ticket to heaven. They are starting to realize that perhaps there is more to life than making tons of money and having it all. I believe it is time to become more educated on the word of God and more in tune with my beliefs so that I might be a witness to others who find themselves falling into darkness and looking for a way out.

This past year, I discovered that there really is no such thing as luck. I have spent a good deal of my life believing that despite being born on Friday the 13th I have been very lucky. I learned that all that I have and all that I am has been given to me by God. And this past year, I have been very blessed.

I got a new job at a brand new bank that does not have any bad real estate loans, actually wants to make loans and was formed on Christian principles. I actually go to Bible study every Tuesday with 4 to 5 of my co-workers in the bank offices. The bank I was at is in severe financial trouble and will most likely be shut down by the federal reserve and sold to another bank. If I had to guess, my job would have been lost if I was still at that bank. I thank the Lord nearly every day for putting me in my new job.

My friend who had lymphoma is now almost 100% back to normal. He starts going back to work full time next week. Our friendship has continued to grow and I am very thankful that I was allowed to be a part of his life this past year. I don't thank the Lord enough for my good friend and I am looking forward to sharing another year with him and his family.

My parents made it possible for my family to spend a wonderful week in Branson and Springfield. My family grew a lot during that week and I believe some of our dreams were re-invigorated and our principles and values were reinforced. I was also reminded of the wonderful power and majesty of the Lord and was in awe of his creations.

I had the wonderful opportunity to work with my wife in creating a discipleship program at our church. We both learned so many things about ourselves and each other. New talents were discovered, our confidence grew and our desire to serve the Lord grew as well. I am beginning to have a firmer understanding of my beliefs and what God wants from me in this world. I hope to spend this next year doing what I believe God wants me to do.

I will have to admit that at times I start to think about luck a little bit. I start thinking I am so lucky to have the wonderful wife and wonderful daughters that I have. I thank God every day for my family. God has blessed me with two incredible little girls who make me laugh and learn every day. The times we have spent together this past year have truly been blessings.

I have to say, though, one of the biggest blessings in my life is my unbelievable physique. Ok, just kidding. It is actually my wife, Amy. She has taught me so many things this past year. She has inspired me to become more involved and to think deeper about what God expects from me. Unfortunately, I have probably pushed her to her limits of sanity one too many times. I am starting to think this Men from Mars Women from Venus thing is for real. Through my wife's encouragement, knowledge and patience, I have become a better man and a better father this past year. I hope that I have become a better husband.

So here we go. Another year. Will it be another minuscule advance towards some point in the future or will it be the final days or minutes before the return of our King? I can't wait to find out.

Luke 24:13-16 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.