If Ever The Sun Fails

No...this is not a global warming warning, or anything of the kind. I simply can not wait until Jesus returns, and we all are at the foot of The Throne of God worshipping and singing and praising Him forever.

I know that some of my friends are turned off by any discourse of spiritual matters, and for that I can only offer prayers for your heart to see what I see when I think of Jesus. Anyway, this isnot about you, it is about me. This week I have had two serious conversations with my parents about a not-so-happy moment for me when one or both of my parents shed their mortal coil and go to their mansion prepared for them in God's House (John 14). Selfishly, I admit that I don't want to see them go, that I wish I could have their light, their energy, and their insight for as long as I am on planet earth, but that is not realistic or healthy.

I love my parents, and although I put them through Hell on earth a few years ago for quite a few years, I am so very proud to have been raised by two of the greatest Christian people to walk the walk. They are truly humble and obedient to God's teaching. They bring light and life to every place they go and everyone they meet.

So, while we live for Christ, showing all we have contact with His love and His gospel, the humanity is still undeniable that we all will fade from this world and become new creatures with a new home after our death. This truth doesn't help deal with the reality of parents in need while still on earth. These questions and more are hard and inevitable as we adults try to plan and decide what to do in case of the worst (or the best, depending on the vantage point).

Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming ...

Dory could be my favorite movie character of all time - the little bright blue fish with short term memory loss and the knack to remain so positive is definitely in the top five, and if I weighed the pros and cons, I could waste an hour and argue she is the best. However, that is not the point of this diatribe. I have learned so much this last year. I learned that 'failure' is not a noun, but a verb. Interestingly enough, so is 'success'. I learned that while I wallow in self-pity and despair from the inability to get my career moving, allowing petty things like no money and a failing grade in algebra to keep me from achieving my Bachelor's Degree up until now, not being able to re-enter the work force after twelve years of being a stay home dad, my body's steady decline of strength and resilience and inability to perform athletically all made me unhappy to the point of despair.

These things don't get me down today, even though they are all real and potentially depression creating. There is only one reason - love - as my high school choir teacher so eloquently would say, "Not the 'l*u*v' that country western singers describe, but the big 'L', the real thing." This one thing is my solace. Like Dory, I do enjoy adventure. Over the years I have become crippled by failure, but not so long ago I would plunge into any situation just to do it, to feel alive. The failure that had me sidelined has been evaporated by love. Love of a Creator who made me, knows me, and wants me to willingly become His follower. His love sent to earth a Savior, Jesus, who took all the crap and ugliness of my life and washed it away with His blood as He died for all my sins, even though He was sinless Himself. That kind of love is so worth getting off my pity poor caboose and trying again.

Love is not just a spiritual thing, because my wife proves every minute of every day how much love can do. She is a wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, neighbor, and friend. An amazingly dedicated and skilled nurse, she has been relegated to middle management supervisor and now is the whipping boy of her managers, who dump every unenviable task on her because they can. I often used to ask why she puts up with such behavior from her bosses, and she has told me time and time again - it finally soaked into this very thick melon atop my shoulders - she has to do this because without it we have no food, no house, nothing for the kids. She takes all the abuse and goes back day after day out of love for us, her family.

The love is not exclusive with God and my wife. I continue to receive love from two wonderful and generous parents, who have had their share of humiliation and disappointment having to raise a son like me. Yet they remain steadfast, and keep me and my family in their present thoughts and prayers. The same could be said for my in laws, who have graciously opened their lives to me and love me as if I was theirs.

I have some very good friends as well. I am truly blessed to have so much. Like Dory, I know that no matter what obstacle arises I meet it and "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming."

Much Ado Becomes Much Doo-Doo

So much fuss ... Such a negative buzz ... One simple speech directed to the children of the United States from our President in order to inspire and motivate students created far more "ado" than it was worth. The pre-speech conversations, blogs, and articles stirred up so much negativity, and the post speech words were filled with vile and ugly sentiment. The speech was not the FDR "infamy" speech, or JFK's "Ask not what your country can do for you ...", and it was not as evil as Clinton's "I did not have sexual relations with that woman", or Nixon's "I am not a crook" that attempted to overlook moral certainties.

The nasty and ugly words that grew from the attitudes of prejudice against the President, his political party, or whatever caused them were the most disturbing parts of this story. Even yesterday, after the speech had been given, dissected, and spun, the pundits and the people continued to debate over it's value. Family and friends I dearly love and respect so passionately wrote and spoke in terms of hate and negativity. They have every right to speak their mind, but tainted words and phrases such as "lack of trust", or "brainwashing" in opposition to the speech create a very uncool vibe, even if it gets the best meaning. Obama is the President of the United States, not Svengali, or some cult leader like Jones or Koresh.

This anti - Obama vibe is very sad and upsetting. I tell you I am a Bible believing, active follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Christian. Politically, I am a liberal financially, and a moderate socially. I am registered as an independent because I can't be on either political team. I have more kids than the average American, with two still in public school. To top off this diatribe, I am an educator in training. So, my spiritual belief system, political views, familial situation, and my career path lead me to hope that instead of polarizing and dividing, that short-sighted and passionate people would think of the situation in terms of Jesus and not personal "ado".

The saddest part is the 'Christian' church takes a beating by those who are outside and need to excuse and justify there behaviors and attitudes because of short-sighted un Christ-like church people. I fail to classify either side as ignorant, but when either side of the argument has nothing to stand on except prejudice, then that is an ignorant behavior. President Barack Obama's speech on September 8, 2009 to students in the U.S.A. is a great example. When "Christians" err, then the agnostic or athiest don't hear the message, even when the message is Bible-based and from the words of Jesus or His apostles. Passionate vapor as opposed fundamental truth is not distinguished by those who need the message - which is all humanity.

More important than the debate, the rhetoric, and all the posturing is the loss of opportunity to demonstrate Christ's love and understanding. There is also the filtering of young minds by mom, dad, or the pastor against authority in general, the President specifically, where they don't listen, process, and use information because they have been modeled. "A mind is a terrible thing to waste," but a relationship with Jesus is far more important.

Inconsistent Coach, Inconsistent Defense

Please explain to me, because I don't understand why one spoiled child throws a tantrum and you send him packing, and another spoiled child gets suspended for his tantrum? Cutler is a baby, a spoiled, egocentric, coddled man-child and he is gone. Marshall is a rare talent, with ego to overshadow, ala T. O., Ocho Cinco, and Moss, and his antics just punish the team. Suspend him so his agent can continue to grind the press, so the offense struggles without him. What has history proven that the suspension will solve?
History of both Marshall and other prima donna wideouts is that they continue to divide locker rooms and pout until the cancer is so widespread the season becomes a joke for the players, coaches, but mostly the fans --- those who actually pay the team to play.
This article is newsworthy but the statement of kid coach is just a joke. My original prediction of 6 to 8 wins could be way too high - and preseason is still droning on.

My Fickled Americans

Can we learn from history? The answer is yes, we can, but do we? Sodom and Gomorrah, Tyre and Sydon, the Fall of the Roman Empire, all are lessons the founding fathers of the United States used as bad examples of government, as well as others. But today, when the bleak picture is painted of our American economy, using consumerism (I know that is a big oversimplification, but it is on point) to boost the country's financial situation, while the institutions receiving the $$$ are keeping it. So how is that Obama's fault?

Recent surveys and polls show the President's approval rating and the country's confidence in him slipping. Let us all take a breath and have a reality check - He has been in office less than nine months. I'm not saying he has all the answers, and I'm not saying the man who preceded him didn't. In fairness, G. W. had two terms, and he didn't get very much accomplished due to partisan politics in the legislature. But come on, you start a new job that is hurting and your boss expects overnight success and immediate results - that is unfair.

My history example is the children of Israel in the book of Exodus. Slaves in Egypt, they cried to God for freedom. God gives it to them, and they complain about shortages and hard times now that they're free. God says okay, and provides for their needs. He summons Moses to receive the laws on the mountain, and the people gripe and moan, and begin to stray from what they know is right and start to party like it's 1999. Then they complain about the length of the walk, and so on. They are never happy, and Moses goes from hero to goat so much it is absurd.

At least let the process take it's course. Give President Obama chance to do his job before you rise up and vilify him for a bad job. Good grief, Charlie Brown, or America, you're such a block headed nation!

Spiritual Retreat

Almost one week ago my wife and two youngest children (S4 & D3 if you need names) and my large carcass had an amazing, uplifting, "mountain top" experience at the Verizon Amphitheater in Irvine, California where we walked up and down steep hills in over 100 degree heat and watched from 3.30 pm until after 11 pm as six different artists or bands sang 4 - 6 songs apiece and one pastor from Compassion International spoke about giving and putting your faith into action. The six bands/artists were Francesca Battestelli, Needtobreathe, Matthew West, Phil Wickham, Jars of Clay, and MercyMe. Bob Lenz was very funny and yet very poignant with his message.

There is nothing like a Christian concert. As Bart, I have seen him twice now so I can call him Bart, the lead vocalist for MercyMe said, "Concerts are cool, hanging with folks you don't know with that 'We Are The World' vibe," there is really very little to distract one from a true and wholesome worship experience. I was so joy-filled (as was my wife) as we watched our 10 and 12 year old sing, listen, and really kick back and let the Holy Spirit flow through them in worship.

Matthew West sang "The Motions", which could be one of the greatest songs of all times, MercyMe sang "I Can Only Imagine", which IS one of the greatest, and gifted men and women sang many, many other songs on radio, CD, or iPod, but my wife and I talked about "Bring the Rain" by MercyMe is just the theme of our lives. If you know the song, and you know anything about my physically gorgeous and spiritually beautiful spouse, you know we have been through our share of trials, individually and collectively. The last verse truly sums it up for the Huntley family:

I am Yours regardless of

The clouds that may loom above

Because You are much greater than my pain

You who made a way for me

By suffering Your destiny

So tell me what’s a little rain

All the things that my wife has to endure because she is married to me, and the kids surgeries and life struggles, all of that seems to just hone her faith into something so strong and amazing. I have been working on my life, growing and changing for His betterment of me, working hard on not focusing on my failures but on God's future for me, and all the stuff we wade through daily seems insignificant.

The festival was a great blessing, and I am reminding myself while I share with you that I need to walk in faith and keep walking, and not be paralyzed with stupid fears and baggage of my past.

Long Live The Intelligent and The Emotional

Mankind puts a lot of importance on subjective analysis like tests and grades - this is how we judge intelligence. There are even more subjective assessments, like listening to someone speak, and reading words written in letters, books, and other documents. There are two large problems with the shining such a big light on intelligence. The first and most important is that ability to test well, or use big words in speaking or writing, or get the best grades is no guarantee that a person is the most intelligent. Another major flaw in exalting the most intelligent over all is that humans are brains and emotions. These problems in my opinion have lead Americans to believe and trust in people who are great debaters, logicians, and philosophizers, and are in human terms vapor or smoke.

In the same manner others on the planet shift only on the emotional response, with no regard for logic, evidence, or reason. These humans "feel" everything, and a general rule is that they shift behaviors like the weather in the Rocky Mountains. One minute is sunny and without notice a rain storm hits - the next day could bring snow or maybe sun again. The feelings we have as people is not to rule us, but to be tempered by our intellect. Many things we feel in one moment will be gone soon, and thus man emotionally driven humans are left empty and bitter.

I personally know people who believe that the brain is the ultimate controlling piece of human tissue. Sensory and emotional receptors are either neglected or intentionally shut off to allow the power of thought to overtake every fiber of their being. Others like Thoreau seclude themselves and do nothing but chastise, ridicule and blame in order to justify their plight. I am in no way saying that the intelligence of man is to be overshadowed by the emotions inherent in us all. I am saying that glorifying brain over the other vital parts of human essence is wrong.

Some people are talented with their hands, growing crops, building things, creating art, cooking, and other things. Others are thinkers, planners, managers, and coaches who so successfully find things for everyone to do and figure how parts fit together. The old adage of "doers" and "thinkers" does apply. The argument that "I am a thinker, therefore I am exempt from productivity, and I am the 'moral compass' due to my vast intelligence" is a flawed argument. Voltaire has been proven right time and time again when he said, "power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely." Unfortunately the opposite is vastly true as well - that the absence of power corrupts as well. Too many Americans sit on their overweight cabooses, watch agenda driven TV, and draw conclusions without any principles or actions to back them up.

It is a fact that over fifty percent of Americans do not participate in the process of government set up for them - the vote. Yet everyone, voters and non-voters alike gripe and complain when they are not beneficially compensated, or when an official errs somehow. This past 4th of July I spent the evening at the local fireworks show put on by the city of Corona, CA, where a parade and all day party were in progress when we arrived at dusk. Before the fireworks show, a WWII veteran who was a resident of Corona was honored.

This Navy Captain had been a POW, had survived the Bataan Death March, and had received doctoral degrees in Psychology and Theology. This man who was shrunken due to age has such a story - he lived his life. No "woulda' shoulda' coulda'" with him. His example to all is like that of the apostle Paul from the Bible the man had a life lived, and knew where he was destined. He didn't live for power, fame, money, or personal gratification. He knew that actions had to marry words. He talked about belief and emotions, and he argued intellectually about a relationship with God. There is a bond between our emotions and our intelligence. To ignore one and exalt the other is not good stewardship.

Ripping the Constitution - Between Church and State

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The above is the exact wording of the first amendment to the U. S. Constitution. My only question is, when did San Diego secede and form their own laws? This article about a Bible study intrigued me greatly.

I guess a second question is, Is California so deep in debt that ANY possible financial tributary must be drained dry?

I sincerely hope that City officials think long and hard - and that God's people would pray without ceasing - for this situation. Please click the hyperlink to read the article.

How Blessed Am I

I have seen three of the greatest Christian Bands in the last thirteen months - MercyMe, Casting Crowns and now I have heard Third Day live - just the best of the best. Not only do these bands take their talent and job as musicians very serious and lay down some tremendous rock and roll licks with fantastic harmonies and Spirit-filled lyrics, they go over and above donating money from every concert to phenomenally important causes. Anyway, it has been 25 hours since my wife and I left the church and my spirit feels more stoked than after a week at church camp in the majestic mountains of Colorado.

Mac Powell is just incredibly blessed. His voice is so deep and pure, and his power is indescribable. His abilities are immense and the irony is his frame is so small. As a band I have been a fan for years, and finally I saw them live. I have been to many concerts in my lifetime, from Donny and Marie to ZZ Top and the Scorpions, from Up With People to DC Talk. There are just a few bands ever that sound best when they play live. Singers like Amy Grant, Crystal Lewis, the Carpenters, and Neil Diamond are all far better on a recording than live. John Denver, the Eagles, U2, ZZ Top, America, Casting Crowns, and Third Day are the greatest live "shows" I have ever witnessed.

The most important factor that sets MercyMe, Casting Crowns and Third Day apart is their allegiance to the Holy Spirit in their Lyrics as well as their concert. MercyMe and Crowns were the most dynamic worship experiences I ever had, and Third Day was a fantastic worship service not so clandestinely disguised as just an old school rock and roll Praise concert.

Sharing this magnificent time with the Lord, my wife and two dear friends are memories I'll treasure until I sit at Jesus' feet praising God with ALL the saints - the word awesome doesn't even scratch the surface of my being's euphoria. I wish my vocabulary could do justice to how vast and awesome I feel after being blessed. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me such a blessing.

Irony

Today I received an email from our mortgage company about planting a tree by going paperless - online payments, correspondence, etc. This pleased me, considering we have been switching all our bills to the world wide web, thus eliminating the need for paper. The email was a powerful ad until I read some small type in the lower right hand corner. "Click here to Print"

My Character

My squawking all these years on this blog has been about one theme - character! I am so upset at myself when my own character does not fit what I strive for. I want to be the coolest, most patient, loving, and good person - a person who's inner strength is so awesome that it picks up everyone around me, and they ask "What is it about that guy?"

I have spent most of my life worrying about how I was perceived by people. I wanted acceptance of people more than God, and even though I believed and accepted Christ as my Savior, my life was a mess of cataclysmic proportion. I now know that while I have been given gifts and abilities, my allegiance to God as God is far more important than any gratification I receive by men and women. I am also wishing for my children to understand this principle through my example, and they will see Christ living in me, not just 'lip service'.

One thing I tend to do is focus on popular people (generally in the realm of sports) who have little-to-no-character, and make them negative examples. Sometimes, or once in a while, this is good, but it is my experience that the human animal responds best to positive stimulus, example, or encouragement, and so it is my goal to be more like Christ now, in ten minutes, at bedtime, tomorrow, next week, and beyond. The plethora of bad character examples will have to fend for themselves. I will endeavor to no longer give them credence.

I am amazed at how I still am working on traits, quirks, and character issues in my own life - I asked myself, "Self, why did you think/say that?" or "Why don't you tell him/her which way is up?" or a myriad of other selfish, un-Christ-like behaviors, and still want to take back words or actions long since gone and printed on my pages in my book. Luckily, my errors have been erased, or washed away by an act I can not even fathom, Jesus dying for me. But as Paul told the Roman church we should not sin just to receive more grace from God, but we should follow Christ, his teachings and his example of living. It is awesome that Jesus was not a "do as I say, not as I do" leader.

Thank you God, for your grace and forgiveness. Thank you for sticking with me even though I am so not worthy of anything you have done for me. Help me to act grateful, not just give words of thanks.

Old Pottery, New Hope

I truly believe that God has told us what we need to know. Not necessarily the tap-you-on-the-shoulder and audibly directing us as He did with Moses, Isaiah, and Elijah. We have His words in 66 books known as the Bible. His story written by men and women to share His thoughts , His heart, and His plan for us in narrative, poetry, prophetic, and historical about people who believed, who were used for and/or touched by His glory.

I am not unequivocally dismissing direct revelation today, because I am not smart or holy enough to limit God in any way, but there are many things I hear 'that make me go hmm'. When scripture says, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38 NIV), there are very important and simple principles laid out for the human, and yet much is left to further hermeneutics study and interpretation. In short this one cornerstone verse of scripture from the beginning of the church can be viewed, argued, discussed, or taught in a number of ways because of an individual and their personal 'baggage' that filters or directs the head and the heart. This week I was told that my faith and my destiny were in question because I had never personally had a 'Holy Spirit moment' of one of the gifts such as 'tongues, prophecy, or healing' (these were the three he referred to specifically).

The gentleman and I were talking about the church because of a t-shirt I was wearing, and he began to relate to me instances in his life with other pastors who had the audacity to challenge his testimony, yet he then spiritually 'drop-kicked' me due to my lack of manifestations of gifts as laid out by the apostle Paul. His ministry was with a Church that has been very big in the Inland Empire of southern California, and he wasn't contrite for argument's sake, but he truly had me befuddled. He is a friendly and loving man. He just had a very interesting habit of changing meanings or not being able to recall scripture that help defend his feelings or beliefs.

When I would either quote or reference scripture to ask him to think about his defiant stance, he would tell me that the true meaning of my reference was something all-together different. To the point, he told me straight up, "When anyone prays for something like a healing or a tangible thing, and God doesn't answer your prayer by granting the request, the fault lies with the person praying, because God NEVER says no to any request." I asked him about David and the temple, and Paul and his "thorn in the flesh", and he had rationalizations (to me, anyhow) to deny each example.

This rambling is not to seek vengeance or satisfaction, but honestly to seek answers. Since I am the only one reading my writing, maybe in my study I can come across, answers, or this is one of those 'agree to disagree' topics, not important for the gospel message, but just a question for God after judgement.

Why Can't I Be Like Marty McFly?

Thanks to old Doc Brown, Marty went back in the past to escape the terrorists. It was there he was able to improve his future.

Why can't we all have the same opportunity?

The attitudes of yesterday shape my today, and clearly affect my tomorrow. The ability to change those attitudes is not just an electric impulse, in a nanosecond changed wishing to continue anew, like a baseball from a pitcher's hand changes direction immediately when struck by a bat. The Apostle Peter exemplifies that philosophy. While a direct and conscious change time does take place, the human mind must work through it's programming to effectively affect change in behavior. Peter told Jesus that he knew Jesus was God in the flesh, come to save the world. Yet it was Peter who was going to war with the Romans at Jesus' arrest, and it was Peter who denied Christ at the time of the crucifixion.

Interestingly, the ball/bat analogy is what the term repent implies. Turning around from a thought or behavior, a 180 degree 'about face'.

Change is fun, exciting, and sometimes hard.

Changing the layout of the living room - easy, fresh, and fun!

Changing the colors of a bathroom or bedroom, even changing a clothing style is fun and challenging.

Changing behavior patterns is hard - sometimes painstakingly hard - but very, very do-able.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (NIV)

It is not 'science fiction'!