Exodus 35

…“and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills – to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts.” (Exodus 35: 31-33, emphasis mine.)

I have been reading in Exodus for my daily devotionals. A significant portion of the book is devoted to the design and décor of the tabernacle and artifacts. My first response to these chapters is always this is sort of boring, I wonder why it is included in Scripture. Maybe it is to give us a glimpse of what the splendor of heaven will be like. After all, if God puts this much care and detail into an earthly structure, how much more glorious it will likely to be in heaven.

I do like the verses, like the ones above, that acknowledge the creative people who poured their talents into the tabernacle. It is encouraging to know that God endowed these artists with their skills and values and recognizes their work.

I like to think of myself as a creative person, though not with my hands. My creativity is more along the lines of writing, speaking and performing. My wife, however, is very creative with her hands. She is crafty. She knits. She is an excellent crocheter and has perfected her skills over the last 27 years. Her crocheted items are always given as gifts or donated to worthy causes. These verses could have been written about her, if she lived during the time of the book of Exodus:

“Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun – blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen. And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair.” (Exodus 35:25-26.)

On a side note I find it interesting that the Bible notes that women did the spinning. Evidently no men were involved in, or skilled at, this creative endeavor. That stereotype still exists to some extent as few men today are known for their knitting or crocheting skills. My wife has tried to teach me to crochet and honestly, I can’t get the hang of it. I don’t have the skill or the patience for it.

But God did have the skill and the patience for building and designing a breathtaking tabernacle on earth. And He used people to do it. God endowed men with creative gifts that He valued and then gave these individuals the wisdom and skill to match His design down to the very last detail. That’s encouraging to me and helps me see beyond what might be a boring section of Scripture. Exodus, and my wife’s example, remind me that ultimately He created these artistic gifts and wants us to use them for His glory.

My thoughts on the election

I feel a tremendous sense of grief. My body hasn’t processed it yet. It is still welled up inside of me. There is a restless quality to it. And fear. Fear for the future. Fear for Israel. Fear for the unborn. Fear for the rights of gun owners. The list is endless.

It’s not that Romney was my guy. He wasn’t. He wasn’t even my first or second choice. I voted for Senator Santorum in the California primary election. It is more that Obama is definitely not and never will be my guy. For where we are in history, for where we are morally, for where we are fiscally, reelecting President Obama is a disaster for our nation. Don’t believe me? Time will tell. It may not take much time actually.

My wife and I were very involved in the 2008 presidential campaign. We were fond of Governor Palin. We shared a kinship with her. We both have special needs children and avoided the temptation to abort. She is likeable and a solid conservative. We went to campaign rallies, donated money, wore t-shirts, displayed bumper stickers, planted yard signs, wrote letters to the editor. I spent hundreds of hours in prayer for her campaign and the presidential election. As you know, it didn’t turn out so well.

2008 was an exhausting and discouraging experience. This time, it was less exhausting but even more discouraging. This time, I don’t think our nation will survive.

ACCEPTING CONFORMITY

THEME: In a new environment, people sometimes go to great extremes in order to be accepted. Part of this acceptance process can involve conforming to society and losing your own identity and individuality.

SYNOPSIS: This is a mime sketch. An outsider approaches a circle of friends, eager to be accepted. They teach the outsider the dos and don'ts of their group. At first he follows their lead but later feels stifled by the strict and conforming guidelines. In the end, the outsider realizes that true friends will accept him for who he is and not require that he conform to their liking.

A CIRCLE OF ODD NUMBERED FRIENDS, ARMS ENTWINED, IS LAUGHING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME. AN OUTSIDER SEES THE GROUP AND HOPES IT CAN CURE THE LONELINESS HE FEELS. HE APPROACHES, SMILES AND GESTURES THAT HE'D LIKE TO JOIN. RELUCTANTLY THEY AGREE.

THE OUTSIDER IS EXCITED AND SENSING HIS ENTHUSIASM, THE GROUP TEACHES HIM THEIR SPECIAL HANDSHAKE. THE OUTSIDER PROVIDES AN EVEN NUMBER SO EVERYONE HAS SOMEONE TO SHAKE WITH. THE OUTSIDER SLOWLY LEARNS THE DETAILED HANDSHAKE THAT COMES AUTOMATICALLY TO THE OTHER MEMBERS. AFTER A LITTLE FRUSTRATION, THE OUTSIDER FINALLY MASTERS IT.

AFTER THIS, THE GROUP MEMBERS EXAMINE THE OUTSIDER'S CLOTHES AND DEMAND A FEW CHANGES. THEY STICK HIS SHIRT COLLAR UP. THEY TURN HIS CAP BACKWARDS AND MAKE OTHER CHANGES SO HE LOOKS MORE LIKE THEM. HE RESISTS AT FIRST, BUT GIVES UP WHEN HE SEES THE PLEASED LOOK ON THEIR FACES.

NEXT, THE GROUP BEGINS TO PRACTICE THEIR WALK AROUND THE CIRCLE. THE OUTSIDER LAUGHS AT THEIR EXAGGERATED STRUT AND PERSISTS IN WALKING NORMAL. WHEN THEY SEE THIS, THEY SURROUND HIM AND ANGRILY SHAKE FISTS AND FINGERS AT HIM. THEY DEMONSTRATE THE WALK FOR HIM AGAIN. HE TRIES IT A FEW TIMES, BUT SEEMS UNINTERESTED IN IT. HE TRIES TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT BUT THE GROUP DEMANDS THAT HE MASTER THE WALK. EVENTUALLY HE RESENTS THEIR CONFORMITY AND REFUSES TO MASTER THE WALK. HE PUTS HIS COLLAR AND CLOTHES BACK THE WAY THEY WERE AND HE LEAVES THE GROUP. THE GROUP IS ANGRY AT HIS REJECTION. HE IS SMILING AND CONFIDENT AS HE WALKS AWAY.

Acts 12 Devotional

Here are the key points as I see them in regard to Peter's miraculous escape from a jail cell. These points all relate to God's willingness to perform miracles. Believe it or not, we have a role to play in these miracles.

Key number one is our responsibility is to pray. Prayers prompted God's miraculous response. Peter was released from prison as a result of praying people. Verse 5 says ..."but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." It is important to note that the prayers were directed to God, not to some other entity or being. They were praying to the God Peter believed in and preached about. Verse 12 notes ..."where many people had gathered and were  praying." In both of these verses, there is a significant number of people praying corporately. "The church" and "many people" moved God to act.

For key number two we note how God used an angel to enact this miracle. "Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell" (verse 7). After the prison escape, when it dawned on him that this being was an angel, Peter immediately gave credit to God for this miracle. In verse 11 it says "Then Peter came to himself and said, Now I know without a doubt the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating." Later in verse 17 it describes how Peter told the church about the Lord's miracle. Peter's recognition here is significant. God has the right and authority to use angels when He pleases. It is important for us to do as Peter did and acknowledge Him, thanking God for the miracle and not the angel.

The third key from this miraculous chapter is found in verse 6. "The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance." The significant part of this verse is the section, "the night before." God allowed Peter to be imprisoned for a while. He waited until the day before the trial was to start to rescue him. This was a trial in which Peter would most certainly have been found guilty and murdered by Herod. Surely the church would have preferred Peter be rescued right away. Peter, too, was probably eager to get out of that dirty cell and away from death's door. But we must remember that God's timing is not always our timing. He will enact His miracles according to His own time schedule. And His timing always bears fruit. As it says in verse 24, "But the word of God continued to increase and spread." He used Peter's imprisonment and miraculous rescue to point people to Himself and the Word. And as a result many accepted the Gospel.

OFFICE PRAYER

OFFICE PRAYER

SYNOPSIS: 5 corporate executives discuss business in a morning meeting. The skit serves as a reminder not to forget, or be reluctant to include, the power of prayer in every aspect of your life.

SETTING: Executive office boardroom. Characters are well-dressed, business-like. They sit around a table during a meeting.

THE SKIT BEGINS WITH SMALL TALK AS THREE OF THE FIVE CHARACTERS ARE ALREADY IN THE ROOM. TWO ARE SEATED NEXT TO EACH OTHER. THE THIRD IS GETTING COFFEE.

LISA: So, did you have a good weekend?

PHIL: Yah. Marge dragged me to the church picnic yesterday. We had a pretty good time.

LISA: Sounds fun.

GIL: ( SITTING DOWN, WITH  COFFEE IN HAND.) Sure, as long as you don't eat any spoiled potato salad. I remember one church potluck when we got so busy singing we'd forgotten how long we had left the foot out in the sun. I have never been so sick in all of my life.

WALTER ENTERS THE ROOM CARRYING A BRIEFCASE.

WALTER: OK, what are we waiting for? It's 9 AM. Let's get started.

LISA: Susan is not here yet.

WALTER: (SITTING.) So what? That's her loss. I've got work to do. Let's gt this show on the road.

GIL: Yah, you're right. Besides, she'll probably be here any minute. I call this meeting to order. First item, we've got the Hershberg presentation this Friday. How is it coming?

SUSAN: (HURRIEDLY ENTERS THE ROOM.) Sorry I'm late. I got tied up at the copy machine. What's up?

SUSAN SITS DOWN AROUND THE TABLE.

PHIL: We're discussing the Hershberg project. I'm supposed to meet with Mr. Hershberg Friday to make the final presentation. Unfortunately, I can't seem to get all of my materials together. It's gonna be a close call.

WALTER: (IRRITATED.) Oh, come on Phil! We can't keep delaying this. We gave you this project because we thought you could handle it.

SUSAN: Hang on, Walter. Give him a break. Let's at least hear him out.

LISA: Yah. What seems to be the problem, Phil?

PHIL: I'm not really sure. There seems to be a personality conflict between our firm and Hershberg's accounting department. I've contacted them several times to request the financial projection sheets, but I get nowhere. Now they won't even return my calls.

LISA: I don't understand.

PHIL: Well, the way I see it, there may be some resentment between Mr. Hershberg and his people. They may be bitter because he chose to come to us, an outside consulting firm, instead of letting them handle the project.

GIL: Well, that sounds like an internal problem. It's out of our hands.

WALTER: (STANDS UP.) Oh no it's not. We've got to take charge of the situation. What are you Phil, some kind of a wimp or something? You gotta go over to Hershberg's office and have it out with the head of the accounting department. One on one. Put this guy in his place.

SUSAN: I disagree Walter. There's got to be a diplomatic solution to this problem.

PHIL: I've tried everything I can think of. I even had my secretary call over and make the request a few times, just in case it was me they didn't like.

GIL: What about approaching Hershberg? Have you told him of your difficulties?

PHIL: I may have to on Friday. He is out of town until then. You see, when I first met with Hershberg to discuss the project, he pulled in the head of his accounting department. Joe...something or other is his name. Mr. Hersberg told Joe to cooperate with us and give us anything we need. Well, Joe was all smiles and promises then, but none of it has materialized. Mr. Hershberg is a hands-off owner. He's not going to be pleased if we complain of some kind of petty problem between us and his people.

LISA: Well, I don't know that we have any other option.

SUSAN: Have you prayed about it?

WALTER: (LAUGHINGLY.) Has he what?

SUSAN: Have you prayed about it?

PHIL: Well, no, I haven't.

WALTER: Of course he hasn't. This isn't a church thing. We're not missionaries or preachers, we're business people!

SUSAN: I believe God is interested in every aspect of our lives. If you have a personal relationship with Him you tell Him if your kids are sick. Or you pray if you're having marital problems. Why shouldn't you pray about problems at work?

WALTER: (ANGRILY.) This is ridiculous. You can't sit back and let these people walk all over you. You gotta take the bull by the horns. You know where I stand. I'm outta here. You'll have to resolve this problem without me. (WALTER BEGINS TO STORM OUT OF THE ROOM.) (SARCASTICALLY.) Pray about it!

WALTER EXITS.

SUSAN: (STANDING.) Listen, I'm sorry that Walter left the room. I didn't mean for that to happen. I just feel like prayer is an honest way to deal with the problem.

LISA: Well, honestly, I don't have much experience praying. But I kind of like the idea. I think we should pray at all of our meetings.

GIL: OK. Maybe we should pray at the end of our meetings so Walter can leave if he'd like.

SUSAN: Sure. Is that OK with you, Phil?

PHIL: You bet. Now I'll be reminded to pray about it on my own and as a group we can ask God for help to continue to prepare and act diplomatically through Friday. And for a spirit of cooperation to surface between us and the accounting department.

GIL: OK. This meeting is adjourned. Let's pray.

ALL FOUR CHARACTERS BOW IN PRAYER AS SKIT ENDS.

NEWS REVIEW

NEWS REVIEW

THEME: Two buddies go to the movies together. One reads the paper aloud to the other for entertainment while they wait in line. The skit reflects how the increase of violence and immorality in our society is often paralleled in our choices of entertainment.

SETTING: Imagine two men in an outdoor line, in front of a movie theater, waiting to buy tickets. As the skit progresses, their movement represents the shortening of the line.

TWO MEN STAND BESIDE ONE ANOTHER, ACTING AS IF THEY ARE IN AN OUTDOOR LINE, WAITING.

BOB: Wow, it is freezing out here!

BILL: I know, and this line is so long.

BOB: (UNFOLDS NEWSPAPER HE HAS BEEN HOLDING). Never fear. That's why I brought the newspaper along. To pass the time while we wait for the movie.

BILL: Good idea. Read me something interesting.

BOB: I will if I can find anything. Here we go. (READING.) "Miss America Contestants Face Up to Plastic Surgery." It seems several former Miss America contestants had plastic surgery before the competition.

BILL: What, is nothing sacred? You can't even trust Miss America anymore. Oh well. See if you can find something a little more macho in the next story. I don't want these other people in line to get the wrong idea, you know.

BOB: OK, I'll see what I can do.  (READING.) "Gang Rioting Expected to Increase." That macho enough for you?

BILL: Plenty macho, but also plenty disturbing. Find me something I can relate to.

BOB: Well, since I left the sports section in the bathroom, you'll have to settle for (READING) "Man Kills Best Friend in Dispute Over Lottery Ticket."

BILL: Moving right along, next story please. Something a little less tragic this time, best friend.

BOB: You do realize you're severely limiting yourself here. Let me see.  (READING.) "Arsonist Injures Three in Hospital Blaze."

BILL: That's less tragic?

BOB: Well at least they didn't die.

BILL: What is the deal here, anyway? Did you grab the "gloom and doom" section of the paper or what? People are beginning to stare at us. Find something less depressing this time.

BOB: How can I? Most of the stuff in here is pretty depressing. Listen to this.  (READING.) "Drug Warlords Gain Upper Hand with Violence Aimed at Cops."

BILL: (FRUSTRATED.) Stop it! That's enough. What is this world coming too? How much longer is God going to put up with this?

BOB: I don't know. Look, I'm sorry. These are real stories, though. In a real newspaper. I'm not making this stuff up.

BILL: Yah, well enough with the depressing and violent stuff alright. I mean we're here to see a movie. Don't read anymore OK?

BOB: Hold on. Here's the movie section. They've got a review of the film we're seeing.

BILL: Really? Read it. Tell me what it's about.

BOB:  (READING.) "The hero escapes from prison, killing 3 guards during the escape. Once out, he falls in love with a drug addict and must beat up her pimp to save her life. He then embarks on successful career as an underworld loan shark."

BILL: (EXCITEDLY.) Cool. Sounds like 4-star action adventure escapism to me.

BOB: No doubt. Two thumbs up! Let's hope it's not sold out.

FREEZE OR FADE TO BLACK

PHONE GOSSIP

Here is another drama sketch I wrote in college, or somewhere around that time. I have tweaked it. This is the first time it has been published anywhere.

PHONE GOSSIP

SYNOPSIS: A man acts out a phone conversation between himself and his best friend. The best friend is not seen or heard. This skit is a monologue of James 4:3, "When you ask you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

SETTING: A typical living room with a man and a telephone.

ANNOUNCER: James 4:3-- "When you ask you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

THE SKIT BEGINS WITH A MAN SITTING ON A COUCH, CHANGING CHANNELS BY REMOTE. HIS PHONE RINGS. HE HURRIEDLY ANSWERS. MAN REMAINS VERY ANIMATED AND AGITATED THROUGHOUT THE PHONE CONVERSATION.

IN THE DIALOGUE BELOW, "..."REPRESENTS TIME WHEN THE "MAN" IS LISTENING TO HIS FRIEND ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE CONVERSATION. ONCE AGAIN PLEASE NOTE HIS FRIEND IS NOT SEEN OR HEARD.

MAN: Hello...Oh, hi Jay...You saw her today?...No way...Uh-huh...Well, did she mention me?...You what?!...You told her I liked her! How could you?...Well, what did she say?...That bad, huh?...It's no use. I'll never get the girl...I don't make enough money. Jay, chicks like guys who have lots of money...What about money?...Ya, I know who you mean. The Richardsons. They are that rich family from church...No way! Every year they take a month-long vacation in Hawaii? That makes me sick!...Are you kidding me? You actually saw Mrs. Richardson put a $20 bill into the offering plate and take out a $10 and a $5. Wait until I tell everyone about that...That is so unfair...Why does God do that? Why does He give money to people like that who misuse it?...Life is so unfair...Ya, well if I had money like that, I'd never misuse it. And I'd never take money out of the offering plate...What would I do with it? I'd buy a new car. Jay, chicks go for guys with nice cars...I don't understand it either. I've been praying for a new car and nothing has happened...Well, I've been praying for at least a couple of weeks now. I told you this already. I even asked you to pray about my getting a new car. You have been praying, haven't you?!...Ya, well thanks a lot. Hey, when you saw her today, what was she wearing?...The pink dress. Aah! I love her in the pink dress. Listen, Jay, I gotta go. Bye.

MAN HANGS UP PHONE AND GETS ON HIS KNEES. HE BEGINS TO MIME A FRANTIC PRAYER WITH A DESPERATE LOOK ON HIS FACE.

ANNOUNCER: James 4:3-- "When you ask you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

FADE TO BLACK. END SCENE.

TV or not TV

I wrote this drama skit in college. It was a little dated so I tried to make it more current. But I think

the message is still valid. The page formatting is a little off and I haven't figured out how to fix it.

 

TO TV OR NOT TV

SYNOPSIS:          Two teenagers, on a date watching TV. The skit represents how TV programming can desensitize us to the point of abandoning our values.

SETTING:             The average American living room. The two teens sit together on a couch in front   of the TV.

TWO TEENAGERS, A BOY AND A GIRL, ENTER THE ROOM.

GIRL:                     What do you want to do tonight?

BOY:                      (WITH A LESS THAN INNOCENT SMIRK ON HIS FACE.)  I don’t know. What do you wanna do?

GIRL:                     I don’t know. What do you wanna do?

GIRL SITS ON COUCH.

BOY:                      (SMIRKING.) I know what I wanna do.

BOY SITS ON COUCH AND IMMEDIATELY MAKES AGGRESSIVE MOVE TO KISS THE GIRL.

GIRL:                     (PULLING AWAY.) Stop it! I told you I’m not that kind of girl.

BOY:                      (IN DISGUST.) Well, what else are we supposed to do?

GIRL:                     I don’t know. We could watch TV.

GIRL GETS UP AND GRABS THE REMOTE CONTROL.

BOY:                      (SARCASTICALLY).  Oh great!

GIRL:                (HANDING HIM THE REMOTE.) Here, I’ll even try to make it up to you by letting you pick what we watch.

AS THE GIRL SITS BACK DOWN, THE BOY RELUCTANTLY TURNS ON THE TV. ALTHOUGH HE

 REMAINS GENERALLY DISINTERESTED, SHE RECOGNIZES THE SHOW AND GETS INVOLVED IN IT.

GIRL:                     Ooh, I love this movie! This is the scariest part. (REACTING TO THE SCREEN AS SHE DESCRIBES THE ACTION.) Ugh! Up with the knife right through the heart. There’s blood everywhere.

BOY CHANGES THE CHANNEL BY REMOTE.

GIRL:                     Hey, what did you do that for? That is an awesome horror flick! (SHE LOOKS AGAIN TO THE TV.) Well, at least you switched it to MTV. This concert footage is the coolest. Have you seen Hellion in concert? This song is my favorite.  (SHE SINGS ALONG.) “Lust in the dust ‘til you bust or you rust.”

SHE PRETENDS TO BE PLAYING A GUITAR AS SHE IS OBVIOUSLY GETTING INTO THE SONG.

AGAIN THE BOY CHANGES THE CHANNEL BY REMOTE.

GIRL:                     Would you make up your mind! Now what are we watching? (SHE STUDIES THE SCREEN.) Wait, I’ve seen the previews for this show. Oh, what is it called? “Gossip Girl.” Yah, that’s it. (EXPLAINING IT TO HIM.) You see, that’s Sheila. She’s in love with her mother’s boyfriend’s sister’s chauffeur. But she doesn’t want anyone to know. (GETTING MORE EXCITED BY WHAT SHE IS WATCHING.) They’re kissing. Way to go Sheila! Ooh, he’s unbuttoning her blouse.

THE BOY BEGINS TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN.

GIRL:                     Yep, they’re gonna do the Big Nasty!

BOY SWITCHES OFF THE TV. AS THE GIRL TURNS TOWARD HIM TO PROTEST, HE AGAIN MAKES

HIS MOVE TO KISS HER. THIS TIME, SHE DOES NOT RESIST.

FADE TO BLACK.

JOB HUNT UPDATE

Hey guys I am going to put myself out there and ask for some help today. I remember saying I would do that three months ago when I wrote on Facebook I had been laid off. I think God's design is for the husband and father to be the spiritual head of the household and at least a significant contributor to the family's financial needs. Right now that is not happening. God is meeting our needs. And I am thankful for that. I'm just not earning my keep. You can be an encouragement to me in one of two ways:

1) Pray that God would move. And pray for my FB friends who are also looking for work -- Randy, James, James and others. Ideally I would love a writing job that allows me to work from home and still be able to walk Parker to and from school every day, and be home with him after school. He requires a lot of special care and I love being the one to give it to him. That is the ideal. Please know I have been applying for other types of jobs, including ones that would require Parker to go to after school care.

2) I am enjoying doing a lot of writing. Right now, it is all volunteer and I am not getting paid for it. Please visit my stories that I have posted  at FootballNation.com. More traffic and more comments are a real help in a tangible way. And they want us to use social media to drive up traffic. So I am not doing anything unusual by asking for your help. Thanks for hearing me out. God bless. Here is a link to my articles:

 http://www.footballnation.com/author/rich-seiber

WILL MY SON BE LIKE ME?

I worry that my son will be effeminate, like me. Not because of anything he has done or demonstrated. But sometimes we become like our parents, even when we don’t want to. We consciously and subconsciously learn their mannerisms and modus operandi. I don’t want him to go through what I went through.

For some reason I have always been very feminine. I wasn’t trying to be that way. It just happened. It was probably a combination of both nature and nurture. The way I walk. The gestures my hands make. The voice that never cracked or changed through puberty. To this day I still get mistaken for a woman in almost every phone conversation I have with a stranger.

I was teased mercilessly for my effeminate nature. I added to the cruelty by never standing up for myself and fighting back. But that is probably a topic for a future blog post. It seemed many of the people in my school, my hometown thought I was gay and repeatedly reminded me of it. For many years I think I thought they must be right. How can so many people be wrong about you?

But now as a husband and father, I want to save my son from my struggles. He will already be a target for teasing. Every kid is to some extent, but with Cerebral Palsy and autism affecting his behavior, he may have some quirky characteristics. Plus the CP has weakened his strength in his legs and arms, so he may naturally be weaker than his schoolmates.  If you add some feminine gestures that he learned from his dad to disability-induced weakness, the kids in his class may be especially cruel.

I won’t be able to protect him from everything. And already in my 40s, it would be difficult to change my body language. Maybe all I can do is affirm his masculinity and strength at every opportunity. Wrestle with him. Applaud his attempts at sports. And encourage healthy male friendships. If I do those things I hope that I can ensure that when it comes to his gestures and gender identity, he won’t be a chip off the old block.

MY FIVE CONSERVATIVE FAVES

As a conservative Christian, I avoid the main street media because it has a blatant liberal bias. So as a result I rely on conservative talk radio and Internet sites for my news and analysis. Here is a list of my 5 favorite conservative radio talk show hosts:

1. Hugh Hewitt. Listen to him frequently. I Met him a while back in Sacramento. Appreciate his wisdom and his Christian faith.

2. Rush Limbaugh. Don't get to listen to him every day. But he is the master of the humorous political parody, and of succinctly telling it like it is.

3. Laura Ingraham. She is no longer on in the Sacramento market and I miss hearing her program.

4. Sean Hannity. I don't watch him much on the tube, but I do enjoy his high energy, fast-paced radio program. I really like tuning into his show when there is a scandal brewing.

5. Tie between Michael Medved and Dennis Prager. Hardly ever get to listen to their programs. But when I do, I am always impressed with their passionate defense of Judeo-Christian values in America.

Here are my five favorite conservative Internet sites:

1.      Hotair.com. They provide original content and links to other pundits and reporters. It is a great clearinghouse of solid conservative information.

2.      DrudgeReport.com. The granddaddy of Internet news sites. Matt Drudge broke the Lewinsky story. He is a must check at least several times a day.

3.      Instapundit.com. This site leans more libertarian than conservative. But I like the variety it provides and the snippets about each article it links too. Plus Instapundit has a great sense of humor.

4.      BigHollywood.com. This site was started by Andrew Breitbart before he died. It looks at Hollywood and politics from a conservative viewpoint. Believe it or not, there are conservatives in Hollywood.

5.      Lucianne.com. This is another clearinghouse site. One of the first I ever got hooked on. It was founded by Lucianne Goldberg. You may remember her from the Lewinsky scandal. She knew Linda Tripp.

TV TOP 10

The end of summer is near and a new fall TV season approaches. This is a good time to make a list of some of one's favorite things. So here goes. My list of my top 10 favorite TV programs for 2011-2012 season:

1. The Price Is Right – Drew Carey has taken over from legendary host Bob Barker and made this game show his own. You can tell he is having fun and those of us in the TV audience have fun right alongside him. Plus my wife and I like to compete against one another. And my son loves to say “Come On Down!”

2. Big Bang Theory - This sitcom is very funny, with a great cast. This would probably be number one if not for the fact that it is often not very family-friendly.  Note: Often the humor or storyline is overtly sexual in nature, and that doesn't appeal to me.

3. Little People, Big World -It is my favorite reality show, though my schedule often causes me to miss it. This is a neat family with unique challenges. And I like how their faith is treated with respect. No longer in a weekly format, the Roloff family appears on TLC in hour-long special updates only.

4. America's Funniest Home Videos - It makes my son laugh and that is the greatest feeling in the world. And I laugh, too.

5. Dallas – I am finally getting the soap opera fix I have been blogging about. The revamp of this 80’s drama has been successful and suspenseful. It is good to have J.R. back to his old ways. I was in high school when the show was originally on three decades ago and never got into it. This time around I am enjoying the Ewing clan cliffhangers. Note: this is not a family show. TNT allows some offensive language which is disheartening. Make sure your children are safely in bed when you view.

6. Bristol Palin: Life’s A Tripp! – I love the Palin family! Bristol and her son Tripp are a delight. And I love the bickering between Bristol and her younger sister Willow. Willow needs her own show. I am thankful for pro-life people on TV. The only things I would wish for are more cameos from Gov. Palin and her adorable son Trig.

7. Wipeout - This competition program another reality show that is a favorite in my household. The humor from the hosts is endearing. And watching the contestants fall off various objects is good for a laugh or two as well. Watch out for the Big Balls!

8. Wheel of Fortune -The best game show on TV. Even my 2 year old loves it and can follow along. And I love the banter between Pat and Vanna at the close of the show. I know, I'm a geek.

9. Family Feud hosted by Steve Harvey - We are game show junkies in our house, with lots of hours logged on the GSN network. Of all the Feud hosts on that network, Harvey shines brightest. His gestures and smirks are priceless. It makes us laugh as we play along. Survey says!

10. Special Report with Bret Baier - The best news and political show on TV.  The round table at the end is the best part of the program. I don't watch it as much as I used to but feel good knowing it is there when a big story breaks.

ABOUT ME...

25 Things About me...
1. I tried to water ski when I was a teenager but I could never get up on them. I have never attempted snow skiing.

2. My mom's maiden name was Marilyn Monroe.
3. I love to read conservative political non-fiction books.
4. I went to Japan when I was 13.
5. I really do think, overall, that George W. Bush was a good president and a godly man.
6. I was a TV travel reporter and producer for PBS for 7 years.
7. My wife was born in Texas.
8. All of the birthdays in my immediate family have a "2" in them.
9. I love to make up silly songs and sing them to my son, Parker. He loves it, too.
10. I miss Kathie Lee Gifford on “Live.”
11. My sister has recently overcome uterine cancer. God is good.
12. I love the low prices at Wal-mart.
13. I am not a tween, but I do like the Jonas Brothers music.
14. I once got kicked out of Disneyland for not wearing socks.
15. My family went to a Gov. Palin rally during the election and she twice acknowledged us during the speech.
16. I won $700 on a slot machine in Lake Tahoe. The entire amount went to my dentist.
17. My wife is a genius and solves all my computer problems.
18. We have a Sunday morning before church chocolate chip pancake tradition.
19. I was supposed to interview Regis Philbin on the day after 9/11/01, but of course all flights were cancelled and so we never got to meet.
20. I have worked as a DJ at multiple country music radio stations.
21. I am horribly inept at video and computer games.
22. I strongly supported the war in Iraq and the global war on terror.
23. I hit an over the fence home run in a Little League playoff game.
24. I once sank two free throws at the end to win the game in Junior High basketball.
25. I got rid of my life-size Amy Grant poster when I met my wife.

PRANKS FOR NOTHING

(This column was revised from a previous venue.)

I used to work for a well-advertised business in California. TV advertisements for this company run multiple times daily. In addition to the TV exposure, the business has a uniquely memorable phone number. So between the TV ads and the easy to remember phone number, the company gets a lot of business. And a lot of prank phone calls.

For a time it was my job to check the voicemail for messages. We usually got about 10-15 prank calls a day. And on the weekends, when the office was closed, we would get a ton of prank calls. (Real cowards!) I checked messages one evening, and of 42 messages, only 5 were legitimate business calls. That means we got 37 PRANK PHONE CALLS in less than 24 hours. That is pathetic.

Now you might think that most of the pranksters are youngsters. And many of them are. Their cheesy calls for pizza orders and attempts at humor are annoying, but not the end of the world. More of the young people calling, though, with a hankering for a prank these days are using violent and sexually suggestive language in their pranks. This is disturbing. When an 9 year old voice leaves a message either in person or on the machine that is of a distinctly sexual nature, something has gone terribly wrong in this child's life. I know kids, especially teenagers, need a chance to rebel. And prank phone calls are probably one of the safest ways for kids to do that. I understand. But when the prank phone call is stuff that I, as a 44 year old male, wouldn't even say in public, then I think there's a problem.

You might also think that all of the pranksters are young. You'd be wrong. I was repeatedly shocked at how many adult voices leave nonsense and derogatory messages on the voicemail. Sure, I got a few heavy breathers. But the business also got random death threats and extremely graphic descriptions of bedroom behavior. Don't these adults have better things to do with their lives then to leave anonymous nasty messages? I am embarrassed for them. Maybe they think they are being funny or clever. Trust me, when you leave a prank message as an adult, you are only being pathetic.

I wonder if anyone has ever done a scholarly study on the changing content of prank phone calls. I bet it would be a fascinating study. And I would guess that the content has become much more graphic over the years. It brings a whole new meaning to using the phone to reach out and touch someone.

BLOGGING ABOUT BRONCOS, BENGALS AND BEARS OH MY!

When you write a blog day after day, you hope that your efforts are being rewarded with readers. So far, this blog hasn't really taken off.

However, I also have a blogging outlet at FootballNation.com. It has been a blessing from God to have a creative outlet that people are actually reading. I hope it can continue. Please check out the two columns of mine they have posted thus far:

"NY Jets: Mark Sanchez Channeling His Inner Tebow."

"Dallas Cowboys: Orton Brings Drama to Big D."

Or you can always just go to my Contributor page.

My wife and I love the NFL football season. Hopefully this year we will love the season even more as we follow along on FootballNation.com. Join us!

TOP 10 REASONS NOT TO FILL OUT A JOB APPLICATION CORRECTLY

As my job hunt continues, this is a humorous look at what not to do:

TOP 10 REASONS NOT TO FILL OUT A JOB APPLICATION CORRECTLY

10. You don't want to get a good job.

9. Two words: state lottery.

8. You've found your life's calling flipping burgers under the Golden Arches.

7. Your Great Aunt Ophelia died and left you her lucky monkey's paw, so your future is set.

6. You get mail from Publisher's Clearing House regularly.

5. You think, why bother, I'll marry money.

4. You figure, everyone else has their own TV talk or reality show, someday soon, I will too.

3. Yur'e a terabbl speler.

2. You get your Social Security number mixed up with your phone number.

1. The employer might recognize your name from TV's "America's Most Wanted."

PERSONAL TESTIMONY

During this period of unemployment I have been applying for a number of ministry openings. Many of them require that I submit my personal testimony in writing. This is what I have been including with my application:

I grew up in a Christian home and have had the opportunity to attend church and learn about God all of my life. I accepted Christ as my personal savior at age 7 while at Jennings Lodge church camp.

My faith was an important part of my life throughout my teen years. I had the chance to develop my ministry and leadership skills as president of my church’s high school youth group. I continued my walk with Christ while attending a 4-year Christian college.

In my professional life I have grown in my faith under the wise counsel of two Christian supervisors, most notably Anne Jeffers, who was my mentor and boss during my 6-year tenure at Corban University in the 1990s.

Currently I attend Trinity Life Center church in Sacramento, California. I have been active in drama ministry at Trinity.

Since 2009 I have also served as a Board Member for Pregnancy Support Group (PSG), a non-profit ministry that is committed to providing positive alternatives to abortion. We actively seek to lead men and women in crisis pregnancy situations to a life of sexual abstinence until marriage, and to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

I desire to return to full time ministry.

HEBREWS 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and the He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

A week ago I wrote a blog post about trying to make a decision and needing God's wisdom. It was a ministry opportunity that included a financial risk. As I was praying, a song came on the radio -- Britt Nicole's "Walk on the Water." As I mentioned in the previous post, the lyrics seem to indicate that our faith required some risk taking.

Yesterday, the guest speaker at church preached a similar message. That our Christian faith should be "dangerous." Danger in the sense that we are always trying something new...taking risks.

So we need to take risks. But first we have to have faith. That got me to thinking. Do I even have faith? Do I even possess enough faith to live up to Hebrews 11:6? Do I demonstrate enough faith to please God?

I tried to think of times in my life when I have demonstrated faith. I had a hard time coming up with examples. Sad but true. The one thing in my life that routinely requires me to demonstrate faith is when I tithe.

Because I am unemployed right now, money is tight. But money has always been tight. Chances are money will always be tight. That is just the nature of life. So tithing is always a risk. There is always uncertainty about paying the bills and wondering if that tithe money could be better spent elsewhere-- my son needs new shoes. The car tires are fraying. Our bathroom tile is bulging. Yet God commands me to give Him ten percent of my income. And I want to be obedient. I want to earnestly seek Him. So I do it. And in doing so, I exercise my faith.

I am grateful for that one area of my life where my desire to be obedient allows me to display faith. But faith is definitely a muscle that needs more exercise if I want to live up to Hebrews 11:6 and please God.

MY TEN EVENTS IN HISTORY

My friend Dave Logan died this week. He may be better known as the courageous conservative blogger, Thirdwave Dave. That’s how I came to know him, as we never met in person. In his honor I am re-posting a blog challenge he thrust upon me a while back. We will miss you Dave.

OK, I have been summoned by Mrs. Media Matters and ThirdWaveDave to play a game of tag and name the ten events in history I wish I could have witnessed in person. This seems like an overwhelming task, one where you risk seeming silly and superficial if you don't pick "significant" events. In any case, reluctantly, here I go.

1. Either inauguration of Pres. George W. Bush as the 43rd President. The second time may have been sweeter.
2. In the audience when Pres. Ronald Reagan said the immortal line that changed the world, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."
3. An early crusade of the Rev. Billy Graham when it was clear the Holy Spirit had anointed him and God was blessing his ministry.
4. When Christ uttered "It is finished" and the Temple curtain ripped in two.
5. Backstage at the 1992 Grammys when my favorite artist of all time, Amy Grant, was nominated for 4 major awards and she performed live on the telecast.
6. Any day in the 1950s when I could have met both of my grandfathers.
7. On the set of ET: The Extra Terrestrial during the bike flying sequences and the goodbye scene, so I could see cinema magic being made.
8.The January days of 1998 with Matt Drudge when he had the Lewinsky scandal and blew the story wide open, permanently damaging the Clinton presidency.
9. Sitting near Rosa Parks when she decided she was not willing to give up her seat on that bus.
10. Any day on the set with Regis Philbin during the Live with Regis and Kathie Lee heydays.

NOTABLE QUOTABLES

There are a couple of new releases I want to see in the theater: the new Tommy Lee  Jones movie, Hope Springs and the new Jennifer Garner flick that comes out next week. That makes me think of some of my favorite movies, and my favorite movie quotes. Here is my list. I am a child of the 70s and 80s, so most of them are from that era. Let me know if you agree with my selections and send me your faves as well.

"I want my two dollars." - Better Off Dead.

"May the Force be with you." - Star Wars. When we played Yahtzee as a kid, it was "May the 4s be with you."

"I feel the need, the need for speed." - Top Gun.

"Goose, you big stud, take me to bed or lose me forever." - Top Gun.

"I'll get you my pretty. And your little dog, too." - The Wizard of Oz.

"Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!" - The Wizard of Oz.

"I'm melting. I'm melting." - The Wizard of Oz.

"We're walking. We're walking. Stop." - Dave.

"Luke, I 'm your father." - Empire Strikes Back.

Too many to mention from Steel Magnolias. Have to watch it again so I can get them down verbatim. But Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis and Dolly Parton all have notable quotables in this film.

SONG OF STRESS

I wrote my very first praise chorus a while back. I don't know how to post audio on this blog. And you don't really want to hear me sing anyway. The lady who sits in the pew in front of me at church every week turned to me one Sunday after service and said "Thank God you don't sing in the choir!" So you'll just have to trust me that it has an original tune to it.

When I'm angry and I'm stressed
then I must remember I'm blessed.
I'm blessed just to worship the Lord.
(repeat this section one time)

The Lord for all He's done for me.
He's saved me for all eternity.

When I'm angry and I'm stressed
then I must remember I'm blessed.
I'm blessed just to worship the Lord.

Oh yes I will worship the Lord.

As you can probably tell by the lyrics, I wrote this song when I was...yes, you guessed it, stressed. I tend to remember to sing it when I am in stressful times, too. It came to mind today as I was worrying about finances. The chorus helps remind me not to focus on myself or the stress, but on God. In that way it has been a big blessing. Maybe one day it can be a blessing to others as well.

TIMELY TUNE?

James 1:5 -- "So if anyone lacks wisdom he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him."

I was praying while driving in the car the other day. Yes, my eyes were open. I have been trying to make a decision for days, maybe weeks now. I was asking God whether or not I should take a particular risk. A ministry risk that involved a financial risk. I am unemployed right now so there is a lot of financial risk-taking going on. As I was wrapping up my prayer, this song came on the radio.

So what are you waiting for
What do you have to lose
Your insecurities
They try to hold to you
But you know you're made for more
So don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes
And you can walk on the water too.

It's called Walk on the Water by one of my favorite Christian artists, Britt Nicole. The lyrics certainly seem to imply that our faith warrants taking risks and that we shouldn't let our fears hold us back.

Can James 1:5 wisdom from God come in the form of a song lyric? A timely song lyric? I'm not sure. Evidence of my unsureness is that another week has passed and I still haven't decided whether or not to take that risk. And I acknowledge that not deciding is ultimately in fact deciding. I am willing to take the risk but don't feel like I have enough information yet. I guess I've been waiting for more confirmation from God that this is a wise risk to take. So far it hasn't come, so I haven't moved. Maybe I am waiting too long, wanting too much.

I'll probably pray about it in the car some more tomorrow. I'll let you know if any more timely tunes have something to add to the conversation.

WE'RE UNDER A SPELL

Why are we a nation of such horabul spelurs? I used to teach college and it amazed and discouraged me how inept my students were at spelling. My students even messed up on simple words like "time" and "didn't" and others. Even on the computer people don't bother to use spell check. I am not a perfect speller, but I will take the time to look a word up in the dictionary if I am not sure of the spelling. It is not hard to memorize how to spell basic words. Unfortunately with our move toward texting, laziness is making abbreviating and purposely misspelling words to save time more common and more acceptable. I bet if we saw the private writings of our leaders and elected officials we would be appalled at their spelling. But except for the occasional spelling bee champ that we celebrate for 35 seconds once a year on the evening news, spelling has become a lost art that we no longer value. And in the long run I believe that will be a big  M-I-S-T-A-K-E.

(If I've spelled anything wrong in this paragraph, I will be humiliated. But don't call me out on it if I did because I'll just say I did it on purpose to see if anyone was paying attention and was a good enough speller to catch it!)

LITTLE LEAGUE LESSONS

I played Little League as a kid. I enjoyed it but learned I was more of a sports watcher than a sports player. Who knew I would actually learn more about myself as a Little League parent than as a Little League player. Here are some observations I wrote from my first season as a Little League parent. They originally appeared in a different venue.

LITTLE LEAGUE LESSON #1
Today is my son's first Little League game. I haven't posted about baseball yet because honestly I wasn't sure if he would like it, or even if he would be able to do it. But he loves it. His coaches have worked with autistic boys before and they are great with him. I am really proud of him. I have said this before but I am his dad so you have to indulge me -- Days like today take me back to before he was born and then in the hospital and NICU. Doctors were doubting that with his brain injuries and Cerebral Palsy and all of his health concerns that he would even be able to walk or talk or sit or crawl. And now here he is thriving and playing Little League. I am crying as I type this. God has blessed us with a remarkable miracle.

LITTLE LEAGUE LESSON #2
I had a great moment as a parent last night. This may get lost in translation but here goes. My son had just scored a run. He was in the dugout with his team. He stood up and started jumping and wildly flailing his hands. This is a common behavior for him and many with autism. People sometimes mock him for it because they don't understand he has autism. And his therapists say it will eventually need to be phased out because it will inhibit his ability to learn and adapt. But in that moment I knew what that behavior meant and I am so glad I got to see it. That behavior said I am having fun. I feel safe. I am excited. For me I don't think I have ever felt more content than I did right then. And about 3 hours later I felt intense gratitude to God for that moment.

PARKER'S POEM

I wrote this poem this morning about my son.  He was born with Cerebral Palsy, up to 50% brain malformation, a brain cyst, and developmental delay. At age 3 he was also diagnosed with autism. He faces a lot of challenges.  I wanted this poem to challenge people, including myself, who complain about how tough life is. My son doesn't complain. He just overcomes. This is a Philippians 4:13 inspired poem -- "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

When you think it can't be done
Just remember my son.
Born with half a brain.
A life destined for pain.
They said he might not walk
And possibly not talk.
We wondered would he crawl?
Or ever throw a ball?
But lots of people prayed.
Daily progress he has made.

And now at age of 6

He runs and throws and kicks.

Don’t tell me you can’t do it.

That there’s too much to go through it.

You haven’t met my son.

He’s proof it can be done.

I got excited when I finished this poem and posted it first today on my Facebook page. I probably need to stop doing that since I want to increase traffic to my blog. But I like this poem. I think it is inspiring. I think my son is inspiring.

IT'S A WHEELY GOOD TIME

My wife swears I am strange. And she is probably right.

No, not because I constantly leave the toilet seat up. And I don't have some weird foot fetish. It's not like that.

I'm strange because I love the Wheel of Fortune. Wait, there's more to it. Just wanted to start you slow. Don't want to freak you out. I love all of Wheel of Fortune. It has been such a blessing to my family. Not only has it entertained us for hours. Or half hours. But I think it is also largely responsible for helping my special needs son learn his alphabet. Even as an infant, before his Cerebral Palsy and autism were completely diagnosed, it was the first TV program he would pay attention to. I think all the clapping and the bright colors on the wheel appealed to his sensory deprivation issues. He screams when people win the bonus round, cries when they don't, and still works "I'd like to buy a vowel please, Pat" into his daily conversations. It would be a fascinating doctoral thesis to study how Wheel of Fortune has benefited America's children by teaching them the alphabet, but even more specifically the special needs children of this nation. But that's  probably it's own blog post and I digress.

Back to why my wife says I am strange. I love Wheel of Fortune. I love all of Wheel of Fortune. But what makes me strange is that my absolute favorite part of Wheel of Fortune is the end of the program banter between Pat and Vanna. Look for it the next time you watch. It's the last part of the show before the credits and commercials. I've always liked Pat Sajak, even in his failed attempt at a late night talk show. He makes me laugh. I'm easy. Vanna White doesn't usually say much. She laughs at Pat's jokes, looks great and smiles approvingly. Not bad qualities for a wife to have, TV or otherwise.

At the end of every episode Pat and Vanna have 16 seconds to wrap up the episode and say (and wave) goodbye. I know it is 16 seconds because one evening they ended the show by telling us they had an average of 16 seconds every night to end the show. Other Pat and Vanna banter segments have included what the date on your egg cartons mean, what New Year's resolution Vanna made (and expects to break), and how Pat packs the school lunchboxes of all of his children. It's sweet, silly stuff. And I love it.

I'm strange that way.

DRIVE-BY KISSES

(This idea, in a shorter version, first appeared in a different venue.)

I spend a lot of time in my car. At least once a week I find myself making a delivery or running an errand in the neighborhood where my wife works. So I have developed a romantic little gesture that she loves. Actually, we both love it. We call it the Drive-By Kiss. Whenever I am in her neck of the woods, I call her and give her 5-minutes notice. Then I call again when I make it to the parking lot. She meets me out front of her office building, and the make out session begins. OK, it's not quite that hot and heavy. But it is a nice way to add a little pizazz and romance to your day. And bring a smile to your wife's face. She’ll go back into the office and brag about you to her co-workers! Husbands, if you have the ability to work drive-by kisses into your routine, believe me, it pays dividends.

I AM CURRENTLY UNEQUALLY YOKED

"We surveyed 100 people. The top 5 answers to this question are on the board. Name something that a husband and wife should have the same taste in?"

That was one of the questions host Steve Harvey asked today on Family Feud. Some of the winning answers included food, fashion and sex. One contestant said that a husband and wife should have the same taste in church. It wasn't on the board but I thought it was an excellent answer.

I should know. I am married to a spouse who does not hold the same view on church as I do. It wasn't always that way. When we got married 8 years ago my wife had made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. She was active with me in a couples Bible study and was growing into her understanding of her spiritual giftedness of service.

But something happened and she withdrew from her church and her faith. Now at times she can be quite hostile toward God. I don't completely comprehend her decision. As best I can relate she simply says she tried church and God for a season and it isn't for her.

That is really foreign territory for me. I grew up in the church. I accepted Christ at age 7 at church camp. All of my life I have sung hymns and given my tithe and participated in communion. And now the person that I have decided to share the rest of my life with, including all of these wonderful church things, has decided they are not for her.

In some ways I think my head is still spinning. But greater than the confusion I feel is the disappointment. In Genesis chapter 2 God designed marriage to be between a man and a woman.
He designed it. So He wants to be a part of it. For now at least, only I am interested in his partnership in our marriage.

But I don't think God has abandoned her or us. And let me make perfectly clear that I love my wife and have no desire or intention to abandon my marriage.  The Bible, I believe, tells us not to marry unbelievers in 2 Corinthians 6:14a: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers."

So then did we sin when we got married? I don't think so. When we married we were both Christians practicing our faith. My wife's decision to walk away from God came later on. I didn't see it coming. I don't think she did either.

 So the Bible's first piece of advice was not to marry an unbeliever. If, though, you are like me and find yourself in that position anyway, God has a second piece of advice.

1 Corinthians 7:12-14: “…If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband…”

That pretty much sums up where we are today. My son and I are active at church and in our Christian faith. We try to be a good example to my wife in hopes that she may one day return to a life of faith in Christ. Every night at bedtime my son prays "please help mommy to come to church." That's what we both want. That's what Christ wants as well. Maybe someday my wife will feel the same.

GENESIS 18:2b-8

I've been lamenting over a tough decision the last few days. After much thought and prayer I still don't really feel like I know what the right thing to do is. I was reminded by my recent readings in Genesis that God, in the Old Testament, often appeared to His people. Earlier in chapter 18 it says "The Lord appeared to Abraham..." He doesn't seem to do that anymore. As best I know he has never appeared to me. Or to my friends. Or even to the modern leaders of the church. But in the Old Testament it was a frequent occurrence. Maybe it is because the New Testament church has the Holy Spirit and so God doesn't feel He needs to make a physical appearance. Or maybe it is because if He did appear to us today we wouldn't treat Him like Abraham did in this chapter:

"Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground" (Genesis 18:2).

When Abraham saw God and his angels appear, he worshipped Him. His worship was quick (he hurried) and humble (he bowed low to the ground). Maybe if God appeared before us we would have to finish our cell phone call first. And then after we hung up we would recognize it was God and get around to worshipping Him.

After Abraham worshipped God, he also served Him:

"He said, 'If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way -- now that you have come to your servant'.

 'Very well,' they answered, 'do as you say.'" (Genesis 18:3-5).

Maybe if God appeared to me I would get around to serving Him after Wheel of Fortune was over.

Not only did Abraham serve God, but he got his whole household involved and invested, too:

"So Abraham hurried {there is that quickness again} into the tent to Sarah. 'Quick,' he said, 'get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.' Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree."

Abraham enlisted Sarah and his servant in the worship of his God. He was so willing and eager he hurried and his attitude was contagious. Sarah picked the finest flour. Abraham ran to the herd. His servant quickly prepared it. They gave it their best effort. This was a gold medal winning service performance.

I am frustrated by my indecision and wonder why God doesn't appear to me as He did to Abraham. Maybe when my worship and my service of God Almighty look more like Abraham's then I'll take the metal stand and be blessed with a personal pep talk from the Coach.

ENCOUNTERS WITH THE HOMELESS

I've had 4 encounters with homeless people in the last 2 weeks. Two of those encounters happened in my front yard. Four interactions is more than I have had in an entire year in the past. Let me breakdown the 4 times:

1) I already posted about this encounter on my Facebook page. I brought my son home from therapy to find a homeless couple and their belongings on my front lawn. I argued with the homeless women about her smoking in my front yard and asked the couple to depart.

2 ) A homeless and intoxicated man approached me at a public park. I had gone there mid afternoon to read my Bible and do my devotions in the shade trees. He was very polite. I declined to give him money but he stayed and talked with me for 30 minutes. We talked about God and our wives and going through pain. He seemed like a decent enough man. But he obviously had an alcohol problem. We probably would have talked longer but I had to leave to pick my son up from therapy.

3 ) After church today another homeless couple approached me in my driveway. The woman, who acknowledged her missing teeth when she asked me for money, wanted me to pay her husband or boyfriend to mow the lawn. I had mowed the lawn that morning before church. I politely excused myself from her request and took my son inside the house.

4) About 15 minutes after encounter number 3 my son and I left for lunch at McDonald's. While leaving the McDonald's parking lot we were approached by a homeless woman. She was hot and sunburned and carrying a lot of belongings. She asked for a ride. I told her that since she was a stranger and I had my 6 year old son with me I did not feel safe giving her a ride. She said she understood and then asked me for money. I told her that I would not give her money.

For a long time my wife and I have had a policy of not giving money to homeless individuals. When you do you just have no control over how or what they will spend it on. The length of the encounter is usually so short that you have no sense of the character or integrity of the person asking or begging. I used to carry extra food in my car so that when I got approached by homeless people in downtown Sacramento I could decline their request for money but offer them food instead. Only one time did the person take the food (a granola bar) I offered.

As the economy continues to collapse these interactions with homelessness are only going to increase. Heck, I am currently unemployed. There's no guarantee me and my family won't be joining their ranks in the near future. Stranger things have happened. In the meantime I have to be prepared for these more frequent and more aggressive and more invasive (2 in my driveway!) encounters. I don't know what the safe and gracious thing to do is. But I do know that God is giving me many opportunities to work on crafting a compassionate response.