Memorial Day: More than a bar-b-que

I am as guilty as the next guy. I’ve looked at Memorial Day as a three day weekend for way too long. It was a reason for hanging out with my buddies, having a few beers and enjoying a bar-b-que. I just didn’t get it. A lot of folks don’t get it and I know most politicians don’t get it. People died and their sacrifice was paid foreword so that You and I can enjoy the freedom and liberty in this country today. Sacrifice is what made this country great! I’ve seen images of sacrifice. Names carved in cold marble. I’ve spoken to a Pearl Harbor vet saw the tear form in his eye as he thought about buddies they lost. I’ve seen a Vietnam vet brought to tears on Veterans Day at church as he looked at an artists’ rendering of the Vietnam War memorial where one vet sees the reflection of a comrade in the black marble of the wall and his hand touches the reflection on the wall. I know my friend was thinking of his buddy and his sacrifice.

Now its different Memorial Day has faces. Not the faces of the fallen but the faces of friends who still carry around pieces of the fallen with them. John, Tom, Jimmy, Susan, Rafael, Jack, Chuck, Phil and Bill (just to name a few) some have opened up and told me their story and others I have prayed with. I have learned from each them. Some have found peace, some have found deamons, but the ones I learned the most from are the ones who found grace, mercy and forgiveness in a savior.

Here are some staggering numbers from the 235 years of United States History.

KIA:1,343,812                                    WIA:1,529,230                                  MIA: 38,159

This Memorial Day remember the brave men and woman who have fought and continue to fight for the People of the United States. Remember they did NOT set the policy that was their duty to enforce. Politics aside freedom is NOT free. It has been paid for with the blood of patriots. I know nothing about war. I was a Sea Bea in the Naval Reserve. I have never left US soil with orders in my hand. I know nothing of valor or sacrifice. In my mind I would like to believe I would do my duty if called upon. I have never been tested. Millions of men and now woman of valor and courage had been tested by war and some gave all but all gave some. Every one of the numbers on this page represents a life, a family, a gold star or a purple heart.

“The real Heroes never came Home.” –Unknown

Fly your flags, have your bar-b-que enjoy your freedom BUT celebrate the men and woman who paid for it with all they had. Think about them, let that tear form in your eye. I want you to get it. Take your hat off your head, place your hand on your heart, and sing the “Star Spangled Banner” with a lump in your throat and pain in your gut.

Honor your fallen heroes.

John 15:13 (NIV)

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Sincere but sincerely wrong

This will be my last blog on this subject

Non For Profit Family Stations INC

Misdirected: Yes

Biblically Wrong: Yes  

False Profit: I believe so

Conspiracy: No

Greedy: No

Non For Profit Family Stations INC info from IRS form 990 year 2008

290 Hegenberger Rd
Oakland, CA 94621

Assets: $104 Million Plus

Income: $19 Million Plus

Expenses: $34 Million plus

Admin: $6 Million Plus

Wow I was shocked to find this out. Yes Harold Camping is wrong, dead wrong, but it is not a conspiracy and it is not greed as many have said. I reviewed Family Stations INC IRS 990 forms for years 2007, 2008, and 2009 (these were all that was available to me for free) Harold Camping the president of Family Stations INC has received zero compensation for the 40 hour a week he reported all three years. The other two directors received less than average compensation. In these years the stations have been running on a deficit and using invested assets to keep broadcasting. If it is true that this ministry has spent nearly 100 million dollars to advertise doomsday event May 21, 2011 this would bring the organization close to insolvency.

In light of all this I was ready to really be angry. Now I just feel pity. I feel pity for his follower that truly believed his teaching. I feel pity for him because he has been deceived. Now he has changed his date to October 21, 2011. I pray for Mr. Harold Camping, for his followers, and for all other deceived into believing cult teachings. Remember Jonestown, Remember Heaven’s Gate, and remember the Branch Devidians all were sincere but all were sincerely wrong. Protect yourself read and study the word of God.  Jesus warned us In Matthew 24:22-25 (NIV) Matthew 24:36

²² “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. ²³ At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. ²⁴ For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ See, I have told you ahead of time.

³⁶ “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

 

As a believer in Christ we should always be ready. We should watch and pray because just as Christ said “NO ONE KNOWS.” This is from the sovereign Word of God. Why would anyone want to calculate what cannot be calculated? I don’t know. I am just a man walking in this world the same as everyone else. I believe God gave us the gift of his Word, the gift of his Holy Spirit, and most of all his saving grace through Jesus. You trust in him for your salvation trust his Word also for your guidance.

Be careful at whose table you allow yourself to be fed.

I am not going to blog today. I am not going to blog today. I AM NOT GOING TO BLOG TODAY! Who am I kidding with a subject this big I have to blog today. Ok everyone who has been taken up in the rapture please raise your hands. Everyone else look around. I want you to note there is no one with their hand up. I am not going to give bible verses explaining why the rapture is not as one man says because the morning news already did that. Let me repeat; the morning news quoted the bible today. Under normal circumstances this would be a good thing. Right!? Alas all this rapture talk on mainstream TV has not been good for the gospel. All it takes is one heretic to wreck the witness of many orthodox Christians. I spent more time today hearing jokes, defending my witness against the proclamations of one Mr. Camping and explaining this is NOT what the Gospel is all about. I am not shy about my faith. People KNOW I am a Christian and today I felt like a target. Thankfully most people understand that Mr. Camping is not speaking for mainstream Christianity.

     There is a real danger with this kind of teaching. People believe it. People have been dooped. Folks have stopped paying mortgages given all their savings to this man’s campaign to spread his doomsday message. This man has spread his teaching through a medium called “Family Radio.” Near Chicago the closest “Family Radio” outlet is in Joliet 91.9 fm. This is in an area where “Moody Radio” is fading out. For some unchurched people this is the only Gospel they are hearing.  “Some devotees reportedly sold all their possessions and took to the streets to warn of the second coming of Jesus”-The Telegraph. Do you still think he’s a harmless old man?

     I had an old preacher say to me once, “be careful at whose table you allow yourself to be fed.” I never really understood what he was saying until I heard this story. I wasn’t saved when Mr. Camping proclaimed doomsday in ’94. I may have believed it then, who knows, but I do remember hearing him this year. It had to be the end of January or the beginning of February. I was on my way to Springfield, IL and “Family Radio” was the only Christian station on. Mr. Camping was teaching a bible study. He was calling everyone listening “beloved.”  He sounded like he could have been my Grandpa. Then he claimed to have had an exclusive revelation from God to interpret the bible. WHAT!? Not even 5 minutes later he’s saying May 21^st 2011 is Judgment day. I turned off his program and prayed his message would go away. Last week it went viral. Tell me Satin isn’t alive and well disguised as beings of light. I’m angry and I’m just say'n.

I say I can't play with out a guitar string....

My wife came home from work last night she walks into the bedroom strumming a guitar.  I woke up smiling. “Cool” I said. Her friend came through. She is letting me borrow her guitar so I can learn to play and to my surprise it came with two learn to play videos.  Now I guess I need to learn how to tune it and buy some picks. Then I’ll be able to torture my family with my unskilled strumming. I’m sure I will learn finger placement, the scale, notes and cords long before I learn anything even resembling music. Anyways this should be fun.

I’ve always wanted to play an instrument. I remember the first one I asked my mom to let me play. I wanted to play the drums. I was in fourth grade when my grammar school tried to put together a band. It was an afterschool thing with multiple grades participating. We had a new music teacher in the school this year and it was her idea. In the school basement we used as a gym and an auditorium there were all different instruments on display. My mom headed straight for the woodwind section and I was trying to steer her toward the percussion. That is all I wanted to play was the drums. She wouldn’t even walk over there at first. After perusing the clarinet, and oboes I got her by the drums.” Mom but they have practice pads and everything and it’s only a snare, how bad could it be”. “NO, don’t ask again!” So we headed over to the brass section while I was looking at the silver sided drum and watching while my friend Billy’s mom tell him he could get it. “Ok mom since I can’t get a drum how about a tuba?” “NO!” She said. I still don’t know how it happened I ended coming home with a trumpet. I never had a desire to play a trumpet.  I went to band after school and tried to learn the notes, but never really got it. I tried to practice at home, but I had a hard time learning music and no one I asked could explain it where I understood it. So how are you going to practice? So for the next few weeks I used it to torture my mom.  I wasn’t allowed to practice when dad was home so I would wait till mom was on the phone or watching something she liked on TV and then I would “practice.” Well I wasn’t the first kid to quit the band but I was close. Mom was angry because she had to pay the rental fee for the whole semester on the twisted piece of brass. At least she didn’t have to buy it like in the movie“Music Man.”  A couple years later I asked, “Mom can I get a guitar?” “No remember the trumpet that you wanted to play.” She replied. My mom was Irish, this is a tactic passed down from mother to daughter for generations. I call it the twist and switch maneuver. First they twist what was originally said and then they switch who said it. You can argue for days and weeks but once the twist and switch has been made they will take it to their grave. Kids, make your parents put it in writing. Bottom line there was no guitar.

So here I am thirty-nine years old getting ready to pick up an instrument for the first time. I can’t read music but my wife can and she said she’ll teach me so why not. I have been inspired by the great music at the Bridge Community Church here in Des Plaines. These guys are top notch players. It’s cool I got to sing with them a couple times now and I’ve had a blast. The music is so moving. At home I play the same music with Pandora and you tube. My daughter likes to sing along and raise her hands in the air to praise God. Even my little one hums along and he raises his hands like his sister. It just makes you heart feel good to witness it. Now I want to be able to play and sing this music with my kids. I want to be able to pull out my guitar while sitting around the campfire under the stars and just sing praises to the Lord with my family or with a ministry group. What a blessing that could be. Now to dig out the VCR the lessons are on tape.

Blessing come through raindrops

I was listening to K Love while driving last night and I heard this song that I have heard at least one hundred times before. It was” Blessings” by Laura Story.  It was different this time. It hit me in a different way.  “What if the trials of this life are really mercies in disguise?” My mind went back to the worst year of my life, April 2008 to April 2009.

April 20, 2008 Marissa and I are sitting in Honolulu international airport waiting for our flight home. We were discussing our trip, our “late honeymoon”. We were half joking half serious about getting a business loan and buying a coffee shop in Kona so we wouldn’t have to go home. One phone call ended all our joking. I looked at the caller ID and didn’t recognize the number but it was from Chicago. I gave the phone to Marissa and said, “Here you answer it”. It was my sister Denise’s Mother-in-law. She wanted to know how my mom was doing. We had no idea what she was talking about.  Turns out mom had to go in for emergency surgery and she couldn’t get a hold of anyone else. I started franticly calling everyone and my sister Kim answered.  She said, “We didn’t want to spoil your vacation so we were going to wait till you got home. Mom had emergency surgery today to remove a tumor.  It was cancer, endometrial cancer. Mom had a full hysterectomy, they removed some of her intestines, she has a colostomy bag and they are doing a biopsy of some polyps they found on her liver. They believe they removed all the cancer and she is resting comfortable.  That was the longest plain flight ever. I spent most of my time just praying silently and fighting back tears.

Over the next few months I spent my free time with mom in the hospital.  Mom did not get better. The Biopsy returned positive for cancer and mom refused anymore surgery. She had her paperwork changed to do not resuscitate. She said. “All my friends are gone, I have had a good life and I’m ready.”  I had no intention on arguing with her. She was released from the hospital and the family agreed she should live with my brother Don and his wife Linda. They had an extra bedroom on the first floor so mom could move around easily and Don had just recently retired and could be with mom in the day.

Sept 13, 2008 The Des Plaines River flooded my home. We had eighteen inches of water throughout the house. We live in a single story ranch. We lost almost everything. During the cleanup we found a flyer in our mailbox for a free spaghetti dinner at the Des Plaines Bible Church. A few years back my wife and I were church shopping and we visited this church and it did make our short list of churches to attend. We went there for dinner that night. It was what we needed at the time, rest. This was also the first of many handshakes with Ralph. We never forgot the outpouring of love we received that day.

We were homeless gypsies for a while. We lived with my sister-in-law for a while but my family was in one room and we were far from work. So I talked to my brother and he let us take over his upstairs apartment. We stayed until my house was finished being rebuilt at the beginning of April 2009. My young daughter was able to spend every day with her grandma.  She was always at my mother’s side.  Makayla was only two when my mom got sick. She still talks about my mom to this day because of the time they spent together.  My wife and I got to spend the last nine months of my mother’s life with her. We saw my brothers and sisters on a dally bases. Family and friends were in and out of Don’s house to visit mom all the time. I would have missed all this if I’d been home. Although I would not want to relive the flood I was so blessed to have that time with my mom. 

Mom passed away April 10, 2009 just a few days after we moved back home. She was surrounded by her children as she took her last breath. I remember holding her hand telling her she doesn’t have to suffer anymore that God was going to take care of her now. With tears in my eyes with my brothers and sisters around her mom took her last breath. All her pain was gone and she had peace at last.

So when Laura Story sings, “Sometimes blessing come through raindrops.” You know someone who literally was blessed by raindrops. Yes my house was flooded. Yes I was living off the charity of others for over nine months. These were trials. The blessings were far greater. I spent time with my mother I wouldn’t have been able to have otherwise. My daughter has memories of her grandmother she would not have otherwise. The final blessing from the rain of the flood is this. My family went back to the Des Plaines Bible Church which has changed its name to the Bridge Community Church. My family has found a home there in October 2010. Every Sunday since then I have shaken Ralph’s hand. Three years after the flood. We never forgot their outpouring of love to us. God willing we will continue to participate in this churches love for one another and our community.

Sometimes Blessings do come from raindrops. My hope and my prayer are to all the families along the Mississippi River Valley. May you endure through your trials by this flood and I hope and pray you receive your blessings from these raindrops.

Watcha wanna do when you grow up?

     I was trying to get out of the post office when I ran into a guy I knew from work. He starts the conversation saying he is ready to give up everything at his job to do something he loved. His passion was carpentry while he was working as a dock worker. I told him I would like a change as well and I plan to go back to school this fall. He asked, "What do you want to do?" I said, "Be a preacher." (I realized as I was saying this I'd haven't said this out loud before. I always said I want to get into full time ministry.) The look on his face was priceless. Then he said, "I'm not into that religious stuff. So what do you want to preach?" Stunned by the question I said, "Salvation through Jesus Christ!" I didn't have a better answer and I still think it may have been the best answer anyway. "No" He said, "What type? Pentecostal, Baptist ya know, what type?" I told him, "well I was raised Catholic, and was saved biblical as a born again christian later but didn't like the constant judgements for petty stuff ya know people trying to prove they are holier than you." Then he told me his brother's story who turned away from Christ for this very reason and this is why he has no use for religion. Wow, I began, "I know it's hard sometimes, but please don't judge a perfect saviour by imperfect people. Even people who call themselves Christians are still sinners and we make mistakes. Besides I don't have a lot of use for religion either, but I do have a relationship Jesus and it has changed my life. It really doesn't matter if you have use for religion or not. I can promise you this, when its all said and done every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. The only question is will it be under grace or under judgment?" He looked at me for a second (puzzled) then shook my hand and said, "So are you going to try to get a scholarship to bible college or what?" I just smiled but I had to leave so I said "who knows, gotta go see ya later."
     I didn't see that conversation coming, but I am really looking foreword to seeing how are next conversation turns out. It's funny how God tests you when you pray. I remember praying things like "Here I am Lord use me" and "Lord make me bold to proclaim your gospel." He always answers when you pray his will and I feel blessed i didn't let another opportunity pass by.