When we believe without proof, when we have a different thought
It's not about what's cool, but really about what's not
Standing up for something can make you a target
Why don't you just forget that you ever thought it
So many people doing the same things
It's all about the girl, or the car, or the bling
Believe when I say that life is not an endless rift
The truth is that Life is a Gift
Do you open your presents when they are given?
Why not open the one from He who has risen?
Faith is a step toward a cloud or a vapor
Eventually you'll see the words written on His paper
Although you will see it, will your name be listed?
I'm trying to be clear so my words don't get twisted.
Jesus is the way the truth and the life
If you don't believe this, that is your right
Before you attack the words I'm saying
Why don't you read, think, and try praying?
I think at this point I've heard it all
The reason I'm a christian is my brain's too small
Atheists attack saying "you have no proof!"
Well, John 3:16 is my truth
So I'll leave you today with another statement that's true
When Jesus bled on the cross, His prayer was for you.
~Caleb
Friday, February 10, 2012
Worry
Staring out into the sky, over looking the river you wonder how it's come to this. How could everything just fall apart so fast? Something that took years to build was shattered in an instant. Holding the hand of your child, you look down at her. Her eyes have both trust and fear in them and you have no words. Gripping her little hand tighter it's time to go home...
As you make your way back to the car your daughter says the words you can't bear to hear. "Why did daddy die?" The words hit you like a freight train. The last few days have been a blur. You don't even remember the funeral. Trying to talk about this now is not going to work. The wind blows the leaves out of the trees. It's autumn, his favorite time of year. Hunting season will be coming up, you have to get the freezer cleaned out for this years harvest. Wait, no. This year, there will be no need to clean out the freezer. No muddy boots on the back porch, and no complaining about him leaving his hunting clothes on the floor. You would give anything for that now.
Opening the car door you motion for her to get inside. She hops up in her seat and you shut the door. Holding back the tears you say "get buckled up honey." The crack in your voice is all but noticeable. A tear rolls down your cheek. You miss him so much. Why now? Why us? A car accident, or a fire are things that happen. But a heart attack at 37 is unheard of. Gripping the steering wheel the leather is still hot from the sun. Your knuckles go white as you squeeze tighter. Gotta hold on for Emily, you think. How will we pay the bills? What will happen to the house? You can't afford daycare on your own. The car weaves in your lane as you struggle to see through the tears. Pulling over to the side of the road you start sobbing. Emily's back there you think, but you can't stop. A couple minutes later wiping the tears from your face you look in the rear view. Emily is just staring at you teary eyed with a half smile. There's a knock on the window next to you. The sound makes you jump slightly. You look to see an elderly man. Rolling down the window a crack he asks you "Everything alright?" Embarrassed, you simply reply "yes, everything is fine." "Forgive me, but I couldn't help but notice you crying. Is there anything you need?" He says. "It's okay, we're fine" you reply. "How ya doing Emily?" He says while looking in the back seat. Emily smiles at the old man. He seemed sweet. Wearing a light blue collared shirt under a tan over coat. His hat was funny looking and he had white hair. "Well good, I'm glad you are doing better." The old man says. "I have to get going ladies, but I wanted to make sure you got the message." Stunned and speechless you just stare forward as the gentleman walks off toward the back of the car. Peace overwhelms you. "Did you know that man?" you ask Emily. She just shakes her head no. Quickly you spin around to see where he went and there is no sign of him. No car, no one walking, nothing. He's just gone.
Shaking your head in bewilderment you look down to put the car in drive and in the passenger seat there sits an envelope. you reach over and pick it up. the outside has your name on it, so you open it up. Inside is a note the reads:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:25-27
Laying the note back down on the seat you put the car in drive. "It's going to be okay." you think. It's going to be okay...
~Caleb
As you make your way back to the car your daughter says the words you can't bear to hear. "Why did daddy die?" The words hit you like a freight train. The last few days have been a blur. You don't even remember the funeral. Trying to talk about this now is not going to work. The wind blows the leaves out of the trees. It's autumn, his favorite time of year. Hunting season will be coming up, you have to get the freezer cleaned out for this years harvest. Wait, no. This year, there will be no need to clean out the freezer. No muddy boots on the back porch, and no complaining about him leaving his hunting clothes on the floor. You would give anything for that now.
Opening the car door you motion for her to get inside. She hops up in her seat and you shut the door. Holding back the tears you say "get buckled up honey." The crack in your voice is all but noticeable. A tear rolls down your cheek. You miss him so much. Why now? Why us? A car accident, or a fire are things that happen. But a heart attack at 37 is unheard of. Gripping the steering wheel the leather is still hot from the sun. Your knuckles go white as you squeeze tighter. Gotta hold on for Emily, you think. How will we pay the bills? What will happen to the house? You can't afford daycare on your own. The car weaves in your lane as you struggle to see through the tears. Pulling over to the side of the road you start sobbing. Emily's back there you think, but you can't stop. A couple minutes later wiping the tears from your face you look in the rear view. Emily is just staring at you teary eyed with a half smile. There's a knock on the window next to you. The sound makes you jump slightly. You look to see an elderly man. Rolling down the window a crack he asks you "Everything alright?" Embarrassed, you simply reply "yes, everything is fine." "Forgive me, but I couldn't help but notice you crying. Is there anything you need?" He says. "It's okay, we're fine" you reply. "How ya doing Emily?" He says while looking in the back seat. Emily smiles at the old man. He seemed sweet. Wearing a light blue collared shirt under a tan over coat. His hat was funny looking and he had white hair. "Well good, I'm glad you are doing better." The old man says. "I have to get going ladies, but I wanted to make sure you got the message." Stunned and speechless you just stare forward as the gentleman walks off toward the back of the car. Peace overwhelms you. "Did you know that man?" you ask Emily. She just shakes her head no. Quickly you spin around to see where he went and there is no sign of him. No car, no one walking, nothing. He's just gone.
Shaking your head in bewilderment you look down to put the car in drive and in the passenger seat there sits an envelope. you reach over and pick it up. the outside has your name on it, so you open it up. Inside is a note the reads:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:25-27
Laying the note back down on the seat you put the car in drive. "It's going to be okay." you think. It's going to be okay...
~Caleb
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Rock
"How can he give me advice?" That is the question on my mind right now. How can I give you advice and insight on situations in life? The answer is more humbling than you might think. I'm not blogging to preach to you. I'm not blogging to condemn you. I can not judge you, nor do I want to. Because I am just as guilty as you are. As most of us, the home I grew up in wasn't perfect, but it wasn't the worst either. My father was an abusive alcoholic and my mother left him when I was under two years. My step dad made his mistakes and is now accountable before God, not me. I am not a judge of anyone. I love both my mother and step dad very much, no one is perfect. My mother and step dad got a divorce after 20+ years of marriage. I was out of the house and didn't get involved. I swore that wouldn't happen to me. I'd felt the pain first hand. I got married at 21 years of age to my high school sweetheart, we had a child a little more than a year later. Married 4 years and divorced by 5 with my son caught in the middle. The pain involved in something like that is indescribable. Not understanding why, I turned away from God. I went on a nearly 2 year rampage of alcohol and sexual immorality. I was far from whole in my life and was attempting to fill it with anything but God. He had let me down...or so I thought. One day I looked at myself in the mirror and didn't know who I was. I didn't like the person I saw. It wasn't a man, it wasn't a good person, it was a worm. Writhing around in the dirt. Soaking up the soil and filth of this earth. I started reading the bible that night. I realized that my marriage had failed because of me.
"And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand." Matthew 7:26.
I had built my house on sand. When the wind and the rain came crashing in, the foundation crumbled. I wasn't a strong enough man, I wasn't a good enough husband. That's not to release my ex-wife of her part, it's just to emphasize mine. I have since remarried. We as men, fathers, husbands have an extra tall order. We are responsible for our wives, children and ourselves. There is no gray area here. Men are to be the keepers of the family. That is a lot of responsibility. So, why are so many men failing? For many reasons, but I strongly believe the main reason is WE are not building on the Rock of God. Many of us are flopping around on the beach like a fish out of water. Did you know there is an instruction manual? It's at your local book store, titled The Holy Bible. I am not perfect. Not even close. I still make mistakes. I've raised my voice at my wife, said things out of anger. The good news is, because of Christ, I don't have to be perfect. I am to strive for it, but realizing I will make mistakes is part of the deal. We can be strong, focused and loving at the same time. We can be what we are meant to be. It starts with a choice. Choose today what kind of man you will be. The man who builds on sand. Or the man who builds on a rock.
"And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand." Matthew 7:26.
I had built my house on sand. When the wind and the rain came crashing in, the foundation crumbled. I wasn't a strong enough man, I wasn't a good enough husband. That's not to release my ex-wife of her part, it's just to emphasize mine. I have since remarried. We as men, fathers, husbands have an extra tall order. We are responsible for our wives, children and ourselves. There is no gray area here. Men are to be the keepers of the family. That is a lot of responsibility. So, why are so many men failing? For many reasons, but I strongly believe the main reason is WE are not building on the Rock of God. Many of us are flopping around on the beach like a fish out of water. Did you know there is an instruction manual? It's at your local book store, titled The Holy Bible. I am not perfect. Not even close. I still make mistakes. I've raised my voice at my wife, said things out of anger. The good news is, because of Christ, I don't have to be perfect. I am to strive for it, but realizing I will make mistakes is part of the deal. We can be strong, focused and loving at the same time. We can be what we are meant to be. It starts with a choice. Choose today what kind of man you will be. The man who builds on sand. Or the man who builds on a rock.
I realize some men will read this and mock it. Others will embrace it. Some will want to embrace it but not know how or where to start. Your local pastor is a great person to talk to. Or just send me a message.
So to answer the question in the beginning. I will offer my insights to you as my brothers and sisters in Christ all day long. What you do with it is up to you...
~Caleb
~Caleb
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Forks
We all face them. The choice between a rock and a hard place. Oh yes, sometimes forks are easy. go up or go down. But so often they are confusing and challenging. So when faced with these decisions, what do we do? How do we determine the choices we make? which way do we go?
Recently Steve was given a lucrative job offer. This career would allow him the opportunity to make large sums of money and not work many more hours than he does now. The place Steve works is struggling. He's been there only two short years but still feels a sense of loyalty to them. The Career opportunity seems good from a distance but like many times, the grass is always greener. So, what did Steve do? He turned down this job offer. The next day going into work wasn't a struggle. He even stayed late to get caught up. Sometimes it's not the choice that needs to be made, just the opportunity to have a choice.
I think this falls into the same lines as guns and voting. Years ago, African Americans could not vote. Today, many don't. It's not so much that they all want to vote, but they want the opportunity to vote. Not every red blooded American owns a gun. Not every American wants to own a gun. Try and take away the right to own guns and as history has proven, you'll have a fight on your hands. We as Americans don't want anyone telling us what we HAVE to do, or what we cannot do. We go through life working our way through the ranks of the military or work place so we have less people telling us what we have to do, and more people to tell what to do.
When you go into an ice cream shop, you want choices. If every flavor was vanilla, that wouldn't be a very successful shop. Just like in life. If you limit yourself to the minimum number of choices because you are afraid to make decisions, it won't be a very successful life. Take chances, embrace the forks in the road, and soon enough you'll find yourself staying late with a smile on your face.
~Caleb
Recently Steve was given a lucrative job offer. This career would allow him the opportunity to make large sums of money and not work many more hours than he does now. The place Steve works is struggling. He's been there only two short years but still feels a sense of loyalty to them. The Career opportunity seems good from a distance but like many times, the grass is always greener. So, what did Steve do? He turned down this job offer. The next day going into work wasn't a struggle. He even stayed late to get caught up. Sometimes it's not the choice that needs to be made, just the opportunity to have a choice.
I think this falls into the same lines as guns and voting. Years ago, African Americans could not vote. Today, many don't. It's not so much that they all want to vote, but they want the opportunity to vote. Not every red blooded American owns a gun. Not every American wants to own a gun. Try and take away the right to own guns and as history has proven, you'll have a fight on your hands. We as Americans don't want anyone telling us what we HAVE to do, or what we cannot do. We go through life working our way through the ranks of the military or work place so we have less people telling us what we have to do, and more people to tell what to do.
When you go into an ice cream shop, you want choices. If every flavor was vanilla, that wouldn't be a very successful shop. Just like in life. If you limit yourself to the minimum number of choices because you are afraid to make decisions, it won't be a very successful life. Take chances, embrace the forks in the road, and soon enough you'll find yourself staying late with a smile on your face.
~Caleb
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