A HEAVENLY SIGN

I ran across this very interesting and awe-inspiring news article on Fox News online. It is about two pilots, Grant Stubbs and Owen Wilson, flying a home made plane in New Zealand this past Sunday, May 25th.

As they were flying their microlight plane, they ran out of fuel and being both Christians, they immediately began to pray to the Lord for help. They prayed that the tiny plane would make it over the top of a ridge and that they would find a landing site that was not too steep - or in the nearby sea.

With the big possibility of losing their lives, their plane managed to make it over the ridge before finally running out of fuel completely. As soon as they came over the top of the ridge, they saw an airfield they didn’t even know was there! Now here’s the interesting part! As they glided the out of gas plane to a safe landing, they could not help but notice that the plane came to stop right next to a 20-foot-tall-sign that read: “JESUS IS LORD – THE BIBLE”! Talk about seeing a sign from heaven! J

This was truly an immediate answer to prayer! The two men later told the media that if the plane had lost all its fuel 5 minutes earlier, they would not have made it, or at the very least, been in very deep trouble! The nearby residents provided the two with gas and they were able to make it back to their home safely and without further problems.

I am always in awe of how much God is involved in our daily lives even though we might not think so. Sometimes we don’t realize it. Perhaps because we don’t see Him with our physical eyes, that it gives us the illusion that He’s not around or concerned at what is happening around us and within us.

I remember an experience I once had several years ago. It was a very cold winter’s night and I had to go make the groceries. I really didn’t want to go out that night, but we were running low on food and it had to be done. My wife stayed home with the girls and I went to the store with my list. As I pulled up to the driveway to the store, I realized I had no change in order to get a shopping cart. I would have to go inside the store, try and get change for a $20 in order to get 25 cents, to then go back outside and battle the wind for a shopping cart! As I began to plan out my strategy, I came to grips that I would just have to brave the weather and come back outside in order to accomplish my grocery shopping mission. I pulled into the store parking lot and began to look for a space to park. I found one fairly quickly since the store was not packed. As I pulled into the spot, immediately in front of my car was a shopping cart that someone had left in the lot! Apparently, they were too cold to go back and get their 25 cents back! I realized that the conversation that had been going on in my head had not gone unheeded! God had taken care of my concerns without my even asking!! With tears running down my cheeks, I gave thanks to the Lord for even considering such a small and insignificant inconvenience. I quickly got out of the car, took the shopping cart and did my shopping in record time! I think I was in and out of the store within 30 minutes! The cold wind was not a bother to me anymore. I had a joy that gave me the energy I needed to complete my responsibility! As soon as I got home, I told my wife what had happened and we gave thanks to God once again for His love, mercy and grace upon us!

I encourage you to never stop praying for those in need. God still answers prayer! Even if you think it is a small thing, for God it is important! HE is truly our Heavenly Father!!

Just when you think God is not listening…..the unexpected happens!! He knows us better than we know ourselves!

Luke 12:7 - But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

5/27/2008
James

THE PATH OF A NATION

On Thursday, May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. It was a broadly worded decision that would basically invalidate any law that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation. This makes California’s high court the first in the nation to adopt such a standard. Governor Schwarzenegger said he respects the court’s ruling. L.A.’s Mayor Villaraigosa, in support of the ruling, said he would officiate at same-sex weddings. He said, “This is about people and the right for people to love who they want,” he told The Los Angeles Times. It seems like the entire state of California was celebrating over this decision. The gay and lesbian community is planning all kinds of celebration throughout the entire state.

Where is our nation headed? How did we get here? Was this what our founding fathers had in mind? These were just a few of the questions that came to mind when I heard the news this past week. This same country, which was originally founded in Christian principles, now stands with fist to heaven in defiance of the very God who made its existence possible!

Recently, I received an e-mail with a very interesting historical story concerning the Washington Monument. Once I made sure that it was legit, I was captivated by it. This monument, of course, honors of our first President, George Washington. According to Wikipedia Encyclopedia Online, the actual construction began in 1848, but was not completed until 1884, almost 30 years after the architect’s death. Part of that was due to lack of funding and the American Civil War. Of all the interesting and wonderful things regarding the monument, the most amazing is the capstone at the very top of the monument. It is pyramidal in shape and has a tip made of aluminum, which at that time was a very rare metal, valued about the same as silver. On the capstone itself are four inscriptions. The north, south, and west faces of the capstone have basic information concerning important dates and basic information about the building of the monument. On the pyramid face which faces east, at 555 feet above the ground and facing skyward, there is an inscription of only two words in Latin, Laus Deo, which simply means “Praise be to God”!

What a contrast and oxymoron to what we see and hear going on in our nation! Etched in stone, atop one of our nation’s most important monument is a phrase that is meant to glorify God! Is this possible? Why is it that this small, yet powerful piece of information is not shared within the textbooks of our schools? With all the shootings and killings that go on every day, with all the controversies that plague our very freedoms, with all the indifferences and biases toward Christianity, is our nation really “Praising God” in all this? Somehow I doubt it. Yet, this was the path that our nation was meant to walk. Such was the moral direction and spiritual mood of our nation in its early years! Laus Deo, Praise be to God, was the outcry of our founding father and first President of our country!

Here is a prayer offered by George Washington for our country:

'Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.'
Laus Deo!

I wonder if any of our current presidential nominees would ever hope to say something to the effect of recognizing and honoring God for the opportunity to serve this country’s highest office! Somehow I doubt it!

5/18/2008
James

SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR

Every morning when I wake up I always turn on the TV to check the weather and the latest news. It seems to me that lately the bad news just keeps getting worse by the day! Whether it's the rising cost of oil, the Democratic race between Obama and Clinton, the threats scribbled on the walls of school campuses, or the terrible devastation in Myanmar! All this and more are competing for headline news each and every day. So far the situation in Myanmar is leading the group.

With the devastation of Saturday's cyclone hitting Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, efforts to bring aid into Myanmar has hit a brick wall. Their very own government is being a hindrance to the relief efforts being offered by various countries, including the US. Myanmar is situated in southeast Asia, bordered by India, China, and Thailand. Formerly under British rule, it has come under international criticism due to its military dictatorship rule and its human rights practices. It's going on 8 days and still the government of Myanmar is not allowing any foreign aid workers or supplies into the country. Now finally, after days of refusing US aid, Myanmar's military leaders have agreed to allow one US military plane to deliver relief supplies to more than 1 million residents left homeless by the cyclone. As I was reading the news articles online, I was amazed and appalled at the fact that aid and relief was so close and available, and yet was not doing any good because of the obstacles in the way! The US has 6 C-130 planes ready to go that are waiting in neighboring Thailand ready to bring water and much needed supplies. Due to a mistrusting military government, many of the Burmese people will probably die because their government is not allowing the necessary supplies and people to come in! Talk about being so close and yet so far!!

I'm looking at this and thinking, "Is this really happening? Aren't we living in the 21st century? Haven't we "evolved" beyond this already?" It reminds me of a similar predicament that is a major problem affecting mankind to this day. The problem is sin. We have a Savior who is more than willing and ready to come to our aid and yet many are unwilling to allow Him in! Similar to the mistrusting government of Myanmar, many are not willing to trust God with their lives. People are not willing to surrender control of their lives to the one who created them! That would involve giving up control of our lives and our will to someone other than ourselves. And we can't have that now, can we?! We need to be in charge of our own destiny! Make our own place in this world! What does God know about running our lives?! Hmmm, let me see....He created us, therefor He should know us better than we know ourselves. I guess that qualifies Him as the perfect person to run our lives! And since He also loves us more than anything , He will not steer us wrong!

Not only is He more than able to come to our rescue and aid, He really wants to put us back on the track to recovery. He wants to restore us from the 'disasters' of this world and save us from our mortal enemy, the Devil. Yes, He is waiting at the 'door', waiting for us to give the OK to come in and mend our broken hearts, heal our hurting spirit, and rebuild our minds. Will we allow Him in, or will we be like Myanmar's foolish government and hinder the very one who can help and bring salvation to our much needed souls?!

God is there, so close, and yet for some, so far because of their unwillingness to allow Him in!

May we find it in our hearts to allow Him access to our lives! It will be the best thing we can ever do!


5/09/2008
James