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A Family Transformed

April 14, 2015 by

Number 46 in the series “God Rocks: 101 Amazing Everyday Gifts!” The miracles and promises of Jesus that show us the awesome blessings we can experience each day. I hope it encourages you!

 

When I pastored I saw firsthand the devastation of dysfunctional families.

Instead of love and support too often I saw anger and attack. Instead of being a refuge from the world’s pressures it became a war zone to escape.

 

Family Playing

 

Unfortunately, it wasn’t always the neighbors who didn’t go to church though. Sometimes it was some of those who were the most involved. Going to church wasn’t an inoculation against the disease.

And the destruction it left was devastating. Children abused or rejected. Marriages destroyed. Families torn apart.

 

Lives devastated sometimes in ways that couldn’t be seen yet manifested themselves later.

 

After many years of marriage I can say honestly Jennifer and I have gone through our times of struggle too. I mean, realistically who hasn’t?

Marriage is tricky. There have been times when it would be easier to quit. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Happiness, Love Tagged With: ,

A Tribute to a Good Father I Hardly Knew

January 27, 2015 by

My father-in-law Jack passed away a few days ago at 95. Though we had many conversations we really hardly knew each other.

 

 

Photo Credit: Doug Armey

Photo Credit: Doug Armey

 

 

He was born into a poor family in Oklahoma. As an infant they moved to Missouri where his father spent time in jail for running moonshine. A few years later they moved to California.

After graduating from high school he enlisted in the army and spent four years landing on beaches in the Pacific in World War II. Through it all he earned two Bronze Stars and one Silver Star for valor.

When the war ended he returned home and never spoke about it. He said he couldn’t remember what he won the Bronze Stars for and would only in briefest terms tell the circumstances of the Silver Star.

 

I think there were just too many harsh memories he wanted to forget.

 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Heaven, Love, Significance Tagged With: ,

Never Alone Again

March 18, 2014 by
Photo by Steve Williams. Fasi Winery Driving Tour

Photo by Steve Williams. Fasi Winery Driving Tour

 

“Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.  But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.”  (Ephesians 2: 11-13 NLT)

I look back in amazement that when I gave my life to Jesus I near instantaneously connected with a whole new group of friends.

At the time I was living in a fraternity house surrounded by “brothers.”  Continuous parties,  girls and drinking. Yet, in many ways I felt alone.  Sure lots of friends but few I could open up to. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Love Tagged With: ,