R U Influenced?

I Opened the Door for Her.

Author's Note:  Much is influencing us these days; our culture, our government, friends, family, but, what about the influence of God on our lives?  Shouldn't He be influencing everything?  Even the most mundane activities should be under His influence.  So, my question for you is R U Influenced?  Please consider my thoughts on His influence for this month...

I did what I have been trained to do.  I opened the door for her.

I opened the establishment door for her and her child as I was leaving and she entering; however, as she passed, there was no word of thanks, not even a grumble of gratitude. 

Ever been there? 

My first response was to loudly growl a retaliatory "you're welcome" as an answer to her rudeness.  Fortunately, I held the remark in this time.  Later though, the thought did come to me, her response was actually no concern of mine.  What was my concern was the fact that I had opened the door for her and her child.  I had done my part.

How many of us spend time worrying more about the other person than ourselves?  I guess it is human nature, but it is not God's intention for our lives.  In fact, God expects us to be concerned with our own lives and not to be so quick to judge others and their actions.  This summer, why not try something different?  Don't worry about the others around you.  Rather, be concerned about your own relationship with God.

Ask yourself…Are you going to be more like Christ tomorrow than you are today?  Are you going to be more like Christ two months from now than you are today?  God expects you and I to be.  Remember, all he asks is that you...open the door.

Your thoughts?  Enter your comments below.

wade.

What Makes a Good Dad?

Author's Note:  Much is influencing us these days; our culture, our government, friends, family, but, what about the influence of God on our lives?  Shouldn't He be influencing everything?  Even the most mundane activities should be under His influence.  So, my question for you is R U Influenced?  Please consider my thoughts on His influence for this month...

 

On the 21st we will once again celebrate Father’s Day.  When I think about it, there are a few things I am really passionate about in life -- and one of those things is encouraging dads to be the fathers they were destined to be.  I believe we desperately need good dads in our world.

A few years ago, I wrote a simple book call “A Dad’s Many Hats.”  It is filled with practical advice on how to wear the many hats we dads have to wear in modern American culture.  For example, in the book, I talk about the “fun” hat, the “financial” hat, and many others.  Often, being a good dad is about being a good husband because of the young eyes that are watching a dad’s every move.  On page 47, I take on the topic of romancing the woman in a dad’s life.  Here is a short excerpt…

“...I used to think that romance was flowers, chocolates, and opening car doors.  Yes, those things are nice, but they are not romance.  Romance is not hot sex either.  Such may be the result of romance, but a good dad will understand that romance is not sex—to a woman, at least. Romance is little notes placed in secret places.  Romance is a phone call, just because.  Romance is a “You are gorgeous” when she is not.  Romance is growing old together but always feeling young.  Romance is feeling incomplete when she is gone.  Romance is an eternal condition of the heart...”

Dads, this Father’s Day, don’t forget to wholeheartedly love and romance the woman in your life! 

If you would like to pick up your copy of  “A Dad’s Many Hats,” you may order it on line at:www.mummresourcegroup.us

Happy Father's Day!

wade.

Trapped by the Killer Among Us.

Author's Note:  Much is influencing us these days; our culture, our government, friends, family, but, what about the influence of God on our lives?  Shouldn't He be influencing everything?  Even the most mundane activities should be under His influence.  So, my question for you is R U Influenced?  Please consider my thoughts on His influence for this month...

Just yesterday morning (May 2, 2009), I read it in the front page of newspaper again…there is another killer among us. 

 This time, an Al Queda wanna-be shot two young soldiers outside an U.S. Army recruiting station somewhere in Arkansas.  One dead.  One wounded.  This most recent murderous act reminds me of the useless killing at Virginia Tech University a couple years ago.  Thinking about that tragic day at V-Tech, I cannot imagine the horror of each university student as he, or she, perhaps crouching in a corner, or huddling under a desk, heard the killer walking down the hallway approaching their hiding place madly firing his weapons.  They had no choice but to wait…to wait for the killer.  They were trapped.

 Though most people will never be trapped by a gun-slinging madman, many people are trapped in one-way or another. 

 Are you trapped?

 Are you trapped by things like; self-doubt, circumstance, inner-emptiness, addiction or even sin?  People try all sorts of things in an attempt to free themselves from their ensnarement.  They may search out empty-relationship after empty-relationship looking for freedom.  They may seek freedom through a bottle of drink or pills.  They may believe financial security will be their savior.  Or, they choose to place their trust in their own physical strength but find that one day they grow old and feeble.  In the end, they find it is all very futile and there really is no freedom.  Sure, they can suppress the problem, but they never find the autonomy they so desire.

 You cannot live your best while trapped.  You can be liberated.

 The good news is that there is hope and God understands our need for freedom.  In fact, the Bible is full of the stories of men and women and their attempts to escape the things that trap them.  The truth is that if we are trapped by fear, with God’s help, we can confront our fear.  If we are trapped by our past, we can experience God’s healing and start over.  If we are trapped by addiction, with God’s help, it can be broken.  If we are trapped by our sin, we can experience freedom through God’s Grace.

Feeling trapped?  Contact me.  Lets talk.  I can pray with you and direct you to some great professional faith-based counselors.  Here is my contact information – 

Email:  

wbmumm@greenewaychurch.com or chaplain@allengroupe.com or call toll free:  877-655-2324.

wade.