Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Mooned

 

Mooned

 

Honestly, I wasn’t going to do a blog for this upcoming week.  This may not be much of one anyway.  A few nights ago, I was heading to work.  I work nights in pretty much the middle of nowhere.  It’s like the directions my dad used to give for going to one of the churches he used to pastor.  “You go to the uttermost part of the earth and turn back three miles.”  I kinda get made fun of by coworkers for taking the long way to work because I’m not a fan of driving on the freeway.  What most people in Corpus Christi don’t know is after a certain time of night the city does road construction on the freeway making travel much more difficult.  So there I was driving to work and I got out beyond the city lights and I could see the moon over the water in the ship channel.  Now what some of you don’t know is this.  Recently I was told by my wife Marion that I’m too grumpy and angry all the time.  Been trying to work on that by working through a Bible reading plan about joy.  So, I saw the moon over the water and the reflection.   This morning I was thinking again about that moment because as I had been driving, I actually asked Siri to text Marion and tell her “The moon looks awesome over the water tonight.”  It was a little thing.  And I thanked God and I told Him it looked amazing and beautiful.  It’s been said that Rich Mullins was the singer that brought Christianity to life for some people because he lived out his faith and so did his lyrics.  I want to share with you some from his song called The Color Green.  Green is my favorite color being as I’m a huge fan of the Green Lantern comics.  So, these are the lyrics from the song. 

 

“And the moon is a sliver of silver 

Like a shaving that fell on the floor of a carpenter’s shop

And every house must have it’s builder

And I awoke in the house of God

Where the windows are mornings and evenings

Stretched from the Sun

Across the sky north to south 

And on my way to early meeting 

I heard the rocks crying out 

I heard the rocks crying out

 

Be praised for all your tenderness by these works of your hands

Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life your land

Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that you have made

Blue for the sky and the color green that fills these fields with praise.”  

 

To understand why these lyrics, mean so much to what I was talking about regarding the moon is this.  The first line talks about the moon being “a sliver of silver like a shaving that fell on the floor of a carpenter’s shop.”  Jesus was a carpenter he also existed one with God at creation.  He saw and was part of the moon being created.  Then later the song talks about winter wheat.  I work at a grain terminal we are actually getting winter wheat brought in by trucks.  We are about to start a new year and maybe you need to remember where this whole world all started and thank him for the moon.  

 

Genesis 1:1-5

 

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.  Then God said ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.  God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.  God called the light day and the darkness he called night.  And there was evening and there was morning, one day.”

 

In Genesis 1:16-18 he goes on to create the sun and moon and separate them to create night and day.  Be thankful for what God has made.  

 

 

The Color Green by Rich Mullins 

 

All I need is you by Adie

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

The Commitment

 

The Commitment 

 

There’s something specific I don’t do.  I will never think Andrew Garfield is a good Spider-Man.  I will never consider Jean Grey or Kamala Khan good comic book characters.  But I’m not here to blog about those things.  Recently I saw a thing on Facebook where someone claimed the Bible didn’t really talk about alcohol use.  Apparently that person had never really paid attention to the books of Proverbs or Ephesians.   But before we get into that I want to share part of my story.  I don’t talk a whole lot about it.  When I was much, much younger my parents issued a challenge to my sister and I.  I was the one to complete it.  I mean zero disrespect to my sister because I love her dearly.  The challenge was this if by the age of 30 we had not partaken in drugs, alcohol, or tobacco my parents would give us $1000.00.  I’m now 45 and I have not done any of these things nor do I have a desire to.  The only drugs I take are for diabetes and cholesterol.  There have been times along the way when I could have.  One of the many things that kept me from this I want to share.  I had an uncle named Charlie and a few years back he passed away from an overdose.  One thing he did that left a mark on my life when I was younger was this.  I remember clearly a family get together at my grandparents’ house he started going through my grandma’s medicine cabinet looking for anything to get him high.  When I was older and understood it more, I made a choice that I never wanted to get myself to that point.  The closest I have even come to consuming alcohol is ordering a virgin pina colada.  If you don’t believe that I can introduce you to some waitresses, I know.  They can verify I never once asked for alcohol, and I was their regular customer.   Also, along the way I must tell you about my several hour girlfriend.  She broke up with me.  One of the only women I dated who did so.  At the time what she said felt like an insult, but it wasn’t.  She meant it to be.  Her exact quote was this.  “I want to drink, rock and roll and party and all you want to do is PRAY.”  Yes, I got dumped because I sought after God.   But it is also medically a good thing I don’t drink alcohol because as a diabetic it will totally mess with my blood sugar.  I don’t need that.  Cigarettes mess with my asthma.  Again, things your body doesn’t need.  All that being said, I would like to share a few verses that do deal with these issues.  

 

Ephesians 5:15-20

 

“So be careful how you live.  Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Don’t act thoughtlessly but understand what the Lord wants you to do.  Don’t be drunk with wine because that will ruin your life.  Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.  And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

Proverbs 20:1

 

“Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls.  Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.”  

 

God has a better plan for our lives than substance abuse.  He wants us to be like Him and share his love to others but when our minds are clouded by these things, we can’t do that and we have to set a better example with our lives.  The Christian is called to higher standards.  I at one time went to two church events and one of the leaders was consuming alcohol and I will tell you by the second event with that same leader I was done.  I saw where the event was being held and I never left my car.  It didn’t sit well with me to be meeting at a bar slash pool hall with people claiming to be Christians.  There are some places I don’t think a follower of God should go if they say it’s a church event.  I don’t claim to have all the answers and I’ve only seen in the Bible where alcohol should really be used only for medical purposes, and I’ve read it cover to cover multiple times.  But I feel God has called us to seek Him above any substances that can mess with your mind and your life and endanger those around you.  I have a bad temper and I wouldn’t trust myself under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  I’ve seen the effects on others and it’s not for me.  I’m doing this blog not to insult anyone or claim to be better but merely to show you that God has a better plan for you and me.  Marion reminded me this past week that this blog is not about me.  It has a purpose 1.  Point others to God.   2. To draw the participants closer to God.  3.  To give them Hope found in God’s Word.   If you walk away from reading or watching this as a video, Zac is the least important part.  But I wanted to share my story and point you back to the Bible.  If you only read or watch this I want you to take a moment and specifically listen to one of the songs I’m leaving with the written portion.  It’s a link to a song called Burn Bright by Natalie Grant.  The song was written for a family member of hers struggling with addiction and depression.  All the songs I do post with this I work hard on choosing and the blog is very interactive meaning you get what you invest into it.  There’s always music and a message to go with the goals I posted above. 

 

 Have a Good Tuesday!  Seek God! 

 

Nothing but the best by Whiteheart 

Dare 2B Different by DeGarmo and Key

Burn Bright by Natalie Grant

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Changes

 

Changes

 

I hate change.  My family and my wife will be the first to verify that.  I like consistency in my schedule my work and my life.  But here’s a fact when you become a Christian and start following God his plan is not to leave you the way you are.  He has plans to shape, mold, and change you.  The person you interact with Zac the guy writing this blog and doing it as a video on Facebook.  He’s a mess.  I am a terrible mess of a person.  I need God to change me and so do you.  I can tell you the other night Marion and I were fighting about stupid stuff.  I had to pull myself away from being part of the problem and I started praying in my frustration asking God to fix our communication and if I was part of the problem, please shut me up.  We as humans are a mess.  I don’t want God to stop working on me.

 

Romans 5:1-5 show us those changes taking place.  

 

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.  We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.   And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”  

 

If you claim to be a follower of Christ and God is not making changes in you as a person you need to step back and seek God and make sure your heart is aligned with his Word and actually following Him. 

 

By your side by Tenth Avenue North

Mercy by Casting Crowns

Destiny by Twila Paris

Monday, December 6, 2021

Back to the Frontlines

 

Back to the frontlines 

 

As some of you know I took a week off from working on the blog.  I don’t do it often.  But I can’t stay away for long.  See this world we’re in can be very bleak and my mission is still to share hope found in God’s Word.  I discovered an awesome verse about that in the meantime.  

 

Proverbs 30:5

 

“Every Word of God proves true.  He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.”

 

Then my you version reading plan brought me to this verse. 

 

Hosea 12:6

 

“So now come back to your God. Act with love and Justice, and always depend on Him.”  

 

No matter how far you may feel from God seek Him.  He loves you and longs for your attention.  These next verses show that.  

 

Romans 3:23-26

 

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  Yet God with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous.   He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.  People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life , shedding his blood.  This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.”

 

We have hope and much to be thankful for.  

 

I will Stand by the cross by Pam Thum

Great is thy faithfulness by Selah 

I stand amazed by Chris Tomlin 

Agnus Dei by Michael W Smith and Amy Grant