Dad's surgery

As many of you may already know, my dad had heart surgery last Friday. He had to have a valve replaced that was worked on 4 years ago. So, this is his second heart surgery in 4 years.

It's is so amazing how the surgeons can open a man or woman up, and work on the very organ that keeps our body alive. I'm am so amazed at that. Wow!

Today makes the third day after surgery. Dad is doing fantastic!!! He is now in a regular hospital room where he will spend the next few days. 4 years ago when he had this very similar surgery, it took him 3 full days to come out of the anesthesia. So, his recovery is much more an improvement this time around. Thanks to God and all the prayers that were sent up. (If that's you, please give yourself a BIG HUG from our family)

One of the hardest parts of all of this was saying, "Bye dad. See you later after surgery."

That part was hard because we had to leave him and knew it was out of our hands from that point.

Then there was the waiting...the UNKNOWN. All this time I knew God was with Him, but the human in me was so anxious and concerned. I am very thankful for friends and family that were there; they helped with the waiting.

And, with all of my electronic toys, my mind stayed busy. LOL

After 3 1/2 hours of surgery we received the report that his surgery was complete and went well. But we still couldn't see him for another 2 hours. So, more waiting...

Much of the concern was gone. Now I just wanted to see him. Waiting...

I was also concerned about mom. She is so tough and won't show how she is really feeling. I knew she was bothered by the whole thing. I mean, as a spouse, who wouldn't be? I kept putting myself in her place; it was a very uncomfortable feeling. It was hard as a son, let alone, a spouse.

Thank you friends (you know who you are) for making it so much easier for mom. I know that helped her a lot. And that made me a lot more lighter knowing mom was being helped. THANK YOU!!

I am now sitting next to dad's bed writing this blog. He is asleep and resting well. He still has some hurdles to get over. He needs to accomplish some physicality goals and tasks. He also needs to get in the right dosages of meds before they will release him. But, God has brought him through this far, and I know He is helping dad now. I'm looking forward to a great testimony!!

Thank you for your continued prayers. God bless you all!!




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Media in the Life of a Christian...Part 2 (Movies - Part 1)

They are everywhere! 

Movies, movies, movies! 

You can rent them from the Redbox. 

You can rent them online and watch it within minutes from Netflix.

You can rent them from iTunes and watch it on any Apple device.

You can rent them from the Blockbuster Kiosk.

You can see full length movies on YouTube with the click of a link or by typing in the correct title. 

Wal-mart sells them. K-mart sells them.  Grocery stores sell them.  Discount stores sell them.  Drug stores sell them.

You have all types of movies:

- Cartoons

- Animated (there is a difference)

- Drama

- Romance

- Action

- Violence

- Comedy

- Family

- Kids

The list goes on forever.  You can pick your favorite genre and find millions of films at your fingertips. 

There is not a town (or city) that doesn't promote movies.  If there is, could you please share that information with me?  I would love to research that. 

You can watch them on iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets, iPods, Galaxy series phones, and the list goes on and on.  All of these devices allow you be on the go and still have the ability to watch your favorite movies.  Movies are EVERYWHERE!!!

Drugs, sex, cursing, fighting, killing, immoral acts .... all of these you can find on a movie.  Think about these following scenarios for a moment:

... If you walked into your house and 2 people were on your living room couch doing inappropriate sexual acts, would you just sit there are watch them?
... You're in your office or room trying to get some quiet time.  You hear a noise downstairs or in another part of the house, so you go to check it out.  You find 2 people in your living room cursing at one another.  Would you go grab a bag of chips and stand there and enjoy it?

This is exactly what we, as Christians, are doing every time we watch an inappropriate movie in our home.  We are allowing sinful acts/scenes (that we wouldn't allow to actually happen in real life in our home) to be projected into our minds.  Also, we are saying (with our actions), that we approve of that action/scene.  This thought right here, is what changed mine and my wife's mindset about movies. 

1 Corinthians 2:14-16 (KJV)

14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

By ourselves we cannot decide what media (movies) are okay to watch.  We have to allow God's Spirit to lead us and guide us with all of our media intake. 

I will be the first one to admit to you that sitting down and watching a movie with action and drama is very entertaining.  My humanity loves to do that.   All of us, in our humanity, like media (movies).  But we have to allow God's Spirit to guide us.  What does He approve of?

We must stop and reallly think about what we are allowing ourselves to get trapped into. 

Check this out:

Luke 6:45 (KJV)

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

This scripture is not talking about the actual heart organ.  This scripture is referring to the very things that mean the most to us.  The things that we charish so much in life; those are the things of the heart.  So, the very acts/scenes we allow into our eyes and ears, are typically what we begin to look and talk like. 

The following scripture is proof that being around ungodly, sinful acts can mess you up:

2 Peter 2:7-8 (NKJV)

7  and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked

8  (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)

Lot was a righteous man.  He knew what he should be and should not be doing.  But, he became exposed to ungodly "scenes".  He heard things.  He saw things that began to "oppress" or torment his soul.  His wife got caught up in it.  His daughters were caught up in it. 

The same thing happens with us when we allow ourselves to be exposed to ungodly scenes and acts.  It may not effect you right away, but it will eventually. 

You may think you have good balance, but why do you get angry now all of sudden when you didn't used to do that?

You may think that watching stuff doesn't hinder you, but why are you now hanging out with the very people you said you never would be around?

What goes in, must come out.  (I will be talking about this in my next blog on media)

Movies are not something that show immediate negative results.  It is gradual.  It happens slowly.  It's start with innocent movies that have one inappropriate scene.  Then it grows a little more, and more and ......  Then all of sudden you begin to watch anything and everything. 

How do I know? Because I did it and I saw the effect it had on my relationship with God and my family.  My attitude changed.  My body language changed.  My lifestyle changed.

It's hard to pray in the same atmosphere that you just watched an ungodly movie in the night before.  Our relationship with God HAS to matter to us. 

This is only a challenge.  This is not to condemn anyone or any lifestyle.  This is to help all of us to think about our media choices. 

Think about it. 

God bless. 

School Wars Celebration_Saturday, Dec 11, 2010

We had a great time at ShadowLand laser tag and Cici's Pizza.  I love it when we are able to grow together with godly friends. 

 This picture is just afew of the young people that were there.  Others were either in the other room or had just left.  

Reality UnMasked was the winning team for School Wars 2010.  Both teams did a great job with the services.  It is always difficult to announce the winning team, because both teams, to me, deserve to win. 

Many young people's lives were changed and challenged during the month of December.  Two of our guest received the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost during the services in November.  We had a School Wars ending service on December 2nd with Pastor Joel Wright.  He did a fantastic job delivering a message from the Lord.  In that service, two received the gift of the Holy Spirit and 3 were refilled. 

I heard someone say recently, "God will always be great in our services. The question is, are we going to be great?" 

Have you ever heard someone say?  "Man!  God did a awesome work today!" or "God really showed up tonight!"  

I think it would be accurate to say we have all said that or at least heard someone else say something like that before.  God always shows up.  He will always do an awesome work.  But, we have to be willing to show up ready and positioned to be a part of His plan. 

I feel like that is what happened with School Wars this year.  The Team Captains and their Assistants came to the services ready to see God do a great work.  They came prepared to be great for God.  Thank you Reality UnMasked and F.U.T.U.R.E. Team Captains.  You do a GREAT job this year with School Wars.