Author: admin

TV movies can be a great pastime.  One can sit down or curl up with a cup of hot chocolate or tea and watch as probably 95% of the movies feature the same plot: a guy and girl end up in love and after swearing they’re not part of a small community, end up hitching and settling down in a small, layback town where cakes and cookies are baked, consumed and even given away ‘on the house ’every single day by the dozens. I wonder how the businesses make any money!

Great movies-sometimes.  Some are more real than others.  The real ones deal with real issues, religious convictions, and less Santa Clause issues.  Other movies, where Santa reigns and “Anything can happen at Christmas,” are more fantasy than real life.  And so, every problem can be tackled in a matter of days or weeks.

Seeing Santa and elves and all the decorations can be great entertainment and inspiration.  The negative aspect of it all is that Christmas time happens to be the saddest day (season) of the year for many.  Problems aren’t solved in a jiffy.  The man/woman of your dreams probably evaporated once you awoke.  Bills and debts are ever-present.  Every day that it snows can be thrilling, especially the first time around and as long as you don’t have to go to work or school, or run errands…or plow it.  We all tend to love novelties.  We fall in love with images of what could be and how wonderful fairy tales look.  Reality can be harsh.  

The wonders of Christmas, as far as Christmas lights, garlands, red, silver, gold, and green colors go, is magical.  But the harsh reality of the holiday is that real Christmas and its significance is left out in the cold.  It gets buried in the snow.  It gets forgotten under an avalanche of commercialism. 

So many people feel they have nothing at all in their lives that relates to Christmas, yet they like to give or share with others, they like to ‘treat’ others to meals, movies, games, etc.  We don’t do those things out of our own nature or because ‘That’s just who I am.’  Those qualities are innate because God put them there.  Because He taught us to give; to be generous, etc.  In other words, we do have things or ways that relate to the holiday. We are more like God than we sometimes realize.

So then, what’s the big deal with Christmas?  Who cares if there’s a Santa in every movie or street corner or not?  God says He will not share His glory with anyone (Isaiah 42:8).  If Santa pointed everyone to God as being the one who provides or the one who answers prayers, then there would be no problem.  However, Santa gets all the attention because he makes everyone happy by magically solving everyone’s problems.  The real Gift-Giver, Jesus, came to earth as a gift from God with one purpose: to die and be raised for our sins.  In doing so, He defeated the forces of evil.

Make use of this holiday season to give like Santa but most importantly, to give like God and to love like Jesus.   Real life-answers come from the Man far beyond the North Pole; From the Man, not in a red suit, but whose red blood was shed to turn your red-crimson/scarlet sins, white as snow and wool (Isaiah 1:18).

God Bless,

Sam

It was a cold December morning many years ago when a perfect gift came into the world.  Words like, “Oh Lordy” were most likely shouted out by my wife shattering the morning silence.  They were not in reference to the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus; nor were they said in anticipation of the Christmas holiday soon-to-be upon us.  No, they were words meaning, “Hurry up and get me to the hospital!!”  We’re having us a baby NOW!  We caught a taxi and dashed there.

I’m not sure how Joseph felt when Mary brought forth her newborn.  I don’t think the baby wipes were ready or the milk bottle warm.  He may not have even had a pacifier; I don’t know what they used back then, but after an 80-100-mile journey, they needed something to quiet baby Jesus.  I know I wasn’t ready.  This was like, “Taxi! Get over here and step on it!”  Have your coat? Check; Have your papers? Check; Having contractions? Check, check!!  Out the door we went in the cold, dead of winter.

Now, I’m the type of guy that’s always on the go. I would like all stores to have revolving doors so I can walk in, grab & pay for my purchases and head right out in minutes flat.  I’m sure the Lord knew this that morning, cause a few minutes after arriving and my wife having been whisked off in a rush, as soon as I began to ask the secretary if…she congratulated me!  I assured her she was confusing me with someone else like maybe the lady just dropped off.  I only wanted to know if I should leave and take my wife’s coat and return later, or wait for her so we could head back home. Once again, I was congratulated.  I told the lady that I had just dropped off my wife like three to five minutes earlier.  “yeah, yeah,” the lady said.  She just came in and just as fast gave birth to a healthy daughter, I was told.

 I couldn’t believe it!  That was fast! Just the way I wish the previous two kids would have been born!  I would have wanted to walk up to the desk and said on each occasion, “Here’s my wife and please hurry; this child is to go.”  I’m sure most men would agree with that.  I’m sure my wife wishes it could have been like that too.

Our daughter was in a rush too.  She had my ‘hurry up’ in her genes-and diapers too!  She flew out in a jiffy.  Some crying, some laughter, and in no time, some jokes!!  She’s always been a clown.  She was born with a full set of hair; kind of like a wig.  And even though she was already past her due-date by a week and was born twelve days before Christmas, she was our Christmas child.  Like Jesus, she was born at just the right time-God’s appointed time to bring peace and joy (and laughter) to this world.

Happy Birthday, Princess Sarai Magdalene!

Growing up, I remember always wishing for snow during Christmas and the winters to come.  We rarely had a white Christmas.  We did have several memorable snowstorms.  We enjoyed them all.  One of us guys-on-the-block would hurry to the window and if we saw snow, we’d run back in and get all dressed for the cold.  Boots, gloves, scarves, etc. went on, and out we’d go.  Sometimes, other guys were out too, but if there was no one, we’d start calling each other, or throwing snowballs at their windows to get their attention.  One of my last great snowstorms while growing up was around 1979.  Parts of our neighborhood was under 18” of snow while others got up to 24.”  We were ecstatic!  I remember running to this back street where normally there was little traffic and as I turned the corner, it was a blanket of snow that went up to my knees!!!  I ‘ran’ taking slow, huge steps sinking in with each one.  It was just great.  I walked back to tell others about it and soon we were all going mad everywhere enjoying ourselves.  Everything had been paralyzed.  Trucks and buses were stopped in their tracks.  It looked like a ghost town!  One could walk right into a bus or truck frozen on the road with no one inside! God’s power was marvelous! Tiny dustings of white powder had accumulated to where it had halted everything!

Either that year or the one before, we also had a great time.  We made two teams.  Ours had Georgie, maybe Aaron, and Gil.  Gil was the most feared snowball-maker on the block.  We’d watch him take snow and methodically shape it into a snowball without gloves.  We’d watch as he’d compact it more and more and the water would just drip.  Our faces frozen in fear as saliva trickled down our mouths from the dread of who would get hit by such a weapon.  When finished, he’d throw one at some 70 mph against the metal pull-down gate across the street.  When a loud bang shattered the silence, he’d say, “Yep, I think it’s ready.” We all were like, ‘We want Gil, we want Gil on our side…”

 I know the other team had Edgar, June, and Chicky.   Both teams had crates or buckets of snowballs.  Gil was our snow-making machine, so he pre-made a batch.  On one occasion, it was like on a TV show where we were walking nearing a corner in blizzard conditions, just yapping away trying to find the other team to obliterate them.  Suddenly, we reached the corner unawares, as did the other team with perfect synchronization.  Suddenly, both teams let out yelps and yikes as the crates and buckets flew up in the air as both teams retreated!  Then, we all headed back for our ammunition and began chasing and pummeling each other!  That event was so comical!  It was so classic, so golden, so much a part of who we were.  Though, in our late teens, it was so much fun.  It would close an era of ‘The Guys on the Block.’  It would become the last snowstorm of our lives together.  “To everything there is a season…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

A few years later, in 1993 or 94, I once again had fun in a snowstorm but this time with kids of my own.  We’d go to our large backyard and we’d be the only ones there.  The kids would ride on me like I was a horsey and we’d plow into the snow.  The snowy, blizzard conditions kept the cowardly kids-and grownups inside, so we had all the space in the world just for us.  Our kids ran and jumped and went on the slide and see-saw.  They braved the snow as it bit into their faces.  They threw themselves ‘dead’ flat on their backs on the ground and laid there very still feeling the snow just falling on their faces as they listened to the howling winds.  Now and then, puffs of ‘smoke’ came out through their nostrils as they breathed heavily from the excitement.  They were ‘one’ with the snow.  It was so much fun to lie there having no worries.  There was no one around and they were just savoring the moment. They were taking in the silence and observing the grandness of everything around yet feeling so small in the vast open space.  Behind closed windows, their mom watched and laughed before making hot chocolate for us.

There’s a silence when a blizzard is taking place.  Aside from the (possible) howling wind, there’s no noise, no cars or trucks going by; just a calming stillness surrounding you, maybe interrupted by your own laughter or your own thoughts.  In the stillness, God is there and we can feel him so close to us.  Winter is almost here.  You can cuddle in a warm blanket when the storms come.  You can watch the flurries begin to cascade down the skies.  You can warm by a crackling fire as the flurries now-turned-to- snow storms the windows of your soul.  You can be a kid again and head outside-even if only in your thoughts.  Throw yourself in the snow; feel your heavy breathing, listen to the silence enveloping you.  God’s whisper is louder than ever.  The whirlwind is calling your name; it’s speaking to your heart.  It’s drawing you into His presence.

The fire of the Holy Spirit like a crackling fire can warm a cold and/or lost soul; His fire’s purpose is to bring you into that stillness and make you ‘one’ with Him.

In Job 38:22, God asks, “Have you entered into the treasures of the snow?”  Go ahead and enjoy His treasures.  Invite Him in to your life.  Afterall, He’s enjoyed watching you from the windows of heaven.  Enjoy the spell- bounding glamour of a snowstorm. Every season has a purpose as well as its own beauty.  Reflect on the beauty of winter.  

 Afterwards, sneak inside and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate together; then crash…

God bless!
Sam

All His life He was considered a radical.  People were used to doing things a particular way, but He taught them they could actually be done differently.  Jesus was a misunderstood man.  People knew if someone hurt you, you should hurt them back.  If someone slapped you, slap them right back.  You got a black eye?  Give him one too.  It made sense.  It was an eye for an eye.  But Jesus taught differently: If someone slapped you, turn the other cheek; in other words, say, “Uh, you missed this side.”  Jesus wants us to go as far as to give a cup of water or a plate of food to those who hurt us-to our enemies (Matthew 5:44).

In one word, Radical, is what He expects us to be.

Most of us are accustomed to doing things our own way until we learn a new way.  However, more times than not, we refuse to learn a new way.  Jesus tells us to greet those we don’t know; to invite to feasts those who can’t invite us back to their place.  Again, be radical.  This is a lesson I’ve learned throughout the years.  For some twenty years we’ve invited lots of friends and family over for various occasions, yet, they hardly ever show up.  On two instances, after settling on a date and time for 2-3 days later, my wife has cooked galore with roasted pork and rice and baked cakes only to have no one show up.  When confronted about the situation in each case, the parties involved reacted with either, “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” and, “I forgot.” That led us to stop inviting people over.

Our only invitation is for Thanksgiving and 2-3 times in the past we also had a Christmas dinner.  We announce it to our church and the members take it upon themselves to bring those they find along the way (Luke 14:12, 13).  God knows who needs to be here and so He sets it up so those that would otherwise be alone, can fellowship with others and also enjoy a great, hot meal.

In Jesus’ days, He told of a parable where people were invited to a great feast but when it was time to show up, one by one they began to make excuses about attending.  Jesus said that those people were not worthy of being at the party.  So, He had His servants go out to the highways and byways and invite the poor and lonely ones (Luke 14:16-24).  That’s how it is with God’s Kingdom.  So many people have excuses as to why they shouldn’t give their lives to Christ, even when they feel His tug at their hearts.  In essence, they’re telling Him, they’re not worthy to be there; they’ve got better and more important things to do.  When it’s too late, they’ll be crying for a second chance, but it’ll be beyond reach.

Are you one of those invited to God’s Kingdom?  It’ll be much more than turkey, pork, or ham and more than varieties of cakes and pies.  We’re looking at eternal life, eternal fellowship with God Himself and Jesus.  A perpetual feast!  There will be no more pain or sickness or evil to deal with.  Death will be gone forever.  We’ll never age, and no more wrinkles!!!

Be radical!!  Live for Jesus now!

God Bless!

Sam

    Has anything BIG happened in your life recently? Anything HUGE in the works? Are “The Stars’ lining up for you?  Are you waiting for something GRAND to transpire so you can thank God? Multitudes are waiting for BIG DREAMS to be fulfilled so they can give God a small portion of thanks and credit.  Some, spend months and years gambling for that CHUNK of cash from a Lottery win to roll in.  They’ll buy the large house, a yacht, fishing gear, a small plane, and other goodies that’ll reflect their newfound status. Have you ever considered the regular things taking place in your life?  What of the small ones happening every day?  Have you considered the teeny-tiny ones?  God is manifested and glorified in the ‘insignificant’ occurrences befalling us.

   Ours is a world similar to that of Bluto and Popeye in one particular cartoon where each performs a particular achievement and sings to the other, “Whatever you can do, I can do better.”  It’s interesting that the natural man will always try to outdo his fellow man in just about everything except in giving financially to a good cause.  It all comes down to wanting to be the best, desiring to do more, etc.  God is unimpressed.

While living in New York, we experienced many ‘small, insignificant’ moments in our lives.  There were times when our old station wagon would turn off on its own as we drove.  How did we keep it going? We sang Christian songs! We sang together especially when we reached traffic lights and had to wait for them to change.  For those of us doubting, if we stopped singing, the wagon would turn off.  We learned to sing all the way home.  Some people would see that as something small-not worth mentioning.  But God was there and we knew it!

Another time here, in Puerto Rico, my wife was driving another station wagon (hmm..) down a narrow two-way road when she noticed her breaks were not working.  The line had broke and she was skidding on the brake fluid. She was passing a mound of dirt on one side of the car and a body of water on the other side.  She reasoned, “If I hit the mound I’ll get killed and if I go into the water, I’m going down.”  She prayed for God to help her.  She saw a huge tree up ahead so she went for it.  The passenger door was wrapped around it and one could see the tree-shape on it.  Whew, that was close! But it was only the first part of her experience.  She needed to get home up to the mountains…she got back in & drove about two miles to the end of the road to where our mechanic’s shop was located.  She prayed the entire way that she’d be able to stop when she’d reach the busy intersection.  Upon reaching it, with no cars approaching, she turned right and the car turned off right there as she parked.  She couldn’t believe it and could hardly speak.  God had performed another regular event in her life.  No, there were no TV cameras around.  No one was there to congratulate her or to present her with an achievement award or a huge multi-million-dollar check.  If she was jumping up and down like Yosemite Sam saying “Unga bonga bunga” it wasn’t from winning anything; she wasn’t asking God for another station wagon (third time’s a charm), rather, she couldn’t believe how God had watched over her.

This week, whether you’ve won the Lottery, experienced something EXTRAORDINARY or just want to recall one, or several minor life-changing events in your life, DON”T forget to thank the MAGNIFICENT God who makes all things work out for our good.

God Bless!

Sam

I can’t forget how on several occasions our high school shop teacher, Mr. Koffer, would look up from his work and say, “My glasses, my glasses, who took my glasses; anyone seen my glasses???  Most of us would stop working—or talking, and look around our work area for them.  Oftentimes, we’d look straight at him and say, “They’re on your head!”

Hasn’t it happened to you?  Looking for the horse and you’re sitting on it!  I recall our pastor talking to someone on his cell phone and at the same time rummaging through his briefcase desperately looking for something important.  He then told the other party, “I’ll have to call you back cause all of a sudden, I can’t find my cell phone!”  We’ve all been there.  It drives us nuts.

When our three kids were very small and played hide-and-go-seek, we’d laugh so hard at how they played.  Their version was unique.  While one closed his eyes to count, the other two would hide-in plain sight!  We’d wonder how it was they couldn’t be seen!  The one who was ‘it’ would walk around saying things like, “I wonder where she’s hidden.’ And of course, she would smile at us and put her finger to her lips signifying ‘shh,’ she can’t see me!  The kid would continue throughout the house trying to find the other two. At some point, they’d be found.  We thought it was unbelievable!   It was very unlike when I was growing up, not only did we play hide-go-seek around the block, but around the neighborhood.  We’d hide so well that we sometimes couldn’t be found at all & had to continue the next day.  But our kids liked to play it safe.

So many of us have played the game with God!  We think He can’t see us.  We hide at home, at our jobs, we ‘play’ by hiding around the neighborhood.  We hide behind our families and sometimes, even hide behind religion.  We may even hide within a church not knowing we can’t escape the All-knowing and All-seeing God!  King David wrote, “If I descend to the depths of the sea, you’re there; If I ascend in to the heavens, you are there…” The night is just like the day before God (Psalm 139:7-12).  The thing is, no matter how much hiding we do, we’re hiding in plain sight!

So why do we hide?  Mostly because we believe He’s out to get us.  Followed by our lack of desire to live according to His ways. Think of it this way: About eighteen years ago I read a story of a man who found something and spent some time trying to return it to its rightful owner.  After acquiring the owner’s address, he visited him only to find the owner didn’t speak English and he got himself kicked out of the premises.  Being persistent, he returned with a translator, but being the wrong dialect, he was kicked out again. On about the third or fourth attempt with yet another translator, he was able to correctly talk to the owner.  So, what was so important that he kept risking being chased out yet kept returning?  He had found the man’s winning lottery ticket, apparently lost but with his name on it.  The owner later said, “Here’s this man trying to return my $7 million dollar ticket and I kept kicking him out.”  He gave the good Samaritan some $2 mil. as a reward.  So, am I saying God has a winning ticket for you?  It’s better than that!  While the lottery is a gamble, living for God isn’t.  It’s a sure thing.  That’s why He’s seeking you.

So, remember, whether we put on disguises or dress up differently, we cannot escape Him.  The Bible tells us in Romans 3:11, “There’s none that seeks Him; no not one.”  The thing is, we usually know we should want to learn about Him and know what He’s all about, but usually just put it off.  The Good News is that He’s been looking for you all your life.  Not to punish you, not to get even with you, not to destroy you, but to welcome you into His family; to say, “Found you, you’re it.”

Who doesn’t like stories of buried treasure??! They’re fascinating. Most hold intrigues.  There’s mystery and the danger of the unknown. Treasure hunting may require years of search. Loss of investments and time are two factors people deal with when looking for wealth that others lost or has been hidden for years. Some searchers are ‘driven’ while others may believe ‘they’ have been chosen to stumble across it. People will pour their heart and soul into a mission usually laden with uncertainty.

  Sometimes, searches require miles of traveling to hopefully make a great discovery. Other times, treasures are unearthed right in someone’s backyard. I love stories of miners digging for gold. How those who found it usually risked it all for it.  How against all odds, they became winners instead of whiners.  What kid hasn’t dreamt of becoming rich digging for pirate treasure?

 Have you ever found some treasure? Are you in the midst of striking it rich soon? Has your shovel struck the hard, metal of a chest buried deep in your yard? Are you losing sleep just anticipating pulling it out? Is your mind wondering what might be inside? Your heart pacing with wonderful thoughts of how you’ll use those gold coins??? Have you made a plan yet of ALL you’ll buy with the countless millions???  If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you may be on your way to… …success!  Or, to waking up!

I recently came across some treasure. Our home is surrounded by lush vegetation.  There are all types of plants and trees, rocks and boulders as well as plenty of hidden locations where forgotten gold has been buried for who knows how long.  What I discovered was serendipitous.  While cleaning out my bin filled with memorabilia, touching as well as funny letters, notes, poems, and pictures drawn by our three kids decades ago were ‘unearthed.’  Below are some of my discovered treasures.

Something all treasure hunters have is determination.  They set out to ‘strike it big’ over days, months, or years if necessary.  Many days are spent with little sleep or even food, so long as what is so anxiously awaited, is found.  God tells us to do the same:

“My son, incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you will cry out after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding; and will seek for her as silver and search for her as hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God…” “Happy is the man that finds wisdom and gets understanding for she is more profitable than silver, and yields better returns than fine gold.” “She is more precious than rubies.” Proverbs 2:2-4, 3:13-15, paraphrased.

Walking with God, treasure hunting with Him is an adventure! But He’s always present to lead and guide us and to point us in the right direction.

While growing up in the 70‘s the talk around us often focused on marriage.  Common amongst high schoolers ran the thought, “Who needs a piece of paper?” “That’s all it is.” It made some sense, I mean, after all, it seemed the only thing binding two people in love was nothing more than paper.  When we view marriage on an extremely small scale, it makes sense.  Most of us have been exposed to all types of marriages and relationships.  From simple weddings performed in tents or tipis, to some performed in the woods or on the water.  I’ve read of multimillion-dollar unions (Prince Charles & Lady Diana – $110 million) to one where even an amphitheater was created just to house some twenty thousand guests (some of which were flown in for the five-day event), by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Princess Salama at an estimated cost of $100 million.  Weddings may have all the utensils cast in 24k gold or of cheap plastic-or paper (easy on the environment!).

We’ve heard of all types of weddings, from people marrying either in groups of three (a man & two wives, or vice versa), to hundreds tying the knot all at once. We recently had a great laugh when a cousin of mine came to visit us. We hadn’t seen each other in almost three years since before the storm.  Since we all had endured quite an ordeal, laughter was definitely needed.  She had recently celebrated a civil wedding and a church wedding, so I thought, ‘Why not a shotgun wedding?’ neither she or the husband were familiar with the term.  After a brief explanation, they agreed to one!

So here we can see Jose ‘sweating bullets’ under the gun, while Evelyn is dreamy-eyed and overflowing with love as she awaits Jose’s high-pitched and squeaky-voiced, “I Do!”

So, how about you?  Are you awaiting the most glorious wedding ever???  I’m not talking about the wedding of the year, or of the decade.  It’s not even the event of the century or of the millennium; heck, it won’t be a cheap $110 million party for 20,000 guests, and it’ll last a lot longer than five days!!!  It’ll be the largest and greatest wedding in the world!  The most spectacular event in history!!!  Forget 24k gold utensils, the streets themselves will be paved of crystal-clear gold (Revelation 21:21)!!!

Are you ready???  Are you going??? The invitation was sent out over 2,000 years ago.  The preparations are still in-check. The bride, all who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, is getting herself ready!!!  She’s all dressed in white (the righteousness of the saints; Revelation 19:7, 8) and waiting for Him, the bridegroom, to call us there for an unrivaled event!  The bride is made up of believers from every corner of the world and every nationality.  Billions will be there!

Quick, accept the invitation, get your garment ready by living for Him!  His return will be very soon, in the twinkling of an eye!  Be ready to say, “I do!!!”  You’ll live with Him for all eternity.  It won’t be a shotgun wedding, for sure; God doesn’t force anyone to serve Him!

   When my wife and I married, the church altar had a hidden door behind thick curtains.  The door was the entry to a small office.  While I waited at the altar with the best man, the guests didn’t know that the bride was behind that door.  As everyone was looking back waiting for her to appear, and, I’m sure some were probably thinking, “I knew she’d leave him waiting there,” she stepped down and took her place next to me!  When people began turning around, one could hear comments like, ‘How did I miss her?’ and ‘When did she get there?’  It was funny to us who knew it.  While everyone was busy looking back for the bride, they missed her up front.  As we await Jesus’ returns for His Bride, we’re busy looking upwards towards the heavens awaiting the glorious moment when at the sound of a trumpet, we shall be changed, transformed, and will meet Him in the air and readied to enter His glorious kingdom where the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will take place. (Revelation 19:7-9)    

True Romance is in the air.  You can be part of it!!!  Believe and accept that Jesus is God’s Son and that He’s coming back to take you home.  Once signed up, your name shall be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 3:5), and you shall never taste death!  Don’t look back, you’ll miss Him—but upward, for your redemption is getting close (Luke 21:28)!!!  He’ll be here sooner than you think!

God Bless!

About eighteen years ago, I purchased a collection of Rooster ceramic plates on a rusty-metal rack. They looked great! We figured the best place for them was in the dining room, so that’s where we hung them.

Often, throughout the years I’ve looked at the rusty-metal rack and have been inspired to display my western-scene bear and coyote ceramic plates, but then I hear a faint, glass-smashing sound and I just shake off the thought. Meanwhile, I have a lonely display rack begging for ceramic, make that plastic, plates to display*.

One day when I came home my wife said to me, “Honey, I’m so sorry about your plate.” When I asked what had happened, she told me she was sweeping and ‘accidentally’ hit the rack and smashed a plate. I was silent for a few seconds, then told her it was okay since I still had three more. That’s when she said, “Well, not really.” “See, I swept back & broke another one.” I was silent again thinking that at least two plates had survived the storm. As I asked to see the remaining two, I was informed she swept back and broke a third one. At that point I was really questioning how much of an ‘accident’ this really was… “Well, I asked, did anything survive?” “Yeah”, she said “The rusty-metal rack.” I asked her, “Honey, what did you do???” You must have had some kind of party accidentally sweeping back and forth again and again.” I couldn’t grasp how that could have been an accident. Usually, at the sound of breaking glass we stop, but she kept going and going and going.

Well, on a regular basis my wife will tell me to clean up or get rid of stuff. Then, for years, she’s been telling me, “It’s very frustrating for me, cause you won’t allow me to clean up for you.” Are you kidding?!! If that was an accident back then, I can only imagine what intentional looks like!!! Graciously, I tell her I will put things away and try my darndest to do so. Of course, I inconspicuously make sure to keep brooms away from her at those times.

Now and then, most of us have had items of significance taken away, whether through an ‘accident’ caused by others or ourselves. It sometimes hurts. Sometimes, it may not have been an item but maybe a person or a job that was lost. When our dreams are shattered, no amount of glue can paste them back. Neither welding, smelting, or other means can replace what is gone. If your life is broken, smashed asunder, only Jesus can bond it back; only He can rebuild it. Only He can give us new dreams and new hopes. Only Jesus can display your life for others to see, and it doesn’t have to be on a rusty-metal rack. He’ll put your name in The Lamb’s Book Of Life (Revelation 21:27) and all of heaven will know who you are. Everyone around you here on earth will know you were once broken but now are whole; made new.

Last Sunday, June 30^th, marked our 24^th year on ‘Paradise’ island; otherwise known as the “Island of Enchantment.”  Just before leaving our native New York, a word from the Lord came forth at our church through our pastor’s wife.  The word had to do with plenty of storms and contrary winds that would shake up a lot of things.  That word would be ‘right on the money’ as the saying goes.  We’ve had our share of turbulent times-and ‘it aint over yet!’

Enchantment is a way of being lulled over.  Yes, the island is beautiful and enticing with clear skies, deep blue and green waters; mountains all around, but life is awfully tough.  Despite so many advances in technology, we’re worlds away from life in the states.  Marching to a different drum, allowed us time to learn to mix cement by hand; not pre-mixed concrete but truckloads and wheelbarrow loads of gravel, sand, water, and the cement.  Like the time we mixed thirty-one 47lb. sacks for half our porch and then thirty-three more the second time around.  We learned shovels had different characteristics and purposes.  We (son and two daughters also) learned to carry cinder blocks, etc.  In fact, our oldest daughter took her newfound skills and taught them to Masai tribe members in Tanzania, Africa.  She also taught ‘machista’ teenage boys in Mexico that a girl could do the same thing they did; only better, by mixing cement right before their incredulous eyes.  Yeah man, to locals, we were the ‘Gringos’ living in the mountains.  We were The Robinson Crusoe on a quest to escape the city life; on a quest to breathe clean air; on a quest to be independent as well as survivors.

 In time we’ve come to realize this is our wilderness.  Hopefully, we won’t be here for 40 years like the Israelites were wandering in circles, though it sometimes feels that way!  But this is where God wants us.  This is our training camp.  Does that mean we’ll be in the construction business in heaven?  I don’t think so!  I’m petitioning against that right now and giving Him some suggestions!  But God teaches us and speaks to us in our daily activities.  He changes our lives and our perspectives on things.  Things we thought to be important lose some of their significance.  Must-haves become, eh-maybe someday…  As He works in us, we learn to keep our focus on Him and on His desires. We learn to consult Him for everything we do or plan.  As we’re in tune to nature-the trees and all that surrounds us, we hear His voice; not a mystical, spooky voice but in our hearts and in our spirit, we sense His direction.  Of course, you don’t have to live atop a mountain with breath-taking views or near a rainforest.  Heck, you may not even be surrounded by lush vegetation breathing in clean mountain air all day long, and God may not take you to tribes ‘outta-the-way,’ but He can and will use you right where you are.  However, if you’re an adventure-seeker, by all means, let Him know!  He’s got a plan for you!

So, we’ve had our ups and downs and have learned to do a lot of things on our own.  We’ve learned to survive and to hold on to the man Jesus, the One who told a thief, “Today, you’ll be with me in paradise.”  Someday soon we’ll be headed to heaven.  No shoveling and hopefully, no cement mixing!  As we look back at almost a quarter century of our lives here, we can definitely see God’s hand leading us, feeding us, providing for us, and shielding us from the storms.  He’s got us in the palm of His hand.  It’s the safest place to be.  Our adventures are many, and God’s in control.  How about you?  Do you need some adventure in your life?  Need a little zest?  I could suggest moving out here (Puerto Rico)!!!  But for a real adventure, seek Jesus and invite Him into your heart.  You’ll be enchanted forever.

God Bless!

Sam

Work on our balcony and deck by me

Enjoying the mountaintop view