for the love of oil

You’re probably aware of gas prices and there raising costs in our culture today. As Americans we are dependent on gas to fill our automobiles and get us from point A to B. Americans are traveling more then ever by automobiles as they go on vacations and weekend getaways. Our hearts are set on adventure and automobiles are a big part of getting us to places of excitement. To try to combat growing costs at the pump I have decided to make a few modifications in my life and the life of my vehicle. My first modification was to take all the junk out of my trunk and make my car as light as possible, I have also decided to take the spare tire out as well much to my wife's dismay. I have never used the spare tire in the lifetime of owning my car and I don't intend to (crossing my fingers). I figured the spare tire was about 55 pounds which is a huge savings in weight. Another modification that I have made is to be as gentle on the gas pedal as possible. What I mean by that is that I speed up gradually and once I get to that speed I remain there until I absolutely need to slow down. These are some ways I have heard can increase gas mileage and decrease out of pocket expense in the long run. Let me know if you have found ways to save amidst this oil craze?

Instruments of Praise

Within the Church there is a growing debate and I seem to be in the middle of it constantly. The subject in which I speak of is music. Musical styles have long been debated throughout history in the Church, in so much that Churches have decided to split over the issue. As much as we love our music in all its forms I believe Satan has had his way with us in this area. His objective has been how can I divide the body of Christ and through what means can I accomplish this goal. In an effort to resolve this matter we have created several denominations who differ on ways to musically better express their worship. This has only deepened the division in the Church.
The popular question in this debate is what instruments are best to worship God? Why don't we say what instruments do we prefer because that’s really what is meant? Do we use guitars, pianos, organs, drums or accordions? Some denominations have decided to drop instruments all together because the cost of division is too great; others have decided to use as many instruments as possible to worship God in all His glory and others have moved to using worship bands to praise the Lord. My goal is not to promote any style of music but to promote Christ and His gift of salvation. Music has been a tool to worship God throughout the ages and instead we have turned it into a tool to go to war with others who have different tastes then our own. What started in the Psalms as a cry for help from God's people has become just that... a cry about any number of things regarding instruments and styles of worship of our God. Musical worship has become self-centered rather then God-centered. What can I get out of it rather than what can I offer up to the thrown room and to the lover of my soul. In essence that is what we say when we walk into a new Church and decide not to attend a second time because of musical taste. We must get to the point were we can walk into any Christian Church (no matter what denomination) and worship God because He is good. Because God is God no matter what style of music you like... He's still God is He not? He still saves His people by His mercy and grace. Musical worship is thanking God for what He has done for us and expecting nothing in return. It’s our offering to God. We want Him to get the praise alone, not the praise band or musicians on stage. They should be transparent along with the instruments they play. The music itself is simply a vehicle to worship the living God, a way of expressing gratitude and thanks. Not the only way, but a way.
The instruments we use, are they not tools to worship a Holy God? I contest our focus should not be on instruments but on Him who is the instrument of Life. If our focus comes to be on the drums and their loudness we have become distracted by Satan and his schemes. Those who say drums are of the devil are fooled; it’s not the drums but what you personally associate with those drums. You may associate drums with secular rock and roll, but still the instrument itself is not evil. It is hard to separate the secular and spiritual when it comes to music, but we must. We must get over the fact that the world uses the same instruments we us when we worship God. Remember to instead see them as instruments of praise to our loving Father.

Collision

This time of year Christians all around the world will focus on the cross of Christ. Easter is not really a time for an over-sized bunny to hop around and scare little kids, its about the cross and about the collision."The cross was the place where God and sinful man merged with a tremendous collision and where the way to life was opened." Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest

The great collision is about the incarnation of Christ, God made it possible for humans to be brought back into a right relationship with Himself. The cross was Christ's purpose for coming. Christ is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Rev. 13:8) Before Christ came to earth He knew His destiny was to die not at the hands of men but "He would freely give his life as a ransom." It has nothing to do with the actual men that crucified Christ and everything to do with Christ being victorious over sin and death. A battle of great consequence. "The reason salvation is so easy to obtain is that it cost God so much. But all the cost and pain of the collision was absorbed by the heart of God."Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest

The cost was indeed great but Christ believed it was worth it. How could the Son of Man believe it was worth it? One sacrifice for all time to redeem humankind, the ultimate love gift and the question He asks us is will we accept that free gift. The contents of the gift not only include salvation but a relationship with a loving God and Father who will never leave us nor forsake us.

The Vacuum- Clogged or Clinging?

My wife and I decided to do some spring cleaning this past Saturday afternoon. I started off cleaning the bathrooms and when I was finished I decided to vacuum at my wife's counsel. I realized right away the vacuum was not sucking properly, it would suck something up and spit it back out again. I also knew there was a problem because no dust or crap was collecting in the see through container attached to the vacuum. (light bulbgoes on) After getting mad at the thing and throwing a cat toy at it I decided I needed to try to fix the problem myself. With a limited supply of tools I decided I needed something long and bendable... how about a coat hanger! So I began to probe the tube where I thought the problem was and I was soon pulling out wonderful treasures unknown to mankind. The amount of filth in that tube was not only nasty by incredible to me. What started as a minor clog had built over time to be something that would take over the whole machine and cause it not to work correctly. It would also cause its owner a great deal of frustration and stress. Needless to say I was able to unclog the mess and finish the job much to my delight. That led me to the question does our owner (God) get frustrated with us because of our clogged and messed up lives? I'd like to think He is patience with us. The Lord is gracious, slow to anger, rich in love, he is good to us. I'm clinging to that.