Observation on Success

This weekend I saw an eagle fly over my home. I saw fish jump out of the water to catch dragon flies and I saw a squirrel rummaging for nuts. I also saw a local business very successful where the couple now in their 70's still tend the store so to speak and another business where an absentee owner is losing money because he or she does not tend the store but hires and trusts others to do their work for them.

The eagle was searching for something, probably a rabbit. The lesson is that he was out looking himself. He was looking for an opportunity and he did not trust his search to someone else. How many people want a business opportunity but do not want the lonely task of looking for it?

The fish found an immediate opportunity and quickly seized it and was rewarded with success for its effort. How many people see an opportunity but leave it to others to claim because of fear, lack of faith or procrastination? The fish had to jump high enough to catch the fly and in doing so leave its natural element. How many people are bound by what they or others see as their natural element?

The squirrel like both the eagle and the fish was diligent in its search and efficient in its actions. Sure the fish may have been seen and caught be an Osprey or the squirrel seen and caught by the eagle but they were about their business and success only comes if we first try to succeed. The eagle must succeed every day just as the fish and the squirrel must also and so they each try day after day for success.

The elderly couple I mentioned own a local restaurant famous for the consistent quality of their food. It has made them and their children rich. Many local people know that they are comfortable but few know that they are in fact millionaires.

I am sure that the owner of the gas station with pumps that do not work is making money and I am sure that the owner wishes to become a millionaire but how much easier would that task be and the fulfillment of their desire if they did not have a reputation for unreliability because of a failure to maintain equipment?

The elderly couple pride themselves on the reputation of their family business and their diligence has made them rich. Funny thing is this is exactly what it says in proverbs about diligence. Now who says that God is not everywhere and His word is not true?

It is as true for the eagle, the fish and the squirrel as it is for you. Are you seeking? Are you persistent? Are you diligent? Apply these three principles and I am sure that you will be rewarded with success. You only get out what you put into life but remember if you do it with a touch of kindness the rewards are far greater.

Simple Pleasure

I was asked this week where to find in the bible the portion of scripture where the thief on the cross was forgiven by Jesus. I know the story well but had to look up the reference and finding it in Luke 23:39-43 shared it with the person who had made the request.

The person asking has a child in trouble and was obviously looking for comfort in this scripture. Turning to the Lord in times of trouble is not only natural but also the correct thing to do but we should also turn to Him in times of joy and happiness. The loss of their child's freedom is uppermost on this parents mind but also the separation from their child and the loss of the simple pleasure of being able to hold them and tell them they love them at will.

Simple pleasures are all around us but we need the freedom to enjoy them. How often do we take that freedom for granted? How often do we take the most simple of gifts for granted? The ability to hear a friend laugh on the phone, the ability to sit and watch a glorious sunset or smell the beauty of a bouquet of flowers. The simplistic pleasure of going for a walk in the country, by a beach or through a gallery or museum either alone or with that significant other by our side. Listening to our favorite music or dancing to a fabulous beat. A cold drink on a hot day and a smile from a stranger or giving a helping hand when not asked. Simple freedoms we may not have thought about quite in that way. Simple pleasures we are free to enjoy at our leisure.

Today you will stop and think of someone. Who it will be I do not know but what I do know is that for some reason they will "come to you" in a thought. May it be one filled with the joy of a pleasant memory. Perhaps a single moment in time shared together or perhaps anticipation of a moment yet to be fulfilled?

As you go about your business today and they come into your thoughts, why not take a moment to simply say God bless and protect them. You never know they may have just said the same for you . . .

Have a wonderful day and God bless you and yours.

Stealing from God

You may or may not be surprised if I tell you that the biggest thieves were priests and scribes in the old testament, guilty of taking kickbacks from "temple coin" and "sacrificial animals" but that was only until Jesus kicked their agents out of the temple saying you have turned my fathers house from a house of prayer into a den of thieves.

Jesus opened the eyes of the people and seriously reduced the profits of the priesthood. Did you think that they wanted him dead just for preaching about the kingdom of heaven? He eroded their authority and more importantly their income. It is always about money and power and not much has changed in over 2,000 years.

Today certain "religious" pastors hoodwink the populace in a similar manner. As the bible says there is nothing new under the sun. How many of these people belong on a paid program infomercial selling motivational feel good snake oil rather than true bible based Christianity is beyond me.

Perhaps the IRS needs to review who is paying for what portion of air time? How can you sell a TV station to a secular business and not return the original contributions to the "membership" who donated the tax deducted funds to buy it and the associated satellites in the first place? How about the tax deductions granted to all those contributions? Should the government ask the benefactors of the sale to pay those back also?

Fact number one the term love gift is not in the bible. Fact number two God does not promise you any multiple of increase from giving to a fake preacher and his cronies. Your odds are better in Vegas on a slot machine. I call them fake because the bible is quite specific that others will come in Jesus name to deceive the flock who call themselves believers in Christ.

So just who is robbing God? False preachers who do not explain the tithe properly and use it to feather their own nest. They never explain it exactly as it is given in the bible nor what the bible says it should be used for. It is not meant to buy more air time or build more tax free country clubs and fitness centers. It is meant to house the homeless and feed the hungry and take care of orphans and old priests without a pension. Not buy jets, multi-million dollar homes and luxury cars. Jesus never wore a Rolex or an Armani suit.

How many teach you that the tithe is not expected of you by God? Now is that not a revelation in itself? He welcomes it if you give it because through tithing you are acknowledging your belief in God.

Please remember that God gave you freedom of choice and it starts right there in your pocket book. You have freedom of choice given to you by God to either tithe or to not tithe, the choice is yours and not some pastor trying to make you feel guilty or promise you riches that he cannot deliver to you.

Greed is a sin whether it be a pastor or the member of his or her church. Vanity is also a sin. Why are so many money making ministry machines today named after the pastor and not after the God he or she claims to serve? Is it not to glorify the pastor and to advertise his name? Are you tithing out of a love for God or because of the get rich mentality that prevails so much today? LOOK IN THE MIRROR FOR AN ANSWER.

So what does the bible say about the tithe? First you must go to God in prayer and make the promise yourself to Him. Not to a church, not to a ministry and not to any one individual pastor but to Him. You must promise to give the tithe to God. If you do not then any offering you make is a freewill offering. Nothing wrong with that. It is simply not a tithe. It is better not to vow than to vow and not pay.

So lets say you wish to honor God with the first fruits of your labor. You can do this in one of two ways. One by tithing through your local church or two by giving it as a freewill offering. If you tithe to your local church then you expect it to handle your tithe exactly as it says in the bible. If you give via a freewill offering then you may decide to give to various other charities over and above your local church however the church may get a smaller share of the total given. Statistics say that slightly over 10% of a congregation actually tithe.

You are challenged by the bible to be a good steward and this means examining your churches giving habits within the local community. Does it give to the local food bank? Does it give to the local homeless via habitat for humanity or some other worthy organization. Does it give to the local orphanage? Yes there are still orphanages in almost every community throughout the United States. Does it give to a retirement home for ministers or pastors who faithfully served God? Ask these questions and if not redirect the check to them yourself and glorify God and not some other persons name.

Always remember the bible is your guide, read it and ask yourself this one question. Does this man or woman live a lifestyle reflecting a disciple of Jesus or someone on the Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous TV show?

Jesus walked everywhere and did not preach outside of the Holy Land, yet the bible is to be found on every continent on earth. How is this possible? Most bibles are distributed by those unsung heroes called the Gideon Society so if you want to spread the word then add them to both your prayers and your donations.