My One Flaw

I believe that when you surrender your life to God you become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and in many ways you still are being created. My one flaw is that by nature I'm a smart-aleck. I've been blessed with this gift of saying something then inserting foot right after. However, today was a day that I wish I wasn't tired and had a little more self-restraint.

I had to go through the last step of being "badged" as a UPS employee working at the airlines. This badging process takes you through so many things. Including spending time with your friendly and oh so delightful TSA agents.

This quaint little woman with an obnoxious chewing gum habit...ya know the chewing like a cow chomping on it's cud...handled my paperwork. As she's wiping some dribble off the paper she notices that my employer accidentally put an extra "e" in my middle name. This set off a red flag, at least in her mind. She ended up quadruple checking my drivers license and social security card. Once that episode was over I was sent to a viewing room where we'd watch an "informative but not meant for you to know everything" video.

After watching this 20 min. video guess who comes in but our wonderful Dentyne crackin' TSA agent. She hands us paperwork with the "highlights" of the video. She proceeds to tell us everything we heard in our 20 min. video only with the added 3D rain effect.

When she finished the verbal portion she went to spit out her gum. I figured we were done so I began to sign my paperwork. Unlucky for me that wasn't what was next on the agenda. She shouts from near the trash can, while unwrapping another piece of gum, "Excuse me sir, don't sign anything yet. I haven't given you those instructions."

Right after that she had to give me the "tsk tsk naughty naughty" look while inserting her fresh undefiled piece of gum. Then proceeding she gave us the instructions, "Sign where it says sign and print where it says print and do not forget to date."

Since we were having such a pleasant time I asked her to repeat those instructions. Since 2 seconds earlier she yelled at me for DOING the very thing she told us to do. Everyone else thought it was funny.

I once again got the "look". So as I was inserting my foot she once again began to insert some gum. She must have forgot that she was already masticating a piece. She asked if I thought I was funny. My reply, "I wouldn't be here if I didn't". Right after that she was called to the other room and we were dismissed. Lucky for the both of us because I was running out of feet and she was running out of gum.

Every Saint Has a Past

I don't know who said it but it's true, "Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."

I'm about to lay some stuff out there that those of you that have known me for years may have never known about in my past.

First, I was born...

I was born into an abusive home. Not towards me as much but between my dad and mom. My dad was a very mean alcoholic. My mom fought back when she was able. I would escape to my room hoping the yelling and fighting would stop.

My mom was your average Christian. She went to church as often as we could get a ride but she didn't live it at home. It made me question the reality of God.

When I was 9 I was molested by a leader in the church my mom took me to. From that moment on I had a deep hatred for God, the church and anyone in authority.

I became extremely violent. I never used drugs or alcohol but violence gave me a high. Without going into detail all I can say is if it wasn't for the grace of God I should have spent years in prison.

I started going to Faith Assembly of God with my mom right before I went into high school. Little did I know that this was the place where God would get a hold of my life in a very real and significant way. I gave lip-service for several years going to church. But one summer when I was 16 I went to a youth camp with the church and God began to work on my heart. I came back home and talked with Pastor Mack and he told me that I can't let anyone else determine my walk with God.

So at that moment I sincerely gave my life over to God.

At the start of my junior year in high school I was targeted by a group of people who tried to take my life on different occasions. So by divine providence I was transferred to a high school closer to Faith Assembly; where I continued to grow in my love for God.

I gave you a glimpse into my past to let you know that the following I also had to learn and live.

Everyone has a past. Some may have been dealt worse hands than others but that doesn't give us liberty to remain beat and living in the past.

Your terrible past does not determine future defeat. You choose to remain bound. Divine grace is too great to waste it defeated by man. You and I have the ability to take what has been thrown at us and use it for God's glory or continue to wallow in it in misery. God's grace is so magnificent why would we let anyone rob us of this great experience?

It's easy to cop out. To say people are holding you down when in reality it is your choices that are. I don't pass the buck for the violent acts that I did on the one who harmed me. I choose not to continue that cycle of ignorance. I made those mistakes and it is by God's grace that I've been forgiven and am free.

We all should strive toward the future and you can not do that in the past. Whether you have a relationship with God or not...don't hold onto the things that keep you chained to your history. Trust in God's grace, learn from your past but live in this day.

A Panoramic View

A couple of weeks ago I was on my way to work at UPS at 3:30 AM. It has been fairly chilly here in Alaska which I think is out of character. So there were some icy spots on the road.

I was less than a mile from the building as I came to this left curve. As I turned with the road my jeep decided to go adjacent to the road. So now I am facing at a 90 degree angle to the left with my car sliding right and my blood pressure rising. I took my foot off the gas and cranked my steering wheel to the right.

In that process I spun around now adjacent at about a 90 degree angle to the road facing right and sliding left. Now I'm cranking the steering wheel to the left. My blood pressure is soaring as I see the oncoming ditch or steel barricade that is in my immediate future.

At this point I just said, "Jesus". It had the tone of taking His name in vain but He knew it was a cry for help. Before I got too close to the side of the road I was able to get my jeep facing in the correct direction and headed on to work.

You know how they say when you have a near death experience or something traumatic happen your LIFE flashes before your eyes. It's not true if you're married. My WIFE flashed before my eyes. And I wondered how am I going to explain this. I could hear all the questions coming from her: "Are you ok?" "How did this happen?" "Were you speeding?" (which I wasn't) "How are we going to pay for the repairs?" I wasn't the only person who had trouble that morning. I was fortunate not to be one of the many who needed a tow truck to come to their rescue.

Needless to say when I arrived at work I was wide awake. I'm glad I got to see a panoramic view that day but from now on I'll only do that outside of my jeep.

The Bible Says...

The Bible says I will be persecuted

The Bible says I will suffer

The Bible says I will encounter all kinds of trials and tribulation

The Bible says I will be like a sheep led to the slaughter

Yet,

The Bible also says that I'm an overcomer in all things

The Bible also says that I will run and not be weary; I will walk and not faint

The Bible also says that I'm a child of God

The Bible teaches that death is just the beginning for me

So BRING ON the persecution

So BRING ON the suffering

So BRING ON the trials and tribulations

So BRING ON the slaughter house

Because in the end my body will fall but my spirit will rise

That's why,

I fear no man

I fear no government

I fear no movement

Take my "rights"

Take my life

For in the "end times" time won't end for me.