Grinding gears

I watched an episode of "Ice Road Truckers" not to long ago. Can't tell you what one, but I can tell you what happened. It seems that when you've got a bunch of heavy haulers taking a load up a mountain together, they do this really crazy thing. They get behind the heaviest load and push. So hear I'm looking at 3 heavy haulers nose to tail, climbing a mountain, and I think that's crazy! I don't know if I could do that. The most important stuff was happening with the trucks that were in the back pushing. Lisa, (the driver of the truck in the back), had to make sure she was shifting in perfect timing as the lead truck. At one point you see her blow a gear and then freak a bit as she tries to catch up and "join up" again before the convoy lost too much momentum. Don't worry, she made it. Whew!
Now here's where I begin to start clenching the seat a bit, if ya know what I mean. Once everybody "joins up", only the guy in the lead truck touches the steering wheel. As nerve wracking as it might be to the others involved in this, they can't make any corrections they think they might need. You see, if you start to move your wheel around when your in the middle or rear, you could send the whole convoy off the mountain in an awful wreck.

Tell me if this sounds crazy. I start thinking how could this apply to my everyday life and came up with this.
So often I see in my relationships that when everybody wants to run the show, a truck wreck ensues. And likewise, when you have one leader, or head, things just seem to go better. This happens a lot in marriages.
Each person has an opinion of how things will work best. Both feel they have the right to express their thoughts and be heard, right? Yes. but boy and howdy to we need instruction here.
So we have instructions on this in the bible. How hard could it be? Right? ......Guys? Okay fine, I know when I'm on my own so here's what it say's in Ephesians 5;
 ²¹ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

 Talk about your delicate subjects, huh? But this really is where I wanted to go today. My marriage is way far from being perfect. Way far. My problem is that I know all the things that I'm supposed to do, and still blow it. Because watch, this isn't just a one way street here. I have guild lines to show me what to do. now all I have to do is follow the instructions, And you know how well we do that, right?  Well lets look at what it says;

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing^[a] her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Wow. Are you seeing it yet? How did I go here just from watching I.R.T.? I'll show ya. 

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ", ( Work great together as a team so that all the glory can go to the One who sent us ).
"Wives", ( y'all in line helping us get over this here mountain ). 
"Submit to your own husbands as you do to the Lord," ( There can only be one head of stuff out here on the mountain. ). 
" For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior". ( The Boss said it was me. So please help me get over this Mountain,or burden ).  
"Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." ( Now I need your power to get over this. I need your gifts. But if you try to take control of stuff while we're in the middle of this thing, we're doomed. Just listen to me like the Boss was right here and we'll be fine. You have to trust me that I'm doing things just like He told me to.)

See, I'm not so crazy to make the connect here. I might be crazy to be talking about this while my wife wants to hit my head with a frying pan, tho. I think that's why God has me writing this today instead of the other blog I have halfway done. 
So often so many things nag at us. They steal our time away. Take our joy and our peace. We don't have the time to get alone with God. to hear His heart and to listen to the instructions He has for us to live a peaceful life. He does have a plan for you. you know?  
Men, and yes I am also speaking to myself here. How can you lead well on the battlefield if your not taking time to listen to your Creator? Your General? Your Leader? You get the picture. 
It is so important to be in prayer. You are not a lone ranger, you just play one on t.v. 
We need God to instruct us. We need our wives to feel valued and safe. We need our wife's help to get through all the "stuff" we need to get through. We need to realize we can't make it alone. That's why we need to be showing Christ to our wives everyday. In word, in deeds, reading the Word of God to them, and praying over them. Look here at vrs. 25;
²⁵ "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing^[a] her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

 So if you hold the opinion that she's dropping the ball, read this again and tell me who's fault it really is. 
Lets read on.

"In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body. ³¹ “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”^{[b] 32} This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."

Them's some powerful words. And none truer. So you see, you really can be watching a show on t.v. and start thinking about the Word of God and how it applies to your everyday life. I should write this down, Oh wait! I am. 
So let me hit the dock and get this freight off my back. 

• You could try and handle all the stuff you need to handle on your own, but you just don't realize it may be too much for you until it's too late. 
• God gave you a helper with all kinds of strengths and gifting's. Don't be so rock headed as to not recognize it!
• If your in the rocking chair", and your doing what you know your to be doing, then keep your hands off the wheel! Let him drive. God gave him the instructions on how to get you safely down the road. Trust him. Let the gift's and talents you have, flow through you to help the common cause.

• But above all, "However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.".                                                                                                           Husband, love her. Love her well. Can I tell you how to do that? Yeah right! I'm still learning it, and blowing it, and re-learning it everyday. But I'm still trying, because it honors my God when I do what He instructs me to do. Love her.  Wife, respect him. Trust him. He really is trying to do the best he can. He has doubts. Big doubts on how he's going to get things done right if your not on board with what ever it is. He needs you. Bless God by trusting that God is not only speaking to your man, but empowering him to complete the task at hand. 

You see, submit isn't a bad word when taken in context. The way it was meant to be taken. It is simply saying "I know we can overcome anything, together"
Well that's it for now. Be safe and God bless.

Be Strong be courageous,

"Shorthaul"

What's your fruit look like?

Now there's a question for ya. Most drivers I know don't want anything to do with a question like that. " Hey, Fruity, how's your fruit ? And then the fight started. No. The question has everything to do with another question; Is what you believe on Sunday showing through you Monday through Saturday? I have a real hard time with this one. Ya see, I have to deal with dispatchers, 4 wheelers, and dock Nazis just like you. Most days I continue to have an attitude of gratitude. I remember all that Christ has done for me, and I can't help but extend His grace to others as He has done for me.
Then there are those other days. The ones I don't like to talk about much. My wife calls with another problem while I'm on the road, and I can do nothing to help. Or my travel agent wants to send me where?! To do what?!

If you have followed me for any amount of time, you know one of my favorite comedians is Ken Davis.  He has this one bit about a twisted mind. Well, I thank God I have one too. On more than one occasion I might have had a bad word, or something else I know I shouldn't say, pop into my mind, but because of this twisted mind thing it can't find it's way out. Praise God! Most of the time when I blow it, it's when I'm my most tired. Not "white line fever" tired, just worn out from working tired. When I'm not walking in the Spirit and living in the power of God, how can I overcome anything. Wait till you see what we've got in here today!
In Galatians 5 we get to see what it is look like as a christian, and as someone who claims to be one but acts like the devil.

 ¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: ^[i]sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, ^[j] factions, ²¹ envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, .....
 
Ever had one of these?  These are the "fruit" of what living for nothing but yourself looks like. There is something you should know if you don't know already. St. Paul was writing this to the church in Galatia. That's right. Church people. I'm sure they thought they had it alright until Paul heard about it. But the TRUTH shows them, and us, just how far we have strayed. He had to show them. To tell them to repent. To get right with God. 

"Why? I'm not hurting anybody, am I? After all, if it feels go do it, right?" No not really. 
Listen carefully to what Paul says next.  "of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." You see, if you have been doing any of these, according to the Bible, your going to hell. That's what it means to, "not inherit the Kingdom of God".

You might say, "well okay Shorthaul, there is all the gloom and doom, how about a flip side?" Well a way to stay out of hell is to repent and give your life over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Then you will be able to live out a life of "good fruit"!
  
²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who ^[k]belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

So I'll end this run with the same question I started with. What's your fruit look like? Think about it and kick it back. I'll be here. If you have an questions about what I've posted here, comment back. If you feel something might be going on in your spirit and don't know who you can talk to, you can call 1800-NEED-HIM. or like I said, comment me back. I'll be praying for you. 

Be strong, Be courageous

"Shorthaul"

The ups and downs of valleys and mountian tops

Wow. Didn't realize I was gone so long. Time sure does fly when your gettin' the crud kicked outta ya, huh? And no, it isn't all that bad. Took some time off to do some missions work down in Tunja, Colombia.  Then when we got back from there, I got to head down to Mo. for a week for a Royal Rangers event. It was a great time. The hard part is crawling back into a truck without any decompress time. I think I'm starting to feel my age.
Going from mountain tops, (the feeling like everything is going your way, and if you are a follower, you're right with God). To the valleys, ( the dark times of depression, fights with your spouse, nothing goes right, everything is wrong. Your getting your butt kicked and don't know why.). Well been there, done that, and I've got a drawer full of t-shirts, but the word for today is an easy one.
How do you get to know how to handle adversity if you're never in it? How do you know how to comfort someone who has just lost a loved one to some ailment or maybe a car accident unless you've been there. It's the same thing here. How do you build trust with someone? You begin to realize that there is one person that is always with you through all the crud and the laughter. 
Listen to what Jesus says;
"I will never leave you, nor forsake you." ( Underline mine) Even your best friend or spouse is going to blow it with you at one point in your relationship, Jesus won't! Even when it feels like you can't get any lower, He is there.
He is there. In my 15 years of walking with and learning more about my Savior, I have come to know one unshakable thing. He will never leave me. I have done some pretty bad things over the years. Yes even while calling myself a christian. But by God's grace, He has shown me my sin and given me the opportunity to repent and move foward with Him. I have a tendancy to feel very alone sometimes. I don't feel anything. But as God continues to work in me, I have learned this verse IS true. He will never leave me.

Pilgrim, there are so many things pulling at you, tearing at you. you're so busy cleaning up all the mess's thrown at you that you have no time to sit and just "be". Call out to Him. He's right beside you. Waiting on you to realize just how much you really need Him.

A gift of sorrows?

I’m not sure where to start this time. Ever since I have come to know Christ as my Lord and Savior, I have experienced so many highs and lows. From actually having experience’s with the Holy Spirit that I can barely begin to describe to someone. An encounter that I can best describe as being totally engulfed in the purest love imaginable. Agape love. To just the polar opposite. Church splits that rip your guts out. Losing friends that were hot after the things of God, then walking away. Pain of losing some awesome saints that were called home. Seeing marriages dissolve, Christian marriages. I find it real hard to wrap my head around that one. I know, it’s hard, but church folks are supposed to have it all together, right?

At least that’s what I used to think before I became one. It seems the longer I’m in the church, the more I realize just how dysfunctional we are. I mean grown men and women can really get to acting like real kids sometime, the only problem with that is when they do, it makes it really hard to tell somebody how awesome God is. How life changing knowing Jesus is.

 I have heard every kind of insulting thing the world has to say about Christians, but the ones that get me the most have to do with the actions of my brothers and sisters. Immorality, lying, cheating stealing, always having to be first. Oh yeah, and my own pet peeve, V.I.P. seating and “gold” pass’s at Christian concerts. Are ya kidding me? That can really show the world what humble, great servant hearts we have, huh?

All that to say this. I have a friend, I saw him and his family really blossom in the Lord over the years. He used to drive until he got M.S. They pulled his card, and then he was able to get even closer to God. You’ll love this. You know what he would call his disease? His “blessing”. His wife was so on board with anything God would use these two for. His daughter even married a missionary. I even got to attend the wedding. Real awesome family serving a real awesome God. Then the news that hit like a large car to a raccoon. Divorce. Are you kidding me?! How can that be? I don’t know, but it is what it is. 

Anyone can say anything, we all have an opinion. The enemy, selfish desires, bitterness from who knows what. All I know is this. It scared the hell outta me!! If it could happen to an on fire couple like them, it could happen to my wife and I. It could happen to you. Be sleeping alone too long because a spouse is up late getting more work done on the computer, or watching TV? Or have you been spending too much time on the road, and not enough at home with your family? Think about it. So, after finding out the news, after crying our eyes out, and asking each other question we could think of on why and how this could happen to them, we got on our knees and started to ask God for answers.

What we started to do, however, was begin to start confessing before God, and each other, how we have been neglecting each other. Not loving as God loves. Not respecting as we should. We just broke before God for what we first thought was for this couple. But what it turned out to be was for us. I started out saying that I couldn’t understand how this could happen. Well now I know. From neglect. Neglecting the God that made us. The God that formed that very union. In doing so, it is the start of neglecting each other. You stop praying together, if you ever did. The beginning of the end, you could say. You go from not being able to get enough of your spouse, to finding something else to do so you don’t have to deal with them. I wish I could say there is a happy ending, and a wonderful scripture that I can apply here. There isn’t and I don’t. All I can say is, men, love your wife well. Protect her, cherish her, serve her well without expecting anything back. Women, respect your husband. A gentle voice, and a soft touch can do a lot for a guy that has been getting kicked around by the world all day. And if he comes home a bit snarky, “A gentle word turns away wrath”. I didn’t write that one. There is a scripture out there that says something like this; If I could speak with the tongues of men and angles, and have not love, I’m nothing more than a clanging gong or cymbals……Faith hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.

The enemy of your souls, the devil, hates your guts because you look so much like God. He wants nothing more than to tear you apart. What a better way to hurt Gods heart. Stay in touch with your creator God. Don’t let go. Let Him fill you with the compassion that you will need to love your wife, or respect your husband.

Are you ready for the long haul?

I was having plenty of windshield time, and you know how that is. That is, after all, one of the benefits of this way of life. The ability to just shut everything else off, up, or out. Time to think. Time to reflect. Time to plan. Time to pray. Yeah, pray. Ya know, making sure that you and the Almighty are in good standing. I kinda need to do that on a constant basis or I go batty.
There is a song out there by an artist called Sara Groves. She had a song some years ago on her Conversations album called "How is it between us"  That song still mess's with me. It's a reminder for me that I was created for something greater. For Someone greater. He just loves hearing from us, and I'm pretty convinced that He loves it when we can hear from Him too. So that's kinda where I was at the other day, Just asking Him, " so, how is it between us Lord?
Sometime I love the answer I get, other times, I wish I really had not asked the question. This was one of those days of not liking the answer I got. It wouldn't be so bad, but you know you don't have a leg to stand on when the King of the universe is calling you out. After all, He is the final Word. The most fair and just Judge ever, anywhere, anytime. So here I am, knowing I'm a sinful man, feeling like I'm about to get it. But ya know? That's the coolest thing. Father God points out, or address our sin, or shortcomings, or faults, whatever you want to call 'em, just so He can see us grow even stronger, fly higher, and run longer.
Hang on,  gonna be a bumpy ride today.
We're in 1 Corinthians 6 this time and getting taught some valuable lessons.

⁷ The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? ⁸ Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. ⁹ Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men^{[a] 10} nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

 Right away I started to think of all those hypocrites I have seen and know about in church's and on the t.v. ministries and think, " man oh man you nailed them with that one God. Then I hear, " read it again. 
(Just so you know, I don't read going down the road. I do have a road safe program to be able to listen to, and even repeat and move around in anything I am drawn to read about.)
So I read it again. Then I see what He is want to show me. Ouch! 
" Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?  Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters." I can't say that I have knowingly ever cheated a brother or sister in Christ, but I do know I have wronged some. " But Lord, I was offended by that one." or " Lord, you don't understand, that one messed with me on purpose. Am I just supposed to sit there and take it? Well Lord? " So what do you think the answer was? Yep, your right. He didn't see things my way, but rather reminded me how my Jesus took every blow, every curse, every insult and said nothing. When He did speak up, all He said was, " forgive them Father, they don't know what their doing".

What can I say to that. Forgive me, Lord. That's all I could say. You see, right there in verse 9 I catch another warning, ⁹ Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? So if I'm getting this, Lord, You're saying if I wasn't to repent for the things I've done, I can't get into heaven? " That's right". 

Do not be deceived: Make sure you don't miss this part. He says, "DON'T BE DECEIVED". Don't be lead astray by some gospel that says it's okay to do all the things you know you shouldn't and still think you'll be able to enter into the Kingdom of heaven. He continues;
Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men^{[a] 10} nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

I could go over all this one by one, I think I'll let you read it a few time on your own. Instead, I want you to see this. Paul says to the Corinthian church, "  ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

Wait a minute. Are you telling me that this church is made up of a bunch of wrongdoing, cheating, sexually immoral, adulterers, idol worshipers, homosexuals,thieves, greedy folks, drunks, slanderers, and swindlers? 
Yep, that's what I'm saying. You wanna know the truth? So are most of the church's in America today! 
But listen now. " That's what some of you were. " You see, so many of the church's out there today seem to forget one pretty important thing. They once were like this. There is this, " better than you", kind of mentality that can really stink up a church. Maybe that's why they call the big bench's, "pews". Ha! That was funny. 

Anyway, " What some of you were". You aren't that way anymore. Stop trying to go back to that life you were rescued from! Once you realize what Jesus has done for you, He washed away all your sin and gave you a fresh start. 
It doesn't end there, tho. Whatever we see Him do, that's what we're supposed to do, right? Well, then shouldn't we be humble enough to see that the guy on the street that looks like he really could use a hand up, is in fact, one step beyond where we were before Christ. 


There will be plenty of time for us to judge this world. ( read verse 2-4 ) But not now! John 3:17 says " for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that through Him, the world may be saved." One day He will return to judge the living and the dead, The righteous and the wicked. But until He does, You need to be reading this instruction manual and do what it says to do. They used to say, " practice what it preaches", or something like that. 
But most of all, when your looking at that long ribbon of highway in front of you, and lots of hours behind you. When you start to feel that prompting, after all your hours of "windshield time", to say, "Hey God, How are things between us"? Listen. Believe it or not, you really can hear it over the roar of that Detroit, Cat, or Cummins. The voice of God telling you how much He love's you. How much He love's it when you call out to Him. And sometimes, like this time for me, you might get a course correction. But trust me, the view is a lot better, and after you've followed His leading for a while, you'll come to realize you were directed away from a few washed out roads, torn down bridges, and some really nasty neighborhoods that he wanted to save you from. 


It's a long trip. Are you gonna be ready for the long haul?


Be strong, be courageous,


"Shorthaul"

Hammer Down! Just grab gears and gauge on it!

Am I the only one that notice's that this world is going nuts? I mean no mercy, no grace, and everybody is in a big hurry to go no where fast. Real fast. What happened to courtesy? To being ladies, and gentlemen? When being a real man meant you gave up you seat for a lady. Or you stood up for somebody that you didn't know just because it was the right thing to do. When being a lady meant you didn't try to out swear and scratch every man you've know. When a lady was soft spoken, soft featured, and soft to the touch. It sure seems more and more, that we're loosing a distinction. Men are either nothing more that boys that are trying to pick a fight by acting all aggressive and all, or they are becoming more and more feminized as time goes on. As men, we have stopped being leaders of our homes, and just passive bullies. Is there such a thing? I think so.
Take a look with me into the book of 2Timothy. I'm all over this today, but for right now we're focusing in on chapter 3.

<< 2 Timothy 3 >> New Living Translation

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The Dangers of the Last Days

1You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

6They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of^a vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires. 7(Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.)

What do you think? I didn't write this. This was St. Paul to "Pastor"Timothy. He was instructing him about the thing to watch for as he grows his church. This could be for any of us today! Don't you think?

Driver, Have you not seen this kind of stuff on the open road on any given day?  Everybody is in a constant state of, "Hammer down!! Put it in the big hole and gauge on it!!" ( A reference to getting up enough speed as to be able to hit the last gear. Mostly referring to a 13 or 15 speed over the road tractor trailer). My last truck could hold out at around 112 or so. Okay,so enough bragging.

People have put so much on themselves, they have no time to think. Divorce is out of control. It no longer even matters if your a church going family. It's 50/50 either way. So broken families, broken husbands and wives, broken children, broken homes,broken lives, broken society.

"As a man goes, so goes his family". I just heard a dear friend of mine quoting that on a radio program the other day, and how true. As men abdicate more and more, women are left with no choice but to take over more and more. So if the dad is not around to BE the dad, the father and example, the mentor and teacher, Who will be?
Boys are becoming more and more frustrated with what society is telling them is normal. I could go on for way to long about this, but I'll get back to my original point. They don't know how to serve because nobody has shown them how to do it. So with nobody being shown, nobody does. We are a society of spoiled brat, punk kids that demand the we get to have it all. And the part that frosts me the most, is those that want what others have worked so hard for, with out doing anything to get it. It's just owed to them. Good grief!!

Re- read the verse with me again and see what I mean. This is what we are living in right now. You know it to be true. This is what happens when a society turns away from serving others, to only wanting to be severed themselves. We are in an "entitlement" era. Everyone thinks the world owes them everything because of this, that, or the other thing. I have so much I want to say about this passage and it's implication alone, but I'd rather just ask a question.

If you believe what I've put here today is true, then what are you going to do to make a difference?

As a driver, it's so easy for me to blow it with every soccer mom, tailgater, ninja bike, and nervous Nelly out there.People are so selfish. So into themselves.So impolite and rude. So, way so unforgiving with everyone but themselves. It is all about self pleasure, self this and that, and all but self control. That is no where to be found.

So again, What are you going to do?

Me? I'll keep trying to be Christ in the flesh to folks. If I see a pilgrim with a flat, I'll still pull over and see what I can do. I'll still hold chairs for my wife,and doors for the ladies. I'll take my hat off and cover my heart when the anthem is sung, or the pledge is given. I'll still stand up for the unborn, the single mom, the widow and anyone else that can't, right then, stand up for themselves. Because that's just what your supposed to do as a man. I'll do my best to raise my sons to do the same. it's called being a dad. Being a mentor. Being an example to others. But most of all, in all these things, I will acknowledge the God that saved me in all these circumstances.
With every chance I get, I'll tell people about His saving mercy and grace. How He did not come to earth to rule over us, but to save us.  I'll do that by braggin on my Jesus as I do what He has asked, no, commanded me to do. To seek and save the lost. To pray for the sick. To be the light in a dark world, and the salt on the table of life. To love those that are so unlovable, because I am too. Unlovable, I mean. I'd say ask my wife, but I'm afraid she would tell ya straight out. Ya see, I don't always get it right, but I refuse to stop trying.
2 Timothy 2:12-13 say's;
"If we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will also deny us.
If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, since He cannot deny Himself"
When I blow it, I get right with Him and then get about His business.
Keep on trucking. The road is long and winding, and hopefully you've got your G.P.S.( God's Plan of Salvation), all plugged in and ready to show all those you come in contact with. Lord know they need it. Remember, they're scoping you out to see if you really are who you say you are. How ya doin with that one?
God Bless.

Be strong, Be courageous

"Shorthaul"

Compassion? What's that?

I received an email from an old friend the other day. Her daughters husband had a stroke. I know, we all know someone who has had some kind of major medical thing happen over the years. You just don't expect it will be someone you either know, or hold in such high esteem. Why is it that things like this almost always seem to take us by surprise? I think it's because we just get so into what we're doing, or the love that we share with others, that we just know things will be the way they are forever, right?
Well, I think that's how it is with me. I know, I can't speak for you, just saying.

I'd like to tell you a little about my friend and her family.
It's been so long since I've seen her, but the memories of her wonderful family will echo in my spirit forever. There might be one or two I'd would like to forget, but I wasn't following my Lord yet. And from what I know about life and cooking now, even tho all the stuff in the pot doesn't smell to good on it's own, somehow after they simmer altogether for awhile, it all starts to be pretty good. That's just how life goes, huh?
Anyway, a great memory I have of this precious lady's daughter is how she was when she got introduced to the King of Kings. You see, I was a no account, know it all, 20 something,( if that ), she was so excited to tell not just the whole family, but everyone she met about this Jesus. Wow. What a freak! I thought. I can't remember how many times she must have heard that. Or did we just say that behind her back? Don't know.
Her brother was a school chum of mine, and I would hang with the family often. What a family. I learned a lot there. Guess that's how I got to be privileged to see what I saw. How the seeds of the Gospel got planted in me with every smile and testimony we had to listen to from either her or her friend. I even remember his name, wow.

There was this one time, talk about crazy, her brother got hit by a car out on the road in front of their house. Bad, bad break. a compound fracture, I think they call it. The bone was broken right through the skin, as I remember it. We all go running down there and here she goes, she just laid her hands on him and began to pray out for a healing. right in the middle of the highway. Normal folks just don't do that, do they? Yeah they do. Well  that sure left an impression, I tell you. She knows about the love of the Father, and the compassion He has for His little ones. She knows.

I'm hanging out in Psalms 103 lately. and boy howdy, is there a whole bunch of love and compassion about our Father in here.
 ¹ Praise the LORD, my soul;
   all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
² Praise the LORD, my soul,
   and forget not all his benefits—
³ who forgives all your sins
   and heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
   and crowns you with love and compassion,
⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
   so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Here David is, what some might say, talking to himself. You know what I mean. You've been at it for days. Lots of windshield time and you've had enough of the c.b., the traffic, the problems from home that you just can't do anything about from 1000 miles away, you know, stuff.  He is encouraging himself in the knowledge that he has about the Father. Listen as the sheep tender turn king, speaks out loud, to and from his spirit, right to the Spirit and ear of God.  Read it again. The Psalm, I mean. Cool huh? Wait till you see this.
 ⁸ The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
   slow to anger, abounding in love.,
 ¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
   so great is his love for those who fear him;

I could put the whole Psalm here, but I would encourage you to read it all for yourself. Just Google Psalm 103 and you can read it right off the net.
 The bottom line is, no matter what your going through, no matter how bad you think it is, you have One that is closer than a brother. He so loves you and feels your pain. he understands you like nobody else and is always there when you turn towards Him.
The seeds this young one from the Jesus movement threw at me by her total abandoning love for Jesus then, I believe, was the same field that God would tear up once in a while to bring me closer to Him, until I finally got it. See for me there are other verses in here that move me. Things like;

⁸ The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
   slow to anger, abounding in love.
⁹ He will not always accuse,
   nor will he harbor his anger forever;
¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve
   or repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
   so great is his love for those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
   so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
 ¹³ As a father has compassion on his children,
   so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
¹⁴ for he knows how we are formed,
   he remembers that we are dust.

For me, if anyone deserved Gods wrath, it was me. If He was to treat me as my sins deserved, Oh God, I don't even want to dwell on that. Thank you Jesus! This is the God I serve and have come to know over the last few years.  I blow it on a daily basis. But regardless how bad, "He has compassion on those who fear Him".
My friend is going through some "stuff" right now. I've been through "stuff". You either have been, or you may even be going through it right now. He is right beside you.  Call upon His name and feel His compassionate love for you. You see, if I know anything, I know that as a believer in Jesus Christ, I want to be praying for others and doing all I can to serve them, ( Hope my dispatcher doesn't read that ), so that even if those around me are so not ready to come to Jesus, they might start remembering a few years from now. The goofy sayings. The smile. The laughter. The very fragrance of God that they encountered from time to time. If your a believer, are you leaving that kind of an impression? If your a brother trucker or pilgrim just out here trying to make ends meet and don't hardly know up from down. Know this, I am praying for you. I really have been there, done that and I really am praying for you. And He really does love you more than you'll ever know.

Be strong, Be courageous,

"Shorthaul" 

Poser, Hoser, or just plain real

I've been going into some deep thought here lately. No, not what colored frosting do I want on the donuts I get from the truck stop. Although, that is a very viable question. Not even if I tipped the nice waitress enough on that last meal. Being the son of a former waitress, I'd better have.
No, the things I've been thinking about lately have a bit more of an eternal outcome to consider. You see, just when I think I'm really starting to get it. You know, understanding God and all that I'm supposed to do and all. I mean, I'm really praying, and reading my bible, and I really think I'm beginning to hear something. Starting to feel empowered to fulfill all that I know I should be doing as a Christ follower. For me that means; being as good a provider as I can be. Being a good husband to my wife. You know, nice and all. being a good dad to my son's, and a good example to those in my work place. Witnessing when I get the chance and all that.
Well, just then seems to be when I blow it the most!  I don't get it. Here, I'll put it his way. It's like when I think I'm driving around in my shiny Western Star, runnin on the best roads, and only the best no touch freight. When in reality, I got this one stack Mack with a window in the back and I get to finger print the whole load.

 But then as I open the Word of God, I start to read of someone else that had the same stuff going on as I do. Today I'm reading out of the book of Romans chapter 7, verses 14 through 25.

    14For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
      21I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

Now that you read it, let me tell you about who this is talking. This is St. Paul. You know, Paul the apostle? His name used to be Saul. You might have heard of him. He's the one, that while on the way to go and imprison, track down and maybe even kill him some of those folks that believed that this Jesus fellow was the Messiah, he got knocked down off oh his high horse on the way to Damascus. And here is the best part. His life would never be the same again. He went on to spread the Good News of Jesus to all the known world. And is a writer of many of the New testament letters. There's more about him, but I'll save that for another time. I just wanted to give you an idea, if you didn't know him.

The point is, he is having the same problem I am. How can that be? He not only was a very devout man of God, but he had a vision of Christ that left him blind for days. He heard His voice. His life was so changed that he went from hunting Christians, to being one of the to the max! Yet here in these verses, he shows us his flaws. His regular guy side. You see, he was. A regular guy, I mean. He was a man. Nothing more. But wait. There was something that made him different. He was totally sold out. No going back. No "well maybe if this doesn't work out, I'll just set up a "tents while you wait" business". (Quotes were mine, for fun......No he really didn't say that!).
So if he was so sold out, how come he is dealing with the same stuff I do? I mean, as you can see here, he must have blown it from time to time. I mean I am a Christ follower too. But I don't think I could match the spiritual level as Paul. But actually, I can.
The same Holy Spirit that lived in him, lives in me. So why then do I blow it? The same reason Paul did. Even though I'm sure I've got it all together, I have this sin nature. I'm selfish, I want my own way, I don't like it when other people want their own way at my expense. And on and on it goes.

"Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Because of the work He has already done, I can be free to live a life for Him who released me from my chains of sin and shame. Of thinking I'm better than others while living a life that would so displease Him.
Transparent time here.  I can't stand hypocrisy in any form. Yet just the other day I found myself being the king of all hypocrites. I want to live a godly life and be Jesus to my family first, then the world. But here I am, hungry? Yes. Tired? Yes. Feeling like nobody wants to help me complete a rather difficult task? You bet.
 " The things I don't want to do, I do". Like it says, " So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin." How can I overcome this? With Christ! " I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me". Then I can say, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!", and know that I know, it's gonna be okay. Again, It's a matter of getting right with Father God.

You gonna tell Him your sorry for blowing it? Then to the ones you messed up on or with? Then the bible says that, " He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleans us from all unrighteous".
Dude that rocks!
That's like taken your incredibly cool looking ride through a Blue beacon, then sitting in the back row with a can of Mothers and a fleece rag until every rim, and fuel tank is so shiny you can see the cracks in your teeth in them! Yeah, That's what I'm talking about! Only that ride is you. And it's not just on the outside, but inside as well.
So, when and if you blow it, don't lay around in guilt thinking your such a scumbag. You've got no way of fixing things. Your right, you can't, and you are. Don't look back, look up. That's where your help comes from.
Be strong, Be courageous. 

"Shorthaul"

Troubled by trouble?

I started out this morning making breakfast for my family. It’s what I do every Sunday. Don’t know how it started, it’s just what I do. So here I am making pancakes when it hits me. Open up the gates and let the King of glory come in. Well that was a little different, I thought. So I did. Open up the gates I mean. And the King of Glory DID come in! Who is this King Of Glory?! I’ll tell you who He is. He is my loving King that wants to spend time with me. The King that knows all, I said All of my sins, and loves me anyway. I don’t get it. I just don’t get it.

But then there are a lot of things I don’t get. Things like why we’re astounded when trouble comes our way. 

Today I'm in 1 Peter 4. Let me start around verse 7;

  ⁷ The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. ⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ⁹ Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen

. 

Without grumbling? Instead, what ever we speak it should be as the very words of God. You ever notice how spiritual us church goers can look on Sunday, and how much we can complain about our jobs, boss's, and whatever else on Monday? Yeah, so do those around you that you've been wondering why they don't buy your "christian" message. You see, if your sold out to Christ, " they will, ( the people that don't know God ),

see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven". Likewise, if your not, they see that too. 

But here is where this "Christian walk" thing starts to get a bit harder. Verse 12 ans on;

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. ¹⁶ However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ And,    “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
   what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”^[a]
 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

How you doin with that one? Yep me too! Not so good. But remember that nothing can separate us from His love. So there is hope. we can repent for our bad behavior. Ask for forgiveness. Then, keep on truckin.
Look at verse 17 again. Do you see that? " Judgment is going to begin with those of us that proclaim Christ as or Lord and Savior.
How sad and scarey is that? vs. 18, cause if it's hard for the righteous to be saved, then what about the ungodly or sinner?
Pilgrim, you were put here for a purpose. God has a plan to use you where you work everyday. Every dock you hit. Every forklift operator you talk to. Every traveler, dispatcher, cop, or waitress you come in contact with needs you to live out your Christ likeness in front of them. So don't be troubled by trouble. Thank God that He trust's you enough to use you during the trial. He is our faithful Creator, He loves you so much. As much as those that are still lost in their way. He wants to use you as His hands and feet to reach them. Humble yourself in the trial, and watch Him raise you up.
Be strong, be courageous,

"Shorthaul"