Slow Fade

Everyone wants the perfect church or at least the knowledge that the way they believe is sufficient enought to keep them on the "good" side of heaven. James (The brother of Christ) tells us that 26-27Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
Last night I was relaxing after the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State game and I started to channel surf. I came upon a program about vampires and how the legends originated. There is a movie out right now that the younger generation is going crazy for that has a vampire as the hero, so I thought I would check it out. Pretty disturbing, when you hear some of the stories of true mass murderers that literally bathed in blood, drank it, sacrificed the weak and captive and all that other horrible stuff. Next I go down stairs and the Steven King movie "The Mist" is on. I only caught the last, but if you've seen the movie it's a pretty disturbing ending.
Of course my sleep was a mess and I literally woke up sick. My point is, we need to gaurd our minds from the way this world wants us to believe. WATCH WHAT YOU LET IN YOUR EYES AND HEART. I read on MSN today that 25% of workers with internet access look at porn while working. So many of us let things into our eyes and minds that just should not be there. Now I'm not saying I'm perfect, But I am learning to watch things that will build up my spirit and not tear it down. If you have Christ in your heart, you can overcome all temptation that comes your way. I know a lot of us may not be tempted by smut but the temptation to listen to gossip or to pick up a magazine on the hollywood lifestyle can tear down our spirit just as easily. Philipians8-9 says, "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies". It takes practice, but the result is worth it. Guard your mind and God will fill it with true love and purpose. If you are having trouble in this area take a moment to repent and ask for strength. Pray something like this, "Father in Heaven I have failed you in the area of keeping my mind pure and seeking after the best in this world, I ask your forgiveness and ask you to help me to overcome the weaknessess in my life. I thank you Father that you hear me and are willing to help me develop into the man or woman who can be used for Your Glory. In JESUS Name I Pray, Amen!
Remember your mind is the battle field, so take the war serious!
God Bless
Your Brother in Christ
Mitch

Time in a bottle

Wow! This year has just flown by. I think as you progress in age the time seems to move faster and faster. I think at a certain age, we get more settled and routine takes over. We need to be careful, if we let everyday just be a slight variation on the one before it our lives can easily slip away. I have been attempting to learn new things, ways to interact with my wife, my son and those around me. The saying "Can't teach an old dog new tricks", must not apply to our lives. In order to grow we must be pushed, and many times we need to be the one doing the pushing. I have failed many times in many things. I think that much of that failure comes from not reaching a little deeper into myself and giving it one more shot. "Life is Short, Pray Hard", is one of my favorite motto's. The thing is God doesn't always answer our prayers in an easy way with no effort on our part. Our Father In Heaven loves to open doors of opportunity for us, then it's up to us to venture out, and with continued prayer and some trial and error we get to live, learn and grow.
My little puppy Bella, when she wants my attention doesn't just stand by and wait for me to pick her up, no, she barks! And barks, until I give her the attention she wants. We need to be after God with that same energy, desiring to change, asking for new opportunities that will glorify Him and bring purpose into our lives, Jesus said "From the days of John The Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffer Violence and the Violent take it by force". We must cry out for Gods PERFECT will in our lives. If we receive it, our lives will be full, our relationships will be vibrant and our futures incredible. Time is running out, it may feel like you have forever, but you don't. Love God, Love People and never surrender your time to a bottle.
Peace, Love and respect
Mitch

Seeing your treasure

I woke up with this song playing in my head, I couldn't remember all the words so I looked it up. Man our God is awesome. He will get our attention anyway he needs to. Thank you Jesus!

REELIN' IN THE YEARS
Your everlasting summer You can see it fading fast So you grab a piece of something That you think is gonna last You wouldn't know a diamond If you held it in your hand The things you think are precious I can't understand
CHORUS: Are you reelin' in the years Stowin' away the time Are you gatherin' up the tears Have you had enough of mine.
You been tellin' me you're a genius Since you were seventeen In all the time I've known you I still don't know what you mean The weekend at the college Didn't turn out like you planned The things that pass for knowledge I can't understand
CHORUS -
I spend a lot of money And I spent a lot of time The trip we made in Hollywood Is etched upon my mind After all the things we've done and seen You find another man The things you think are useless I can't understand.
I am the dumbest person on planet earth. My wife is the hardest worker I know. We have built a decent little business here in the small town of Burley, Idaho and by her hard work and perseverance it has paid off. We're not rich, but we do O.K. The first verse of this song sums up my whole stupid attitude, my wife is a diamond, period. She puts up with my childish behavior, (babe can't I leave a little early so I can mountain bike?). Cleans the house does the laundry and makes sure our bills are paid on time. I think that by showing up each day and doing my part I should be looked upon as the great savior, BULL! Man I am making a commitment today to do more for my wife, who even when she has the right to be pissed off at me will apologize anyway! I clearly do not deserve her, and she certainly deserve someone a lot better than me. Ephesians 5:25 (The Message)
25-28Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already "one" in marriage.
Man I have failed my God and my wife, please pray for me. I want to think less of me and more of her. I need to die to anything that does not help her to grow and blossom.
Today, if you have a loved one you might have taken for granted, repent and ask God to help you change. You never know, you might not have the chance tomorrow.
Blessings and Honor
Mitch

Thankful

Being thankful should not always be because of our current circumstance. Some of us may have it pretty crappy right now. When I don't feel very thankful I think about the most amazing gift I ever received, Jesus. Then I think about how different my life could be right now. Ever see the "Butterfly Effect"with Ashten Kutcher? He had to keep going back and attempting do different things in an event that would shape he and his friends lives. I'm thankful that I don't have to do that. I know God is involved in my life to the smallest detail. I want to be thankful even when I don't understand why things have happened in my life and the lives around me. The Movie showed the correlating effect of our actions and the potentially devastating effects of wrong decisions. I know I've made some bad mistakes, but the Bible promises that "All things work together for good for those who are in Christ Jesus and called according to His Purposes" Romans 8-28 I am thankful that God is in control and I am not! We may never know of the disasters that have been averted in our lives until we get to heaven. If Jesus is your Lord, you have a destiny so great that our Father in Heaven will do anything to help you live it. If you have not made Jesus your Lord I can't think of a better way to be thankful. Just ask Him to forgive you and change you and your life will be changed forever! Tell someone today you love them and are grateful they're in you're life. They just may be waiting for a reason to be thankful, you may be that reason!
May all your days be blessed and beautiful.
Mitch

The Dark Side

O.K., I have this dream every once in awhile. I'm a wrestler, not high school, but like the pro guys, all dressed up and in costume. Anyway in most of these dreams I vanquish my opponent and in the spiritual I guess I made some kind of break through. Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Last night however, first I slept through my match and then after getting a second chance I looked in the mirror and BEHOLD I was the bad guy!
They say he wrestles with his demon, or he has demons to deal with, but many times maybe it's us who just choose to do the wrong thing. I'm not saying this makes us horrible I'm just saying that is what makes us human, fallible, and in need of help. King David said "Please Lord don't let the people fall because of my actions". I also need to say that. Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament told people to imitate him as he imitated Christ. See Paul was taught as a Pharisee, a very strict interpretation of the law, if you messed up, you're out! Most of us were just raised by good parents doing the best they could. Paul was raised under strict standards that made it easier for him to do right most of the time. I used to want to be a Pastor, have a great church and teach people about Christ, then I read James. He warns us that not many should want to be teachers of Gods Laws because they receive a stricter judgment! Not me man, I need GRACE and Lots of it! If every Christian acted like I do a lot of the time, well...lets just say peaceful, gentle and self controlled are not what comes to mind. We do have Gods amazing grace though. And I think I'll bank on that, trust that Christ died for my bad attitude, temperament and self indulgence. Oh, I'll keep working on the areas of weakness I need to, but I gotta do most of that praying for help in those areas. And when the Dark Side comes out, I just hope nobody thinks the worst of my Lord for my mistakes, I'm just a child of God in training.
Oh and by the way, I read on MSN that it's dump your jerk week, so I gotta run and get my beautiful wife flowers! Maybe she'll hold off one more year!
God Bless!
Mitch

I Think I'm Loved

I heard this song on Good Morning America today. What a simple and direct song about love. I love the way my little puppy Bella comes running to me as soon as she knows I'm anywhere near. It's funny how a little animal can make you feel special. Bella loves me because I love her. I have cultivated trust and friendship that comes from me actively pursuing her. And now I reap the reward. My beautiful Bella running to my arms when she knows I'm near. The Bible tells the story of a young man who walked away from that kind of love and acceptance, but after loosing all he had he wanted to come back. Even though he was afraid, he returned home, not to an angry or resentful father but to one who came running to greet him. That is how God is with us, waiting. If it's been awhile that you have spent time with God, don't worry He is ready to take you back, protect and Love you. Maybe that's why I have Bella in my life so I can know what it feels like, just a little, when God Comes running...
These are the lyrics to The Partridge Family's song, "I think I Love You". Enjoy!
Mitch
I'm sleeping And right in the middle of a good dreamlike all at once I wake up From something that keeps knocking at my brain Before I go insane I hold my pillow to my head And spring up in my bed Screaming out the words I dread: "I think I love you!" (I think I love you) This morning, I woke up with this feeling I didn't know how to deal with And so I just decided to myself I'd hide it to myself And never talk about it And didn't I go and shout it When you walked into my room."I think I love you!" (I think I love you) I think I love you So what am I so afraid of? I'm afraid that I'm not sure of A love there is no cure for I think I love you Isn't that what life is made of? Though it worries me to say I've never felt this way Believe me You really don't have to worry I only want to make you happy And if you say, hey, go away, I will But I think better still I ought to stay around and love you Do you think I have a case? Let me ask you to your face: Do you think you love me? I think I love you!

Steve, Peter and Maybe Mitch!?!

Gotta love those Baldwin Brothers! They just keep going and going, Alex who has regained fame from sitcoms to my favorite Baldwin Stephen, He says he wasn't actually serious when he announced on Fox News that he would leave the country if Barack Obama became president.
"The liberal Democrats who didn't get that I was joking need to lighten up," the born-again actor tells the New York Post. "Obama is obviously talented and intelligent, and I have great respect for the man. He's got my full support, and I'm gonna be praying for him and his administration."
Stephen has a web page at http://www.stephenbaldwin.com/ that is 100% ministry minded! This guy is a radical for Christ! I am going to step out on a limb (branch) and say Steve and I are going to be involved in some events to share Christ to the nations! We ultra believers (those who activly pursue Christ and the building of His Kingdom), need to stick together! The bible tells us we will be looked down on and persecuted but if it's for the Glory of Christ, AMEN!

(Out Of 1 Peter)
A New Life
3-5What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole.
6-7I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.
8-9You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation.
10-12The prophets who told us this was coming asked a lot of questions about this gift of life God was preparing. The Messiah's Spirit let them in on some of it—that the Messiah would experience suffering, followed by glory. They clamored to know who and when. All they were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves—through the Holy Spirit—the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this!
A Future in God
13-16So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."
17You call out to God for help and he helps—he's a good Father that way. But don't forget, he's also a responsible Father, and won't let you get by with sloppy living.
18-21Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.
Amen!
Life is Short, Pray Hard!
Mitch

Faith, Hope, Love

But the greatest of these is Love. The Bible teaches that we can be men and women who believe and proclaim Jesus is Lord, but many are lacking the ingredient that fuels our faith, LOVE. What is love? The Bible tells us that we need to Love God and Love our neighbor as ourselves. If we do this then ALL THE LAWS RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE BIBLE are fulfilled! O.K. I got some work to do in my life, I need to Love God more by getting to know and Love Christ, I need to Love my neighbor as myself, now I have to work on that. My neighbor cut down my favorite tree that was barely (inches), more on his property than mine! I have to Love my neighbor who walks over to my garage at 6 am while me and my buds are lifting weights (and probably being a little loud), and gives me the kill look and storms off while I'm tying to ask him if I can help! Oh, and worse, Jesus said our neighbor is not just the guy next to us but the one down the street who has that dog who's always doing business in your yard! Jesus also said that your neighbor can be anyone near or far that you may or may not even know. I'm kinda a mean sucker sometimes, and I know that the company I keep is the person I'll be. If you or the people you surround yourself with are negative and self centered you are probably not going to learn much about real love. Jesus said it's easy to love those we are related to, anyone can do that, but only a few can love those we hardly know. Spending time with Christ is the only way to learn real Love. The kind of Love that is going to please God and change your soul. Jesus is the WAY The TRUTH and The LIFE! Give your burdens to Him, He will always be there, He will Never Leave you or Forsake you, even if you did throw a rock at your neighbors nosey dog and then smile so innocently when you ran in to them at the store!
God Bless, Have more Faith, have more Hope but above all, Love with all your heart!
Blessing,
Mitch

Share your Joy!

Last night I got a call from a young man who has gone through some incredible troubles the past couple of years. Going from standout athlete to convict in one year can crush your soul. As we talked it became apparent that what he really needed at this particular time was to share his story, to remember what God had done for him in his time of need. The bible tells us to recount the times that we know God has intervened in our lives, to tell those stories to glorify Christ and to encourage others. It should not take a cataclysmic event for us to turn our heart to Jesus. If your thankful today, tell someone! Tell Jesus that you are thankful for the blessings in your life today, and if today seems kind of bleak, thank Him for the coming joy. If you believe you will receive. The Bible says God is a rewarder of those that believe. I know that Christ has already done an amazing thing for you, He died a sinners death on the cross. For that alone we should be eternally thankful! Have joy, it is your strength in the Lord!!
Love in Christ,
Mitch