Police Officers Are Great Guys

Anyone who knows me well enough knows that I like police officers...They are servants and have a very difficult job serving our country and protecting our lives. After working with them on many occasions I have grown fond of their committment to serve our society. When I see them on breaks in coffee shops or restaurants I try to take the time to thank them for choosing to serve people through their line of work.

Well, I was driving on the 101 Freeway to my office Yesterday, and as I was moving to slower lanes of traffic to get off at my exit, I noticed a Highway Patrol in the slow lane monitoring traffic.

After exiting the freeway and just before pulling into my office at church I saw those red lights that everyone hates to see right behind me. Aaarrrggg! Not a ticket! The thought of traffic school, traffic fines, cost of insurance increasing, and generally unpleasant feelings started knocking on my heart.....

But then a new thought came to mind...I could not think of any violation I had committed. I wasn't speeding and could not think of what I had done.

As the officer walked up to my car I started getting my documents out (you know the drill). As I handed him my driver's license and insurance I asked what I had done wrong. He said I had an expired registration on my license plate.

Just as he finished the sentence I found my registration (still in the envelope you get from the DMV) and there was my new sticker! I had received it 9 months ago but never put the sticker on my plate (duh!).

As soon as the officer saw my sticker he said "oh, there it is...please put it on when you arrive home sir and have a nice day."

So...I can say again with a valid experience "police officers are great guys!"

My Response To CNN feedback forum

After viewing an article on CNN.com I was disheartened to read in the comment forum such Anti-American rhetoric. The one comment that moved me to respond is listed here

Copied From Forum Section Post #114 "Advice to Americans – sort your own backyard out before you try to work on someone elses. The quality of what you can offer the world is summed up in the southern states as the failure to respond to Katrina and your absolute FAILURE with the current oil spill. You "saved" the afghanis from the soviets only to be turned upon by them – go figure. America is the sickest country of the world because it cannot see how useless it is. Your 'democracy" fuels the arab rage – as it is the same "democracy" that feeds the hand of israel."

So I thought I would add my two cents....I thought I would share what I posted here on my blog....

"...I am saddend to hear you speak of this country that way. To hear you sit back and shout with keyboard and anonymity towards a country that allows this type of forum because of its foundations in freedom. BTW we give billions to Arab countries as well as Israel. Even President Clinton bombed Afgan training centers because he knew of their plans. Radical Islam is never going to be at peace with anyone who does not submit to it. They are taught to eliminate those who disagree! What was the difference between the responses after offensive drawings of Mohamed and the Urin on the picture of Jesus? People died and violent riots because of the offense against Islam. But what did Christians do? Prayed, commented in forums like this, voiced their oppinion in other ways because of the freedoms their communities have built. I am so glad I live in this country and served in the Army... I have been to Egypt and other places where freedom is just a desire that many don't even understand. Where real poverty exists.... If you don't like this country, do something about it through the wonderful system we have and the freedoms you enjoy... "

URL of Article http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/29/reminders-of-a-hell-for-1000-men/#comments

Automatic Response System?

This week God reminded me of why we feel distant from Him sometimes....

As we studied Exodus Chapter 24 this last Wednesday I was reminded again of how God allowed Moses to enter into His very presence but kept Aaron, his two sons, and the Seventy elders at a bit of a distance. This always intrigued me because in John 4:23 Jesus said the Father is seeking Worshipers.

So what was it about Aaron, his two sons, and the Seventy elders that kept them from coming into God's presence with Moses? Well you probably are aware that in Exodus Chapter 32 Aaron makes a golden calf for all of Israel to worship (we assume the Seventy elders are included), and in Levitus 10 Aaron's sons offer strange fire (probably represents pride and self will) before the Lord and are judged.

KEY THOUGHT HERE: Often times we think of God as an Automatic Response System! We pray and he needs to respond. We seek Him and He needs to respond. We have needs and He must respond.... We forget that God is a person! We have a relationship with Him not an Automatic Response System....

Back to Moses and Exodus 24....Moses desired God! Moses loved God! Moses dedicated time for God and God revealed more of Himself to Moses than anyone else in Israel! Why? Because that is what Moses wanted and made time for! BTW just being in close to God's presence was not enough for Moses...later on he asked God if he could see His glory (Exodus 33:18).

So this week If we start to feel a bit distant from God we need to remember He is a person and not an Automatic Response System....He desires our love and devotion....And we need to respond to Him!

Be Blessed As You Respond To Him....Pastor David

His Mercy Endures Forever....

"Oh, give thanks to The Lord, for He is good, and His Mercy endures forever." II Chronicles 16:34 When you come across something good it's worth repeating.... When King David brought the Ark of God into Jerusalem he wrote a song about how thankful he was and wanted to have all Israel learn to sing it. The second half of Verse 34 was then repeated 40 other times in Scripture. There is another song (Psalm 136) that used that verse as the repeating refrain. You see the experience of bringing the Ark of God close so touched King David he wanted to lead others into that same experience. The reason King David was so thankful was because on top of the Ark of God was a place called "The Mercy Seat." This was the place that God's mercy was extended to the nation of Israel after a sacrifice was offered in substitution for their sin. You see, the covering over the Ark (The Mercy Seat) was the place where a Holy God and a sinful people could meet after their sin was covered. While archeologists are still looking for the lost Ark, Paul in Romans 3:25 continues this Songs' theme by explaining to us that Jesus is our Mercy Seat ("Propitiation"). So Jesus makes it possible for a Holy God to meet with sinful people.... "Oh, give thanks to The Lord, for He is good, and "His Mercy Endures Forever!" Jesus is where God's mercy is to be found...Forever!

Pray For Haiti

Lord Jesus we lift up the country of Haiti and ask that you would give strength to those in the rescue effort. Please be with those suffering the loss of loved ones and those suffering injury. We pray for Calvary Chapel Port-au-Prince and Calvary Chapel of Caneille. Please use our brothers and sisters for Haiti, even during this most difficult time.