Have you ever had a decision to make…and didn’t know which way to go? You prayed and sought guidance from God as to the course you should take. Well I’d like to be one that could say that each time…God gives me that clear understanding and picture of what I should do. However I would be lying if I said that.

During BSF one year when studying the Life of Moses…some of us commented on how nice it would be to have that cloud by day and fire by night to follow and make the path clear. Our teaching leader pointed out that while that sounds desirable…we are much better with the Word of God, the Holy Spirit within us and guidance from a multitude of counselors.

The Jews when going through the desert were subject to moving and staying whenever the cloud or fire moved. Perhaps they were tired and wanted to stay a while…but God said otherwise. Or maybe…they were anxious to be on their way…and God chose to have them remain a while longer. After hearing that I realized that perhaps we do have the better thing now.

However…I’m in the midst of a decision. Not sure which way to go. I’m anxious to just act…but history tells me the direction I’m thinking about moving would not be a good move. Seeing others in similar circumstances…tells me to wait. And I know my God…is never one to act quickly. He does act suddenly at times…but is never in a rush to make a decision and act quickly.

So…I guess I must wait…unless of course God brings a sudden revelation as to what I should do.

Just a side note…I do give thanks and praise for Stand to Reason and their teaching series on Decision Making and the Will of God. It was a huge relief to realize that I was not alone in not receiving personal direct revelation from God. It has helped me to use those resource that God has already made available when making decision.

On today’s visit with my mom…she was not very verbally expressive. She was making a lot of sounds when not napping but it was mostly confined to “hummm,” “umhummm” and so on.

When I asked her specific questions about her name, about her parents and where she was born…she had the answers readily available. That surprised me…usually she struggles to say that info. Her normal counting as she walks to her room was replaced with “hummm’s” as she touched the chair rail.

She slept a lot today. Didn’t watch more than a couple of minutes of the movie I put on.

Mary…one of the Alzheimer’s residents who shares my mom’s table…expressed concern about Gayle. Mary said Gayle seems to be having problems lately. Mary is very observant…but Alzheimer’s is robbing her of the ability to verbally state what she’s thinking.

Overall Gayle was in a good mood…and for that I am thankful. She was very sleepy today…and I ended up slipping out late in the afternoon as she napped.

Notes from Chuck Obremski’s sermon 5/19/05:

If we are absolutely convinced that things will happen as the Bible states shouldn’t that change/effect how we live? If we truly believe in hell…wouldn’t one repent and receive Jesus to avoid a future eternal judgment? Shouldn’t it also convince us to share the message of God’s salvation with the unsaved? Kind of like warning others when there is a bridge out on the road ahead. Certainty of future events, future secure, abundant life and peace with God now. Why not receive Jesus today?

As Christians we will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ. If you know you will have a test in the future, when would you start to study? Our problem is…we don’t know the date of our death…and when we will face the upcoming judgment.

HALL OF FAMER’S:
* Committed to be excellent today!
* Consistently…Over Time!
* Don’t put it off to tomorrow, next week or next year!

God has revealed unto us a reservoir of knowledge to tap into. Thoughts of rewards encourage us today when we are tired and overwhelmed. Frazzled and downcast? God will reward us one day in the future. Rewards provide encouragement to help others. What will Jesus be looking for to reward us? God determines what behavior He will reward…just as he determines the way of salvation.

1. By exercising HOSPITALITY with an attitude pleasing to God. (Matt 24:35-46)

Hospitality with an attitude pleasing to God. Hospitality = Entertaining Strangers. Do not look for anything in it. Do the right thing…because it’s the right thing. It’s all about the Lord, not about myself. Not done under compulsion, but voluntarily. Not to be seen. Don’t serve with bitterness and a bad attitude. God will put a burden on the right person’s heart.

2. By ASSISTING people who represent the Kingdom of God. (Matt 10:40-42)

Are you committed to help those who are out sharing the gospel? You will receive the same rewards as those in ministry..by meeting their needs (1 Kings 17).

3. By GIVING yourself or your material resources without seeking the attention of others. (Matt 6:1-4)

Give of ourselves and our resources. We will all give an account on the day of judgment.

4. By PRAYING to God without anyone else hearing. (Matt 6:5-6)

Pray…not to be a pubic display. Pray to be pleasing to God and be praised by Him.

5. By FASTING before God without anyone else knowing. (Matt 6:16-17)

Set all the time connected with eating (preparing the food, cooking, eating and clean up)…set it aside for God. Keep it private before God. If we do seek to be seen by men, that will be our only reward. We will be rewarded by Him whose praise we seek.

God knows when we should have been rewarded and others got the credit. Blessed are those who have many secrets with God.

6. By TRANSFERRING assets from earth to heaven. (Matt 19-21)

Transferring our rewards to heaven. Money is the litmus test of our loyalty. If we can’t be trusted with money here, we won’t have the future reward.

Do you love God more than you love money? Are you a generous and happy giver?

Be generous towards God, not yourself.

7. By JOYFULLY accepting injustice for Christ’s sake. (Matt 5:11-12)

Suffering injustice for God’s sake. If you are persecuted for Jesus sake you will be rewarded in due season. Not always will we be rewarded in this life for doing the right thing. Don’t expect the world to stand back and applaud you.

8. By pleasing God with your performance at WORK. (Col 3:22-24)

Good performance at work is an opportunity to earn eternal rewards. By being excellent, the best you can be, God does and will reward.

Make sure that they don’t like you because you are a Christian. Not because you are sinning and doing evil. Set the standard and be excellent. You may be the only Christian they meet. No personal business on company time.

9. By LOVING the unlovable (Luke 6:32-35)

Loving the unlovable. Devine love is dependant on the lover, not on the one who is loved. You will be rewarded in the future. Demonstrated the love of Christ.

10. By SERVING God as a leader in His church. (1 Peter 5:1-4)

Those who serve God will be rewarded and endure poor treatment. Rewards are coming one day.

Charles H. Spurgeon “It is our duty and our privilege to exhaust our lives for Jesus.”

I don’t remember too awfully much about my dad, Frank F. Bunts. He died in 1969 when I was 10 years old. He died from lung cancer not too long after we had moved to Lake Havasu, AZ. He died just a few weeks after being diagnosed with lung cancer…in a Phoenix hospital. I didn’t know he had cancer and was dying…but that’s a whole other story.

One of the memories I do have was when we lived in Denver. It must have been Christmas 1968. We went on a shopping trip to a local mall…Cinderella City. I wanted my own little Christmas tree for my room…always loved Christmas lights…even back then. At Sears we ended up getting a small artificial tree that was about 1 foot high. I was able to put Christmas lights on it and have it in my bedroom at Christmas time. I kept that tree for many, many years. In some respects it was something tangible that said my dad loved me.

There is so much I don’t know about you…and about our family life while you were still alive. I look forward to heaven…and hope to have a better knowledge and understanding of that which has remained a mystery to me, for low these many years. Will I see you there?

Happy Father’s Day!

A big thumbs up and recommendation to the Charles Stanley Institute.

It’s a great resource for all Christians to become rooted and grounded in the Word of God. Through the studies provided you will be able to learn more fully the Biblical foundations of our faith.

In addition to the online courses for study…there are resources for prayer and journaling Also discussions with fellow believers on a variety of topics.

I had started the Faith Foundations a couple of years ago…but dropped off in my studies. As I have a break this summer from Bible Study Fellowship I decided it would be beneficial to stay rooted and grounded in the Word of God. I am not disciplined enough to do it on my own. Whether it’s BSF or another Bible study…I need a focused study to keep me going.

I highly recommend the Charles Stanley Institute to help you in your faith walk…and to grow as a Christian. You can also watch Charles Stanley on In Touch Ministries…each week and listen to his radio broadcast.

We are most fortunate to live today…when the Word of God is provided so abundantly…especially to those in the United States and to many around the world via the internet.

Click on the above link so you can get started today.

A couple of reflections on God and sin…following my visit to Las Vegas.

If the sin that I witnessed so blatantly displayed bothered me (a sinful human being)…how does God feel when he sees it? A Holy, Righteous, Sinless God. One who hates sins…but loved us so very much he was willing to accept and pay the penalty on our behalf.

After believing in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior…being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit…a Christian can never really see sin again the same light. That why it’s not funny, it’s not something that I should knowingly and willingly be engaged in or approve of…or even be neutral about. It breaks my heart to see people living in a sinful unrepentant state…because I know of the high price that Jesus paid on that cross for that sin.

When I think of the agony he endured…on my behalf I see my sins as bringing that pain and agony upon Jesus.

Do I have that heart of God as I gaze upon a sinner? Do I feel the love that Jesus felt…so much so that he was willing to offer himself a sacrifice for my sin?

My goodness…I have so very far to go.

I just returned from a brief trip to Las Vegas and I am ever so glad to be home. I thank God for his hedge of protection around me. I was able to travel there and back with a gentleman from work. He is a fellow Christian and conservative Republican…so we were able to talk work, politics and religion….thank you Kris. You get a thumbs up as a traveling companion…you are easy going and a good conversationalist.

Thank you to my sister Denise and her children for watching over my pets…Daisy, Nathan and Moss. It was a huge relief to know that they were well cared for in my absence.

Talk about the proverbial fish out of water…I was a living, breathing example of it. My goodness…Las Vegas is a modern day example of Romans 1:18-32 (click on the above link). The open sin and degradation and glorification in wickedness simply takes ones breath away.

Make no mistake…in no way am setting myself up as a paragon of virtue. I know all too well my sinful fallen state. I have been and saved by the grace of God and in no way could have saved myself from my sin. I’m well aware of the garbage that comes out California and is exported to the world from the movie industry…and the daily scandals that fill the news stories each day from this lovely state.

But what goes on in Vegas is sin taken to the “N’th Degree”. I stand with my mouth open…and that Roman’s passage comes to mind. Especially Roman 1:32b “they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” I can’t even imagine what it would be like to be a Christian in that environment…or to raise children there.

Now my idea of good vacation…a nice, relaxing and fun place to be is a cabin in the mountains or a trip to the beach…maybe a day up in Solvang. Vegas…tops my list of worst vacation destinations.

There is so much that I could say about that place..but mostly I thank God for bringing me back home…to my home…safe and sound. Not sure what lessons God would have me take away from my days there…whether it’s lessons about me or the world or lost sinners? I kind of felt like the reluctant prophet Jonah while in Vegas.

As Father’s Day fast approaches…I’ve been reflecting upon dads and the impact they make on their daughters life. Specifically my dad…Frank.

My dad died when I was 10 years old. Unless my dad had a deathbed conversion…he was not saved…and I will not see him in heaven. I don’t remember too awfully much about my dad. My memories are very few and faint. I think I can see the effect of a father on a daughter…based on the holes left behind by my dad’s absence.

A daughter’s self esteem and the value with which she sees in herself is rooted and established in her relationship with her father.

When a daughter knows she is loved for who and what she is, she will not seek out that love in promiscuous relationships…seeking to be affirmed by a man. She will have been affirmed by her dad and be able to have healthy relationships with men. She will be secure and know that she is loved.

She will make better choices in her relationships with men. She will have a better shot at having a good, loving and health marriage.

Last and most important…a father influences how a child will view God. This is not limited solely to daughters but also impacts sons.

God is viewed as our Heavenly Father. If our view of our earthly father is negative, unloving or abusive…it will impact how we view God the Father.

Fathers…God has called you to an all important and impactful job…that of being a father. Your influence is one that effects your child’s earthly life greatly. It may also have an eternal impact on the lives of your children and grandchildren.

Choose and live each day carefully, in the light of eternity.

Notes from Chuck Obremski’s sermon 6/12/05:

God patiently warns people of the 2nd death and the need to repent. Good news…God does not desire that any of us should perish…but all should come to repentance. Our great purpose in life is to bring glory to God. We are to witness to others how God has brought us from darkness to light. Here’s our assignment from God, to show with as many who will listen, God’s love and his roadmap for his people.

As God’s people if we are miserable, it is because we are not doing what God has commanded. We will never have peace if we are not following God’s plan. We will all stand before him at the judgment seat of Christ.

Change how you life your life. Chuck desires, if necessary, to frighten us so that we will get our act together. We should all ask ourselves, what will that day of judgment be like for me?

1. You will be judged by God following your life on earth. (Luke 14:12-14)

We will be repaid at the day of judgment. Now we are to be helping those who can not repay as part of our ministry in Jesus name. In contrast to how the world operates, we are to help those who can not repay. Jesus will be honored and glorified when we do things for others without seeking gain.

What do you have that has not been given to you? We are gifted by God we are to use that which God has given us to reach people for the sake of God. Not every one of our gifts will be rewarded in this life. Hebrews 11 shows many of the Old Testament saints that were rewarded, not in this life but after they died. They looked forward to Jesus coming and the reward to come.

2. You will be judged at the second coming of Christ (Matt 16:27, Rev 22:12-13)

When? God guarantees you will be judged and rewarded. You can bank on this…it’s going to happen. We will be judged. At this judgment it will be determined as to our assignment in eternity.

3. You will be judged by Jesus Christ personally. (2 Cor 5:10)

Who? Every person will have a personal audience before the Lord or Lords and King of Kings. We will be face to face with our Savior. (Be sure to look these scriptures… “there’s nothing illegal about using your Bible at home”.) We will look upon His scars that reflect the price he paid for our sins.

Think about it…you will be face to face with Jesus. Take a minute and soak that in. No one else will be around. Every thought, word and deed will be open and lay bare before him. He sees it all clearly. You’ll know by looking into His eyes…if things are going to go good or bad. Reflecting on this should cause us to be all that we can be while here on earth. So that in turn, we can be all that we can be in heaven for eternity. When was the last time you evaluated what it will be like when you stand before Jesus? When you look at what you are doing each day? Jesus knows the truth…he is not swayed by opinion.

Leave here today a changed person. Know the fear of the Lord and your purpose. You will appear before Christ. (Appear = turned inside out.) Thoughts, words, deeds and intentions will be turned inside out.

Tears will be shed at lost opportunities…our hearts will be broken. Everything that we do and say is consistently before him…to which we will give an account.

Is there anything that you need to get resolved? Do it now. Live a life of no regrets. We don’t know when that day of judgment will come. Make every effort to resolve everything as you go.

4. You will be judged along with all believers. (Rom 14:10b-12)

No one will escape. Everyone will stand before Jesus. Change the way you live…every day.

5. You will be judged on the basis of your works alone. (1 Cor 3:12, 2 Cor 5:10)

Our belief determines our destination. Therefore repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and his death on your behalf. Our behavior after we are saved determines our rewards. God save us to do the work that he had planned for us before the foundation of the world. He will reward you according to your faithfulness.

As a child of God…are you fulfilling and doing that which God has called you to do?

Don’t utter the phrase at judgment time, “You should have seen what I wanted to do.” We are without excuse. What did you do for the kingdom of God?

6. You will be judged for the works you did following your conversion. (1 Cor 3:11-13a)

Works prior to your salvation mean nothing.

7. You will be judged for the works you did before you died. (2 Cor 5:10)

We will be judged for what we did while we were in the flesh. God is looking for sacrificial givers. It’s a testimony of our love for God. We will be judged for our works that we did before we died.

8. You will be rewarded on the basis of your judgment. (Matt 16:27; 1 Cor 3:8-9a)

We will be judged on what we actually do. Our reward…is like a pay check.

9. You will be rewarded individually according to your works. (Prov 24:12; Rev 2:23)

We will be rewarded individually. It doesn’t matter what anyone else does…or how anyone else has been gifted by God. We are to be faithful and utilize the opportunities to reach others for the Kingdom of God.

Summary: Life is training and preparation for the life to come…for what Jesus will have for us to do. In the world to come…we will be given responsibilities. Loss or gain in every day life as far as our future judgment. Today have I added to…or taken away? Am I loyal to Christ and to the abilities, talent and time he has given me?

He knows if we are giving our best. How much of my best goes to God? Doesn’t God deserve our best? Doesn’t he deserve to be our priority and what we spend our time on?

Tears will be traded…the temporal for the eternal. Will you hear those words, “Well done good and faithful servant.”?

Tonight…I come with a grateful heart…filled with thanksgiving and praise to my great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Today I received word from my friend Hugo…that Cedar Sinai has accepted him into their lung transplant program He will need a couple more tests and then begin physical therapy prior to surgery. Due to his deteriorating condition…he is on the top of the list.

Hugo, his wife Maria and I all extend our thanks to the Kindred Prayer Team…for their many prayers on behalf of Hugo. Not only do we praise God for this wonderful news…we praise him that that He has revealed himself Hugo. Hugo received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior…and rests confident in his eternal salvation.

While Hugo faces so very much with the upcoming lung transplant…he has a peace in the midst of this huge storm. He says, “I know it is not over yet, since I have to make it through the operation, but God will be with me. “

I thank Kindred Community Church Prayer Team…for their prayers for Hugo over these many months. I am most grateful know that I can bring Hugo’s needs to you…and you will continue to faithfully pray for Hugo and Maria as they face this new chapter in their lives.

Thank you to my dear beloved Pastor, Chuck Obremski…who has lead us so faithfully…and whom God has used to reach out to so many…including my friend Hugo.

Be sure to check out Becky’s blog, “The Faith Expedition”. Some great postings from Becky. She’s very open and transparent in her sharing. I think Becky’s writing must be an encouragement to fellow Christians…and invite those that don’t know Jesus to take a closer look. Thanks Becky…I’ll be checking your blog regularly.

This is one of those songs…that is good to have stuck in your head…or humming throughout the day.

JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE

When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore

Above is a beautiful Hawk…that has visited me a time or two.

My friends might say I’m for the birds…and they wouldn’t be too far off. I must say…I think I may be in good company after reading my new blogger buddy David Warren Fisher’s latest comments.

My favorite Blue Jay…who is always a treat to encounter. He’s so perky and sassy. I feel like I’ve got a good start to my day when I see him on my morning walk. 

I’ve learned..I don’t want to make any decisions in anger.
I’ve learned…I don’t want to make any decisions without going to God in prayer first.
I’ve learned that when I do mess up…that I need to run to God…and cry out to Him.
I’ve learned I need to keep my focus on him.
I’ve learned that when I’m not seeing the fruits of the spirit…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control…I’m probably not spending enough time in the Word of God.

Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

For your reading enjoyment…below is poem by Tarzana Joe…Poet Laureate of the Hugh Hewitt show. When I heard this I couldn’t help but laugh at this humorous spin on the insanity of the main stream media. I highly recommend Tarzana Joe’s website…for those of you who love poetry…or on occasion fancy improving yourself. Tarzana Joe is a very gracious and humble man…and I thank him for sharing this terrific poem. Enjoy!


There’s an item in the news that can’t be ignored This week, Dan Rather won the Peabody Award An award give for—saints preserve us! Distinguished achievement and meritorious service And they gave another to Mary Mapes If you don’t believe it, I have the tapes

Now you may think it quite egregious
That those two should win a prize so prestigious But perhaps no reputation should have to break On the rocks of one small

little
unadmitted
mistake.

Ignore that by such thinking it would be a fact Hitler earned a Nobel for the Munich Pact And it should not matter that (curiously after reading the “Song of Roland”) He changed his mind and invaded Poland. And by the same token, it’s sheer affrontery That Benedict Arnold’s not on the Three Dollar Bill For his service to this country.

So lest you think this is pure infernalism I’ll explain their contribution to worldwide journalism
Any old scribblers can sit on the benches And scores of reporters toil in the trenches But there are some things only genius can do Only genius can conjure up something new

And the MSM, as it’s been branded
Was in desperate need of a new standard
A way to report whatever they want to
Thank you, Dan…
Thank you, Mary for
“Inaccurate, but true.”

Pity the soul of poor George Foster Peabody Nowadays, they’ll give his plaque to just about anybody Well, things can get better and we shall see… Perhaps next year, they’ll give one to me!
But ‘till then, here’s a truth that can’t be brooked Today, it’s an honor just to be overlooked.

http://pilgrimscribblings.blogspot.com/

Be sure to check out above posting on David Warren Fisher’s blog. Contributed by Annie Snelgrove.

It’s a terrific reminder…that we are all recalled by our Manufacturer…due to that common defect called Serious Internal Non-Morality (SIN).

The difference between a hero
and a superstar is that a hero
doesn’t need a crowd,
he only needs a cry for help.

Author Unknown

Folks…below is an article by Paul Oberjuerge on my beloved Pastor, Chuck Obremski. It really captures the experience that we as a congregation have had…in seeing Chuck battle cancer over the past two years. It’s been so rich and so deep in seeing God continue to use Chuck to reach out and touch people. Each day is a miracle and we are thankful for each day that God has granted us.

ANAHEIM – Terminal cancer has robbed Chuck Obremski of 55 pounds, half a lung, most of his hair and much of his energy. His faith remains unscathed. Which makes the Angels’ team chaplain perhaps more inspirational than ever before. “I think Chuck is a saint,” Kansas City Royals veteran Mike Sweeney said Sunday. “He’s coming out here to talk to us even with cancer eating up his body.”

Obremski, 48, has been the Angels’ chaplain since 1997. Whenever the Angels have a Sunday home game, Obremski goes to a spare locker room to conduct 20-minute services – one for the Angels, one for the visiting team. Even while fighting an aggressive and mysterious cancer for almost two years, Obremski has missed only one Sunday at the ballpark. “If this is the end of my life,” he said, “I’m going to do what I do till the very end.” He has chosen to use his condition as “one more thing to use as a lesson to teach.” Players are impressed. Even moved. “I wept the last time I was here,” Sweeney said. Said Angels outfielder Garret Anderson: “A lot of people wouldn’t react that way to a life-altering experience. He’s practicing what he preaches.”

During his Sunday session with the Royals, Obremski sat in a corner of the long, narrow room. Arranged before him were players sitting on folding chairs. A Bible and a single sheet with a lesson from the Bible – English on one side, Spanish on the other – were placed on each chair. “These bodies are collapsing tents,” Obremski told a dozen players an hour before the game. “I never thought the day would come when I look like wh

Check out the attached article by Frank Schaeffer.

Frank is the author of terrific book “Faith of our Sons”. Be sure to check it out…Especially if you have a son in the marines or serving in a branch of the military.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0786713224/104-2394205-1457544?v=glance