Man, what a Sunday! This morning, it felt like we were just on the edge of something truly magnificent. The worship was great, don't get me wrong. It just felt like we almost broke through something really special. This was baptism Sunday, and I always enjoy the stories that come from these services. One lady turned her life around from an addiction to meth. She said that her family didn't even recognize her anymore. I fought back tears as her video played.

After the last baptism, we played "Your Grace is Enough," and the response was tremendous. Tim wanted to start with just the kick to get everyone involved, and the entire audience was clapping and getting amped! I think that people are coming to our services these days with a sense of expectancy. We have been able to go to some special levels during worship over the last couple of months, and the feeling is getting contagious.

Pastor gave a message that was direct. I felt like my feet were getting stomped for a good portion of the service. Sometimes the truth is tough to stomach, but that is what is healthy for me. I normally choose the sweet or deep-fried versions of my interpretation of truth, but that only leads to a sluggish and unhealthy spirit. I am thankful that my pastor doesn't shy away from what God tells him to speak about.

Temptation was the focus of today's message, and I want to post a couple of thoughts that came to my mind this morning. In the reality of today's current events, it is easy to get wrapped up in the constant parade of things that shout for my attention. Monday, my son started school. Tuesday, my wife had a blowout on the interstate while coming home. The blowout resulted in 200 bucks that weren't planned for. Wednesday, the a/c compressor on the car went out and stranded Meredith and the kids in the parking lot of a good friend's business. 600 clams later, I was starting to wonder what God was trying to tell me. Thursday and Friday, I watched "Gustav" start his march towards friends and family in Louisiana and Mississippi. I then saw yesterday that "Hannah" is going to follow closely behind. What is the deal? Throw in a holiday-shortened work week, and my head is spinning.

To be honest, I was not in a good frame of mind coming into service this morning. I was overwhelmed and a little frightened with thoughts of how to make life work for my family. I am thankful that God has provided all that He has, because I know some that don't have enough. I guess that I am greedy when I am pressed to want a little more during times like this. I am convicted by my personal struggles when I know others in my life have a much harder path to walk. Today, Brandon Love sent me a text that hit me in my spirit. He was at Wal-Mart when he saw some evacuees that were fleeing in advance from hurricane Gustav. He said that they were just sitting there, and he wished he could help them. Simple geography separates me from them, and that is a sobering thought. What would I do if I were forced to gather my family and leave everything that was "important" behind? How on earth would I be able to keep it together long enough to not freak my wife and kids out? When I think about the things that trip me up in my day-to-day, I realize that I am a spiritual sissy.

"The squeaky wheel gets the grease" is a saying that I have heard all of my life. It means that the loudest thing gets the most attention, regardless of its' importance. Seldom does the manifestation of the problem relay the true cause of the impending failure. It is the result of an intense search that identifies the truly most important area that should be the focus of our concern. That would be called discipline, and I am severely lacking in that department. My grandfather was the master of this character-building tool. He would sit back and take in all of the production, all the while reading the situation for the truth that was in disguise. He was slow to act, but his action was seldom wrong when it arrived to the party. I miss him so much during these times, because he could teach me some great things that could save heartache.

I guess that the secret of keeping your wits about you is to make things take a number. I have to realize that God must always come first. He is never going to push his way to the front of the line and grab me by the collar, so I can't look for a big commotion to find him. He has always been the one that sits quietly in the back of the room, waiting for me to get settled so that He can have my undivided attention. I find that if I go and seek His advice during all of the commotion, usually the chaos subsides and order is restored. Why is it so hard to remember that?

Pastor commented that Satan is a formidable force. He isn't stupid, and he isn't weak. His traps are tricky, and the tools that he uses are specialized for my situation. He has been doing this for quite a while with much success, and his methods change daily. I think that Satan's greatest tool in his attack against me is that he persuades me that he isn't all that stout. In sports, a good offense attacks the weakness of the defense. If a defense can mask their strength so that it is perceived as a weakness, the best offense available is but a puppet at their command. Satan presents himself to me in this way. The key to fighting an enemy with his capability is to find the one that knows all of his patterns and weapons. God is the only one that Satan must submit to, so it only makes sense that I should cling to Christ when the flood waters try to drag me away. In reading about the persecution of Job, Satan had to ask God for permission before he could even approach Job. Man, what a privilege we have as children of God!

In closing, chaotic actions seldom bring order to chaotic situations. Consider the punching bag. It is made to absorb a constant barrage of fists and feet, standing firm for years of use. The manufacturer of this item took the environment of abuse that this training tool would be subjected to into consideration during the initial stages of it's design. In the same way, our Heavenly Father knows what we are going to face before we can even see the event start to materialize. Jesus knows the struggles that temptation brings, because he too was tempted by Satan. It is during these chaotic times that I must wrap my life line around me. I have to tie myself to Christ to be able to weather the storm. I must also listen to Christ when he tells me to evacuate, so that I am not left to navigate the storm with no compass.



Please pray for those in the Gulf Coast area as they are in harms way during the hurricane season. After the flood waters retreat, pray for healing and restoration. Geography is the only dividing line between us, but it should be physical and not spiritual.