more, more, more

What makes us want more?  If we have all that we need what makes us want more?  I think it is very easy to get caught up in wanting more.  Most of us, I believe, would be happy with what we have if everybody was at our same level.  Our discontentment comes when we start comparing ourselves with others.   We look at what other people have that we don’t and then it hits us, ”I want that.”  We continue to think about that thing and before we know it we make it out to be something that we need.  Been there done that.  It is a daily struggle for all of us.  It is also a black hole for us if we let ourselves get caught up in it.  If we continue to try to keep up with the Jones we will never be content.  There will always be someone who has something more than us.  If we look at all the good things we already have and can be thankful for those then we will be much happier and joyful in our everyday life.

Thanks for joining me. 

Gary Kauffman

Power of words

I have been working at this house installing a deck with someone for the last 6 days.  There are some other guys who are there doing the roof and daily they have the radio playing some older, “classic” rock.  I used to listen to a lot of the stuff they have been listening to on the radio.  It’s been a long time since I have heard some of those songs.  As I was listening yesterday and today.  I just felt a heaviness come over me at some point.  I just kept hearing song after song that sounded so angry and depressing.  There was an attitude of wanting to strike out against everything.  I remember that when I used to listen to some of this stuff that my demeanor would change.  The mood I felt often determined the kind of music to which I would listen.  On the other hand many times the music also determined my mood.  I have heard the argument back and forth for many years about how music does or doesn’t affect people.  I know that music never makes someone go out and kill someone else or do anything bad.  Each person is responsible for their own decisions and actions.  No one makes you go out and do something like that.  I do know however that what people feed into their mind will affect them.  So it doesn’t really supprise me that some people who listen to this type of muscic often have a bad outlook on things.  There is more than just meets the eye or ear in this case.  Words have power to them.  They can be used to build people up or to destroy them.  The old saying, “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me”, is a lie.  Ask any kid who gets made fun of at school or elsewhere.  They will tell you a different story.  What deepens the affect that these word have is the music.  That is because they were meant to go together.  It’s like watching a thriller movie.  When they want you to think something big is going to happen the music gets more intense.  Sometimes it is just to fool us and make us think the bad guy will jump out and get the hero.  Other times it actually happens.  I remember watching “Jaws” when I was a kid and that movies scared me.  Everytime you heard that deep heavy music you thought someone was going to be eaten.  Our hearts would begin to pound faster and faster,  and we got even more interested in what was happening.  Can’t you just feel yourself wanting to jump out of your seat just thinking about it.  We wanted to tell the people on the screen, ”GET OUT OF THE WATER BEFORE YOU GET EATEN.  HURRY UP GET OUT HE’S COMING.  FASTER.  OH NO THEY FELL BACK IN THE WATER.  WHEW THEY JUST MADE IT.”  Man what a relief.  That is what words and the music that goes with them can do to us.  In the same respect that heavy dark music like death metal and hard core rap or other music can take us down there are many types of words and music that can lift us up.  How many of you remember the theme song from ROCKY III, Eye of the Tiger.  I used to have that record.  Yeh, you read that right.  I said record.  I know that a statement like that will date me a little bit but thats okay.  I was just a kid when the movie came out.  I used to listen to that album over and over when I was lifting weighs because it got me hyped up and ready to lift.  It also an inspirational song, which is why they used it.  I like to listen to a lot of contemporary Christian music and worship albums now days.  They keep me focused on the positive things in life and on the one who gave me everything I have and that would be God.  If I am down I can listen to this and it lifts up my heart and my emotions. I feel different.  It reminds me of better things that have been and are still to be.  I have a varied taste in this type of music.  There are many different types of Christian aritists.  Some are light and others have a very guitar driven beat that is more rock and roll style.  It is just that the message is about God instead of raging against society and being angry about everything.  Now I’m not saying all rock and roll is evil or anything I just think it is very important that we realize the message that is coming at us or our kids before we continually pump this stuff into our minds. 

Thanks for joing me. 

Gary Kauffman

Better thinking

 Therfore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy,to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.  For by the grace given me, I say to everyone of you.  do not think of yourselves more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.  Rom. 12:1-2

In the presecne of a king

I often think how cool it would be to meet the president of the United States.  I don’t agree with many of the stances he takes but he is the leader of our country.  There is a certain respect that is due the office.  You would get to possibly be in the White House and see a lot of cool things.  It a chance that not everyone receives.  The wise men had such an opportunity.  They came from the East and made a long journey to see this child king that they didn’t even know.  They came and worshipped him and brought him very precious gifts.  The were excited for the opportunity. If we have asked Christ into our heart and he has become our savior then we have Christ’s presence with us at all times.  We don’t have to travel miles on end and find follow a star.  The greatest gift we can give him is a life lived in service to him.  Passionatley pursuing him with all we have.

Thanksgiving

There are many times throughout each week that I realize how fortunate I am in life.  I am very thankful for all the blessings that I have.  Today we had my wifes side of the family over.  I remember at that age I wasn’t always that eager to be with my family all the time.  I didn’t realize the importance of family.  Now that I am older and have children of my own I understand.  God has blessed us in many ways.  Our great family is just one of them.  Each one of them fits in such a perfect way.  I am thankful for how God has worked in our lives and how he will continue to give many things for which we can be thankful.

Cutting like a knife

How well do others really know you?  How well do you really know anyone around you.  Sometimes we think we know and understand those around us when really we have no clue about what is happening.  God, however, is not fooled.  He sees it all.  Hebrews 4:12-13 says, “For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to the dividing of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing is all creation is hidden from God’s sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”  There is no place we can go to hide from God’s truth.  Even though that is true, we still try to hide.  We think that our thoughts and attitudes and actions can be a secret.  God’s word will cut through it all.  Let the doctor do some precision cutting in your life so you can become who he wants you to be.

Where’s the justice

Do you ever feel like some people just do whatever they want and get away with it?  I know I do.  Many of us saw what happened with the financial melt down.  We know what it has cost this nation and many of us.  I want to stand up and scream and say throw them in jail.  They desreve it.  Even so, not all of them will face the consequences of what they have done.  We see it in all areas of life.  Somtimes people come against us and do and say horrible things.  They never say they’re sorry or try to make things right.  We want justice.  We want them to be held accountable for what they have done.  Paul says, do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath,  for it is written, It is mine to avenge, I will repay says the Lord.  Instead of taking revenge we are to do kind, even to those who have wronged us when we have the opportunity.  It seems abosolutely backwards to what we see all over the place.  That’s because it is.  God’s ways are higher than our ways.  We are to rise above the world and it’s standards.  It’s not easy but that is what we are called to do.  Jesus knew all about this.  He was very popular evena week before he was crucified.  Even as he hung on the cross his compassion was showing.  Let us continue to live as Jesus did and never grow weary of doing good.

Thanks for joining me.

Gary Kauffman

Promises, Promise

I started a series at church on God’s promises.  I know that God has given us many promises in his word.  The better we understand these promises the more confident and effective we will be in our walk with him.  He has given us these promises and has always kept his word.  That is important for us.  Our hope is founded in the promises that God has given us as people of faith.  If God would not keep his promises then we would not have a sure hope on which to stand.  Second, it is also a matter of trust.  If God had not kept his promises then how could we trust what he says for us.  How would we know he would do what he said.  Third, it is also a matter of integrity for him.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  He is not a man that he should lie.  He keeps his promise.  Even when it cost him the ultimat price of Christ going to the cross.  Finally it is about his glory.  When God fulfills his promises he receives glory.  He does it in a way where only he can receive the glory.  Thank you Lord for fulfilling all that you have promised.  Thank you for being a faithful and true God.

Thanks, for joining me.

Gary Kauffman

high thinking

I was reading tonight in the book of Colossians chapter 3.  It says Since you have been raised with Christ set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated.  Set your mind on things above not on earthly things.  That is an great reminder for all of us.  When we focus on the things of this world we lose our focus on the one who made the world.  One song that I like a lot is “Turn your eyes upon Jesus.”  It says that if we do this then the things of earth will grow strangly dim according to his glorious nature.  What an amazing thing.  When we truly put our focus where it belongs then we see with the eyes of Christ.  We see the things that are the most important.  We can put things in perspective a lot easier.  We get our priorities in order.  This doesn’t mean that things will always be easy or problem free but it does mean we will be able to handle them better.  We will have the wisdom and strength that God provides.  Keep your thoughts on things above.  God will keep you on the right path.

Thanks for joining me,

Gary Kauffman

Shine on

I was reading in Phillipians this morning.  Paul said, Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe, as you hold out the word of life.  If we do our work and live life without complaing as Paul say, then we can be amazingly more effective.  I know that I don’t always do a good job at this.  I try to but, I let myself  get caught up in the day to day and the things that frustrate me.  When we do our jobs to the best of our abilitiy and strive to exceed expectations of our employers people notice.  People notice when we offer to help even when something isn’t “our job.”  I need to do a better job in all of these things.  The more we let the word be our guide the brighter we will shine.  Lord help us to shine in a greater way. 

Thanks for joining me.

Gary Kauffman

I’m in charge

As men God has put us in charge of the home.  He has given us the responsibility of leading our families but sometimes we let the authority go to our head and don’t lead as we should.  We like the part of the Bible that tells our wives to submit to us but we leave it at that and go no further.  Eph. 5:22 says, ”Wives submit to your husband as to the Lord.  The husband is the head of the wife as the Christ is the head of the church.”  That sounds really good to us.  The verse before that and several after that should put a halt to any over confidence on our part.  We are told to submit to each other other out of reverence for Christ.  After that the husband is told to love his wife as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her, to make her holy cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.  So, even though God has given us the authority to lead our family, that comes with much responsibility.  We are to lead by example.  We are to lead with humility and sacrificial love at the forefront of all we do.  Thank you, father for trusting us.  Help us to be faithful.

Thanks for joining me.

Gary Kauffman

Why me

Many times we might say, “Why me”, in response to something that has happened to us.  We have all probably heard others say it as well.  I think we could say it in the opposite sense as well when God uses us.  Why me God.  It is amazing to me that God would use us.  We are cracked and flawed vessels and many times we don’t do the cause any justice because of our attitudes and actions.  Even with all that we do wrong he still uses us.  It is a part of his plan.  He has decided to let us be a part of this great plan he laid out before the creation of the world.  “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God might be made know to the rulers and authorities, in the heavenly realm, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Ephesians  3:10-11.  So I say again, “Why Me”?  Because he chose me.  Thank you Lord.

Thanks for joining me.

Gary Kauffman

God is everywhere

It is amazing as I look around and notice all the things around us how amazing they actually are.  I went on a hike with my son and our Cub Scout troop.  We went to a state park.  It was a big outing for scouts throughout the area.  I never really been that big into hiking or camping since I’ve been an adult.  Since my son is in the Scouts and we have been doing different things like this, I’ve really gotten excited about it agian.  Being out in  woods surrounded by all the beauty God made for us to enjoy seems like a great idea.  As exciting as that sounds, we don’t have to go to the middle of the woods to be near him.  We can experience him any where, because wherever we go he is there.  It is a wonderful thing and also a sobering thing.  It is wonderful because we can know that he is with us and watching over us at every turn in life.  It is sobering because we should also understand that we cannot hide anything from him.  He is not fooled by anything.  Do not be deceived God cannot be mocked.  In every event and turn God is there.  What is he seeing in your life.  Is it  a life spent seeking and glorifying him or is it a life lived for self.  He is there wating for you will you meet him today and get to know the one who knows you better than you know yourself.  The one who loves you more completely than you will every know.

Thanks, for joinging me.

Revgk