Gregory T. Jacobs
 
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Have you ever been stumped on where to go for Vacation?  I am currently there.  I LOVE VACATIONS.... I am a planner, so therefore to be sitting in January and not having the whole year planned out, is unusual for me.  When I say I am a planner, I mean that any vacation trip that my family embarks on, I have a 3 ring binder typed up and ready to go.  It might include print-outs of restaurants, thing to do, water temps., etc...

This is more a cry for help, then it is a challenging Blog.  I am interested in hearing where others go for Vacation.  I grew up going to Ludington, Michigan almost every year for vacation.  My wife grew up going to a different location every year.  I am not a huge fan of LONG drives with the 3 kiddos (more than 10 hours), and don't want to pay for airfare.  I am contemplating taking the family to Washington D.C. this June.  I have also heard of Kiawah Island in SC. 

Share with me your favorite vacation destination.  If you have website addresses, make sure to include them as well...
 
 
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I have a confession, I do not know much about certain sports.  Don't get me wrong, I love outdoor sporting events, such as Hunting, Fishing, Target Shooting, Back-Packing, etc.  I just have never really gotten into following Basketball, Baseball, or Football on tv.  When I was sitting at church on Sunday, Andy McDonald said something that I had never heard before.  It was not so profound that it significantly changed my theological acuteness.  No, it didn't even bring me to the point of self-awareness in God's Grace.  It did however put a face on God's Church like I have never thought of before. 

Andy flashed a picture of some football players up on the screen.  He said that at a football game, the only people that looked like they could use some rest were the 22 men on the field playing.  Otherwise, the other 40,000+ looked like they could use some exercise.  It really hit me.  This is the way that it feels in churches, business, and society overall.  You have 10% of the people doing 90% of the work.  Now before you go getting all critical about this banker not knowing his math, I am fully aware that 22 is not 10% of 40,000.  You understand my point though.  In this New Year set before us, how will God use you in Leadership?  The how part is not quite as important as your availability.  Are you available to be used by God this year?
 
 
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According to Websters Dictionary, they define Epitaph as the following:
1 : an inscription on or at a tomb or a grave in memory of the one buried there
2 : a brief statement commemorating or epitomizing a deceased person or something past

I have to admit, this is not something that we traditionally like to think about.   I happen to be of a minority class of people.  It is not because I am a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant that is 6'6" and weighs over 300 pounds.  Yes, all that is true, but is more in line with the fact that since I was a youth I have enjoyed cemeteries.  No, it is not a weird ghoulish reason that has anything to do with a fascination of the dead, but rather the history of the past. 

This last week, my pastor and I (Steve Rice) went on a roadtrip to Frankfort.  By the way, Steve also writes a great Blog at www.stephencraigrice.com  We were going to lunch and decided to kill a few minutes and drive around Frankfort, KY.  If  you have ever been there, you know the State Capitol sits down in a valley alongside the Kentucky River, but on the bluff overlooking the city is an old cemetery.  Steve had never been to the Frankfort Cemetery, so I decided to go show him where Daniel Boone and Paul Sawyier are buried.  While there, it reminded me of all of the different epitaph's I have seen on grave stones through the years.

If the Lord tarries and you are removed from this earth, what will your gravestone say?  Will it say that you always got your reports turned in on time, and faithfully attended church every time the doors were open?  Maybe it will say that you coached little league, and faithfully fulfilled the duties as Secretary of the Homeowners Association.  Will it say that you were a Good-Ole-Boy that always treated people with respect?  Although these are all good "Things" do they really speak to the Heart of a person?

Matthew 25:21 (ESV) says, "Well done, Good and Faithful Servant...Enter into the Joy of yourMaster."  This is what I want the Lord to say to me.  This is the Attaboy that I will receive in Confidence. 

What do you want said about You? 
 
 
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On Christmas Day a terrorist plot was foiled, after a Muslim extremist attempted to blow-up himself and his fellow passengers on a plane.  Since this time, we have heard the media talking about how "Peace-Loving" the Muslim Religion is, and that it is only a handful of Extremist that commit Jihad.  This is the same verbiage that was thrown around after 911.  It got me thinking about my Faith and relationship with Jesus as a Christian. 

Let me make it very clear, I do not agree with Jihad, the Muslim faith, or the killing of innocent civilians.  My simple point is that it is easy to point the finger at other religions as extreme or radical, when in essence we are asleep at the wheel.  George Barna with The Bara Group, put out some research in 2003 about what it meant to be a Christian with a Biblical Worldview.  According to his research, less than 4% of adults have a Biblical Worldview  as the basis of their decision-making.  He says that the primary reason that pople do not act like Jesus, is because they do not think like Jesus.  Behavior stems from what we think-our attitudes, beliefs, values, and opinions. 

Of those 4% that had a Biblical Worldview, they were less likely to accept and partake in the following behaviors:

31 times less likely to accept cohabitation before marriage.
18 times less likely to endorse drunkeness.
15 times less likely to condone gay sex.
12 times less likely to accept profanity.
11 times less likely to describe adultery as morally acceptable.
Less than one-half of one percent of those with a Biblical Workdview said voluntary exposure to Pornography was morally acceptable.  Around the same percentage did not support Abortion.

If we have ove 85% of Americans saying that they believe in "A God" then my question is "What god are they worshipping?  The numbers speak for themselves.  I have you know, that I am proud to be called a Radical Extremist in the Eyes of God.  The difference between me being an Extremist versus a Muslim, is that I believe in a God of Peace that is Loving and Forgiving and wanting all to come to Him.  However, I also realize that He is a Jealous God with Righteous Indignation.  He does not wish that any should perish.  I choose to stand up and FIGHT against the things of this world that so easily entrap us. 

I am a part of that minority of 4% of adults that call themselves Radically in Love with God.  I am so Extreme in my walk with God, that I am willing to stand apart from the fray and not succumb to the peer pressures of this world. 

Will you take a stand with me, to be a minority called out from the Complacent?
 
 
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Well, after not writing a Blog since the day before Christmas, I feel like I am working to get back in the swing of things.  Although I was back to work last Wednesday and Thursday, I feel like I have a mountain of work piling up on my To-Do-List in order to start January off running.  I am acutely aware of my surroundings and all that is about to happen.  This is the time of year that Nutrisystem is advertised strongly, as well as various at-home work-out machines.  Everybody has on their minds one thing: "What am I going to do differently in 2010?" 

For years I have said that I hate New Years Resolutions.  I hate when I hear of people that are starting new fad diets, as 9 times out of 10 they don't result in a lifestyle change.  I get perturbed of hearing of people going on the patch or chewing gum in order to stop smoking.  Still others swear that they will spend more time with their children, and less time watching tv.  Why is is that I get so frustrated about these things, and turn into a pessimist?  Because, as Americans we have forgotten what our WORD means, and to follow-through on something that we commit to.

Don't get me wrong, I am the same way.  I have taken on many a task in life, that I have not followed through with.  We all have To-Do lists around the house or a work that seems to get carried over from day to day.  The question that I raise for you is: "Are you willing to commit to changes in your life?"  Quitting smoking, dieting, spending time with the kids, reading your Bible, etc... are all Great and Noble tasks.  The challenge is that we need to follow-through on our committments.  Don't just say you are going to do something because you have good intentions, but rather make it a practice in your life.  Not because somebody else told you to, but rather because you know that you NEED IT. 

James 1:22 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible.  It says  "Be DOERS of the Word, and not HEARERS only."  It is easy to sit back and make plans, but implementing them is a whole seperate matter.  I do intend to eat less, walk more, and grow closer in  my relationship with God and others.  To just say so for 2010 does not make it happen.  I intend to brush my teeth and floss by 8:00p.m. every night, so as not to gorge myself before bed time.  I am going to walk my Golden Retriever, Jasmine, around my subdivision every night in order to enhance our fight against lethargy.  It is all about being deliberate and specific with your goals.

What committments have you made for 2010, and what plan have  you put in place to make it a lifestyle change???
 
 
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Have you ever heard your kids say, "I am Bored."  With as many toys as we have today, it is still possible to get bored.  Whether kids have a Wii, XBox, etc. they will still have more fun outside with sticks and rocks then all the toys you can throw at them.  At least my boys are that way.  They enjoy playing outside with their friends, but from time to time, they get bored.  I have to admit, I also do the same thing.  I tend to let myself be entertained by vegging in front of the tv.

When I look back on my childhood, I didn't watch much tv.  Sure I would catch the occasional Chips and Airwolf when they aired, but for the most part, I was out building deer stands.  I loved working with my hands and staying challenged.  The older I get, the less active I get.  Shouldn't it be the other way around?  Shouldn't we become more active and desire to stay in shape the older that we get.  I have often thought that we live life backwards.  It makes no sense to me how we work all of our lives, then just have a few years to retire.  I think that we should go straight from college into retirement.  Then we can work the last few years of our lives.  I want to be able to enjoy life as I journey through it.

Since retirement at age 35 is not feasible and possible, then I guess I had better overcome boredom when it sets in and enjoy life.  Facebook and Blogs won't give me back time that I could have spent with my wife and children.  I hate when people tell me that they have a New Years resolution.  It usually implies that they will do something different in January, then they forget about it.  Some will attempt to get in shape in 2010, or maybe quit smoking.  I intend to spend every waking minute that I have being as involved with my family as I possibly can.  After all, if life throws a curve ball at me, I want to be in shape in order to dodge that ball.  Stay Active... 
 
 
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For many people, this is a fun and enjoyable time of the year.  They get to go home for Christmas and New Years and spend time with their loved ones.  They dress up in comfortable warm clothes, snuggle around the fire, and sing Christmas Carols while the fireplace crackles.  There is eggnog and cookies in the shape of spruce trees, and misteltoe hangs from door frames while the lights twinkle outside.  There are special services at church and wardrobes just waiting to adorn all the little ones.  Have  you ever wondered if everybody experiences this?

The blatant answer is NO.  Not everbody has such an adorable, fun-filled, happy-laced, experience the last two weeks of the year.  It is no secret that domestic disputes increase during the Holidays, as do thoughts of divorce.  Many people struggle with Rejection in life from their childhood and upbringing.  Those same people tend to bring it into marriage and their adult years as well.  For many, Christmas time comes and SMACK dab hits them in the face, as if it was a rogue snowball tossed out of no where.

I have several friends that have gotten divorced this year.  Do you think that Christmas will be enjoyable for them?  Probably not.  It evokes emotions like never before.  Many will long and hunger for brighter times in their lives.

I have several friends that have lost loved ones this year.  Do you think that Christmas will be enjoyable for them?  Probably not.  They will be reminded of what WAS and not IS.  It is hard not to yearn for having things back the way they were prior to losing a loved one.   All of the good memories from the past flash before their eyes. 

Many people did not experience a very good childhood.  Some were beaten, abused, and neglected.  The Holiday's tend to dredge up bad memories from the past, that they would rather leave buried somewhere in the depths of their mind. 

Just because retail marketers tell you that it is a Happy-Joyous occasion, does not mean that it is to all.  I challenge each one of you (myself included) to be sensitive to others lives and what they might be experiencing.  They more than likely are not going to come out and tell you that they are stuggling with being filled with joy this season, but you might be quick to call them a "Scrooge" or "Bah Humbug."  Let's try drilling down a little deeper with others emotions this Christmas season, and show them the Grace and Mercy that Christ portrayed to us...
 
Mourn No More... 12/22/2009
 
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As I type this Blog, I mourn as a friend of the family just passed away with cancer.  She was 37 years old, and left behind a loving husband and two beautiful boys.  Why do bad things like this happen to good people?  There is no answer for this.  We understand and acknowledge the curse of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden.  We understand that there will be heartache and sorrow until our Lord returns, but does it make it any easier to grasp?  Absolutely not.   Last year my wifes aunt departed from this earth at the age of 49 as she lost her battle with cancer.  

What is Grief?  According to Websters, it is defined as a "Deep and poignant distress caused by or as if by bereavement, or a cause of such suffering."  We suffer and grieve in life!   That is the simple fact, but not easy to grasp or understand.  I am not sure that we are built to understand or know grief, yet we are surrounded by it.  It was obviously not God's plan in the Garden that Grief would be a part of the process of life.  Now it is.  

Isaiah 35:10 (ESV) says, "And the ransomed of the LORD shall return  and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." 

Revelation 21:4 (ESV) says,"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

I don't know about you, but I am ready to Mourn No More.  I am so worn out and tired of seeing hurting people that are so distraught with heartache and pain.  The one thing that lifts me up, is when I see Believers in Jesus Christ, that allow their testimony to be used for the good of others.  This family friend not only fought the good fight, but she finished the race with Pride in her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  To imagine the seeds of hope that she planted in the hearts of nurses, doctors, and friends is almost unimaginable.

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, although it is not easy to understand why bad things happen to good people, we know that we have to have faith in you.  We know that You long for the day to wipe the tears from our eyes, and replace sorrow and mourning with JOY.  So even though we can't comprehend everything at this point, it is our prayer that you fill us so full of your Holy Spirit's power in order to be our Guide through this life.  We ask all of this in Jesus' mighty name.  AMEN!"

 
 
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Trust is a finicky thing.  Some say trust has to be earned, yet others say that trust is a decision.  This brings up a good point as to what is one of life's foundational beliefs.  Do I have to have faith that the air that I breathe is going to provide life to my lungs, or do I just put the act of inhaling and exhaling into motion.  Trust is sometimes substituted in peoples conversations and thought patterns as synonomous with Faith. 

If I trust somebody that is holding a belay line while I am rappelling down a mountain face, then I am putting my life in their hands.  Obviously, I trust them with my life.  If I board an airplane to fly to Florida, then I also am trusting the airline pilot with my life.  Each of these acts can be one time events for me that do not require earning trust.  The moment of decision is instantaneously made when I decide to put my life in their hands.  I do not interview the pilot ahead of time to see how many hours he has flying a 737.  I also do not request the same pilot the next time I fly.  So if this is the case, then how is trust lost, and can it only be gained back through the other party earning it?

I was talking with somebody today who shared how their spouse had had an affair.  She said that she didn't trust him, and that it might take a lifetime to "Earn" his trust back.  I am 100% against divorce, but it is no wonder in our society that we have such a high rate of infidelity and divorces.  Once the act of losing trust is lost, then people are not willing to do what it takes to get that trust back.  Please understand that I am not saying that infidelity is the only way to lose trust.  I have known people that have run up credit cards behind their spouses back without them knowing.  Others have had gambling addictions, golf obsessions, etc... 

The question that arises is simple.  Is Trust a decision or something that you have to Earn.  Isaiah 26:4 says, "Trust in the LORD forever,  for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock."  Man will fail you, but God is a solid rock.  Houses fall, but God remains standing.  If I can't earn God's Grace, but rather I have to accept it as a free gift through Faith, then shouldn't Trust be the same way in our lives?
 
 
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How many times have we seen God's creation manifested to us?  Every Single Day!!!  It does not take a rocket scientist to see God's creation in everything around us and in everything that we do.   With that being said, how many of us have fallen in love with God's creation, rather than the creator.  At first glance, it might appear that I am talking about relationships with fellow humans.  That might be the case, but what do you adore in life that you elevate above Christ? 

Many people worship their material possessions, work, and everything that they feel they have "earned."  The truth is that it is just wood, hay, and stubble that can be burned up at any moment.  God made us for one sole purpose, and that is to worship Him.  We get so bogged down with our toys in life, that we forget what is important, and that is our relationship with our Creator.  Because He can not be seen or physically touched, we tend to fulfill ourselves with things that can and will give us instant gratification. 

Romans 1:25 says, "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised."  Are you guilty of this as well?

It is very easy to put things above God.  It is far easier to come home and watch tv, rather than spend time with my family that He also created.  It is easier for me to go hunting and fishing on the weekends, then to go worship with other believers in a house of worship.  It is easier for men to talk about the weather and sports when they get together, then to talk about what God is doing in their lives.  I challenge you to evaluate your life and who you are in love with.

Are you in love with God's creation, or The Creator Himself???