I'm Not Sure, but....

I think I may be seeing signs that the rapture is getting pretty close

Review: This is Your Brain on Joy

As most of you know, we have had a very trying year with all that we faced with our little Michael Z, our oldest daughter getting married, our son-in-law going into the Air Force, and then our daughter moving to Mississippi to be with her husband. I recieved this book to review right in the midst of this "stormy" time in my life. For this reason, along with several others, I sat down to read Dr. Henslin's book with anticipation for help.

As I began to read, however, I found myself to be extremely disappointed. The book, at points, was rather cumbersome. I was not finding the guided help that I was looking for at the time. I found some of the sections to be rather dull and laborious to understan which to me made the book a boring read. Most of the time when I find myself bored with a book I stop reading, but with all I was facing and with searching for answers I pressed on hoping to gain some insight on joy and pain, but to no avail.

Moreover, I found the frequent, and forced references to Dr. Amen, his research, and his available resources to be out of place and irritating. In some places the references were so many that I felt as if I were reading the script for a late night infomercial. "I got all of this joy from my tiny one bedroom apartment, and you can too!"

Dr. Henslin and I disagree on the source of joy. He feels that people don't experience joy because of a sick brain. He is a Dr. and he is looking for a physical problem, however, there are lots of physical ailments that can be caused by things other than the physical. Man is created in the image of God and is created with three parts, body, soul, and spirit, so it goes to say that not everything in a persons life is to be looked at from the physical side. The Apostle Paul said it best in his letter to the Ephesians; For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph 6:12) In the past six months, I myself have experienced stress which have caused physical ailments. Did that steal my joy? No because that is not seated in my brain... it is seated in my heart.

I think many times an author will throw in or "seed" their work with Scripture references just to market their work to a different demographic. As for me, if you looking for encouragement and ways to feel more joy in your life, do what I and most other Christians fail to do most of the time when we are facing challenging circumstances and pick up your Bible.

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Six Months in Glory

It was six months ago yesterday that our little fighter, Michael Z, discovered the glories of Heaven. Some days are harder than others and I go throught the full range of emotions each day: anger, grief, sorrow, pain, comfort, and joy. We have been waiting for Michael's stone to be placed for several months now and I think it was fitting that it was placed yesterday on his six month homegoing.

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How Big is Your God?

I recently read about a lecture in which John Stott told the story of visiting a tiny church in rural England while on a study leave. He worshipped with them every Sunday, participated in their fellowship, and heard their discussions. He related his dismay when week after week, the pastor would preach about issues facing the village, pray about concerns in the church, and discuss decisions related only to their congregation. “I came to the conclusion,” Stott observed, “that these people worship a village God.”

My question to you is, "How big is your God?" I think a lot of the time we are guilty of putting God in a box or creating an image of God in our minds that doesn't compare to wonder, power, and glory of the true God.

Once we take hold and gain some understanding of the sovereignty of God, His omniscience, His omnipotence, and His omnipresence, we can see and know more than just a village God.

Book Review: The Noticer by Andy Andrews

As most of you know we buried our son, Michael, last Friday morning. I am not really in the right frame of mind for writing a book review, but because I made the commitment to write this review today, I am writing it.

This is the first book written by Andy Andrews that I have had the opportunity to read. The Noticer is part auto-biographical, part fiction, and all inspiring. It is the story of “Jones,” a mysterious old man who has a way of showing up at just the right time in people’s lives. He notices things, a lot of things that they miss and a lot of things they take for granted. His favorite thing to give them in their time of need is perspective.


I like to read with a pen in hand and make notes and observations. As you go through the book you will notice several things "Jones" says to different people dealing with different things in their lives. Here are a few examples:

* “Remember, what you focus on increases.”
* “It’s time to stop letting your history control your destiny.”
* “People are either in a crisis, coming out of one, or headed for one.”
* “Worry is just imagination used in an unproductive way.”
* “Wisdom is the ability to see the future consequences of our choices.”
* “It takes wisdom to discern that oh-so-thin line between good and best.”
* “Many of life’s treasures remain hidden because we never search for them.”
* “If you are still here, then you have not completed your life’s purpose.”
* “Big stuff is made up of small stuff, so you better sweat the small stuff!”
* “We often judge ourselves by our intentions but others by their actions.”
* “If you want folks to believe in you, then it really helps if they like you.”
* “In desperate times, much more than anything else, folks need perspective.”

Now, I know that if you read a lot of books like I do then none of these sayings are new to you, but Mr. Andrews has a way of telling them that keeps the reader interested until the end.

The reader should take caution in what the book might offer as motivation for addressing certain problems. The book is not written from a theological stand point and there is very little said about God, other than general references. And practically nothing written about Christ. The motivation for change should be to serve others not yourself. Of course, the ultimate motivation and ability ability to change comes from Jesus. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(2Co 5:17)


I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed in the ending. The 'suitcase' offered no answer. (Read the book.) It just wasn't there. However, the book is an enjoyable read. So, if you're looking for a book that will help you see yourself from an outside perspective; and help re-think some areas of your life, this book offers some perspective in that area.

Celebrating the Life of Michael Z

We will be celebrating the tremendous life of Michael Z tomorrow night from 6-8 p.m. at Henderson and Sons Funeral Home.

We just stand amazed in all that God has allowed to be done through the life of our precious little man. We may never realize the total impact that his life has made this side of eternity, but will see the complete and perfect plan fulfilled in Heaven one day.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
(2Co 4:8-12)