Dear Lord...Please Give Me Patience

So, have you ever had one of those "customer service" experiences that just wanted to make you explode? My friends at ATandT had me continually praying for patience recently and in the end the experience just made me aggravated more.

Here we go...So the time has come that my youngest daughter needs a cell phone. No problem, the nice woman at ATandT (our wireless phone carrier) tells us, "No problem!", "Free phone!" and "your bill will only go up $10.00 per month." OK we can live with that...then we indicated we wished we could get Internet service without having home phone service because we are tired of paying for a land line we never use..the nice woman at ATandT then states "No problem! You can cancel your home land line and still get the Internet, but the Internet service will increase by $4.00 per month. Would you like to make that change now?"...."errr no we need to think about it and let people know we will no longer have the home phone number in service". TRUST ME I SHOULD OF SAID YES RIGHT THEN AND THERE...

A few days go by and we decide that we are going to disconnect the home phone service, keep the Internet service, add a cell phone for my daughter and our net savings per month will be $60.00 to $70.00. Time to look up the ATandT Customer Service number and make this switch...

After waiting on hold for a Customer Service Representative for 30 minutes (Dear Lord please give me patience, I know they are busy, but so am I, please keep be calm this will be over soon) I finally get to speak to a nice man (or so I thought).

"Thank you for calling ATandT would you like to sign-up for ATandT U Verse TV?" Again with the U Verse TV..."No thank you, as I have told the people who have knocked on my door three times, sent me an unbelievable amount of emails, snail mail and phone calls...No, I do not want U Verse TV". (The ATandT people knock more then Jehovah Witness!). As I told the nice man, I do not have any plans to switch now, nor in the future. "So how can I help you today?" replied the seemingly nice man. "We have a land line, Internet and cell phones with you and we want to cancel the land line but keep the Internet service and cell phones. Here we go "OK, this process will take 10 to 15 minutes to complete, do you have the time now?"....Dear Lord, help me hang in there 10 to 15 minutes longer..."Sure, I have only been waiting 30 minutes to speak to you so what is another 10 to 15 minutes..."

"Are you sure you do not want to switch to ATandT U Verse?" stated the seemingly nice man..."WHY YES I AM SURE can we please continue on disconnecting the home phone line!" As I watch the clock tick off another 10 minutes as he brings up the computer to process my request. Then he states "OK the Internet service will go up $9.00 per month"..."Excuse me sir, the nice lady we spoke to a few days ago said that the increase would be $4.00...why are you telling me $9.00?" And the smoke and mirrors begin..."Well you will have to lease a new modem which is the additional monthly charge" Clock ticks another 5 minutes..."Why do I need a new modem to keep the same Internet service I currently have?" Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for this person..."Well you have to get a new modem when you get the U Verse Internet service" Please Lord, help me from the desire the reach through the phone and implement an attitude adjustment on this person..."I do not want U Verse TV or U Verse Internet...I just want what we have always had"

The nice man then tells me "OK I see" and another 10 minutes has past..."OK we have the home land line scheduled to be disconnected, you will be without the Internet for a few days while we ship you the new modem and on your next bill there will be a $149.99 charge for switching to U Verse Internet as we are phasing your area to U Verse"...Dear Lord, I have done well up to this point...may need a little help here to stay calm..."So you are not listening to me and now are telling me to keep Internet service with ATandT you want to charge me $149.99, make me get a new modem and increase my Internet cost by $9.00 per month?" He replies "Yes, if you want to keep the Internet that is what it takes."

"OK sir, here's the deal, put everything on hold, do not cancel our land line and give me a case number I can call back on. Leave everything as if I never called." I replied.

Upon getting home from work I begin checking out alternative Internet providers and find out our local cable company offers Internet regardless if you have their cable service. They offer free installation for the cable from the pole to your home, has a rebate on the modem which makes it free and offers a faster service then we currently have for $23.00 per month for 12 months. And to top it off I can everything in place in 1 day...pretty impressive. I get a name and tell them I will call them back after I call ATandT.

As I dread dialing the ATandT Customer Service number I wonder how much more time this is going to take. I am amazed when after one ring a very nice woman named Jessica answers...Thank you Lord! "How can I help you" she asked. Here we go again..."I want to cancel my home line and now Internet service please" Please Lord let this person help me..."Oh" she stated, I understand cancelling the home line, that's the right choice for many people, but why are you cancelling the Internet with us?." So I go through the whole ordeal of the morning and what took place with the man who I spoke with there and that I have now found an alternative Internet provider. "I am sorry" she states" "I have no idea why you were told you had to switch to U Verse Internet and no you do not, and you do not need to pay anything to keep the same Internet service you have. The Internet will increase by $4.00 and I can have your home line cancelled by the 29th"...Thank you Lord! "Also" she stated "I am going to increase you to the next level of Internet services which will give you greater speed and if you give me the OK I can combine your Internet bill and your cell phone bill together and give you a single invoice discount which wipes out most of the $4.00 increase for the Internet only service"... At this point I am thinking to myself "is this the same company? Is it a game being played that now that I was ready to cancel both the home phone and Internet that they are being nice?". Jessica then tells me she has no idea why the person earlier in the day told me I had to switch to U Verse Internet and pay $149 and she has noted who I spoke with, the problems I had and if I had any further problems that everything was now noted and I could feel free to call back...

So I greatly appreciated Jessica's help, and I am hoping everything goes as planned. I still wonder if the ATandT man was either trying to "pull one over on me" and being dishonest or if possibly he really had no idea what he was talking about...All I know is the Lord was with me as I did a remarkable job of staying calm through this incredible amount of wasted time. And no I do not want ATandT U Verse TV, Internet or anything else! I guess I needed to go through this exercise to work on my patience...but I am sure glad it is over...(please be over!)

Francis Chan Moving On From Cornerstone Church

Francis Chan announced to the Conerstone Church congregation last Sunday that he feels compelled that the Holy Spirit wants him to perform missionary work for a few months then begin preaching in a new city (he mentioned LA - 80% sure, Chicago, or NY). Francis indicated he will be preaching at Cornerstone until June, then complete numerous speaking appearances, and in July and August he and his family will be visiting numerous U.S. cities before leaving for a two month missionary trip as a family. Watch the video below for more information and you can download the announcement to the congregation via Itunes (title is Surrender).

Francis Chan is stepping out in faith... from Catalyst on Vimeo.

I Finally Agree With An Atheist..Arrest the Pope...

Atheist campaigner Richard Dawkins wants Pope Benedict XVI to be arrested during his state visit to Britain in September. Dawkins and atheist author Christopher Hitchens have approached human rights lawyers about whether the pontiff can be arrested over his alleged cover-up of child abuse by Catholic priests.

Is it just me or do you think the Pope and the whole Vatican could star in the next "Do you want to get away?" commercial?
Without trying to offend my Catholic friends, when does one say enough is enough? The Pope is a man, just like you and me and "The Best of Men, are Men at Best".

I can honestly state that I never thought I would ever hear myself saying "I agree with an atheist. But in this case I agree something needs to be done with the problems facing the Pope and the Vatican.

I recently in the mail received a "Catholic Blessing Prayer" from an "unknown" person (who must know me if they knew my address) with the prayer being for blaspheme as they must have been offended by something I had posted on this blog. I found it humorous that the "unknown" person felt so strong about their Catholic beliefs that they could not sign their name to a note or on the outside of the envelope. I hope this time the person contacts me so we may discuss each views and come to a better understanding of each beliefs if this posting upsets them.

I do not believe the Catholic church should have immunity for any crimes it commits and any person committing a crime or aiding in the cover up of a crime, or refusing to remove known offenders and report them to the proper authorities should be treated no different than you or I. There are many things I disagree with with the Catholic church which I will refrain from discussing at this time but again, yes all men (and women) are sinners, including the Pope and the Vatican but when is enough going to be enough? Go to www.cnn.com and search "Pope" or "Vatican" and just view the headlines the results produce. If I was Catholic I cannot say I would be very proud right now and for those who say "I am Catholic because I was raised Catholic' that really would not mean a lot to me. Read God's Word, take nothing someone preaches at face value, use your mind, and decide for yourself if what you are being told is correct based on what God has spoken to us through the Bible.

I think we all need to pray that one day there is one true church and all the questions and different viewpoints come together. We need to pray for the victims of past offenses, pray that they will end, and pray that the Bible is our sole source for understanding Scripture and salvation. While Dawkins and Hitchens are seeking judgement here on earth for the Pope, I think it will be an interesting discussion when the real judgement day comes - God's judgement.

You can read the full article regarding Dawkins and Hitchens desire to have the Pope arrested here:

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100412/dawkins-hitchens-want-pope-arrested/index.html

Thank God For Your Thorns

A relative emailed this to me so I thought I would share:

Sandra felt as low as the heels of her shoes when she pulled open the florist shop door, against a November gust of wind. Her life had been as sweet as a spring breeze and then, in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a "minor" automobile accident stole her joy .

This was Thanksgiving week and the time she should have delivered their infant son. She grieved over their loss.

Troubles had multiplied.

Her husband's company "threatened" to transfer his job to a new location. Her sister had called to say that she could not come for her long awaited holiday visit. What's worse, Sandra 's friend suggested that Sandra 's grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. "She has no idea what I'm feeling," thought Sandra with a shudder "Thanksgiving? Thankful for what?" she wondered.. "For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended me? For an airbag that saved my life, but took my child's?"

"Good afternoon, can I help you?"

Sandra was startled by the approach of the shop clerk. "I . . . I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra . "For Thanksgiving? I'm convinced that flowers tell stories, " she continued.. "Are you looking for something that conveys 'gratitude' this Thanksgiving?"

"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong."

Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you."

Then the bell on the door rang, and the clerk greeted the new customer....

"Hi, Barbara, let me get your order." She excused herself and walked back to a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and what appeared to be long-stemmed thorny roses. Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly s nipped:
there were no flowers.

"Do you want these in a box?" asked the clerk. Sandra watched - was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed..

"Yes, please," Barbara replied with an appreciative smile. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again," she said, as she gently tapped her chest.

Sandra stammered, "Ah, that lady just left with . . . uh . . . she left with no flowers!"

"That's right," said the clerk. "I cut off the flowers. That's the 'Special'. I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet. Barbara came into the shop three years ago, feeling much as you do today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had just lost her father; the family business was failing; her son had gotten into drugs; and she was facing major surgery. That same year I had lost my husband," continued the clerk. "For the first time in my life, I had to spend the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too much debt to allow any travel."

"So what did you do?" asked Sandra .

"I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for the good things in my life and I never questioned Him why those good things happened to me, but when the bad stuff hit, I cried out, 'Why? Why me?!' It took time for me to learn that the dark times are important to our faith! I have always enjoyed the 'flowers' of my life, but it took the thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort! You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."

Sandra sucked in her breath, as she thought about what her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God."

Just then someone else walked in the shop.
"Hey, Phil!" the clerk greeted the balding, rotund man.

"My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving arrangement . . twelve thorny, long-stemmed stems!" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator.

"Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind telling me why she wants a bouquet that looks like that?"

"Four years ago, my wife and I nearly divorced," Phil replied. "After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we trudged through problem after problem, the Lord rescued our marriage. Jenny here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she had learned from "thorny" times. That was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem" and give thanks for what that problem taught us."

As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra , "I highly recommend the Special!"

"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life" Sandra said to the clerk. "It's all too. fresh."

"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that the thorns make the roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember that it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love....Don't resent the thorns."

Tears rolled down Sandra 's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on her resentment. "I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out.

"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute."

"Thank you. What do I owe you?"

"Nothing. Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart...The first year's arrangement is always on me."

The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra . "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you would like to read it first."

It read: "My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant."

Praise Him for the roses; thank Him for the thorns.

God Bless all of you. Be thankful for all that the Lord does for you.

"Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God."

We often try to fix problems with WD-40 and Duct tape.

God did it with nails.

Letters to God

Letters to God is a story of laughter, love and triumph. Most of all it is a saga of hope-in all circumstances-the kind of good hope that is found in simple, childlike friendship with God. I finished reading the novel Letters to God by Patrick Doughtie and John Perry based on a true story and the movie which opens tomorrow.

If the movie is as half as good as the book was, it will be a success (and I am sure the movie will be as good or better than the book). The book made you laugh, smile, and brought a tear to your eye as you become part of Tyler's life. Tyler is your everyday kid, playing soccer and enjoying his friendship with Sam (Samantha) who happens to be a girl. Tyler states "She's my best "like a guy" friend. An actual friend who happens to be a girl." Then headaches begin and vomiting follows and Tyler's mom knows something is wrong. Just getting over a different tragey, Tyler's family feel like they are at the breaking point, and Tyler's mom and brother begin to wonder how God could let this happened.

Tyler's grandmother (Granna)keeps praying and holding the family together. Tyler's dad used to write letters to God, so Tyler decides he wants to write letters to God
also.

With each letter Tyler writes he becomes closer to God, and he has no idea that the mailman has kept all his letters and how they will be used to touch so many lifes including the mailman's.

Tyler was a courageous, special young boy who touched many people, and his story is a special one. I encourage you to see the movie or read the book.

To learn more about Letters to god visit http://www.letterstogodthemovie.com/

How to Make a God

This week I asked a friend how his Easter was and he replied "Well I din't make it to church, was over at mom's and then went and worked on the baseball fields all day." He coaches baseball in the summer and as you can probably tell is very passionate about it. It saddened me to hear he did not go to church on Easter. Everytime I think he has began to desire a true relationship with our Lord and Savior, he takes a step back. That being stated, I continue to pray that one day when God knocks he will truly answer.

Our conversation reminded me of Tim Keller's book Counterfeit Gods - The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope That Matters.

In his book Tim Keller writes:

What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.

A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life , should you lose it , your life would hardly be worth living.An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought.

Do you have counterfeit gods in your life? If so I recommend reading Tim Keller's book.

Free MP3 of the Week from GMC

Download Karen Peck & New River's "Why Can't All God's Children Get Along?", Dove-nominated for Song of the Year

http://www.gmclife.com/news/insider/download-week-new-river

Walk in the Word Bus Tour Live Podcast

Have you heard about the Walk in the Work Bus Tour?

Don't worry if it is not coming to a city near you, they are coming right to your home.

Join James MacDonald on April 10 at 7:00p.m. EDT for an evening of live worship and teaching—all from the comfort of home.

The live web broadcast is simple and free. Click title bar for more details.

James MacDonald will be tackling the tough question, “Why Trials?”. So grab your Bible and invite your friends for a Walk in the Word experience you won’t want to miss.

Downpour by James MacDonald

In his book, James Macdonald writes, “Like me, maybe you’ve experienced some parched days in your relationship with God. Maybe you’ve had seasons where time alone with God was empty and dry. You – yes you-can have a fresh downpour of God’s grace and mercy upon your life. The hands that hold this book can feel a fresh surge of energy to labor for our King. The eyes that see these pages can gaze in renewed wonder and awe upon the God who loves you. The heart beating within your chest this moment can pulse with renewed joy given by God in response to the choices you make and the actions you take. Honest! God is not reluctant; He is ready and willing.”

One of the privileges I have at the church I am a member of, is to serve as an usher at the evening service. I enjoy serving God and I enjoy the ability to meet the people attending the service. One of the persons I speak to on a regular basis always asks me “What have you read this week?” and I have began sharing some of my books for her to read. I always get the question “What did you think about this book…or can you recommend a book for a friend about…” A few Sunday’s back she arrived a little early and asked me what I thought of a book and I answered “It really depends on where a person is at in their walk with God on if they will think it is a good book or not.” She thought about it for a moment, and said “You know you are right, I never thought it that way.”

I always find it hard to recommend books, because a book that may have a dramatic impact on one person may or may not be deep enough for another person. Or it may be too deep and the person may not be ready for it. When recommending a book to someone I have been trying to give an overview of the book, the topics and if it was an “easy” or “difficult” read. With that in mind, last week I read Jame’s MacDonald’s book Downpour - He Will Come To Us Like The Rain – God’s Best When you Need Him The Most.

If your walk seems stagnate or you know someone who has drifted away from Christ, or maybe you know someone who indicates they are a believer but really do not feel the Holy Spirit in them or feel they do not have a "real" relationship with God, then this book may be a good recommendation for them.

The book is written as many of Jame’s MacDonald’s other books are – biblically sound and written in a very easy, almost conversational, type writing. Those who read a lot and those who do not will find this book very easy to understand and be able to put into practice many of the topics covered.

The book covers personal revival, true repentance, identifying things we may need help with, and how do we know the Holy Spirit has filled us? One of the interesting aspects of this book is Pictures of Personal Revival From History – a one page recount of major personal revivals in each chapter. At the end of each chapter you will find Activate, Elevate, and Replicate sections to help the reader look deeper inside themselves.

If you are “dry” spiritually “Downpour” may be the book for you. I felt it was time well spent.

James MacDonald is the founding and senior pastor for Harvest Bible Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He is also the Bible teacher on Walk in the Word, heard daily on over 650 radio stations across North America, seeking to “ignite passion in the people of God through the proclamation of truth.” Previous books by Dr. MacDonald include Gripped by the Greatness of God, God Wrote A Book, Lord Change My Attitude (Before It’s Too Late), and I Really Want To Change …So Help Me God.

Hey Kids, It's Not About a Bunny

Hey kids, it's not about a bunny...no Peter Cottontail hopping down the bunny trail...no pound of chocolate in the shape of a bunny...no Easter eggs...that's not what Easter is about. A bunny was not nailed to a cross to die for us. At Easter and at Christmas I am amazed that people who do not believe in Jesus get all excited and celebrate. I asked a friend at Christmas time (who happens to be a Atheist) "If you do not believe in Jesus, what are you celebrating? Why are you buying gifts?". Now that it is Easter, many non-believers rush out to buy an Easter basket for little Tommy and tell them the Easter Bunny is coming!!! I guess this is another example of worshiping an idol (materialism) than God.

I hope they are also telling their children that Easter is the time that Jesus died on the cross providing a way for our sinful nature to be reconciled to God. And that the Holy Spirit is with us today. I hope they tell them that all believers will have eternal life and that Jesus is coming back, I hope they tell them why there is an Easter and I hope they tell them the true reason for Easter.

I hope they open a Bible and read for the first time, or re-read after a very long time the recount of the death of Jesus, what He endured, the promises we have and why we celebrate Easter. Here is some of Scripture I have reflected on with friends today.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Galatians 2: 20-21

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them by the cross.”

Colossians 2:15

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples off all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28: 18-20

As we reflect on the events of today and Resurrection Sunday, I wanted to wish you a joyous weekend. Take time to share the gospel with others and be thankful for the greatest gift we will ever receive.

They Follow In Our Footsteps

Watch this short video: