What Glenn Writes

This review is a revised version.  In an attempt to be somewhat edgy, my first run-through might have been over the top with a few points.  This one is toned down a little bit:

I went to see the Twilight sequel, New Moon, last night with my two daughters, son, and one of their friends.  I promised a review of the movie from a Christian perspective.

I don’t usually review movies, as I don’t usually catch the movies in the theaters (it’s just too expensive for a family to five to catch enough movies for me to qualify as a reviewer).  Instead, we wait three or four months and spend a few bucks to rent the DVD.  As a concerned parent, I find this easier to fast forward through any objectionable parts or stop watching the DVD altogether (somehow, it is easier to eject a $4.00 DVD rental in the middle of the movie than walk out on a $58.00 movie).

So, to further establish a basis for this review of New Moon from a Christian perspective, let me add that I take my role as a father seriously.  I believe God has given me a responsibility as a parent to be a good steward over my family; and as a leader in my church, God has given me a responsibility to be an overseer, a good steward with His Word, establish Scriptural understanding, and help apply Biblical principles to our lives. 

Disclaimer: I am not perfect, my understanding is not perfect, and I do not claim to possess all that is required to be a judge over others – so I try not to put myself in a judgment role.  God calls me to be an overseer, not a judge.  My responsibility is strictly with what the Lord has given me to be a steward, whether that is family, possessions, knowledge, or understanding. 

With this basis, I decided to weigh in on the Twilight/New Moon movie due to the comments and opinions being shared in Christian circles on the Internet and other places. 

To what many Christians may be objecting is the occult message of the vampire and werewolf lore.  This is taken directly from their statements, some whom object without even seeing the movie because they “…refuse to subject themselves to the occult message and glorification of evil.” 

The challenge I have with this whole situation is simple: the occult, by definition, means the knowledge of the hidden truths, which can be applied to so many purposes in our lives.  However, this word has grown to be understood as the knowledge of the paranormal, dark secrets, or other “non-conforming” belief systems.  Vampires and werewolves are, by definition, fiction.  The hidden truth about vampires and werewolves is they are make-believe, made-up, fictional, and do not exist.  Period.  Vampires and werewolves cannot represent the occult because there are no hidden truths about them, no underlying details, and no hidden meanings… they simply do not exist outside of fiction. 

Yes, we can recognize some Goth oriented people who may qualify as a vampire wanna-be, and I’m sure we can find some extremely hairy people who may lift their legs when they urinate, but pretending to be something fictional does not make it real.  It just makes it pretend. 

Vampires and werewolves are merely an instrument to tell a larger story, or elements in storytelling to convey a deeper meaning.  If the instrument is used to convey a dark meaning, or to glorify evil, then obviously we can form an opinion on the basis of the story, not the elements within the story.  I do not like watching movies where evil is glorified; I did not find Twilight or New Moon falling into that category.

In the case of the Twilight series, vampires and werewolves are the instrument to tell a story about romance.  Let’s rewind the movie scene by a couple of decades and compare Twilight or New Moon to Grease, another romance using nostalgia, music, and dancing to tell a story.  We are looking at two differing instruments to tell similar stories – and by the way, while I will let my children see Twilight and New Moon, Grease is still a few years in their future for them to handle some of the adult content.

On with the review: New Moon is nothing more than a chick flick on romance using vampires and werewolves to tell a story.  My son and I actually found parts of the movie a bit boring and slow paced; my daughters loved every emotional second.  The two hours and 15 minutes could have been cut down by about 30 minutes if the directors found a better way to convey Bella’s depression after Edward’s departure and build up Bella’s relationship with Jacob. 

My concern to the movie content would be how quickly Bella was ready to give up her soul for Edward, and how quickly she was able to fall into Jacob’s arms.  Again, these are both elements to tell a story, were good discussion fodder for afterward, and will continue to be in future conversations (this is where my daughters roll their eyes while reading this review).  While this movie is very direct in stating Bella is giving up her soul, this can be very symbolic to the way teens and adults give up their souls for worldly desires, such as careers, money, sex, drugs, alcohol, or other passions.  I can name off a few movies where teens gave up their souls for football, basketball, or other sports oriented causes, yet Christians rarely flagged these movies as being objectionable. 

I appreciated the scene where the vampires are debating whether Bella should be turned into a vampire and a few are suggesting such a soulless existence should not be put upon anyone.  Throughout the movie, Edward displays his true love for Bella by not want Bella to give up her soul.  These elements provide somewhat of a redeeming quality to the overall portrayal of the vampires… somewhat.  From the book series reviews, I find it unfortunate to learn Bella eventually becomes a vampire in the next sequel, but this in itself provides an example of how each of us are responsible for our life decisions. 

Bella’s obsession with Edward and Jacob bordered on the excessive, which is why the word obsession best describes her attraction.  While I recognize this is what attracts a majority of the female teen fans for the series, I would hope they acknowledge this as a fictional portrayal and not try to adapt these obsessions to real life relationships.  The kissing in the show was exactly what you would expect for a passionate kiss, and I was thankful nothing progressed beyond the kiss (opps, forgot about the hand holding scene, but we’ll just call that acceptable under the guidelines of PDA – public display of affection). 

The violence in the movie was limited to the bloodless execution of a vampire, a rushed killing of a vampire in the woods, and two werewolves fighting (talk about a classic dog fight).  The only blood I can recall seeing in the entire film was a paper-cut on Bella’s finger and a slice on her arm when she was pushed against a glass table.  I saw more gore on an advertisement against texting while driving. 

Since I did not read the series, I would have appreciated a little more explanation to the whole vampire/werewolf relationship Jacob eluded to so many times, especially the whole story Jacob asked Bella to remember from their walk on the beach (I forget if that in the first show?).  I finally figured out why Jacob and his buddies were walking around shirtless for most of the movie, the werewolves being the hot-blooded balance to the cold-blooded vampires (again, we find another element to attract the female teens, but no more than you would see at a public beach or pool).

From a Christian perspective, I found some objectionable material.  The same can be said of the Star Wars series (evil is portrayed, people are hurt, and a Wookie walks around naked).  Objectionable material can be found in just about any movie; even the Passion had critics. The Twilight and New Moon movies were not filled with gore, slasher type violence, overt evil, nudity, excessive passion, or glorified evil. So, this being stated from a Christian perspective, I am not going to the movies to teach my children the Gospel or to learn about salvation.  We went to be entertained, and with the exception of a few boring stretches, we were entertained. 

This is where those with opposing views will strike down my words with, “…do all things unto the Lord…”, “…live a life worthy of the Lord…”, “…seek first His kingdom and righteousness…”, “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable– if anything is excellent or praiseworthy– think about such things…”, and “…you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips…”.  This is where I may be accused of trying to have one foot in the Kingdom and one foot in the world, of being double-minded, or a conflicted Christian. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah, and I am learning what other people think of me is really none of my business.  We each have our perspective and opinions, we view things differently, and (currently) have the freedom to share those opinions.  I firmly embrace each of the above quoted Scriptures.  Again, I am not going to the movies to teach my children the Gospel or to learn about salvation.  We went to be entertained, and since evil was not glorified, the movie-making and story-telling was good, and the acting was excellent, we were entertained.

I understand why some people may be offended by the whole vampire and werewolf portrayal in the Twilight series and should not see the movies.  I respect their opinion and promise I will not suggest they see the show or pressure them in any way.  I expect the same in return. 

To sum up my review of New Moon from a Christian perspective, I can say I found the movie to be a pleasant surprise, entertaining, and a romantic drama targeting young adults and older.  I did not think evil was glorified and recognized the whole vampire/werewolf theme as a fictional element to telling a story of romance.  I hope the rest of the series continues to be made of the same standard of story-telling without dipping into violence, nudity, excessive passion, or glorifying evil. 

I give this movie a thumb and a half.

Are you tough enough to be a Christian?  Are you tough enough to state your opinions when other Christians may not agree with you?  Hmmm…   

Glenn Sasscer

www.glennsasscer.com
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Click here for Part 1 of 3 or here for Part 2 of 3.

In the first post of this series, we reviewed how the Lord directs us to establish symbols in our lives to remind our children of our faith and the second post talked about the consequences of our actions for the generations following us.  This is a legacy we leave for our children and descendants to inherit, a spiritual legacy or spiritual inheritance. 

The question is whether we will leave a curse or a blessing.  Even if we could live perfect lives and do nothing wrong, which we cannot, the curse of the generations is still passed down to us, then to our descendants.  There is only one singular way to break the chain: Jesus Christ.

You may have heard this a gazillion times before reading these words and have reason to reject these statements; I know I did the same thing a gazillion times before taking the time to examine the truth and make a decision for myself and for my family.  Do not make the same mistake I made in rejecting Jesus because of religion, church, or false preachers.

The truth is simple. The generational chain of sin is a curse upon us going back through each and every generation all the way back to Adam.  We find the basis of Adam’s curse on all mankind and the freedom given through Jesus Christ explained in Romans 5:19:

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one Man the many will be made righteous.

This is the anchor of truth we must establish in our families. This is our obligation to our children and to our descendents.  As His Word promises, He will show love to “a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.”  There is one person who is a key influence for your entire family and descendents:  You.

So what can you do?  At the end of my previous post, I suggested you follow me in a prayer.  This prayer is two-fold in acknowledging Jesus and seeking His guidance in this process.  As you think of ways to influence your family, consider what the Lord would have you establish for your family.  Each person is different, each family is different, and each anchor is different. 

Allow me to suggest a few I am using and believe to be effective:

1. I am establishing my own relationship with Jesus Christ that lasts throughout the week.  I believe it is important our children see our faith in action seven days a week, not just Sunday.
2. I am sharing the truth of salvation and God’s love with my family at every possible opportunity.  This is not always easy, nor is it convenient, yet it is obedient.  As I shared with you at the beginning, we are instructed in Deuteronomy 6:5-9:

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

3. I am praying for my children.  Prayer is powerful and effective, as we are told in James 5:16:

 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

4. I am providing a symbol for my children through different heirlooms or actions, such as my cross.  This is a reminder of my faith and encouraging for them in times of trials (see the first post, here). A symbol is nothing by itself, although with these other steps, a symbol becomes a powerful force in the face of adversity by sheer recognition and remembrance.  This is explained well in Deuteronomy 6:5-9 shown above. 

By these four steps, I am providing an anchor for my children in Jesus Christ.  While their relationship with Jesus will be their own and ultimately up to them, I am establishing a firm foundation for their beginnings.  For this investment of my time and effort, I am confident I will see the fruit of my labor in their lives.  Yet my obligation extends beyond them.  For this purpose, to confirm my own children and to release the blessings of God for a thousand generations, I have set aside one day a month for fasting, prayer, and journaling for my descendents.

One day a month, I fast for my children and descendents.  I believe this is putting aside my selfish and physical desires and becoming focused on my prayers.  During this one day fast, each time I feel a craving for food, I say a prayer for all of my descendents.  I have found the more strict I become in this fast, the greater my physical cravings become, and the more prayer is offered on behalf of my family. 

At the end of the day, I set aside time to pray for my family – that is, my children and their generations unceasing.  I have no set prayer, nor do I prepare in any way other than fasting throughout the day.  I begin by submitting to the Holy Spirit to guide me in my prayer for my family, my children, and my descendents. 

Following this prayer, I write in a set of journals specifically for the purpose to record any impressions given to me during the day or during my prayer.  My intent for these journals is to be record for my children and descendents.  These special journals are set-aside for this purpose, as an encouragement for my family generations to come.  

I encourage you to consider the methods of influence you may use to anchor your family in Jesus Christ.  This will take a decision on your part.  You must be purposeful in this decision. This is where your role of responsibility becomes pivotal for generations beyond your children.  As the world attempts to redefine the term “FAMILY”, we find the Lord’s definition begins with you, follows you, and is unceasing. 

I believe the Lord wanted me to share this teaching.  Please share this with those the Lord puts on your heart for this purpose.  Copy/paste.  Print and copy.  Whatever works best for you, please share this gift freely.

Hebrews 6:19-20:

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever…

I believe the same prayer we prayed in the second post is good for the ending of this series.  Would you join me?  Just read the prayer, say it to yourself, or say it verbally: 

“Lord Jesus, I may not understand all the concepts about generations and curses and blessings, and I may not understand all this stuff about sin, but I do understand freedom.  I don’t want to be chained to sin and I don’t want my children to be chained to sin.  I don’t want to be chained to a curse and I don’t want my children chained to a curse.  I don’t want to be part of a generational curse and I don’t want to pass any generational curse to my children.  Instead, I want freedom.  Help me to understand what this means, for me and for my family.  Lord, I have sinned; I ask You to forgive me, break the generational chain of sin in my life, and deliver me from the curse.  I ask You to show me how to anchor my family so they may see a blessing instead of a curse in their lives.  I ask this in Your name, Jesus.  Amen”

Are you tough enough to stand for your family?  Are you tough enough to be a Christian?  Are you tough enough to stand for your faith?   

Glenn Sasscer

www.glennsasscer.com
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Anchoring Your Family
Part 2 of 3

Click here for Part 1 of 3 or here for Part 3 of 3.

In part 1 of this series, we reviewed how the Lord establishes symbols to remind us (and our children) of our faith.  The key is understanding how the symbol is established.  You cannot establish a symbol without the foundation.

This is very similar to how a company establishes a logo or a brand.  The logo or brand name is nothing more than a symbol for the company.  If the company does not produce quality products, the symbol is meaningless.  A symbol of our faith without the faith working in our lives is also meaningless.  Our faith becomes the foundation for teaching our children about a relationship with God.  This is our responsibility as parents, whether our children are just a plan, newborn, or with children of their own.

The Lord does not limit our responsibilities to our children, nor can we.  In the Scripture, Deuteronomy 4:9, tells us our responsibility is,

“…to your children and to their children after them.” 

There is no generational barrier to relieve us from our accountability for our children, grandchildren, and other descendents.  What we do now has a great influence on our children, on their children, their grandchildren, and the countless generations beyond them.  The Spiritual Principles at work in this involve the generational chain, whereas we may pass to our descendents either a generational blessing or a generational curse.  These are serious principles. 

The Bible shows this in Exodus 20:5-6, when referring to pagan idols:

“You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

Can you imagine being the anchor to stir up God’s love in your descendents for a thousand generations?  This persuasion does not stop with your great-grandchildren’s great-grandchildren, which is only six generations, but extends to a thousand beyond your own.  Or, can you imagine bringing the curse of punishment to your grandchildren?

Ok, some of you are pooh-poohing this concept as Old Testament, outdated, or something that does not apply to you.  Like you, I find it very easy to reject something old fashion, especially if it seems outdated or not having a bearing in my life.  So, let’s take a look at a modern example of how this whole curse business works.

An example (and warning) is Joseph Kennedy, a man who influenced a nation while alive and was notorious in his business dealings.  He made his fortunes as a bootlegger with connections to organized crime, the government, and newspaper tycoons.  He had many affairs and left mysterious deaths surrounding his activities.  He played a critical role in his daughter Rosemary’s failed lobotomy, and used people for his purposes, which can be conpared to selfishness and greed.  This provided a great amount of wealth for his family, yet did his actions touch their lives in other ways? 

During World War II, Joseph Kennedy junior died in a plane crash, age 29.  Rosemary Kennedy was institutionalized from 1941 until her death in 2005 because of retardation and the effects of a failed lobotomy.  Kathleen Kennedy married William John Robert Cavendish, who was killed in World War II. She later died in a plane crash, age 28.  President John Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, age 46.  President Kennedy’s son Patrick was born prematurely in 1963 and died two days later, his daughter Arabella was stillborn in 1956.   Robert Kennedy was assassinated in June 1968, age 43.  Robert Kennedy’s son, Robert Jr. was found in possession of marijuana while a juvenile and heroin as an adult.  Robert Kennedy’s son, David died in 1984 of a drug overdose.  Robert Kennedy’s son, Joseph was involved in a 1973 car accident that left a female passenger paralyzed for life.  In 1969, Ted Kennedy drove a car off the Chappaquiddick Island bridge in Massachusetts, killing Mary Jo Kopechne. Edward Kennedy’s son, Edward Jr. had his right leg amputated in 1973 because of cancer.  Edward Kennedy’s nephew, William Kennedy Smith was accused of committing rape in 1991.   Michael Kennedy, son of the late Robert Kennedy, died in a skiing accident in 1998.  John F. Kennedy Jr. died in a plane crash with his wife and her sister in 1999.

The Kennedy Curse is a well-known, well-documented theory many people consider mysterious or supernatural, and others discard as coincidence.  Even Ted Kennedy referred to the curse seven days after his accident at the Chappaquiddick Island bridge, when he made a televised statement saying, “I wonder if some awful curse hangs over all the Kennedys.” When you consider our God is very mysterious and supernatural, that His very existence is beyond our comprehension, and such a punishment as the Kennedy Curse holds Biblical accuracy, we begin to see this as something more than coincidence, and quite possibly an example of a generational chain with implications in our lives. We can no longer reject this theory as outdated or not applicable.

Scriptures do not suggest we can align every particular sin and its consequences in such a neat order.  In our fallen nature, we have neither the wisdom nor capacity to understand God’s actions.  Yet as an example, the Kennedy Curse bears resemblance to the curse we all bear by the sin of Adam, which is the curse of death.  As we are descendents of one man, whether we are a Kennedy or not, we bear the curse of our forefather, Adam.  The curse is a penalty of sin and a penalty to be paid.  We see this further explained in Exodus 34:6-7:

And He [the Lord] passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”

 This verse repeats the warning of the generational curse, and clarifies “He does not leave the guilty unpunished.”  While these verses may appear to limit the curse to the third and fourth generation, we know Adam’s curse is a penalty for all mankind, compounded by our own guilt and disobedience.  This penalty is death. 

With this knowledge, we find ourselves in a position where we bear the curse of Adam, any generational curses of our ancestors, and the penalties of our own sin.  This is passed to our children, with the sins of another generation added to our own.  This chain of guilt will continue until broken.

Our responsibility as parents, and specifically as individuals, is to break that chain of guilt and to anchor our families in Jesus Christ.  The Bible tells us in 1 Timothy 2:5-6:

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men– the testimony given in its proper time.

 As the above warning tells us “He does not leave the guilty unpunished”, God also provides the Promised One as ”… a ransom for all men.”  Jesus Christ paid the penalty of death for all of our sins.  Our guilt is paid through His death and resurrection, our bondage to the curse of our forefathers is broken, and we are redeemed. 

This means we will live forever; we will have immortality.  This means I can say, “I will not die.”  Oh, this chubby, scarred, and aching body will die away, but I will go on in some other form, and will live eternally.  How well do you know this? 

Ok, let’s look at this straightforward:

• Without Jesus Christ, we bear the sins and punishment of Adam, ancestral sin, and our own sin.
• Without Jesus Christ, we pass this sin onto our children and our children’s children for three or four generations.
• With Jesus Christ, the chain is broken and the door is opened for blessings for our children and our children’s children for a thousand generations.

The whole concept of Jesus Christ paying the price for our guilt is what we hear preached over and over again in churches all around the world.  In some places, this message is delivered with condemnation and judgment without the mercy and grace God intended, which leaves us inoculated to the truth behind the message.  Sometimes, hypocrites at the pulpit may preach the “do as I say and not as I do” sermon so many times, we get inoculated to their message, and as such, we miss the truth.   I know – I was inoculated to the point where the message had no bearing in my life.  I didn’t quite reject it, but I wouldn’t accept it.  If you fall into this line of thinking, then please know I was there along with plenty of others and understand your cynicism.  

I am also here to tell you it is worth another look.  Even if your motivation is to just break a generational chain of pain and anguish, this message is worth another look.  There are many reasons to look at Jesus Christ and the message of salvation – the livelihood and freedom of your children and grandchildren are most likely near the top of the list and excellent incentive.

I stated this three times already in this series: Whether your children are planned, newborn, or with children of their own, this is applicable to you.  It is never too early and it is not too late, at least not yet, to anchor your children and your family.  Even if you have been inoculated to the message or are already a believer, I invite you to pray with me.

Just read the prayer, say it to yourself, or say it verbally:  “Lord Jesus, I may not understand all the concepts about generations and curses and blessings, and I may not understand all this stuff about sin, but I do understand freedom.  I don’t want to be chained to sin and I don’t want my children to be chained to sin.  I don’t want to be chained to a curse and I don’t want my children chained to a curse.  I don’t want to be part of a generational curse and I don’t want to pass any generational curse to my children.  Instead, I want freedom.  Help me to understand what this means, for me and for my family.  Lord, I have sinned; I ask You to forgive me, break the generational chain of sin in my life, and deliver me from the curse.  I ask You to show me how to anchor my family so they may see a blessing instead of a curse in their lives.  I ask this in Your name, Jesus.  Amen”

The last part of this series should post on Wednesday of this week.  Will you continue with me and see what steps you may do to firmly anchor your family?

Glenn Sasscer

Click here for Part 3 of 3.

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Anchoring Your Family
Part 1 of 3

As I prepare to celebrate this season of giving, I am praying for guidance and direction for specific people in my life and how I am to serve others.  I want to be a good steward.  I want to be a good steward with all the Lord has provided for my family, yet also want to give that which the Lord would have me give away.  I don’t want to keep anything I shouldn’t be keeping.  In my attempt to be a good steward, I want to follow the Lord’s will for all He has provided.  

I believe there is a gift He would have me share with you, although this is unique in that as I give this gift away, I am able to keep it and learn a deeper meaning in sharing it.  This gift is a revelation the Lord gave me over eight years ago.  This is the revelation of anchoring your family, whether your children are a future plan, newborn, or grown with children of their own.

I am sharing this gift with you because I believe the Lord wants you to anchor your family.  I believe this is a commitment and responsibility the Lord gives us when He entrusts us with children – His children.  This is a gift for you, yet also for your children, for their children, and for their children, passing on through the generations.  You may be wondering how?  Let’s take a look:

This philosophy is not new, as it is well grounded in Scripture and Spiritual Principles.  The application of the philosophy may be different from family to family.  Just as there are various kinds of anchors for diverse applications (the anchor for a canoe is not the same as the one used for a battleship), there are numerous methods to effectively safeguard your family in the years beyond your abilities. 

I wear a silver cross I plan to pass on to my son.  I have other heirlooms to give to my daughters.  The cross itself holds no powers beyond the structural abilities and properties of the silver.  It is inanimate and can do nothing other than stay where I put it.  As a symbol of my faith, however, this cross can move mountains.  My hope for this symbol is my son and daughters will know it as a reminder of my faith and relationship with Jesus Christ, and through this symbol, it would encourage them when they are challenged, tempted, or in doubt.  They must stand on their own in their relationship with Jesus, and wherever I can, I want to prepare them and give them the strength and ability to stand strong.  

I believe symbols of this nature are important and encouraged by the Lord.  We see this in many places in the Bible, specifically in Joshua 22:25-27, where it is written:

“The LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you– you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the LORD.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the LORD.  That is why we said, ‘Let us get ready and build an altar– but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.’  On the contrary, it is to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the LORD at His sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to ours, ‘You have no share in the LORD.’” 

The purpose of the altar here was not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, instead it was a symbol to serve as a witness to the following generations.  The symbol stood for the faith and relationship the previous generations had with the Lord, “…so no one would be able to say to our descendants, ‘You have no share in the Lord.’”  The altar is a symbol, a symbol that is part of an anchor to children and descendents.  The cross I wear is only a portion of an anchor for my children, but it will function as a symbol for them and possibly their children and their descendents, so no one may say to them, “You have no share in the Lord.” 

A symbol by itself is meaningless; therefore it becomes our responsibility as parents to establish a purpose and significance to firmly anchor our family in the Lord.  This is the process where we fully establish the anchor – whether or not there is a symbol involved does not matter, it is the process that accomplishes the anchoring.  As we are parents, the Lord gives us this responsibility in Deuteronomy 4:7-9 where it is written:

“What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to Him?  And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?  Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” 

Here we are reminded of the blessing it is to be able to pray to our Lord, to have Him with us, to know righteousness in the Law, and to have a relationship with God.  We are told to be careful and to never forget, keeping our hearts turned toward the Lord.  Then we are told to teach these ways to our children and to their children after them.

The Bible further instructs in the methods we are to teach our children, and confirms the validity of symbols as a reminder for them in Deuteronomy 6:5-9 with:

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

These are responsibilities given to the parents or guardians of the children.  Our obligation for our families exceeds providing for their physical needs; we must furnish and contribute to their emotional and spiritual needs, equip them mentally, and promote their relationship with God.  My personal belief is these are the bare minimums, as there is so much more the Lord wants to give our children through us.

Where are we blocking His efforts? 

Where are we getting in the way of His blessings? 

Where are we lacking or not stepping up to affirm our children in the Lord? 

Whether your children are a plan, newborn, or with children of their own, would you join me in a simple prayer for our children: “Lord Jesus, we come before You with a simple prayer to ask You to give us wisdom and understanding to be good stewards with these precious gifts, our children.  Reveal what and how we should serve them, and ultimately serve You in raising our children.  Teach us, that we may teach them; lead us, that we may lead them; and bless us, that we may be a blessing to them. We pray this in hte name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

My next blog will take a closer look at the ripple effect our actions have in the lives of our children and the generations following them.  Whether good or bad, what we do influences their lives in ways we hardly understand now.  Join me?

Glenn Sasscer

Click here for Part 2 of 3 or here for Part 3 of 3.

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Some of the best leadership quotes or sayings I have read recently include the following two:

Some make the mistake of believing a leader has people following them, yet some of the best leaders know how to get out of the way. 

A good leader knows the best thing they bring to an organization is their energy and motivation; they are a leader due to their influence. 

Based on these two leadership quotes, I can make the following assumption and quote:

If leaders are defined by the influence they have on others, then very few leaders have the title to go along with their position. 

In today’s society, we look to the CEO, manager, or someone with a title to give us direction or to influence the course of our work.  Little do we realize the true leaders in our lives are those closest to us throughout our lives, influencing us and giving us encouragement.  We often overlook the people having the most influence on our day.

Think about this: If the janitor at your workplace moves the trash bin to another location, the janitor has just influenced your day and, as a leader, has gotten you to walk to another location to throw something away.  If, in that same day, you do not see your manager or the CEO of your company, the janitor has provided more leadership than your manager or CEO.  Yes, I admit this is a stretch, however you begin to see the concept of influence in leadership. 

Now, let’s turn this around and try to gain a better understanding of how we are influencing our families, friends, or coworkers.  Are we good leaders?  How are we influencing the people in our lives, especially in the significant relationships? 

Do we encourage them?  Are they glad to see us?  Do we leave them in a better frame of mind?  Are they better off because we were with them?

The kind of encouragement and influence to which I am referring is the same found in 2 Corinthians 7:6-7, when Paul was talking about the influence of Titus.

But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.  His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you…

We find the apostle was troubled in the preceding verses, even to the point of discouragement or depression.  The Greek words used to describe the encouragement Titus brought to Paul can also be translated as a “refreshing spirit”.  Paul was declaring, “Hey, you know, even though I am depressed, ticked off, and really having a bad day, the Lord gave me what I needed for the battle by sending a friend with a refreshing spirit to encourage me.” 

Titus was a friend, an influence, and an encourager, and eventually went on to become a leader in the church on the Greek island of Crete.  The leadership quality he is most known for is his influence and encouragement he brought to Paul and to the church. 

How many Pauls do you have in your life?  How many people do you have in your life that you can encourage?  When you influence others, especially in your significant relationships, are you leading them well?  Are they better off?   

We are all called to be leaders.  Are you tough enough?

Glenn Sasscer

www.glennsasscer.com
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As a business consultant and trainer, I find myself working with others as the author of change in many organizations.  I may work with one individual, or a group, together working under the guise of process improvement, systems integration, or basic job training, but the end result is leading others in self-improvement or in doing their job better.  Ultimately, this equates to them fulfilling their purpose or role with the company, makes them more valuable to the company, and improves their paycheck. 

There are often challenges with people who have difficulty in recognizing the value in change or improvement.  Sometimes management has a problem allowing employees to change or improve, and sometimes it is the employee.

As a consultant, I am able to provide a fresh perspective and, hopefully, provide an alternative to the customary management approach.  The very nature of introducing the change may be enough to uproot the old, hardened methods.

This almost reads like a brochure, doesn’t it?  The real crock comes in when realizing I can do this with a variety of companies across the US, in Canada, and even South Africa, but why can’t I do this with my own family?  Is it because I am the very management who painted my employee (or children) into a corner? 

Some companies do not need my services as they can recognize the problems and provide a fresh perspective to their employees.  In the same way, some parents encounter little resistance from their children… they provide a fresh perspective and their children thrive in the nurturing environment. 

Queue background music:

To dream the impossible dream,
To fight the unbeatable foe,
To bear with unbearable sorrow,
To run where the brave dare not go…

Isn’t it funny how we embrace sound principle in our work lives, yet abandon these proven techniques in our home?  Perhaps our rejection bleeds beyond the walls of our house and impacts many of our social relationships.  Sometimes what we struggle with at work is consistent throughout our lives. 

Of course, I’m not talking about firing your children, spouse, or friends when they do not do what is expected.  I would not want you to file a grievance with the Children’s Union or give your wife or husband a disciplinary lay-off.  What I’m talking about is creating an environment where employees (or, in this analogy: spouse, children, friends) are able to thrive and succeed without us holding them down. 

Do we allow others to change?

With my customers, the companies enjoying growth in spite of this current economy are the very companies who give their employees every reason to succeed.  As long as they do what is expected of them, the employees have the freedom to grow, improve themselves, and thrive on behalf of the company – and why not?  If the employees thrive within their positions and are successful, their success is reflected throughout the company.  The philosophy is simple: give the employees everything they need to succeed and the company will enjoy the same success.

Can we dare to do this in other areas of our lives?

Luke records an experience with Jesus when He was invited to a Pharisee’s house for dinner.  A woman, most likely a former prostitute or one with a reputation for sin, came into the house of the Pharisee and fell at Jesus’ feet.  The Pharisees questioned and remarked at how Jesus allowed this woman in His presence.  Funny how the Pharisee allowed the woman in his house, but then questioned why Jesus would allow her near Him.  We find Jesus’ response in Luke 7:44-47.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to them, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them…  You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet…  Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven– for she loved much…”

The Pharisees looked at the woman with distain and only saw a sinner or a prostitute.  They wanted to keep her there, locked up in that position in society.  Jesus saw everything the woman could ever be if only allowed to escape the box she painted around herself.  Jesus loved this woman as no one else dared to love her, and as an expression of His love, He wanted her to be free. 

Can we do the same with the people we love?  As an expression of our love for them, can we allow them to change, let them out of their boxes, let them grow, improve themselves, and thrive?  Can we even go to the next step and encourage them? 

I have to believe when Jesus forgave her sins, allowed her beyond the walls of the box into which she was painted, He also released her from the burdens she carried… the original burdens leading into that sinful lifestyle.  His forgiveness gave her freedom to change, to thrive, and to grow. 

When we refuse to allow a significant person in our life to change, we lock them into something they are not instead of allowing them to be what they are…

I am struggling with this concept in my life right now.  I am not writing this as if I have it all figured out.  I have just realized I need to forgive someone for having the audacity to change… and not only forgive them for changing, but encourage them and give them everything they need to succeed. 

Are you struggling with this concept in any area of your life? 

Glenn Sasscer

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Speaking of Grill Confessions, my rebuilt grill provides a different perspective to grilling.  Let me explain.

Prior to cleaning out all the crude crud and gunk, the grill had developed hot and cool spots.  There was one spot where food would simply burn instead of cooking, and another spot where it barely got warm.  Fortunately, there was plenty of space along the sides and back of the grill where the food cooked relatively the same with good positioning and food rotation.  I learned how to “work the grill” over a period of time.

Then, as I explained in the previous post, I cleaned out the bottom of the grill and replaced the burner assembly.  Now I have relatively even heat throughout the grill.  This is an amazing new perspective and grilling experience.  I find myself wondering why it took so long for me to clean it all up.

This also got me wondering why Christians will wait so long before finally giving something over to the Lord.  When we find ourselves struggling with a burden, particularly unforgiveness or grudges, we develop a habit of repositioning ourselves with this burden and learning how to make it work. 

Unfortunately, this repositioning impacts our relationships, developing hot and cool reactions to others.  These reactions only multiply the unforgiveness.  Think about this: when we are hot with others, our anger gives another person a reason to hold a grudge against us; and likewise, when we are cool with others, our indifference gives another person a chance to be angry, or hold unforgiveness against us.  The saying, “hurting people hurt others”, is a true statement, even with unforgiveness and grudges.

Through the Apostle Paul, the Lord is revealing this to us in Colossians 3:12-14.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

A critical element here is in the words, “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”  You should know this is a two way street and not an optional statement.  The Lord sets the example on forgiveness and expects us to reciprocate.  What should happen if we don’t?  Perhaps you are familiar with the disciple’s prayer Jesus gives us in Matthew 6:9-13?

“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins, as we also forgive those who sin against us.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”

The key phrase to answer the question above is “Forgive us our sins, as we also forgive those who sin against us.”  Here we are asking God to forgive us as we forgive others, or in the same way we forgive others.  If we do not forgive others, we are actually preventing God from forgiving us.

Jesus explains this concept very clearly in the next two verses following the above prayer (Matthew 6:14 and 15).

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

I can remember holding a grudge against an important person in my life: my Dad.  I ended up putting the entire relationship on hold for over five or six years.  When I finally forgave him, it was like a weight was lifted off my chest.  I found myself wondering the same thing as I was wondering with my grill.  Why did it take me so long?

Who is it you have been holding a grudge against lately?  When you think of people who have hurt you in your life, whom do you think of first?  Have you forgiven them? 

As I stated above, hurting people hurt people.  Is it possible the person you are holding a grudge against is also hurting?  Could they be confused?  Could there be hot and cool spots in their life?

Isn’t it time for a new perspective?  I know sometimes we think we have been hurt so bad we can never forgive the person hurting us, but this is just a lie we carry around with the grudge… a little more weight for the whole deal.  I also know we sometimes just get used to carrying around all this weight… just like I got used to the hot and cool spots on my grill.  Isn’t it time for a new perspective? 

Pray with me.  “Lord, I have been hurt and I want to stop hurting.  I am hurt and I want to stop hurting others.  I may be having a hard time forgiving [say the name of the person or people who hurt you].  As I say the following words, I ask You to give me the strength to truly forgive them and take the forgiveness to the core of my being.  Lord, I forgive them.  To be sure, I am going to say it again.  Lord, I forgive [say their name again].  And now, I ask You to forgive me for the pain and hurt I have caused others.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.” 

Take a deep breath and exhale.  Welcome to the new perspective.  

Glenn Sasscer

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I have a grill confession to make: I recently cleaned my grill.  Ok, this isn’t all that bad, but it gets worse.  This might totally gross you out, but the real confession is I haven’t cleaned the lower portion of the grill since I got it almost seven years ago. 

I am a top grate cook, which equates to a slow cook of the meat (essential for great taste throughout the meat and not just surface flavoring), and the top grate gets cleaned with very use… but the very bowels of the grill still had grease and grime from the first steak slapped over the first flame.  This old crude and gunk was only making the grill difficult to use, creating hot spots, flares, and a potential hazard… a potential hazard in the grill could cause a flash fire and ruin whatever was on the grill.  So, the time had finally come to pull the lower grate off the grill and clean it all out. 

What I did not realize is the very grease and grime I was cleaning out was actually holding the top of the burner in place.  That black gunk is like glue… and I mean, really sticky glue.  As I scrapped out chunks of old toxic waste looking black goop, I also removed pieces of the drip guard and the entire top of the burner.  What was really cool was turning on the grill was like turning on a flame shooter… neat for party tricks but not so good for any serious grill cooking.

After replacing the burner, drip guard, lower grate, and ceramic briskets, I almost have a brand new grill.  The hot spots were gone and the cooking surface had even heat throughout the grill.  It was made new by replacing the heart of the grill. 

Jesus is doing the same thing in each of us.  His desire is to clean out the old crude and gunk in our hearts, the very stuff making it hard for Him to use us for His purpose.  This is the stuff creating hot spots and flares, or in other words, the anger and frustration in our relationships.  These potential hazards are the hurts and pain we have hidden away, the ugliness of life we want to forget, yet forgetting does not actually remove the hazard… we have to deal with it in order to be free from it.  If we are not free from these potential hazards, they may cause a flash fire of anger at any time and ruin our relationships.

The good news is we don’t have to do it on our own.  Psalm 51:10-12 tells us how God will help us with this task. 

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

Scripture tells us how God wants to renew us, restore us, and clean out what does not belong.  Our natural tendency is to leave it all alone.  Unfortunately, leaving it all alone only allows things to fester and does not deal with the hurt or pain laying dormant in our hearts.  Old wounds create hot spots, flares, or worse… a raging inferno of fury when we least expect it.

Once again, it is God who renews us, restores us, and cleans out what does not belong, but the key here is we need to let Him.  Even if the grill had a will, there was nothing the grill could have done to clean itself out – no, it was me cleaning out the grill and replacing the components.  In this same way, God cleanses us, as we find in Hebrews 10:22-23. 

“…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” 

Unlike the grill, we do have a will and we can get in the way.  We can hold on to pain and hurt, we can try to ignore the past memories of condemnation or ridicule, and we can cover up our emotional scars, but doing so is a potential hazard. 

Pray with me on this issue.  “Dear Lord Jesus, I have lived with hurt and pain for so long I am almost used to it because it feels normal.  But I am tired of covering up this burden.  I am tired of pretending to be ok.  I no longer want the crude and gunk and toxic goo in my life any more.  I want to be free.  I want to forgive those who hurt me and be renewed.  Help me.  I need Your strength to remember, Your strength to forgive, and Your strength to forget.  Help me, Lord, to get out of Your way and to allow You to heal me.  I ask for Your strength in these matters and I ask this in Your name, Jesus.  Amen.”

The grill took me about an hour to restore.  Our hearts and emotions are much more complicated and our grime goes much deeper.  Just as I was intentional about cleaning out the grill, you must remain intentional about allowing the Lord to clean out your heart.  When something comes to mind – a past hurt, emotional issue, relational problem, or whatever, whether you were at fault or not, confess your part of the problem and forgive the other person or people.  As the layers of grime are removed and cleaned away, new layers will appear, and some just as fresh and raw as when the pain occurred.  Remember the prayer above.  In these times, remember the prayer above and allow the Lord to work in the renewing of your heart.

From experience, I can assure you it will not be easy.  You are going against your natural tendencies.  Are you tough enough?

Glenn Sasscer

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When I was eligible for a free upgrade on my Verizon mobile, I held off getting the next model for almost a full year.  I liked the mobile telephone I was using at the time.  This model had great range, giving me service when people with newer models could not use their telephones.  The old phone was solid, rugged, and didn’t have too many bells and whistles getting in the way of using the telephone for which it was designed – to communicate, and more specifically, to communicate verbally.

When it came time to upgrade to a family plan, the Verizon sales manager must have recognized a hard sale and sent his very best to smooze me, and boy was I smoozed.  Without going into details, I was sold on the Blackberry Storm, which I eventually labeled the blueberry for the way it made me feel.  It was slow, quirky, and tended to freeze up so much I thought I was working with a Microsoft product.  I will say I am back to calling it a Blackberry with the latest download/upgrade of the Storm’s operating system, but it was murky waters there for quite awhile. 

I just recently added a Bluetooth headphone for hands free operation.  I am now beginning to recognize the productivity features after 5 long months of trial and error, torture, and a good amount of technological frustration.  I’m good with that, though.  I’m ok with wrestling with gadgets until I figure out how they are going to work in my best interest. 

As I reread the beginning of this post, it might sound as if I am technologically challenged.  Perhaps I am one of those who can’t stand these new fangled gadgets, I listen 8-track tapes while organizing my Atari game cartridges, and still prefer the card index system at the library…  on the contrary, I am a technology trainer for a software systems company.  I provide training and consulting for companies integrating new technology and how to use it to increase efficiencies, reduce errors and frustrations, and improve profits.  My personal approach to technology has always been to stay on the leading edge, but not the bleeding edge… I stick with what works until it doesn’t work anymore or there is a much better way.  I don’t upgrade just to upgrade, I don’t buy the best just to have the best, and I don’t need to have all the gadgets just to have all the gadgets… even if they are really, really neat.  For me, technology and all the gadgets are tools, not rules in my life – I use the gadgets, they don’t use me.

I learned that when you have the latest gadget, you also have the latest frustrations with the bugs in that gadget.  Microsoft taught me to always wait to buy the latest edition of Windows until at least two Service Packs (program updates, fixes, and corrections) are available – that is also known as frustration avoidance.  Being on the bleeding edge of technology may be fun for some folks, but experience shows it is frustrating and expensive.  I don’t want the frustration and I don’t believe in wasting my money until the technology is a proven benefit. 

I held off on getting a Blackberry until I thought I could benefit from having one (see smoozing by Verizon salesperson above).  As a trainer and consultant, I was exposed to the efficiencies of the Blackberry early on, having my customers share with me all the wonders they could do with their new little gadgets.  I also witnessed them constantly looking at their little orbs of efficiency during our meetings, stopping training to text something of utter importance, and rudely cutting off conversations to address some critical message.  Unfortunately, I always viewed meetings as a necessary evil: have them, get them done, and stay on track – with as few interruptions as possible.  While I am certain there are a few exceptions, I always had to wonder just how critical these messages were to require an immediate response in the middle of a meeting. 

Also, I always felt like an intruder when a conversation was interrupted for a telephone call when someone tapped the little black earpiece and spoke to the caller while looking at me.  What is the appropriate etiquette?  Shall I leave?  Stand up and look out the window?  Lean closer so I can hear the caller?  Pretend to sleep? 

A few of my customers shared how their Blackberry became habit-forming, where they would sleep with it under their pillows, take it camping with them, and constantly check it even if they were out of signal range.  When apart from their Blackberry, if they could not hear the familiar ring, they would experience phantom vibrations as if the device were reaching out to them through some cerebral tap in their mind.  I started thinking about Blackberry abuse… habit forming… people throwing their lives away to get their Blackberry fix…

I envisioned Blackberry support groups.  “Hello, my name is Glenn Sasscer, and I am a Blackberry user.  I stopped using and I have now been clean for two years…”  Others would clap in my support because they know the struggle.  They know the challenge.  You can see the vacant look in their eyes and the twitch of their thumbs…
 
So, why did I finally allow myself to be smoozed by the Blackberry pusher Verizon salesperson?  The technology and products for the Blackberry finally reached the point where I could recognize a value over the risk of addiction.  That is, the Blackberry product finally reached a point where it had enough features and value that I could use it to improve what I was doing for work without it taking over the rest of my life.  My view on the gadgets has not changed – the Blackberry is still a tool and not the rule in my life.  I use it to communicate, but I do not place the communication through my Blackberry above my in-person communication.

For this purpose, I created a mental list of ways I use this tool:

• I will not answer my Blackberry telephone if I am speaking with you in person, unless it is clearly an emergency.  My conversation with you is more important since you are in-person.  To respond to a message on my Blackberry or answer it would be rude.
• I will not check the Blackberry every 30 seconds to see if someone has sent me a highly critical message.  I will check my Blackberry when it is convenient, or when I need to send something out.  Likewise, if I send something to your Blackberry, I do not expect you to respond until it is convenient.
• I will not answer the Blackberry just because it is ringing – the tool is for my convenience, not the person calling me.  If I am eating dinner with my family, the Blackberry can wait.
• I will not talk on the Blackberry or check messages while driving.  To do so is just silly, dangerous, and very irresponsible.  If you want an example of why, watch the video at the end of this post - but be forewarned: it is a graphic representation of what can happen.
• If I take my Blackberry on vacation, it is turned off until I need it.  If I have it on the weekend, it is for my convenience. 
• And, it is perfectly ok to leave the house without my Blackberry. 

This is my mental list for using my Blackberry, as well as most other gadgets where applicable.  The problem I see with technology is we often forget the gadgets are for our convenience and safety.  We sacrifice our time for the very devices designed to give us more time in life; we sacrifice others for the devices designed to give us more time with them. 

I am interested in being a good steward over the time God has given me to serve Him and serve His children, especially those significant relationships He has brought into my life (such as my wife and children).  I do not believe God has given me life to serve Blackberry. 

I believe Genesis is the absolute truth and the Word of God telling us in 1:27-28, “…God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”  This was the pecking order.  We were given the orders to be the authority in the world, which ended when Adam handed the keys over the Satan in disobedience and sin.

Jesus retrieved the keys and reclaimed authority over the entire world.  We find this in Matthew 28:18-20, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” 

Jesus is the authority now, and He delegates to each of us.  Satan doesn’t much like this and will sabotage God’s plan in whatever way possible.  I believe his strategies include using our own tools against us, wasting our time with trivial matters, and creating obstacles in our significant relationships.  I refuse to allow this to happen, and I hope you will join me.

I do not find my identity in my Blackberry.  I find my identity in Jesus Christ (see above Genesis passage where we are created in His image).  Jesus Christ has a plan and a purpose for me.  I am looking for that plan and purpose, and my goal is to realize the role for which I was created.  I will not find that role inside my Blackberry, but instead by establishing the most significant relationship in my life: the one with Jesus Christ. 

Pray with me: “Lord Jesus, I confess to being a poor steward over my time, energies, and strengths.  I have wasted my talents and skills on trivial matters.  I have been a pitiful steward over my significant relationships, as well as any other relationship You have brought into my life.  I am sincerely sorry.  I ask You to open my eyes and grant the strength to overcome my weaknesses bringing me to this point.  Rescue me from this trap set by the enemy.  Give me eyes to see what You want me to see, ears to hear what You want me to hear, and a heart filled with Your compassion to serve Your kingdom and Your children in my life.  Grant to me the wisdom, understanding, and strength to be a good steward over the tools You have given me, to be a good steward over my talents and skills, and to be a good stewards over the relationships in my life.  Lord, I ask you to bring healing to my relationships.  In Your Holy Name, I pray.  Amen.”

It is time for me to be tough on myself, tough on my tools, tough on my blackberry, and tough enough to be a Christian.  What about you?

Glenn Sasscer

www.glennsasscer.com
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Texting while driving: Video (Warning: Graphic Portrayal.)