Pray like your using a Magnifying Glass.

Matthew 10:1

10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

My Friends,

    I apologize for the delay of the blog over the last week, but I was in San Diego building a fence for my Mother and Father.  The fence was to give their dog a place to play and help with his wanderlust.  I had a great time working with my brother Mark, Cecelia and my parents.  It took about four days to complete and then I spent the other two days going on dates with my daughters.
   On my date with Taylor, she taught me a lot about up cycling.  We spent awhile shopping in thrift stores for dresses that she could redesign.  Once redesigned she will then sell them on her new website.  You will get an email about it, when it is complete.  It will be called TayOety's Designs.  I then took her to lunch and yogurt.  One special detour we took was to our friend Kent Bry's Adventure Ski School.  When we arrived, we were just going to say hello, but he had a break in ski lessons and tossed Taylor on his ski ramp.  He worked with her for about 45 minutes.  It was a special surprise.  I even jumped on the ramp for a short time.  I could tell that my ski muscles have gotten weaker from not skiing for the last three years because when I say short time, I mean I could only stay on for about 20 minutes.  When I used to teach there years ago, I would stay on for hour after hour teaching lessons.
   The next day I spent a very nice afternoon playing golf with Claire and my Dad.  Dad played nine holes and then Claire and I finished the last holes in a heated competition.  We settled our match with lunch and coffee.  I really enjoy spending time with my daughters.
   Anyway, I do have a point to the blog this week.  Before arriving in the San Diego area, we stopped by to see my brother Michael's son Everest play water polo.  After the match, in which Everest was the star, we went to dinner.
    While at dinner, I had a great conversation with Michael's wife Cindy.  We were discussing my blog and I was telling them about a rough idea I had for the next installment.  I was talking with her about how I have been reading a book called, The Master Key System.  In the latest chapter, the author, Charles Haanel discusses the idea of praying intensely and with unwavering belief.  The book also discusses that their are times when people just think about something and it just happens.  Now bare with me a moment, I am not talking about being psychic or anything.  But it did raise a question.  Is it possible that what we think, is like a prayer?  What if I think about something with unwavering confidence and then it happens?  This would be kind of like the Mustard seed I wrote about awhile back.  The following is a simple example of what I am talking about.
   Cindy and Michael were telling me about this friend that they have that always says that he is going to park in one of the front spots at stores that he visits.  They have been with this friend a number of times and sure enough when he pulls up, there is a space waiting for him.  It has happened so often that they have become real believers when they are with him.  Now, you might think that he just waits for a spot like those irritating people that just sit there with their blinker on, but he doesn't ever wait.  Rather than being skeptics, can't we just believe that he has unwavering belief?
  My mother has told us about a lady that she knows that prays over people while they are in the hospital or sick and they are healed.  She is so successful, that people request to have her pray over them.  She has doubters as well.
   These two examples are totally different and we would consider one more serious than the other, but are they all that different in their intensity to thought and prayer.  Most people would think that the second is far more important, but have you ever tried to get a front parking place at Target during the holidays?  It is a small miracle in itself to just get a parking place at all somedays.  I digress, so let me get back on task.

Intensity!!!

    The final analogy that I am going to share with you from my book is the following.  Imagine you are using a magnifying glass on a sunny day.  You can move it all around and look at things in a larger way, but the true power of a magnifying glass is when we hold it still and allow the intensity of the sun to shine through it.  If you are not careful you will focus the suns energy so much that it will burn whatever you are focusing on at the time.
   The point I am trying to make is that as Christians, we need to practice thinking and praying like we are using a magnifying glass.  Pick a few things in your life that you want changed and focus positive and detailed prayers toward them.  Think about them in a positive way.
   So to bring this meandering topic back to full circle.  I learned from my father years ago, how important it is to spend time with each of your children individually.  When we focus our magnifying glass on them, they are warmed by our parental sun.  I find that each time I do this, special memories are created.
   So, practice praying and thinking with intensity.  If you think about it, it is very much like the way Jesus sent the Apostles out to do miracles.  You can do miracles, remember they don't all have to be about healing diseases or making the blind see.  Isn't the laughter and smile of your kids a miracle unto themselves.
    By the way, I have the same skill Michael and Cindy's friend has.  I don't know what it is, but I find a parking spot as far away from the store every time.  More people need to think like me, because there are lots of spaces where I go.
 

Don't Judge Me!!!!!

Matthew 7:2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Friends,

   I began this last week by being a Judge at the high school talent show.  I felt very honored to be one of three people chosen for this very important responsibility.  It was an enjoyable experience, but a lot more difficult than I expected.  The only disappointing thing about the experience was that they said that I was not allowed to pretend to be Simon Cowell.  I had to do my comments in writing on a score sheet.  The real rewarding part, was watching these young people give their all.  The winners were amazingly talented.

Maybe not using good judgement

    This gave me the idea for the blog this week.  It brought to mind a scene from "The Princess Bride".  During one scene Enigo and his giant friend Fesik are on a ship with a hired mercenary.  The mercenary has kidnapped the princess in order to start a war.  But while on the ship, they are followed by another ship and it is catching up to them.  The mercenary keeps using the word Inconceivable.  He uses it so much that Enigo comments that he is not sure that the mercenary knows the meaning of the word.  I believe the same about people, when it comes to the words Judge or Judgement.
    I get kids saying to me all the time; "Don't Judge me Mr. O."  I always find it interesting that they say this to me, when they have been caught selling or smoking weed, misbehaving or not completing their work in my class.  In the case of the weed, I am not the Judge, they will see one of the professional members of that fraternity soon enough.  But, in the case of misbehaving and not doing your work,  my comment to them is, "Ok I won't judge you, I am just going to profile you."  You know, I am just trying to be PC, like everyone else. Anyway, I do talk with them and tell them a quote my grandfather used to use all the time, "If a spade is a spade, then it must be a spade."  If you don't like being associated as a pot smoker, then don't smoke pot and don't hang around with people that do so as well.  If you don't like being known as a trouble maker, then don't get in trouble and so on.  It seems to me that the only people that don't like their profile or being judged, are people that are outside the norm and have to convince others that they are ok.
    According to Google the definition of Judge is to form an opinion or conclusion.  At The First Tee we use the word Judgement as one of the nine core values and the definition is the ability to make a decision or form an opinion; a decision reached after consideration.
    The reason for my short diatribe is that someone published on Facebook not too long ago a statement from the Proud to be a Liberal site that went like this:  You define your character when you Judge others.  It was put in the context of having an opinion about the way other people live their lives.  So, it got me to thinking and this is my decision based on careful consideration.

Once again, maybe not the best judgement.

    I hope that my character is defined by my good Judgement.  I hope that people identify me as a person that lives by a high standard.  I am proud to be profiled or judged as a white, heterosexual, Christian family man.  I am a school teacher that tries to do my best by my kids everyday, and I am a darn good golf coach as well.  Go ahead and judge or profile me.  I don't agree with the way some people live their lives.  I do think that people that make statements like the one earlier, don't live by the same standard that I live by and want people to agree with them.  My standard is my faith in Christ, and the book I get my guidance from is the Holy Bible.  I can only hope that even though people that don't live by the same standard as myself, recognize when people are causing harm to others with their lifestyle.  Here are a few things that I hope they will Judge others by:  I hope they recognize and judge that it is wrong when an alcoholic is abusing their family and something should be done about it.  I hope that they recognize that if a child is in trouble that good Judgement will be used to help that child.  I hope that they help a woman in distress.  I hope they use good judgement when it comes to being a good samaritan.  
    Christians in particular have been beaten down and are not allowed to have an opinion.  I am sorry, but when you are a Christian, you need to have an opinion and use good Judgement.  It is our job to call each other out and hold each other accountable.  How has it gotten to the point in our country that the majority is not allowed to have an opinion and judge when something is wrong?   We all have things in our lives in which we need to improve and lord knows that I am not perfect, but if you live a lifestyle that is not healthy and you ask my opinion, I am going to tell you.  I think the key to that last phrase is that I was asked.  If there is one thing that I have learned is that I will state my opinion when asked, but I am not going to force it on someone else.
    I am like my brother Paul.  He and I discuss how to save the world all the time and the one conclusion that we have come to is that as Christians, we have humbled ourselves into not saying anything.  I don't know if it is because we are so concerned about Matthew 7: 1-3.  I don't know if it is that we have gotten so caught up in taking the plank out of our own eyes or what it is, but in the current climate of our country someone needs to say when things are wrong.  Currently in the political climate, all of the minorities and liberals get to say whatever they want and get away with it, but if a conservative Christian says anything they are lambasted.  Because people of faith are supposed to live by a very high standard, it is easy to point the finger when they fall.  How easy it is to live without standards and then laugh at those that attempt to try to live by high standards.
    Recently, I was reading a book and one of the statements that made a huge impact on me was, that in order to use more of our brain, it is important to be Mentally, Morally and Physically Healthy.  It took me back a bit.  I had to sit down and really think about each one of these.  I came to the conclusion that the mental part is something that I am always practicing.  Morally, this is always a work in progress, because although I feel like I have a good relationship with Jesus, it can always be better.  Finally, I have slid backward a bit on the physical part and need to kick my butt in gear.  Basically, it is hard to be healthy in all of these areas.  It is very easy to not think about any of it.
    So, to finally get off of my soap box this week.  I want to challenge you to look at the standards that you live by.  According to Jesus, we are always supposed to be pressing forward.  Take a moment and ask yourself the same questions I asked myself and remember, even though we may stumble Christ is there to give us a hand.  Also, remember if you have to judge someone use careful consideration before you make a decision.
   Have a great week.

Man, That Mustard Seed is HUGE!!!!!!

Man, I keep trying to move this thing to my house, but it just won't budge!!

Matthew 17:20
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

My Friends,

    I wanted to start this week by thanking all of you that read my blog and took the time to comment last week.  Your thoughts make my writing mean something.  It feels good as a writer to know that my writing can help people to think.  As I mentioned in other blogs, I encourage you to write, just as I do.  Now that doesn't mean that you have to start a blog, but get that journal I mentioned earlier.
    This week's topic came from meeting with a couple of parents to talk about goals for their kids.  The ironic thing is that during my quiet time, God brought to my mind the parable of the mustard seed.
    Now, I learned this parable as a young Christian many years ago.  For the life of me I was so confused by it, because as hard as I might try I could not get the local mountain to move.  But as I have matured I have come to understand it better.  I can say that I have moved a few mountains in my life.  Well maybe not mountains, but I did move a 60,000 pound caboose onto our property and turned it into a guest house.  I also graduated from college, which was definitely a mountain unto itself.  With that said have you ever seen a real mustard seed?  It is the tiniest of seeds, but yet it grows into a big beautiful plant that supplies greens and more seeds to make mustard.  Anyway, I am not trying to give you a botanical lesson.  I am just trying to point out that out of tiny things, big things can come.
   What I have really learned about this parable is that as Christians it is important to plant those mustard seeds and then tend them with prayer.  You see, I didn't just tell the Caboose to fly over to my property and set itself where I wanted it.  I planted the seed of the idea in prayer and then nurtured it over and over with more prayer for many weeks.
  I was reading recently in one of my favorite books called, The Master Key System.  It is written by a man named Charles Haanel.  In the book, he states in

Yummy, Mustard Greens!!!

I told you I could move it.  The crane did help.

layman's terms the idea of planting the mustard seed.  His statement is that whatever goal we set, the ability for it to come to fruition is directly proportional to how strongly we believe.  So, plant that mustard seed and believe with every atom in your body that it will come true.
    I believe it is important for us to have goals in our adult lives, just like we had dreams and goals as kids.  Not only does it make life more interesting, but it is a good example for kids and young adults that we come in contact with.  I will be the first to admit that I still have crazy dreams.  The one that I have been nurturing for sometime is to play on The Senior PGA Tour.  Now, you might think that this is a no brainer for me, but the goal isn't just to make it.  My dream gets crazier.  Not only do I want to make it on the tour, I want to be the professional that plays in the group with one of my daughters if they are chosen to play in The Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.  How awesome would that be?!!!!!!
    The one thing to remember before I finish for this week is this.  Even though we can have goals and dreams, remember they have to go along with God's plan for us as well.  Sometimes the goals I have made do not come true.  I planted the seed a few years ago to retire from teaching when I turned 50.  Well, that happened while I was in China last year and I am still teaching.  I could get upset about it and be depressed, but God has given me a new excitement for teaching and my daughter is going to be coming to the high school next year.  I guess he is just not done with me yet.
    So, go out  this weekend and get some mustard seeds.  Plant them in some soil in your garden, but identify each one as a dream or goal.  Then spend the next few months tending them with prayer and water and see what happens.  If nothing really comes from it, at least you have some really nice mustard greens.  They are very nice sauteed with garlic and lots of butter, Yum!!!!!!!