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15 Jul

The Most Beautiful Car “Ever”

The Most Beautiful Car Ever(1)

A 1961 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, doesn’t it just scream elegance and grace, how is it that a car could do such a thing. Cars do though, doesn’t a 1955 Nash Metro hit you with 50’s culture, drive-ins and Bobby Socks. Creativity, God created so much beauty as John Eldredge says, “Gloriously Wasteful” its more than we can ever take in, and inside each and every one of us is that same ability to create beauty, and so John DeLorean, Lee Iaccoa and the vast array of amazing car designers have been at it for over a century now and as I sit and admire the cars above I relive so much of my life right here in absolute beauty to the Christian Car Guy.

The yellow Buick GSX, my father took me to the Chicago auto show in 1967 and there I saw the prototype of the GSX pictured, I have never forgotten the shear beauty and excitement that generated somewhere in me. The yellow Opel GT that I owned in my early twenties and I used to just sit and just look at it. The Black Pontiac TransAm, I had a demo and to say Pontiac’s old slogan,”We Build Excitement” oh yes they did and beauty. That “Cuda” up there on the left was the first car I ever sold and, oh my, every time I see one my heart leaps to get a better look at it. That baby blue Porsche 917 was the car Steve McQueen drove in the movie the 24hrs of LeMans, what memories, my little brother and I had an Aurora slot car track and they came out with the 917 and the red Ferrari slot cars that were in the movie, even the little headlights worked and so we had a 24 hour race with our buddies in the basement of our house in Naperville, Illinois. The first time I saw that red Acura NSX on the road I had to catch up to it to see what it was, so amazing looking so gracefully low slung. Certainly no list of beautiful cars would be complete without the Corvette C1, General Motors, Harvey Earl’s masterpiece, go to any car show where one is and the crowds will keep coming, clearly just to admire the beauty of it. Hmmmm.

Simone Weil was absolutely right- “Beauty and Affliction are the only two things that pierce the human heart”. Jesus told his disciples in Mark 9:1 “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” In the very next verses Peter, James and John are headed up with Jesus to the transfiguration. I pray that everyone reading this will someday if not already have seen some of the shear beauty that those three/five saw that day, Jesus in His Glory.

Here is just a glimpse of it that I had. One night about 12 years ago now, I was awakened at 4am with a huge desire to pray not sure what so I quickly tried my wife, my children, even Miss Beck my ninety four year old friend, but that night was different from anything I had ever experienced in any prayer. Jesus showed up and it terrified me. Yes, that’s a little hard to explain, since I know Jesus is inside me always and God the Father is Omni present and I am baptized by the Holy Spirit who groans for me with words I can’t utter, but none the less somehow right at that moment I was keenly aware of a magnificent presence and to feel it is to have a better understanding of the “Fear of the Lord”. Hard to explain but I was terrified.

Jesus, ask me “Robby what do you want?” Talk about being caught completely off guard, I though I was the one who should be asking what do you want me to do, but no it was HIM asking me what do I want.

Not knowing what to say, I glibly responded, “I want to serve you.”

Jesus simply said, “Do you?” there was no condemnation in his question but more a self examination, truly I was freaked out. Then like something you have herd about but didn’t really expect to see for yourself happened. My ‘life started to flash before my eyes’ that is the best way I know how to explain an event that I really can’t explain. Not my whole life but just things that somehow I knew Jesus had put on my heart to do that I had not done. One after another and another they came; I was to call an old friend, ask that one to lunch, reach out to this person, go over and visit that one. One after another after another they flashed before me but not as any condemnation but as tremendous opportunities yet to serve.

I was so excited to see the opportunities before me I went and got a piece of paper to write them all down as I did not want to miss out on any of these. Again there is no way of explaining the sensation of seeing people you know God wants me to reach out to and to know that is exactly the good works he had planned in advance for me to do. It was mind blowing.

Once the list was as complete as I could make it, I then laid back down to confer again with Jesus with a clear repentance. I can’t imagine the prodigal son ran down that road any faster than I wanted to get up with these people I had missed, but at 4am I was going to have to wait. I was already completely thrilled when something even more miraculous happened.

All of the sudden a phenomenal golden light, a radiance that was so profound my heart screamed out, “YOU ARE GOING TO SEE HIS FACE, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE HIS FACE!” A Light you always knew was there but have never seen, a sensation of complete Worship I could perceive I was made for but had never experienced. A sensory explanation for my mind somehow to get wrapped around the concept of, “when we’ve been there ten thousand years”. This was the Glory of the Lord Shinning right here in my bedroom in Clemmons, NC. I threw back the covers and attempted to wake my wife up to share it with her I was so exhilarated.

As quickly as the Glory came it left but I could still sense Jesus there and as I lay back down the understanding washed over me like a giant wave on the beach, as I lay silent letting it pound me. “Robby, now do you know what you want?” Jesus had come to show me a rare insight into my life; my heart has a deep yearning to see His face, (BEAUTY) I did not know was there, but it was there long before I was born. I believe this phenomenal heart cry is in our DNA waiting to be released, it is my prayer that your reading of this event either reminds you of a similar experience or awakens your heart to your own encounter with The Fairest of Ten Thousand. Our heart were made to be pierced with Jesus Beauty.

08 Jul

Beat The Heat 5 How-To’s

Beat the heat 5 How-To's

Summer

  • Know Your Controls:

    Really understanding your Air conditioner controls will help you beat the heat. The Max AC or Recirculate button or lever or switch as circled below is one major key.

    Your car struggles to cool outside air coming into your car over 80 degrees. So when outside temperatures soar to say 95 your car allows you to use already cooled air inside the car by selecting either recirculate or Max AC. So the air inside the car keeps getting colder and colder by cooling off air that’s already cooler. Here is a step by step way to speed the process and at the same time keep your car from smelling like gym socks later this summer.

     

    Park in the shade, Crack your windows when parking if no sign of rain ,When getting into the car roll the windows all the way down, (get the hot air out), Drive the first ¼ mile with the windows at least part of the way down. Start off with you’re A/C drawing fresh air (Not Recirculate or MAX). This outside air both starts you off better than the hot air in the car but outside air is a natural antibiotic for your system killing the bacteria inside your condenser ducts and fins that causes that gym socks smell. MAX or Recirculate works so much better when they are not starting off with the hot air already inside the car after sitting. After the car begins to cool then go to the MAX and Recirculate settings and close the windows. Never run on Recirculate or MAX when the temperature outside is below 80 degrees. remember outside air cleans your system.

 

Servicing:

Demonstrate your problem when bringing your car in for repair, even if you have to take the service advisor or technician for a drive.

The old adage, “presentation without demonstration is mere conversation” applies here. If the technician or service advisor actually experiences that skip or bump or click they will be able to both diagnose ‘YOUR’ problem, (not something else they hear or feel) plus be able to test to see if they fixed it by duplicating what you did to get it to do it. Also make sure they know what is most important to you that gets fixed, many times they spend their efforts on a minor complaint when your major one gets neglected. Taking time at write up to get things as clear as possible will save you lots of time, money and aggravation.

Shopping:

The maddest customers I ever saw were the ones that got a car sold out from under them.

If you want a vehicle be clear and put down a deposit and sign something where they agree to sell you the vehicle. As cut throat as it may seem, a dealer has thousands of his dollars tied up and if a vehicle is not legally spoken for they will likely sell it out from under you. So the old adages, ‘money talks’ and ‘get it in writing’ apply here as I would have thought that customers that think they got taken are the maddest, not even close to how angry people get when they can’t get the vehicle they thought they came back for.

Selling:

Tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

If you choose to sell your own vehicle, and I think you should, the biggest heat in the deal almost always is something someone tried to hide or not completely disclose. Telling the truth about a problem with the vehicle will probably evoke trust and its OK if this person doesn’t buy, there will be others if you price the vehicle right. Have faith, the truth will set you free.

Salvation:

Staying out of the eternal smoking section.

Talk about beating the heat, wait till you hear this promise. Reading Jeremiah 42:12 this week, “I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and let you remain in your own land”, God is the “I” in that sentence and that mercy that God is promising in the original language root word is the ultimate heat beater. In fact a cold beater as well. You have experienced the perfect temperature not to hot not to cold for a long period of time, when was that, think back now everyone has experienced it? Did you guess, yep it was in your mother’s womb and that word translated mercy in God’s promise here is womb. Think about this and all sorts of dots connect.

Jesus told Nicodemus in John chapter 3: “You must be born again.”

Nicodemus replied “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Simply put, Nick….”‘have mercy” .

Jesus goes on to say “For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

That who so ever gets the ultimate no-smoking section, (born again), not too hot, not too cold all you needs met, including one we did not get to understand in our mother’s womb, that is a phenomenal intimacy with the God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit…. NOW THAT”S WHAT I CALL MERCY!!!

03 Jul

4th Of July God Moment

Star Spangled BannerWho brought the “rain” that likely saved Fort McHenry that September night that caused “The bombs to burst in air” because the cannons couldn’t fire properly in the down pour. Even more strategic was the bomb that hit the magazine of gun powder in the night that didn’t explode; was it the rain or maybe just an Angel? A study of the Barrage of Baltimore in the War of 1812 shows God’s providence. No doubt when you read all the controversial lyrics it’s hard to miss what Francis Scott Key thought.

Some find the lyrics racist as Key was very bitter towards a group of slaves that formed a marine band helping the British, this seen in the third verse as he even uses the term “slave.”

.”And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,”

 

Other are greatly offended by the last verse, so much that they want it’s motto “In God We Trust” stricken from anything American.

“O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

So many times it has appeared throughout history though many try to change it, God’s providence; not just for us but every nation, and if you are offended or not, His Kingdom is coming and His providence is sure. If our Nation in Fact does trust God to the point of obedience our flag will still wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Here are all the verses:

O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,
’Tis the star-spangled banner—O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

01 Jul

Fireworks on Demand = Bondage Not Freedom

Fireworks on Demand

The 4th of July is all about freedom and, not coincidentally, so is Jesus;  his clashes with the Pharisees and Herod,( as both of them  demanded fireworks) is a precious lesson on how we can loose our FREEDOM.

In Mark Chapter 8: Following  Jesus feeding the 4,000 and a difficult encounter with the Pharisees demanding a sign from heaven (Fireworks), Jesus loads up the boat to take the group to Bethsaida (House of Fish, Herod’s Territory, sounds fishy right)  15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

So what was this leaven? I have pondered that all week and surely Jesus was talking about demanding fireworks as both ask for a sign, Herod in Luke 23:6-12. Speaking of leaven both were certainly puffed up, the pharisees with their self righteousness, and Herod as a Politician and his supposed power, (I would imagine like me you can see some church folk and politicians you know as puffed up). So where do we let the hot air out and what was Jesus warning me not to fall for?

I believe the leaven is the bondage of control which leads in this case to fireworks on demand or as a computer programmer would see it as a, “Conditional Statement” or an “If, Then”. Example: “If you are the Christ then give us a sign in heaven”. This is a test, yes testing God as we sit the seat of judgement and control. You may, like me, be saying I would never do that. Hmmmmm lets look closer at my self talk and yes I do say these things to myself.

“If I tithe then God will bless me.”  “If I don’t tithe then God will break me.” “If I pray for my children then they will fall in love with Christ.” If I don’t pray for my children they will be lost and something bad will happen”.  “If God sees me giving my all for the Kingdom then he will bless me.” “If I slack off at work then God will surely punish me .”  AHHHHHH who will save me from this body of death.

Three days no food and no one asked Jesus to take seven loaves and feed everybody, it was His idea. Yes, just the day before. “Remember, yesterday, Robby,  didn’t you eat well and didn’t your kids eat well and not have an accident, ROBBY, you are not in control and if you would let go of the reins for a minute and just trust Me and love Me and stop testing Me, there is phenomenal FREEDOM.

Here is the way I have seen this play out in the car business both Sales and Service  with interpersonal relationships. In Sales many customers think of the salesperson as an annoyance someone that has no clue how to help them, and so those customers are in control, they choose what to look at what to test drive what price they will pay. There were days that I laughed all the way home at the insanity of it as someone who has done something maybe three times in their life will take no help from someone who has done it everyday for years and was really on their side but they had to control it.

In service its the customer who has to control his or her repair’s. The arguments that ensue are mind blowing as a person who has no clue what a tuneup even is insists that a tuneup will fix their car when a qualified technician has proof right in their hand that all they need is an oxygen sensor. Because the problem is even with the service advisors we were taught that we were not to diagnose a condition but put down the complaint. In other words you don’t write on a repair order, “Replace Battery”, but instead you write, “Customer says, “Car won’t Crank over””.  WHO’s in Control?

God help US to not test you or put our demands on Your Fireworks>

24 Jun

Bob’s 1st and Ten Yard (Junk Yard) Savings

10 Yard Savings“Buying parts for my prize 1995 Dodge Dakota from a, “Junk Yard,” why I would never think of it, a pimento cheese sandwich maybe.”  Prejudice gets expensive right here, for over a year now I have been riding around on an Engine from Bob’s  Junk Yard, for over 8 years on tires, (I’ve had two sets ), even my seat belt, that wore out at 380,000 miles, came from Bob’s.  I would bet no one couldn’t tell which of my seat belts came from 109-U-Pull-it. Truth is many, many used parts are just as good if not better than the new ones you may find.

The BIGGER challenge to the expense of prejudice, is people? Jesus came into a world of prejudice, the Jews especially considered most anyone one else beneath them, especially in matters of God (many still do, oops but so do many Christians and yes me too at times). The story of the Dog Women in Matthew 15: and Mark 7: is especially troubling to me.

Matthew 15 :21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly

Mark 7:24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

My Emphasis added to the labels of the women. Both accounts have the labels but quite different from Matthew’s  perspective than Mark’s  whose Gospel was pointed more to the Romans, I understand where, Matthew’s , was to the Jews. So to the Jewish audience a Canaanite was a label like, Junk Yard; Mark made sure to note she was a Gentile and a Syrophoenician, also  like a Junk Yard Women.

All week long I have been pondering this because its quite troubling to me that, Jesus would essentially call this women a dog. Far from the full of grace Jesus I know, so I have been searching for the deeper sense of what Jesus was doing here and in the moment. I now believe he was reflecting back to his audience, both the disciples, (who clearly wanted to send her away) and the women herself the agreement they were living under.

Satan’s strategy many times is to get us to make an agreement with his lies, (not a pimiento sandwich). These lies he slips into your head like: “she couldn’t possibly know how to help me, she’s a women and works at a Junk Yard.” Satan’s kingdom is the kingdom of lies but Jesus is of truth. So if Satan can get you to make an agreement with a lie you have now become a traitor to the Kingdom in opposition to the truth. Breaking those agreements will in fact set you free.

In this story, Jesus purposefully traveled all the way North to Tyre. This trip was about 60 miles, and here among the gentiles I believe he had a serious lesson for his disciples on prejudice and faith. In that moment, (if you will allow me to propose what may have gone on), this women who had fallen at his feet was looking up in his eyes and his disciples were behind her also looking into Jesus eyes, then with a look that in my view that only Jesus can give, (and I say that because I’ve gotten it), He Said, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs”.

The statement is true, but the question I believe Jesus is asking is; who are the children and who are the dogs? The answer we discover by what happens is that the people of faith are the children and they are not automatically children by where or to whom they were born, but by their belief in the Son of God.

These disciples were clearly amazed that Jesus would heal such a women’s daughter. Jesus brought to light the truth so that all present would break their agreements on who was rightfully entitled to Jesus healing. Truly, its those who believe He can.

17 Jun

Fathers On Purpose

Father's on PurposeAlthough not all of us have or had earthly fathers on Purpose, God has strategically placed other good fathers in our lives and so as we consider fathers on purpose think of that guy, maybe an uncle or a grandfather or a coach, boss or neighbor. That guy that you knew you were the apple of his eye, his favorite. Every man bears the image of God in his own unique way so each man has a special sauce, a sweet spot, something that he can do where he can feel God’s pleasure while doing it and all the world gets a unique glimpse of the Heavenly Father. It’s God’s glory reflected in that man and I am certain that every man has it if you look for it, then you will see something the angels long to see. Essentially that’s man’s purpose to reflect God. What is more than cool to me is when that father or father figure calls you up into the adventure and I’m guessing if you think back you will see what I am talking about, walking with a man in his glory is a touch of heaven, especially if he is your father or father figure.

For me my earthly father had several recreational things like fishing that took me on that trip to heaven but the one that meant the most to me was to be initiated into the family business, his love for the retail automobile business. Very specifically my father was tremendously gifted in understanding the operational numbers associated with a well run car dealership, that may sound boring but let me tell you when you see a man in his glory it’s anything but that, a tree sounds boring but to see one in full leaves, branches and fruit is by all means a taste of heaven.

My dad learned his trade working for Buick Motor Division helping dealers as a district manager, then promoted many times at one point he was the business manager over the Chicago Zone, as you might imagine hundreds of dealers and looking at hundreds of financial statements. The last 30 years of his automotive career he owned and ran ‘Management Performance Groups’ a company where he would look at the dealer clients operational statements and then bring them in groups of twenty to discuss by comparison how to improve their business.

Here’s the part where the son gets to touch heaven. I can remember even as a young boy my father would be looking at a dealer’s statement and call me over to show me what he saw. He would say, “look right here son you see where this dealer’s warranty claims receivable is four times his monthly warranty sales, this guy needs a new warranty clerk or he’s putting in bogus claims.” WOW!! Really dad you can see all that just by looking at all those numbers, how do you know that. Later in life I got to sit in those meetings with the dealers and see my dad in all his glory. We even did some consulting together for a time with a joint client friend. This is no fluke, God had this planned all along as we see in the anointing of Jesus into the family business.

Isaiah 11:1-3 we see prophetically how Jesus would get a seven fold anointing that shows much of what God had in mind for the family business.

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

I get to bring the father’s day message at Peace Church in Durham tomorrow where I will go into all seven but for right now I am just looking at #3 there, the spirit of Counsel. In Hebrew that word is formed from a sense of purpose, so Jesus would be anointed to guide his sheep into their purpose as does a good father. As David explained in the 23rd Psalm the good shepherd keeps his sheep on their purpose. “He makes them lie down in green pastures.” David’s sheep’s purpose was to be healthy sacrifices, meaning that had to eat and sleep and drink, well, no blemishes.

During WWII there were thousands of orphaned London children roaming the streets literally starving, when the children were rescued and brought to orphanages, although there was food to eat the children couldn’t sleep for fear of their next meal. A wise shepherd taught them to give each child a piece a bread to hold through the night so they would not fret about their next meal and you guessed it they all went off to sleep. “He makes me to lie down in green pastures“, as strange as it sounds at first a sheep is honored to offer it’s life for you, its his purpose and to be doing what pleases God is the sheep’s glory and the good shepherd knows it.

Now my exact purpose or glory is not my dad’s, however the good father longs to have his son beside him in his work and adventure, its a model of a heavenly truth and to see your dad, grandfather , uncle, coach in his glory and walk with him in it is a gift a precious taste of heaven to cherish… What’s your memory? Share it on today’s show June 17, 2017 at 10am ET call 866-348-7884

10 Jun

Vacation Ready: 5 Must Haves

Vacation Ready Five Must Haves

1. Plan For Adventure and Beauty

“Life is not a problem to be solved; it is an adventure to be lived.”  John Eldridge … Wherever the destination, adventure and beauty combine to make it a blast and good for us. Going through the valley of death sounds like adventure to me and then to lie down in beautiful green pastures  are the basics of restoring the soul.

2. People To Share It With

The stuff of legend will always have to do with the people you share your vacation with. “remember the time when?”

3. Road Ready Vehicle

  • Current Registration, state inspection
  • Maintenance done: Belts (especially timing belt), hoses, wiper blades
  • Tires,tread and inflation and make sure the spare is inflated
  • Fluid levels (especially Brake, Radiator, Motor Oil, Transmission Fluid)

4. Disconnection

From, work, Facebook, phones, email, AHHHHHHH there is so much in our lives everyday we have to disconnect for freedom.

5. Faith

Do you believe this is going to be your dream vacation? Yes, I saved the best for last. William Gurnall in his book ‘The Christian in Full Armor”, said “The Promise is the road our faith walks on.”  He compared walking on this road of promise to some who use two crutches and some go further without.

Those of weak faith lean on the two crutches of ‘experience’ and ‘reason’. My experience is that every-time we visit Aunt Lina I hear an earful, or every-time we go camping it rains or to the positive every time we go to North Myrtle Beach the food is awesome. Reason can be just as good or bad. ‘There is no way we have enough money to go on this vacation and have fun.” Or to the positive, “Old Red, (my 1995 Dodge Dakota) is in perfect shape to make this kind of trip.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that reality may be far from reason or experience; so how can we really know how things will work out?

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

William Gurnall went on to illustrate that deep faith is like swimming in the deep water, you have gone out past where you can touch bottom, leaving reason and experience and resting in the everlasting arms. It’s a risky and dangerous  place of high adventure, and sharing that with the one who saved you, Jesus, will make your vacation one for the ages. Yes, when you start to sink below the waves He is the one that will lift you up to walk on the water.

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