answers to prayer-yes, no, or wait

When Ted was asked "how are you doing?" he would respond "better than you, I don't have to talk to me!" And depending on who was asking, he meant it. And I think of people's prayer life sometimes, and how they approach God You see, He answers every prayer. Yes-we like that answer, it is so nice when God agrees with us. Then there is no, and we wonder how God just can't understand what we are asking. "Don't you care God? Are you paying attention?" And our initial response sometimes is one of disappointment, for we hate to be told no. But I have to come to realize when He says no, it is for my protection, or He has something better.

The third repsonse from God is wait. For what? How long? Will I like it, will it be worth waiting? And if we don't try to hurry God, we find the answer is always worth waiting for. But that wait can sometimes seem like it takes forever. And so many base their relationship, or how they see God based on answers to prayer. Isn't the fact He is God enough?

Just imagine, if He answered us like we talk to others? Can you see Him telling us to chill out? Don't bother me now, I have a universe to run. Or, "oh no, not you again!" Yet when we are asked a question about God, we react poorly sometimes. We get on our theological discourse high horse,and think we need to explain everything we know, and oh by the way, maybe answer the question while doing it.

Some years ago a Boozefighter put me in a headlock, seeing I was a Christian. He said,"I have a question for you. Can God make a rock so big He cannot pick it up?" And with all my Biblical juices flowing answered, "You don't ask God stupid questions like that." And when the few seconds of silence passed, the guy answered, "good answer, I like that." Not the words I planned, but the words God gave me, and the right answer.

The gospel, like most of us, is simple. 25 words explain it, John 3:16. And in 87 words, Lincoln penned the Gettysburg Address-note, he never really lived there. In 1337 words, our forefathers gave us the Declaration of Independence. Yet today, the Obama Health Care Bill alone has over 2000 pages! And was encouraging the senators and representatives not to read it. How ungodlike!

Take the time to read John. Maybe look at the love and hope in the Gettysburg Address. Feel secure in knowing about the Declaration of Independence. But put your faith only in God. Talk with Him, and when asked about Him, answer in love. Don't bowl them over with what you know. They will only care about what you know, by what you show. Read your Bible. It may surprise you what is in it!

And when you are done, what it leaves in you! And if God askes how you are doing, tell Him! "Better, now that you've talked to me." A lesson for Ted, and all who seek Him. He didn't have to send Jesus, aren't you glad He did?

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

angels, hookers, and sopranos

I have found some comic relief on TV the past two weekends. Although it was originally called drama, when placed in the setting of today, it is more comical than serious. The Sleuth Network on Saturdays has Old School Saturday, where they show old cop shows. Two weeks ago I was dazzled and amused by Charlie's Angels, and this weekend was TJ Hooker. Two shows I never watched when on originally, but couldn't resist the nostalgia trip, plus nothing else was on. These pre Rodney King, pre Kevlar, pre 911, pre Hill Street Blues police were almost funny to watch. And had more in common with each other than you would think.

Far fetched plots were the hallmark of Charlie's Angels, and I found it fascinating that more women watched them for the fashions than men did for Farrah's assets. The other two were flat. Whether watching Farrah in her starched, white nurses outfit fight crime, and never answer a call in a major metro hospital she is assigned to-hey maybe things haven't changed so much, to watching Kate Jackson foil a Polish defector by wearing thick glasses and talking with an accent, to Jaclyn Smith, who looked too much like Jackie Kennedy-she was the sophisticated one-they were stylish, drove Pintos and Mustang II's-remember mpg was more important than mph, and even the fourth Angel Bosley, Bos, had a hint of felinity about him. Only Charlie was the real man, who always seemed to have a babe in a bikini, with her drink on a lawn chair close by.

But the Hooker plot I watched was more of fantasy than anything. The channel guide said the Beach Boys were guest stars, so I had to watch. The following is the plot-please stay with me-this really happened-and we wonder why there was a TV void in the early '80s.

Romano, the teacher's pet, and recruit from Oklahoma had never heard of the Beach Boys. Oh yeah, he'll do well in LA. There they only have two types of music, country and western. So while doing beach duty and caught eying the barely, bikini covered girls of Malibu-"sorry miss, I'm not staring, just checking for concealed weapons" Hooker tells him the Beach Boys are playing a concert. So somewhere between the beach and the music, Romano has to go-promising to buy every one of their albums with his next paycheck. Must have been on the take already. When he finds the tickets are sold out, he hears Heather Locklear has a pair-of tickets, and is told no, she is taking a special man with her.

Enter two dumb as a rock thieves, who are going to rob the box office at the concert, on the day of the concert-does sold out ahead of time mean anything to them? There will be no money-no tickets will be sold. So nothing to rob. But somehow they try, and Hooker and Romano catch these two dribblers, and get free tickets to the show. And of course, Carl Wilson and the Beach Boys know Hooker, he used to surf with them, calling him Kahuna. He was also a champion hill racer in another show. And Heather's special man is her dad, in his sport coat, the police captain, and even Hooker has a date, a blind woman who was the only eyewitness to a robbery-sorry, I didn't make this up. But Romano is there, and with these squeaky clean police are standing in the front row, talking with the Beach Boys, I am not sure if I wanted to laugh or throw up. And I love the Beach Boys! Hey kids-your parents really watched this garbage-may answer a lot of questions you have about them.

But both shows have one thing in common besides pretty people-they are all single, even Hooker, who is divorced, his job is now his true love, and marriage. He has a teenage daughter, who he sees once a year, and sent her a birthday card last year, or was it his birthday this year?

In real life, a captain in the CHP told me, ten years ago, that the number one sexual harassment claim is men against other men. And as we watch how people are still single on TV, but have kids, or are openly gay, and have kids, we really see how far we have come, or more accurately fallen. And as weird as Angels and Hookers can be, maybe they had something there. Something we seem to be missing today- a trace of morals. And sadly, it is everywhere, not only on TV. We have become a nation of rules, because we have abandoned our morals. Tony Soprano is our hero now, how far from LA can you get? New Jersey seen through the eyes of a mob leader, and we romanticize about him. Who are our heroes? I meet people from time to time who do something, and expect special recognition-just for doing the right thing. Reward me, and I will be courteous, show up to work on time, and stay within society's laws. But what does it take to stay within God's grace?

Trust. Respect. Obedience. And a relationship with Jesus. Without Him, you are pray to all the evils of the world, and no rules will help or save you. Only His angels can protect, and no police force on earth can keep you safe. It takes Jesus to save you and no one else can. We laugh at the old shows, but when it becomes reality it is sad, and no longer laughable.

So why wait, Jesus is available now. "Ask yourself punk, do you really feel lucky?" Go with God, the plot is real and I already know the ending!

We win!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogpsot.com