The Adventures of Bubba and Sissy: Week 1

Week 1

There are plenty of books, conferences, shows (both radio and television), and lesson plans out there for men and women who aspire to be great parents.  They can have different aspects, advice, agendas, and outcomes, but one thing they have in common is quality time with the child.  The Adventures of Bubba and Sissy is going to run with that commonality.

Week One is for story time.  This week, pick out seven different books and set aside time to read one each day.  Devote yourself to this time.  Turn off your phone, computer, and television and simply read.  Don’t let the words of the book fall flat from your lips; discover each page, critique the pictures, and let your child express themselves through their imaginations.

When you’re finished reading the book, let the real adventure begin.  Run to the living room and play out the roles of the characters in your chosen book.  Let your child dictate the outcome of the real adventure.  Interact with their imagination and let your own imagination join their world.  Leave behind skepticism and realistic outcomes and delve into the world of your child’s imagination.  Transport yourself back to childhood and become your child’s best friend.

I assure you that quality time in reality will transcend into your child’s dreams.  You already are their hero, so it’s time to become their super-hero.  Remember, a child is constantly analyzing the world’s input and making decisions that you may never know about.  Become the beacon of positive light to their souls.

This week, read…let life become an adventure…starting today.

Small

When the world was big, was it easier to live?

I think probably, because your closeness existed only in my heart.

So, when the world got smaller and you much larger,

It was my heart that got torn apart.

You see, once a letter would suffice, then the picture appeared.

Now my sight became connected to my soul.

Suddenly, I was able to hear your voice from miles away.

Hearing joined the struggle, and my emotions paid the toll.

Away from you, my memory could be controlled and the tears held back,

But now all my senses have been dragged into this war.

Virtual reality constructs a false you and gives you a voice.

You’re standing in front of me, and I can’t take much more.

Sunlight dances off your skin as your laughter tickles a breeze.

You say nothing, but I hear every word.

So, I draw closer to you, without you even knowing.

Soon you will be of infinite worth.

If I could just reach out and touch you and take out my glue,

I would piece together our broken past.

In your eyes, I’m superhuman and can conquer every evil,

But distance finally brings me to my knees, at last.

Have you ever thought about how radio unites people?  It used to be a local thing.  Then, radio began to spread across the nation.  Now, a radio station located in the United States can be heard around the world, on the Internet, and on smart phones.

Have you ever been in church and looked around at all the people praising God and wondered if He was smiling at the united worship?  Take that concept and apply it to radio.  On Air1, listeners call in and thank the station for playing the right song at the right moment.  Music is a tool that that can change lives.  Christian music, a form of worship by a single artist, can transform multitudes of people who lift their voices in praise to God.

Now, I wonder if God is smiling down, not at a single church, but at a world who lifts their praise to Him when a worship song comes on a radio station and people start singing along; a woman on her way to work sings in her car, a man sings along while shaving in the morning—more difficult than you can imagine, a little girl sings from the back seat of her car on the way to school.  All these voices, lifted in one accord, and God smile proudly at the praise.

I think the best example of this is the Newsboys newest release, “We Believe.”  A Christian believes that Jesus paid the ultimate price for sin and died on the cross, was buried and rose from the grave three days later, went to Heaven to be with God, and will come back to save the world.

Listen to this song, sing along with others, and remember that each time you hear this on the radio, multitudes of people are praising God right along with you.

Belief--The Single Most Important Thing...

Why is “belief” the single most important thing for the future—starting with the past, working toward the present, and heading into tomorrow?

With belief, one can attempt anything.  The outcome might not be as expected, but the attempt is what matters.

In a relationship without belief in the other person, it won’t last long.  But the relationship where both parties believe in each other can overcome any obstacle.

Now, let’s look at the spiritual importance and place it in 2014.  A video shows up on youtube of a boy throwing a basketball from a helicopter and it swishes through the net a hundred feet below.  You have a choice to believe that the clip is authentic, or you can doubt it.  A camera can capture a spacecraft hovering over a field and claim to be aliens (yes, I did just bring extra terrestrial life into this), but you have a choice to believe it or not.  What about the perspective of those capturing amazing moments with a camera or cell phone?

The shot was made! It took 85 attempts, but the shot was made! There are witnesses to this event, and it was recorded with our technology.  Why don’t people believe it happened?  Because there exists technologies to edit videos and tamper with the truth.  Now, we’re on to something.

Why do people doubt the Bible and its authenticity?  They had a method of recording events, and they did it.  Jesus walked on water! I saw it and wrote it down! Why do people question it actually happened?  Because someone could have made it up?

There’s the answer to why belief is the single most important thing for the future.  If you don’t believe in something, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.  If you don’t believe in something, it can’t affect you.  If you don’t believe in yourself, then you can’t accomplish greatness.  Belief is what makes us strong…pushes us to higher levels…binds us with each other…brings God closer to us.

Controlling the God Encounters

     It almost seems too easy to change history today by overanalyzing and twisting perceptions.  Your friend comes up to you with a pale face, racing heart, and stammering words.  “I saw a ghost!” they shout.  You begin the process of dissecting the event.  “Where were you? What time was it?  What happened?”  They walk you through the event—with passion in their words.  The event obviously altered their perception and impacted them.  Now comes your choice to believe or reject their story.

     Most people would be skeptical and want to experience the ghostly encounter before diving off the cliff of sanity and believing that ghosts exist.  You decide to visit this haunted house and find out for yourself if ghost wander the hallways of the condemned house.  Nothing happens to you.  You don’t brush shoulders with the undead.  You go on believing that ghosts don’t exist.  A year later you do the same thing—same results.  Another year passes, and you’ve come to a point where you want to believe because of the impact it had on your friend.  This time, you actually see a hovering spirit.  You believe!

     You rush to your friend and share your experience with them.  But they’ve had time to question the original sighting and came to the conclusion that ghosts don’t exist and the event was just an emotional response to a hallucination.  “What!? No! You actually saw the same thing and experienced it.  Why are they changing the past?

     Belief does that to us sometimes.  If we’re not careful, we can do the same thing to our faith.  God enters our personal space and touches us. It changes us and we run around—on fire with this encounter.  Time passes, and the inferno becomes a dwindling flame.  But don’t hurt yourself by nitpicking the event that sparked change in your life and concluding that you somehow had control over God’s appearance.  Don’t question it so much that you step back, take a different aspect, change your perspective, step back into the role, and convince yourself that something else took place.  You can’t rewrite history in honesty.

Captive

Tell me, how can life get better than this?

Sitting here, wondering if there’s something I missed.

Bottled-up scream behind my lips.

No one listening as I burn to a crisp.

Someone, somewhere, rescue me!

I’m chained and bound, can’t be free.

Consumed by complete misery.

On the ground, off my feet.

Happiness turned to rage!

Can’t even turn the page!

Fear my life is a waste!

It’s time I went away!

A slow, soft whisper begins to rumble my core.

Shaking the chains as I lay on the floor.

Pulsing a brightness and prompting something more.

Drawing me to my feet and pushing me forward.

I rise from the ashes, and the chains fall to the ground.

Weight is lifted, and I’m no longer bound.

In a place of solitude I look around.

Is it possible I was lost, but now am found?

Steady, stop, listen, I have something to say.

Stop looking at the past, tomorrow is at bay.

The darkness is gone, light shines a new day.

Move your feet and let’s start this race.

I have the key to the chains you held.

Bondage was a mindset, leading you to Hell.

I gave you life and sight to see.

I broke the mold to set you free.

I filled your heart, know I’m here.

I gave you courage and took the fear.

The chaos is gone from your life.

Leave the darkness, come to the light.

A new beginning starts tonight.

I conquered the battle and won this fight.

Peace, be still, and know that I am Lord.

Now, take my hand and let’s explore…this life together.

 

 

 

God the Tourist

Have you ever been on a guided tour?  Let’s place this scenario at a historic site.  Maybe you did some studying or have an interest in the location you’re visiting.  The guide leads you from one house to a barn to a field where a battle took place.  At each stop they bring history to life with fun facts and interesting tidbits.  Somewhere along the way you decide to speak up about something you learned that the guide didn’t mention.  Maybe the group comes to life with this new information or maybe the guide just ignores you and continues along the way.  Whatever happens, you stay on the tour until it is finished.

 

Life is a long tour.  God sent Jesus to earth and Jesus became the interpreter of how things run down here.  Have you ever stopped to think that maybe Jesus’ time on Earth wasn’t enough?  Times change, societies evolve, and new is always around the corner.

 

God said, “The Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.  Deuteronomy 31:8

Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20

I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. Genesis 26:24

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall

not overflow you. Isaiah 43:2”

 

Some people think that God is distant and never interacts with us.  Others think that God shows up and leads us in our times of need.  But God says that he is with us always; every minute of every day.  That makes God a tourist in the journey of our lives.

 

With that in mind; where are we leading God?  Are we showing Him all the marvelous things we’ve learned or experienced ourselves?  Or are we constantly showing him junk that He’s seen too many times before?  Do we ignore Him when He speaks up to share with us something we didn’t know? Or are we captivated with the new information and share it with others?

 

God created us and He wants to be with us.  He is with us every day.  You take Him to work with you.  You sing along with the radio in your car and He is with you.  Maybe it’s time to stop thinking that we’re just along for the ride.  Life is unfolding before us and we bring God into each new adventure.  He’s like a parent who watches His children’s expressions as they learn to ride a bike or experience something new, or battle with pain.  God created the world and He wants to know how much we appreciate it.  Let’s show Him the marvels of His creation and listen when He has something new to share with us.