Trauma: Life in the Real World

Two of my favorite shows are “COPS” and “Trauma: Life in the E.R.” I love to watch live events as they unfold. And, while watching them unfold, it’s great to see the resolve with which these professionals work. They are able to take charge of life threatening situations and get them resolved. If it were left up to me, I would have been a detective or something of the sort.
As Christians, we face traumatic events throughout life—both physically and spiritually. Based on the show “Trauma: Life in the E.R”, I have developed a series that I have called “Trauma: Life in the Real World.” In this series I will attempt to give resolve for some of the curves life throws us.
Christ is still in the healing business!
You don’t want to miss this series. Make plans to be at Life Pointe, Saturday November 12 @ 7:00 PM.
Here’s a peak into the topics that will be discussed.

1. Develop stability
2. Diagnose the threat
3. Devise a plan

Survived Wilma!

I know what you are thinking. Why would you stay knowing a hurricane was coming your way? Don’t you have any sense? I do! I sense that God’s presence is with me!
Well, in addition to God’s presence being with me, the bottom line is: we are TIRED of evacuating! After evacuating numerous times in the last year and being hit with the brunt of Hurricane Charley, we were suffering from (if there is such a thing) "evacuation fatigue”. So I just grabbed a couple good books (The Day of the Saints and The Power of Creative Leadership), sat on the leather sofa, and read until my hearts content.
Although we did not get a direct hit by Wilma, wind and water pummeled our house all night long and much of the morning.
While attempting to get some “shut-eye” early in the morning, I would occasionally be woken up to the sound of wind whistling through the house and rain pounding the metal shutters that covered our windows.
Wind in Charlotte County was measured at 70 MPH sustained, and gusts much higher. Around our neighborhood, limbs from trees littered the ground and entire trees were pushed over. However, we survived without any damage to our home, landscape, or family. Praise God!

Are You Ready For Hurricane Wilma?

Are you ready for Hurricane Wilma? Have you made effort to secure your home?
Wilma has shown her fury on Cancun Mexico and forecasters have plotted her course to SW Florida.
Now, if you are like me, you have had ENOUGH of hurricanes for a life time. We (Punta Gorda/ Charlotte County) went through a major hit last year by Charley and the subsequent remnants of others storms. We know what it is like to deal with the aftermath!
Some have not even gotten their homes repaired from last year. Blue tarps draping the storm-battered homes indicate that some are having difficulty repairing what Charley destroyed.
Last year, there was not much time to get ready for a category four hurricane, as the forecasters believed Charley would go to Sarasota/Tampa area and would only be a mild hurricane. To their surprise, and ours, we took a direct hit with little or no warning. The end, of course, was catastrophic. Personally, the church, and our friends were greatly impacted by the storm.
This year, however, we are going to be ready. Government officials, after the recent tragedies in New Orleans, have elevated the level of concern that should be given to these deadly storms. People have frantically left the area days prematurely just to be sure they do not have to go through another storm.
Looking at the picture above of my home, you can get an idea of what many homes in Charlotte County look like today (sat). Storm shutters everywhere! I put up my storm shutter to protect the things I have just recently replaced. I want to be ready! When, and if the storm comes our way, I want to have taken every precaution to be sure I don�t suffer the loss like I did last year.
Hey, there's something spiritual we can learn from this. Life is full of storms and trust me you WILL have them. But, we don't have to fret if we have taken the appropriate measures to safeguard ourselves.
Jesus said, "in the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD." Friends, by giving our life totally to Christ, He assures us total victory of every storm that comes our way.
Recently, I was reading some material which stated, "the greatest blessings come out of the worst storms." How true! We look back on life and many of the great things we've accomplished and attained have come through storms of life. Even Hurricane Charley ended up being a blessing to my family. We were able to get brand new furniture for our house, which we would not have been able to do otherwise.
So, in the midst of storms (whether natural or spiritual), look for the blessings!

IRAQ: Did You Know?

1. The garden of Eden was in Iraq.
2. Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq, was the cradle of civilization!
3. Noah built the ark in Iraq.
4. The Tower of Babel was in Iraq.
5. Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq!
6. Isaac's wife Rebekah is from Nahor, which is in Iraq.
7. Jacob met Rachel in Iraq.
8. Jonah preached in Nineveh - which is in Iraq.
9. Assyria, which is in Iraq, conquered the ten tribes of Israel.
10. Amos cried out in Iraq!
11. Babylon, which is in Iraq, destroyed Jerusalem.
12. Daniel was in the lion's den in Iraq!
13. The three Hebrew children were in the fire in Iraq (Jesus had been in Iraq also as the fourth person in the fiery furnace!)
14. Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the "writing on the wall" in Iraq.
15. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq.
16. Ezekiel preached in Iraq.
17. The wise men were from Iraq.
18. Peter preached in Iraq.
19. The "Empire of Man" described in Revelation is called Babylon,which was a city in Iraq!

And you have probably seen this one. Israel is the nation most often mentioned in the Bible. But do you know which nation is second? It is Iraq! However, that is not the name that is used in the Bible. The names used in the Bible are Babylon, Land of Shinar, and Mesopotamia. The word Mesopotamia means between the two rivers, more exactly between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The name Iraq, means country with deep roots.

Indeed Iraq is a country with deep roots and is a very significant country in the Bible.

No other nation, except Israel, has more history and prophecy associated it than Iraq.

And also.. This is something to think about! Since America is typically represented by an eagle. Saddam should have read up on his Muslim passages...

The following verse is from the Koran, (the Islamic Bible)

Koran (9:11) - For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah; and there was peace.

One Man's Trash is Another Man''s Treasure

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” stated the spokesman on NBC Sunday night, as the camera man panned over mounds of rubble and trash left by Hurricane Katrina. I immediately thought to myself, what good thing could come out of that mess? Is there really a treasure in the midst of all that muck and disaster?
Chuckling, I remembered some things my dad said when I was young. Embarrassingly enough, as a child, my dad would take us up and down the road on trash night to look for “treasures.” He called it “treasure hunting” and that is how he eluded people knowing his secret. We would pick up things like televisions and dressers which was just trash to those discarding it, but it was perfect for my dad…it was his treasure!
Then the words, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” resonated in my mind. Ironically, my dad would use these words as he sought his treasures.
In this little adage, much can be learned. I, along with many others, was the epitome of a sinful life. Considered by many people in the world to be trash with no purpose for life, I found Christ as Lord and Savior. So Christ, like my natural dad, took me out of the world’s garbage and I became His treasure. He truly does use “the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.”

Life in LA

Ah, life in Beverly Hills. Of course, only the rich and famous can actually shop at these places. We are standing in front of the Georgio Armani store on the famous Rodeo drive. Don't we fit here? Check out these ridiculous looking glasses! I love them! Pastors just want to have fun!
Vern and Michelle opened there home and treated us like royalty. They toured us around LA, hitting many of the highlights. We went downtown LA, Malibu Beach, sailed out into the Pacific Ocean near the island of Catilina, and even saw OJ Simpson's home. Also, we were even able to view the location where the crashed airplane scene was shot on the popular movie "War of the Worlds."
I guess the most amazing thing was going to the top of one of the hills at night and looking out 0ver the city. Lights could be seen for as far as the eye could behold. What a spectacular sight!