When You Make a Vow to God

"When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— Better not to vow than to vow and not pay." – Ecclesiastes 5:4-5

Bill was working hard make it to the top of his profession as a photographer. When he fell ill, it came as a complete surprise to all around him.  The even greater shock came when the diagnosis was cancer. After surgery, the news only got worse. Cancer became, the most aggressive kind, followed by a life measured by a couple of months.

Like many of us would do, in his quiet time during recovery, Bill found himself in depression, followed by anger, that lead into deal making. His deal: "God, if you allow me to live, I won't live every day for you, but every moment." A couple of days past when the doctor presented Bill with both good and bad news. The bad news first, was that Bill indeed had cancer, but it was the most treatable kind.

People have asked Bill if God changed his diagnosis.  His reply is "perhaps." But to stop there is to miss the work God was really doing. "He needed to have a conversation with me," said Bill, "but knew that He had to get my attention to do so."  And the illness was the attention-getter.

As Bill tells the story, his priorities before his illness were God, family and work.  And he was lying through his teeth when he would say those things. The reality was just the opposite. Today as he lives cancer-free, his priorities truly are God, family and work.  And now that God is first in his life, fame and fortune is no longer a god that Bill chases. God has not only restored his health, but blessed Bill Fortney, with a New York Best Seller:  America from 500 Feet.

Bill made a vow with God, to never again live a moment in pride or in chase of fortune, but to live every moment for Him. And he never delayed in fulfilling his vow.

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

Freedom of Speech for Pastors?

The First Amendment to the Bill of Rights says:  "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."


Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. Where in that phrase does it say, "the separation of church and state?"


Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise there of.  Didn't we just read an article about a family being fined for hosting a bible study in their home? Say a prayer at a high school graduation, or at a football game, and see how you are treated by the authorities.


Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech?  Hmmmm. How many of you find that you are free to speak?  An even better question: "How many of pastors feel that you have the freedom to speak? I suppose that really depends on whether there is a D or an R on your voter registration card.


I am saddened, sickened and ashamed for my country, by the trends that have made it popular to grant the freedoms of the First Amendment to every religion, liberal organization, and special interest group, so long as they are not Christian or Jewish. And shame on the rest of us for sheepishly allowing it to happen!


Are Pastors Free to Speak?


Alliance Defense Fund

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

Freedom of Speech, Except for Christians

"And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved." – Mark 13:13

A couple of years ago, a friend of mine was harassed by his home owners association for having a bible study in his home. Three weeks in a row, the study was interrupted by the knock on the door from a deputy from the Hillsborough County Sheriff department. Upon the third visit, my buddy questioned the deputy about the harassment, and sited a well known Supreme Court case that protects his right to meet in his home.  The deputy has not been back.  

From time to time, I've felt that God has led my wife and me to home school our kids, for no other reason than to spare them the embarrassment that would surely occur from my protests over some of the things taught and not taught in public schools. And so it is, when I hear stories like the one I read about today in The Blaze, I become incensed by the abject disregard for our Christian heritage and First Amendment right.

When big brother confronts you, how will you react?

Couple Fined for Bible Study

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

Afflicted

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.  – Psalm 119:71-72

Anything that leads us to obey God is a blessing. Whatever leads us to receive salvation regardless of the cost, or what we must give up, we are thankful for it in the end – for nothing in this world can be "compared with the glory that will be revealed in us in heaven."

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

A Day to Remember

Please take 7 minutes and 3 seconds to listen to the words of Billy Graham, as delivered at the 9/11 memorial service – ten years ago.


"A Day to Remember"


"Shanksville, 2011"


"Meet Me in the Stairwell"

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.

10 Years Ago

Ten years ago, on September 11, 2001, I had just sat down to a meeting in downtown Tampa.  For some reason, Pat had the TV on in his office, when the news broke of a "small" plane hitting the Trade Center.  We were both surprised by this, but the gravity of what had happened didn't immediately sink in. 10 years later, I'm stunned more by the thought (or fear) that I believe that people today, still do not understand fully, the seriousness of the enemy that encroaches on us.  


So I sit here in the quiet, remembering 911 and lives that have been changed from it – like Sujo.  God saved Sujo on September 11, 2011, and through the ashes of that tragedy, this man has rededicated his life.  Please watch the short digital from I Am Second.


http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/sujo-john/


http://sujojohn.com/

Seeking and Following,

Dean

You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you, wherever you are, God has put you there; He has a purpose in your being there. Christ who dwells within you has something He wants to do through you wherever you are. Believe this and go in His grace and love and power.