Oceans, row boats and big sharks

Posted on March 23, 2015 | Leave a comment

I’m a land lubber. Never sailed, never rowed more than a lap around a (small) lake. But I recently read two books about water so now I’m kind of an expert.
“The Boys in the Boat” is the story of nine American rowers who won gold in the 1936 Olympics. It is a fascinating story of these young men. But the real fascination was the story of one of the men who grew up under extreme difficulties- death of a young mother, unkind stepmother, father without willingness to intercede. His story is worth the read. And this is a very well written book.
The second book is Continue reading →

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A Gift of The Word

Posted on March 9, 2015 | Leave a comment

From my wife.

Vickie Munton's avatarwateringcanblog

Once a year we give out Bibles to our First Graders. It’s an exciting time for these young readers, and a delight to see their sweet faces as they take ownership of this new, treasured possession.  One of the young moms shared that her daughter was so excited that she couldn’t sleep the night before!  “Jesus loves me, this I know… for the Bible tells me so.”

First Grade Bibles

My heart was just about to burst as I watched their reactions to this gift of God’s Word–most of them beaming, some of them cradling the book to their chest as though they would never let it go. One little girl immediately opened it to scour the pages, while another held it gingerly as though it might break.

I know for many of them it wasn’t their first Bible, but it took me down memory lane as I thought about my first Bible…

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How Winter Helps

Posted on March 2, 2015 | Leave a comment

I love the four seasons. I do get tired of winter and summer, but all four have their charms. (I say that with 7 inches of new snow on the ground which really cut into the attendance at church on Sunday. I really like a big crowd to preach to as do all pastors. I prefer snow to come on Sunday night rather than Saturday night as do all pastors- and school kids.)
But winter serves a really great purpose. (Besides Continue reading →

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Connected by Faith

Posted on February 23, 2015 | 3 comments

The church where I was saved many years ago just bought 500 copies of my devotional book “Immersed: 40 Days to a Deeper Faith”. They are going to use it for a church wide series beginning the week after Easter. Many churches have used the book that way now, but there is a special connection you have with the church where you gave your life to Christ.

I trusted Christ as my Savior and Lord in the old worship center at Continue reading →

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About Fasting

Posted on February 9, 2015 | 1 comment

Once in a while, I ask our church to fast. I doubt it is the most popular request I make. But many tell me of the spiritual significance of their fasting. So here is a brief overview of fasting.
What it isn’t-
1. Fasting isn’t a weight loss program. You lose muscle and replace it with fat when the fast is over. There are better ways to lose weight. I have no idea what those ways are, but I’m sure they are out there.
2. Fasting isn’t a hunger strike. It isn’t a way to bully God into Continue reading →

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Growing Spiritually

Posted on February 2, 2015 | 2 comments

If you want to grow deeper in your Christian faith I recommend the following.
1. Read big chunks of the bible. Read the entire bible for yourself several times. It will take several times through to really begin to put it all together and see the big picture well- but it will be worth it.
2. Memorize some scripture verses. Be strict about it (best said with a German accent- roll the “r” on “strict”). Get it exactly right, word for word. This will force you to really know the verse.
3. Pray all the time. That is, pray every time you think about it. Have an attitude of prayer.
4. Pray systematically. Pray for specific Continue reading →

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A God Centered New Year

Posted on January 1, 2015 | 1 comment

I would like to be more God centered this year. Instead of having God on the periphery, wouldn’t it be better if God was at the center of our lives? Here is a bit of what that might look like.

1. A God centered life loves obedience. God is really big on the whole holiness thing. No compromise on this one. It matters deeply to him and should to those of us who follow him. If I am not obeying God, he isn’t at the center of my life. I’ve put him over in a corner and maybe taken him out on Sunday mornings, but he isn’t at the center of my life unless I am obeying what he tells me to do. This year I want to obey what God tells me to do through the Bible and through the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

2. A God centered life seeks God’s will. The core question isn’t really what you want to do. The most important issue is what God wants you to do. Wise is the Christian who wants God’s will more than his or her own. After all, God is smarter than us (some make that easier on God than others), knows the Continue reading →

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Sixteen Years Ago Today

Posted on December 30, 2014 | 1 comment

Great thoughts from my wife on her birthday!

Vickie Munton's avatarwateringcanblog

I have to be honest.  I don’t remember most of my birthdays.

I’ve never been a fan of too much attention, so I like to keep it simple.  A nice meal (that I don’t have to cook or clean up), and my family surrounding me.

It’s quite a confession coming from a mom and nana that does everything possible to make sure her kids and grandkids know how special they are on their special day… does that make me an oxyMORON?!

There is one birthday I will never forget, though, and I just happened across a photo of it the other day when I was searching through some old pictures.  I thought I would gift it to my readers that have never had the privilege of traveling to the land of the Bible.

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What I Learned about Missionaries

Posted on December 9, 2014 | 6 comments

My wife and I recently spent a couple of weeks in Madagascar with our son-in-law, daughter and two grandbabies who serve as career missionaries with the International Mission Board. Here are some lessons learned while there.
1. We should be very grateful for American plumbing. It is a good thing. Perhaps you haven’t thanked the Lord for those many blessings that other places don’t take for granted. The Western world has unbelievable riches compared to much of our world. With those blessings come some responsibilities.
2. Missions is hard. After the idealism wears off there is the reality of difficult language study- or in the case of my family, sort of two languages to learn with the dialect of their people group. There is the reality of bad smells and undependable electricity and strange food and customs. It is hard.
3. The call matters. If you become a career missionary to see the world and have fun and take some neat pictures you will undoubtedly Continue reading →

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Saved to Bless

Posted on November 11, 2014 | 2 comments

Salvation is about more than a ticket to heaven.
Heaven is awesome. That last sentence is a terrible understatement, isn’t it? Saying that heaven is awesome is certainly not enough to describe the greatness and the wonder and the excitement of heaven. Saying heaven is awesome is like saying the sun is bright: true, but inadequate.
When we are saved, we are “created in Christ Jesus” (Eph.2:10) That means that we are made new by Him. Our sins are forgiven and our lives are changed. We are born again. There is a spiritual rebirth. We die to the old life and live new lives in Christ. We are God’s creation spiritually when He saves us.
We are not saved by good works. The two previous verses- Ephesians 2:8-9- tell us that we are saved by grace through faith and not by our good actions. We place our faith in the good works done for Continue reading →

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