Be Decisive - 9-28-08

“Be Decisive” - Decisive Moments in Life

Can you imagine a marriage ceremony, where the officiate asks the groom, ‘Do you, Mike, take Sue to be your wife?” and Mike says, um, well, I…

How decisive are you? How often do you question yourself?

What are some of the decisions that you are faced with?

Signing on the dotted line…Military…4 year commitment, or on a marriage license, a life time commitment.. Deciding on the grad school to attend, Cutting the String…The cord…Separation from home (money), leaving home for good

Why do we avoid or shy away from these moments? Commitment…I believe that our decisions define our lives. And we are fearful of our lives being defined.

Singer songwriter Joe Jackson talked about our modern dilemma
I hate this supermarket

But I have to say it makes me think

A hundred mineral waters

It's fun to guess which ones are safe to drink

Two hundred brands of cookies

87 kinds of chocolate chip

They say that choice is freedom

I'm so free it drives me to the brink 



I'm sure I am not the only one who has stood helplessly in the aisle at the supermarket in front of the range of laundry products that promise me whiter, brighter, color safe, biodegradable, skin friendly, non-biological, bleach free, elderflower scented tablets, powder, liquid, gel with added softener and wondered whether anybody still makes a product which just cleans your clothes. 



We are confronted with many moments each day that are in need of decision. How do we “Be Decisive”, I think we need to take a look at what Jesus did in his most defining Decisive Moment.

One of the most impactive words in the Bible:
Yet - nevertheless – But

Jesus going to the Cross – Luke 22:42
42"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

Decisive Movement – Jesus acted on the will of his father rather than his own will.

We are all soon to be faced with a Decisive moment in election the next President of the United States of America. For whom will you vote? Why? Your decision, your moment will be impactive toward the future of this country. I pray that you will listen and be silent long enough to hear the whispers of God in your decision.

Unhappiness is a motivating factor in this years election. Unhappy with the economy, war, taxes, the issue of abortion, gay marriages, and the nation’s deficit. We find ourselves in the midst of a weird phenomenon: No matter who the President is to be, we, the people of the USA, will infact be in this same position in 4 or 8 years during the next election. Wondering how we got here, why the economy is so bad, why taxes are so high, Unhappy with the state of our nation…could I propose something to you to ponder. To think about, considering all of our unhappiness…

Email from David Letterman -
'As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark 'The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?''

A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
E. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.
K. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
L. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy. Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?

The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?
Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it.....are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable” discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!

Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as country There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

Let me encourage you to “Be Decisive” while all the time “Being Prayerful” while ”Being Happy”.

James 1:2-6
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.