In preperation for being away for an entire week...

I am sitting here at my desk, working on a Saturday. Actually, as you can tell, I am not actually working, but, I have been working when I really wish that I was home packing. I am going to be gone next week. I am leaving tomorrow at noon to head down to Ephrata, Pennsylvania for a Kitchen Cabinet conference. I will be down there until 3:30 on Tuesday, then I drive back home. I am really looking forward to this trip, I will be driving down with one of my co-workers, a co-worker who has had a lot of questions about Spiritual things recently. I really hope that God would see fit to give me the chance to introduce this kid to Jesus. Or at least to help him along a little further towards him. I don't know, I just want to be available.
Then, on Wed. I will be going up to Canada with my wife and in-laws for a long weekend of skiing. I am looking forward to that as well, because of the temperate winter we had in the Northeast last year, I only got to ski once last year. As far as the Spiritual side of things I wouldn't mind a break-through on this front as well. My wife, still tired of my 'religious stuff'. My father-in-law, thinks that my views, because they are counter to his competitive business side, are the most niave ideas he has ever heard. And my mother-in-law? She was raised catholic and because of different edicts sent out by the Vatican, is vehemently against anything that has to do with organized religion. Tough crowd!
So, here I am with fear in my heart before we even start out. Who do I represent? Some timid false idealogy that is not worth anyone's time? No, I am a follower of the One, True God. The Creator of everything! If He is for me, who can stand against me? God is at work all the time, whether I be worshiping with a crowd of believers or alone in the car with some sceptics. Come on, Seanie boy! Buck up! Pray and more praying!

I wish I could help...

I was driving home from gathering in the materials necessary to satisfy my wife's pregnant ice cream craving.  Across the speakers in my car comes, Stephen Curtis Chapman's "All I Really Want For Christmas".  It is a song set in the recitation of an orphan child's letter to Santa stating that all he wanted for Christmas was a home and family.  It was not the first time that I had heard this song, I have even seen the video, but, for some reason, tonight, while on the 5 minute drive from Baskin Robbins to my house I burst into tears.  It actually came to the point of needing to pull over and stop the car.  My heart was breaking over the thought of all of those children that celebrated Christmas this year away from a family or not having a home.

I was overwhelmed with the desire to take each and every one of those children into my home and my heart.  I pray that God would use me to help at least one of these children at some time.  We try so hard to stop the death of the unborn, ask that they be given a chance, whether it be in their home or someone else's, but do we work just as hard at making sure that those children given a chance at life, then have a chance at the Real Life?  I know I don't.  I stand on my soapbox and preach a good message when given the opportunity but then what have I done for those little ones?  I am not asking everyone to go out and adopt 10 children this moment (unless you really want to :) ) but what can each of us do to help, there must be something.

I would like to adopt someday.  My wife and I are expecting our first right now.  After that I do not know what the Lord has in store for us, I am excited to find out though.  In the meantime, can I be a Big Brother, can I offer my time to a home, can I share a meal?  Will I be a sheep or a goat some day when we are divided?  When have I done for the least of these?

I love everyone who reads and pray for each of us, may the Lord put each of us into a position to help the least of these. Amen.

What the Season means to me...

Hello Everyone and Merry Christmas!

I love this time of year, being a larger person (haha), I handle the cold a little better then others and enjoy it that much more. More importantly then that, I love Christmas! The music, the gathering of family, the lights and presents under the tree. The most important part of it of all is the real reason for the season. 2000+ years ago, God thought we were worth coming to the Earth as one of us. Now, whether we celebrate on the wrong day or whatever the situation may be, or whatever the origins of some of our traditions, we are celebrating the birth of Jesus. Now, what makes that even more important is the plan that event began, the time, 33 years later, when that same precious baby hung on a Cross to enable us each to have a relationship with Him. Thank You Jesus for giving that awesome gift to us.

Now look at us, so many years later. We are fighting over whether it should be Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays that we great each other with as we interact everyday. I read Randy Alcorn's blog on a regular basis ( I would definitely suggest it, he is a great thinker as well as a wonderful author of Christian books. Here is the link http://www.randyalcorn.blogspot.com/ ) and he is regularly attacked by proclaimed believers for his THOUGHTS and COMMENTARY. Come on Church, is this bickering what we want to show the world that we are supposed to be trying to save? We believe that Jesus is part of the Trinity... God is the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. God the Father, out of Love for us, sent His Son, Jesus, down to Earth, to become One of us and to die for our sins, then, after Jesus went to be with the Father, They sent the Spirit to be our Conscience and Councilor. Through those actions, by God, we are enabled to be with Him in Heaven by acknowledging that we are sinners and accepting His sacrifice for us and inviting the Spirit to dwell in us. EVERYTHING else are matters of doctrine (invented by man and the Earthly church)! The Bible, being the Written Word of God, gives us the wayposts to follow along with the whisperings of the Spirit. The world around us sees our differences that we are so willing to argue and bicker over and laughs at us, with every right. And while they are laughing they are dieing and we continue to argue. We will be held accountable for that some day. Wake up! It is more important 'to be seeing to the least of these' then it is for us to be right or wrong about whether the Rapture has happened, will happen first or last or whenever it will happen. What about the homeless person that you pass on the street? Or are you too wrapped up in whether the government should take care of that demographic group or the church, Just Do It! Maybe Nike has it right! Is Heaven weaping over the unsaved going to Hell or the Saved church arguing about how to go about approaching the unsaved world? I think it is both and our Father is saying to us, "Come on Church, get it together!"

Meanwhile, please remember the real Reason for the season. That little Baby in Bethlehem so long ago and what awaited Him 33 years later. I love you all and hope that you have a blessed Christmas, this is my hope and my prayer. Amen.

Love,
Your Brother in Christ,
Sean

And here is the what is to be part...

My wife and I are expecting our first.  We actually just found out yesterday that he/she is going to be a he!  Mark Gavin Sims... Mark, after the writer of the Gospel and probably Peter's letters and possibly even the boy in the Garden who's clothing was lost while climbing the wall.  And Gavin?  I have no clue, it just popped up in conversation one day and we both like it.  My problem now is that I have several months of constant day-dreaming.  I know I may be premature but I want to write my son a letter...

My dearest Mark,

     As I ponder the writing of this letter before you are even born, so many images race through my mind.  I see the two of us napping on the couch on a Sunday afternoon watching football.  I see us both down on the floor playing with blocks and cars as I did when I was a little boy.

     I already know that my heart will break at every hurt that you suffer while learning about the world around you and it will leap for joy at every wonderful discover made at the same time.  I treasure the times that we will have reading a book together or even a simple game of rolling down a hill.

     Then when you are first off to school, I will be as scared of you leaving for your fist day of school as you are but I can not show it.  I will look forward to you sharing each evening the new things that you have learned and the new friends made.

     Next we will have to deal with your years of asserting your individuality.  If you give me as much trouble as I gave your grandparents I will need all the strength that God gives me!  But I hope you do well with sports and with your mind.

     And then comes the man that started as my little boy.  Making a life for himself, starting his own family, whatever the future holds.

     

     But throughout all of these stages, I hope to be faithful.  Faithful to my Lord in teaching you His love for you and all that that means.  Teaching you throughout every step of your life to conduct yourself and seek after being a Christ follower.  Then no matter into what direction you may go, you go into the world being Known as a man after God's own heart.          

    That is all I can do, that is my measure, my yardstick held against the wall to check off my worth as a Dad.  Did I take care of a family and raise a son that is a man of God?  This is my prayer for you Mark and the blessing I give you...  I pray that you will fully know the love of Christ and what He did for you.  Amen

And never forget that though your care has only been lent to me by our Father above, I will always love you.

Your Earthly Father