14 years ago on President’s day my then fiancé and I walked out of the gym on the campus of SAGU and ran into a young lady giving away the cutest little jet black puppy. She had picked him up from the pound but couldn’t keep him because her apartment didn’t allow dogs (go figure that one???) Of course my beautiful bride to be couldn’t resist petting and cuddling him and let’s just say with her womanly ways convinced this old stick in the mud to take him home. This became our first “child.” Yes I know we weren’t married yet, but we adopted anyway and somehow managed!
It wasn’t long before we settled on the name Lincoln in honor of it being president’s day and he just looked like a Lincoln type of dog. He was a lab/chow mix or maybe shepherd? We never quite knew the right mix or breed, but whatever it was he was intelligent, scared of fireworks, thunderstorms and vacuums and only took about 2-3 weeks to potty train. I had many dogs growing up in south Louisiana, but never any that made it 2 or 3 years because of snakes and other wildlife, as well as just plain getting rid of them because they were crazy! I remember this one dog we brought home from Colorado one summer wouldn’t stay in the fence. He figured out how to climb. I would sit and watch him get all the way up that fence, jump down and be right there waiting to put him right back in. Of course it didn’t take him long to do it all over again, with the same result. Talk about tenacity!
This little guy Lincoln was different though. Special in all sorts of ways! “Lincoln get the phone,” my wife taught him that one when she was pregnant with our first son. He figured it out in a few short commands and would proudly grab the phone and trot it over to her. It didn’t take long for that to transition to “Lincoln get me the remote……;-)” (what man can resist?) He also became my wife’s bedmate while I was away at work and she was laboring away with morning sickness. Because of it he would often try to sleep with us in the bed, but I wouldn’t allow it, I’m not the cuddly type. But he was always there. After Keaton was born he wouldn’t even sleep upstairs, he slept in the hallway right outside of Keaton’s door from then on. Our kids have only known life with Lincoln. Through all of the ear pulls, toy beatings, backyard confinements (when the next baby came), garage confinements while he was shedding, he protected and loved his kids. Never scratched, growled at, rough housed with or even pretended to bite one of them. Me however, he would wrestle like there was no tomorrow and could knock me down without much thought. He only barked when he sensed something threatening. Never made a sound otherwise and he always wanted to get to know every dog he ever met or saw and often went galloping after them scaring the pants off of the folks who were walking those poor little things…..imagine a 90 pound dog running at top speed towards you! Of course all he ever did was come to a screeching halt, sniff around, say hi and then mozy on back. The poor thing wouldn’t hurt a fly. To top it off he was so deathly afraid of fireworks and thunderstorms he climbed our backyard fence and for some reason thought it was better in our neighbor’s yard, so he climbed into hers. Then of course there’s the trying to chew through screen doors. Ours was fiberglass, my father in laws was metal, he destroyed the metal one (sorry Dave!).
Speaking of destruction, that reminds me of when as a newly married couple in our second apartment we returned from church one night to find it destroyed…..couch messed on, chewed cushions, chewed wedding sign in book, carpet pulled up from one corner of the living to the next, he spent a week on the patio. Of course in his disciplined state he decided to let his disingenuous state be known by chewing the door frame off, literally, about 4 feet of it. He was stubborn in a “I am my own boss” sort of way and he liked to prove it every once in a while, mostly by just wandering, all around the neighborhood. We might all be able to imagine how that went over with neighborhood HOA police ;-)
I guess the Marley and me moments could keep going, like me and Lincoln driving to Colorado from Dallas in a moving truck. One of our first camping trips on the south platte, he wanted to take a swim, got stuck in a strong current and pushed up against a tree hanging over the water. Poor thing, after I pulled him out by his collar I don’t think he ever went swimming again! The memories can’t go on forever though, so suffice it to say that you will be missed.
To my faithful friend, Lincoln, RIP
Friday, May 14, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
National Day of Prayer
Today as we celebrate America’s 59th Recognized National Day of Prayer, we would be remiss not to understand the underpinnings of what this day holds in virtue of its past roots in the founding of this nation. Many have sought to deny the history of how integrated prayer and specifically Christianity is to the founding of this nation and the ongoing success of our nation. Over 200 hundred years ago on April 15, 1775, 14 months prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, John Hancock penned these words to set aside a Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer (which can be echoed even now):
“In circumstances as dark as these, it becomes us, as Men and Christians, to reflect that whilst every prudent measure should be taken to ward off the impending judgments, …at the same time all confidence must be withheld from the means we use; and reposed only on that God rules in the armies of Heaven, and without His whole blessing, the best human counsels are but foolishness… Resolved; …Thursday the 11th of May…to humble themselves before God under the heavy judgments felt and feared, to confess the sins that have deserved them, to implore the Forgiveness of all our transgressions, and a spirit of repentance and reformation …and a Blessing on the … Union of the American Colonies in Defense of their Rights [for which hitherto we desire to thank Almighty God]…That the people of Great Britain and their rulers may have their eyes opened to discern the things that shall make for the peace of the nation…for the redress of America’s many grievances, the restoration of all her invaded liberties, and their security to the latest generations.”
To recognize the correlation of when this day of prayer was proclaimed, we can see that when this day was set aside by President Harry Truman 59 years ago it was done so not based on any other precedence but historical accuracy in regards to the wishes, desires and love of Christ that those responsible for the birth of our freedoms held. Lest anyone think that I misspoke and said Christ and not “god” as in the plurality of other religions, understand that it was the same John Hancock and also John Adams that declared with unanimity that “We recognize no sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus.” It was also this same John Adams that proclaimed:
“The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity… I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”
So on this nationally recognized, government sanctioned day that we humble ourselves and lift up a prayer to God, not a god, but The God proclaimed in the Bible, who sent His Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for us to have communion with, we will pray that this nation will rise above all nations. Not for the purpose of power and rule, but for the express purpose of protecting the innocent, improving the lives of men and providing justice for millions around the world who have no justice and no freedom. And we stand with Benjamin Franklin in declaring that;
“God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel” –Constitutional Convention of 1787
May God Bless this nation, may our leaders be given wisdom from biblical precedent and lead with righteousness to protect our lives, our liberties and our pursuit of happiness, not with moral inequity, but righteous rule. Give our President the mind of Christ and may his counsel be Godly counsel. Give our congress a repentant heart and humility to defend the principles of freedoms while protecting our liberties through righteous legislation. May our courts be places of Justice and not deference to the depravity of man as they defend and uphold the true intent, context and meaning of the Constitution as written with intentionality to reflect biblical ideals. Let the media be purged of fractious divisions and fear mongering. Let the financial climate of our nation be healed from greed that has gripped our markets and let the people once again honor corporate America for the many benefits that they bring us in our daily lives. May the Christian liberties that we have been honored with since the founding of this nation not be halted, harassed and hailed anymore as a bigoted, racist, intolerant religion, but one that loves unconditionally, serves prolifically and honors the sanctity of life above all else as that which reflects the very life and character of God Almighty. Silence the factions within our ranks that seek only to divide and cause hatred and loathing for the things of God and let the righteous rise with the Spirit of power to:
“preach good news to the poor; bind up the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, open the prison to those who are bound; proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the vengeance of our God; comfort those that mourn; to give them beauty for ashes, gladness for mourning; a spirit of praise for despair; ……so that God might be Glorified, (then) they can rebuild….., restore….. and renew…… what has been devastated for generations!” (Isaiah 61:1-4)
God Bless America!
Pastor John Rodrigue
May 6, 2010
“In circumstances as dark as these, it becomes us, as Men and Christians, to reflect that whilst every prudent measure should be taken to ward off the impending judgments, …at the same time all confidence must be withheld from the means we use; and reposed only on that God rules in the armies of Heaven, and without His whole blessing, the best human counsels are but foolishness… Resolved; …Thursday the 11th of May…to humble themselves before God under the heavy judgments felt and feared, to confess the sins that have deserved them, to implore the Forgiveness of all our transgressions, and a spirit of repentance and reformation …and a Blessing on the … Union of the American Colonies in Defense of their Rights [for which hitherto we desire to thank Almighty God]…That the people of Great Britain and their rulers may have their eyes opened to discern the things that shall make for the peace of the nation…for the redress of America’s many grievances, the restoration of all her invaded liberties, and their security to the latest generations.”
To recognize the correlation of when this day of prayer was proclaimed, we can see that when this day was set aside by President Harry Truman 59 years ago it was done so not based on any other precedence but historical accuracy in regards to the wishes, desires and love of Christ that those responsible for the birth of our freedoms held. Lest anyone think that I misspoke and said Christ and not “god” as in the plurality of other religions, understand that it was the same John Hancock and also John Adams that declared with unanimity that “We recognize no sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus.” It was also this same John Adams that proclaimed:
“The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity… I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”
So on this nationally recognized, government sanctioned day that we humble ourselves and lift up a prayer to God, not a god, but The God proclaimed in the Bible, who sent His Son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for us to have communion with, we will pray that this nation will rise above all nations. Not for the purpose of power and rule, but for the express purpose of protecting the innocent, improving the lives of men and providing justice for millions around the world who have no justice and no freedom. And we stand with Benjamin Franklin in declaring that;
“God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel” –Constitutional Convention of 1787
May God Bless this nation, may our leaders be given wisdom from biblical precedent and lead with righteousness to protect our lives, our liberties and our pursuit of happiness, not with moral inequity, but righteous rule. Give our President the mind of Christ and may his counsel be Godly counsel. Give our congress a repentant heart and humility to defend the principles of freedoms while protecting our liberties through righteous legislation. May our courts be places of Justice and not deference to the depravity of man as they defend and uphold the true intent, context and meaning of the Constitution as written with intentionality to reflect biblical ideals. Let the media be purged of fractious divisions and fear mongering. Let the financial climate of our nation be healed from greed that has gripped our markets and let the people once again honor corporate America for the many benefits that they bring us in our daily lives. May the Christian liberties that we have been honored with since the founding of this nation not be halted, harassed and hailed anymore as a bigoted, racist, intolerant religion, but one that loves unconditionally, serves prolifically and honors the sanctity of life above all else as that which reflects the very life and character of God Almighty. Silence the factions within our ranks that seek only to divide and cause hatred and loathing for the things of God and let the righteous rise with the Spirit of power to:
“preach good news to the poor; bind up the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, open the prison to those who are bound; proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the vengeance of our God; comfort those that mourn; to give them beauty for ashes, gladness for mourning; a spirit of praise for despair; ……so that God might be Glorified, (then) they can rebuild….., restore….. and renew…… what has been devastated for generations!” (Isaiah 61:1-4)
God Bless America!
Pastor John Rodrigue
May 6, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
It's A Sin to Pray
No not literally, unless of course you break the law to do it. Of course as someone who understands spiritual reality, God's law trumps the national law anyway, so no its not a sin, to a Christian. Unfortunately to a growing minority in this country it is a sin though. It is a sin to ask for help, for guidance, for wisdom and for grace. Sounds kinda ridiculous doesn't it? Since when can asking for help be so bad? After all that is what one of the main tenets of prayer is.
Take the Lord's prayer for instance, "give us, forgive us, lead us not, deliver us." Lots of "us" in that prayer isn't there? Short to be sure, but powerful because it relied on God as the giver and not ourselves. This then bears weight with the intent of prayer, to keep ourselves humble in the eyes of God and to make sure that we understand we are not within ourselves able to have all the answers for life. Of course this offends many within our culture who decry any religious intonation within government circles at all in our country as noted in this recent article on NPR. But the thing that irks me is the total loss of the rationale behind prayer in the first place. The one thing that atheists tend to have in common, pride.
Too much pride to simply ask for help. To realize that we don't have all the answers to life and can't do it all for ourselves is akin to blasphemy for them. So what is so wrong with a government that can humbly ask for providence to guide them? To me this is the basic building block of any great government, humility. And of course the basic tenet to any great person as well. So fight prayer in the courts, fight it in the media, put your best boxing gloves on, but in reality all you are doing is throwing punches into thin air because humility beats pride any day.
National Day of Prayer Rules! Keep it Sanctioned in Government and Keep it national, public and humble. And for those who seek to thwart any understanding that Judeo-Christian values were deeply embedded in our nation, take a tour of Washington D.C. and tell me what you See!
Take the Lord's prayer for instance, "give us, forgive us, lead us not, deliver us." Lots of "us" in that prayer isn't there? Short to be sure, but powerful because it relied on God as the giver and not ourselves. This then bears weight with the intent of prayer, to keep ourselves humble in the eyes of God and to make sure that we understand we are not within ourselves able to have all the answers for life. Of course this offends many within our culture who decry any religious intonation within government circles at all in our country as noted in this recent article on NPR. But the thing that irks me is the total loss of the rationale behind prayer in the first place. The one thing that atheists tend to have in common, pride.
Too much pride to simply ask for help. To realize that we don't have all the answers to life and can't do it all for ourselves is akin to blasphemy for them. So what is so wrong with a government that can humbly ask for providence to guide them? To me this is the basic building block of any great government, humility. And of course the basic tenet to any great person as well. So fight prayer in the courts, fight it in the media, put your best boxing gloves on, but in reality all you are doing is throwing punches into thin air because humility beats pride any day.
National Day of Prayer Rules! Keep it Sanctioned in Government and Keep it national, public and humble. And for those who seek to thwart any understanding that Judeo-Christian values were deeply embedded in our nation, take a tour of Washington D.C. and tell me what you See!
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