"How Great Thou Art"

Hey Friends,
My favorite hymn is the song, "How Great Thou Art." Lee Greenwood has a great version on one of his greatest hit cd's. I played that to start the church service last week. With every head bowed I wanted the words to penetrate the hearts and minds of those present.
Bad things happen to good people and the only real way to rationalize that fact is that God is great and is in control. Where we are is not a surprise to God. Are life has not caught Him napping. He is fully aware of what is going on around us. He knows fully our hurts, fears and overall mental, physical and emotional health.
God is the author, creator and sustainer of the universe. He is showing us daily that He is still n control. Although the world and its evil ruler wants to drag us down and falsely accuse God of not knowing us or caring about "little us." That is not true and is a lie that Satan has been getting away with from the beginning of time.
The truth is that We only see a moment of time where God sees all of time at a glance. He moving us around to put us in the best position to be of use to Him and for our own spiritual growth. He is great and is more than able to provide for our every need.
As I think of His greatness and His love for us I get overwhelmed! It is His grace that portrays His desire to care for us. We do not deserve it nor can we earn it. We accept it and do our best to travel the road He consistently nudges us to stay on.
God bless you all and thanks for following this blog. Please continue to read and make comments.

Knowing God

Hey Friends,
Today I want to post a devotional I read the other day. It is taken from one writen by J I Packer and really says what I want this blog about. So here goes!
Young Joseph's brothers sold him to slavert in Egypt, where, traduced by Potiphar's venomous wife, he was wrongly imprisoned, though afterward he rose to eminence. For what purpose? So far as Joseph personally was concerned, the answer is given in Psalm 105:19; "the word of the Lord tried him." Joseph was being tested, refined and matured. He was being taught during his spell as a slave and in prison, to stay himself on God, to remain cheerful and charitable in frustrating circumstances and to wait patiently for the Lord.
Once again we are confronted with the wisdom of God ordering the events of a human life for a double purpose: the indavidual's own personal sanctification and the fulfilling of His appointed ministry and servicein the life of the people of God.
There you go folks. This helped me and i hope it does something for you. Let your friends know about this site and let me know how to make it more useful.
God bless, Charlie.

Recent Scare

Hey Friends,
Got a call from my lawyer yesterday. Apparently the Commonwealth Attorney in Sussex County wanted to throw me back in jail. The deadline for filing for a formal appeal was drawing near. She is looking for a reason to violate my bond and put me in jail. God stepped and had folks from the Clerks office call my lawyer and alert her to the warpath that the Commonwealth was on. All was taken care of and thank God I continue to be free, for now. Probably going to prison, but not today!
Life is good and God is still in control. no matter what the challenge, God promises to be with us. His solution may not look like what we want it to but nevertheless He is always holding us in the palm of His hand.
God bless,Charlie.

"What?" not "Why?"

Hey Friends,
Yea life is tough and sometimes very unfair. So what is it that we can do about it. The Bible tells if you read the end that its going to get worse and worse for us Christians. We are not excluded from the unfairness and the unjust rules of society.
So we know it will be a challenge for us to continue to be solid witnesses for our faith. We know, also; that life will show up when we least expect it. Since we know that then we need to prepare ahead of time for what we know will be eventual unfair and unjust treatment we will receive.
We start by not asking the question, "why?" that will just keep us in the problem and turn out thinking into resentments and anger. None of theses are good for moving forward. The Bible says if we are continually looking backward we can not plow a strait line.
The correct question is "what?" What does God want from me? What can I learn from this situation? What can I do to get out of self? I could go on but I think the point has been made.
My second book will discuss 7 spiritual disciplines that will prepare you for when life shows up. Keep reading and please interact with this discussion.
God bless, Charlie

Behind the Glass

Hey Folks,
My first book is titled, Behind the Glass. Look for it around the first part of July. It is being published by Authorhouse publishing. It will also be avaliable through the following web sites; Barnes and Nobel, Books a Million and Amazon. Neat, hugh?
Lots of work getting a book published but the joruney has been a blessing so far. Hope to get better with each one I write, but this first one is really a labor of love.
Stay tuned for progress on my appeal and notes on various topics of spiritual development.
god bless, Charlie

First Book Published

Hey Friends,
I have written and about to publish my first book. It is due out in July this year. My second one is due out around Christmas. Yea! Both books are about the spiritual journey God is leading me on through the criminal justice system. Both are inspirational and help the reader to understand how to handle life when it comes banging at your door. In lots of trouble, yet; God is good and has a plan.
After being falsely accused of molesting a kid from my congregation I have been in jail twice and facing 6 years in prison. God is in control but the criminal justice system is broken. No way one mentally disturbed child should be able to accuse me and then have it stick. Yet it did. No other evidence but her word! Yea, crap, I know. Anyway continue to follow this blog. More will be reveled. transcripts, motions to dismiss and appeal progress.
God bless, Charlie