Where Are The Men?

Once upon a time, men were men and manly. The dad was the head of the family and his wife and children looked up to him as the leader. He was the one whose praise and approval were most sought. If you messed up, there was no more fear-inducing statement that your mother could make than, “Wait until your father gets home.” His physical stature didn’t matter so much as the stature of his position as the husband and father. He was looked up to and admired. Boys wanted to be what their father was when they grew up. Girls wanted to marry a guy who was just like their dad. It was a time when men, husbands, and fathers, were looked up to and respected just because that is the way it was. Men knew their duty, their place, and acted in that role. Today, that falls under the heading of, “Once upon a time…” 

So, what happened to those days? They were depicted in TV shows such as “Father Knows Best” and “My Three Sons”. Sons bragged about their dads, even to the silly, “My dad can beat up your dad!” 

Today, we see a totally different picture. Too often we hear women complaining that their husbands do nothing, they don’t take charge or make decisions, or only act when asked rather than initiating action when it is needed. Men today won’t even make a decision about which restaurant to visit when taking their wife out to eat. The awe or fear that was once felt by their children has been replaced by indifference or annoyance and disbelief. Today, men seem to see their role as bringing home the money that buys the bacon. The kids bypass him and go to their mother for the leadership and approval they once received from him. The role that God created in the very beginning for men has, in too many households, disappeared. The sad thing is men have allowed it to happen, and even support the new status quo. They don’t see themselves as leaders. Their attitude seems to be that they can’t change it so they might as well accept it. They grew up in a matriarchal family and handed over the reins to their wives after they got married. 

While there are certainly many different ideas and theories why this has happened, here is mine. We are influenced by what we see and hear. One of the strongest sources of that influence is television programming. Since the 1950’s, men have been depicted more as fools than as heroes on situation comedies. The standard scenario is, at the end of the program, the wife comes across as the “wise woman” and the husband is depicted as the bumbler, the fool. Think of the original “I Love Lucy” shows. While Lucy was shown as being foolish and in trouble at the beginning and through the middle of the episode, at the end, it was her husband, Desi, who was the fool and she was the wise one. Carry that same train of thought through “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and others from that era. 

Do you want a look at more recent times? How about “Everybody Loves Raymond”? Both Raymond and his father were bumblers, constantly being overshadowed by their wives. The sexual side of marriage was constantly being ridiculed. Raymond was depicted as having to practically beg his wife to make love, and it was often shown as his reward for good behavior rather than a joyous sharing of love and affection between two people who loved each other. 

Imagine a scenario for a situation comedy starring three women who live in the same house: a career woman, her sister, who is a professional, and the sister’s teenage daughter. The career woman amuses herself by cruising the bars and bringing home a guy whose name she doesn’t remember the next morning. The professional sister is socially inept, divorced, and unable to form a lasting relationship. The teenage daughter is rude and disrespectful to both of them. Can you just hear the objections from women calling the show degrading, disrespectful, and a total insult to women? Well, that show was on television for many years, except it is called, “Two and A Half Men!” Just think of the picture it portrays of men and how that could influence people and their view of how men act in this society. By the way, who is the “wise woman” in that show? The housekeeper, of course. 

Your natural objection to the above is, “But these are just comedies, no one takes them seriously, right?” Perhaps they aren’t meant to be taken seriously, but a sixty year diet of them can’t help but influence how men are looked at and treated. God did not create men to be fools or dunces. He did not set them down to be the servant, but rather to lead, to make the critical decisions that need to be made. It is time for men to return to the role which God ordained in the beginning, not as dictators, but has loving leaders.

The Nuclear Option

 The nucleus is at the center of every atom that makes up the physical matter of our world. Once just a part of theory in physics, it was thought to be a potential source of tremendous energy. During World War II, scientists and researchers in what was known as the Manhattan Project showed that if the nucleus of an atom of uranium was bombarded with neutrons, it would start a chain reaction that could, if uncontrolled, lead to a massive release of energy, an explosion. This was demonstrated first in the New Mexico desert when an atomic bomb was detonated. Later, two bombs were constructed for use against Japan. President Truman had the awesome and frightful decision to exercise the first Nuclear Option, whether to use those two weapons against Japan. That he did so in August 1945 against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki shows that he made a difficult decision which killed thousands of people and brought about the surrender of Japan and an end to World War II. 

Today we have controlled nuclear detonations going on throughout the world in the production of electricity. The physics is still the same: nuclei being bombarded with neutrons in a controlled way to benefit us. A seemingly endless source of power used for our good. Yes, there are those people who disagree with nuclear energy, but for the most part, we have accepted that the benefits far outweigh the risks. 

There is another nucleus in our world: God. As believers in His existence, we know that He is the center of everything, the source of all of the power and energy. An atom has to give up part of its nucleus in order to start the chain reaction to create energy. God is infinite and gives each one of us a part of Himself when we are created. That part is our immortal soul, that part of us that is created in His image and likeness. God had the option whether to create all that He has, including us. Because He is allloving, He had to share that love and the part of that which benefits us is our creation. 

God gave many gifts to us when He created the human race. One of the greatest of these is that of free will. That means we have the choice to obey Him or not. We have the choice whether to believe in Him or not. That is our nuclear option: whether to believe in Him who created us all. That answer lies in the core of our being, our existence. At the very center of us, at the soul level, we know that God is our creator. Our soul is a part of Him and as a part of Him we know that He truly exists. There are many in the world around us who deny Him, who claim He does not exist. All they need to do is to look into their own nucleus and feel the wonderful loving presence of God. That they choose to not do so is their nuclear option, exercising the very gift of free will we have always had. 

Regardless of what we do with our lives, be it good or bad, we will always be a part of the loving God who created us and implanted in our own nucleus His undying love for us. Can we do less than return that love by following His laws and His desires for us? Reach all the way down into the very core of your being and listen to what He has planted there for you, the guidance that He has given each one of us to follow our own individual path to an eternity with Him.

Behind Closed Doors

 If you are old enough or are a fan of old country music, then you probably remember Charlie Rich’s hit single, “Behind Closed Doors” from 1973. The song describes the woman he loves, how she is in public and how loving she is when the doors are closed and they are alone. It was, and is, a great song and it was a #1 hit for him.

There are other things that happen behind closed doors, and I could be talking about abuse of different kinds, like spouse abuse or child abuse, but I’m not. What this is about is closing the doors to keep yourself in and shutting others out.

We all like our privacy and want to be able to choose those who are around us. Sometimes, those who are with us, whether family, friends or acquaintances, do or say something that upsets us. At that point, we separate ourselves from them and go our separate way. There is nothing wrong with that is there? Not usually, but what if that person is a family member or someone who has been that close before? At what point do we draw the line and decide to never talk to that person or be with them again? There are some actions that deserve that treatment, like violence or abuse. What about harsh words, broken promises, or hurt feelings? What about forgiveness?

One of the things that sets Christianity apart from the rest of the world’s religions is its concept of forgiveness. It is a key part of the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus himself said we are to forgive others “seventy times seven times”, which really means there is no limit to the number of times we should forgive. If that is the case, and it is, then why do so many Christians who practice their faith so diligently refuse to forgive others?

Just listen to people who close the door to their homes and their hearts to a family member who has upset them in the past. They have all sorts of reasons or excuses for shutting that person out of their lives. Parents become estranged from their children, siblings no longer talk to each other, and the best of friends shun each other’s presence. I am not talking about a short period of time while someone works off a mad. I am talking about something that may go on for years, something that neither party is willing to resolve. Maybe one party will reach out to the other in an effort to apologize, to heal the hurt, and reunite. The door remains closed. The other party stays behind those closed doors. Where is Christ in that place, in that cold heart? We read in the Bible that if we have a problem with our brother and have brought our gifts to the altar, we are to leave them there and go reconcile first. So, why don’t we? Why do we not follow what Jesus has told us repeatedly to do?

Even the most devout Christian can be fooled by the Father of Lies into thinking they are justified in feeling the way they do. The Enemy cannot help but gloat over the situation, dancing for joy at the havoc he has created. The person behind the closed door can certainly rationalize his or her behavior in some way. Remember though, that “rationalize” is “rational lies” that we tell ourselves to justify words and actions which go against God’s teaching.

Are you hiding behind one of those closed doors? Who are you keeping away? Why? What would happen if you opened that door, if you invited that person back into your heart? Again, remember, I am not talking about someone who presents a danger to you and those you love. I am talking about someone who should be a part of your life but isn’t.

Look around you. Where is that person? Why not have Jesus help you to turn that doorknob and open not just your door but also your heart? You never know what you might find on the other side.

Friction

Several decades ago when I was growing up, if you wanted to light a cigarette or start a fire, there was basically two choices: a match or a Zippo lighter. Now I’m sure that most of you may not know about Zippo lighters. It had a small metal case with a flip top and a screw in the bottom. The screw in the bottom was to squirt lighter fluid into the lighter and there was cotton inside to hold it. Under the flip top were a wick, a flint, and a wheel that touched the flint. In order to light the wick, you spun the wheel, which scraped the flint and created sparks which, in turn, lit the wick. Matches are much older, invented and improved in the mid and late 19th century. The basic match is either a wood stick or small cardboard stick. The head of the match is primarily potassium chlorate. When it is rubber across a striking surface it will light. The striking surface is a rough surface containing primarily red phosphorus. When the match head I scrubbed against it, the two chemicals are combined and that is what causes the match. What is common between the lighter and the match? Friction. Whether it is a wheel scrapping a flint or a match rubber against a rough surface, they both need friction to create fire.

So, what does this long chemistry lesson have to do with us? We refer to it in a variety of ways. If two people don’t get along, we talk about the friction between them that lights a fire which can escalate to angry words, violence or even death. We say that one rubbed the other the wrong way. On the other hand, we talk about two lovers and how they just create the right sparks that ignites their relationship. Dating someone seriously was once called sparking.

Take the first part of that last paragraph and think about it. Who have you rubbed the wrong way? Fix it. Has someone else rubbed you the wrong way? Talk to them, resolve it, forgive them, and fix it. Are they someone who will not talk to you or will not do anything to fix it? Pray for them, forgive them, and move on. But be open to them should God’s grace lead them back to you and give you the opportunity to fix it. Consider the following:

Matthew 5:23 – 24: 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (NKJV)

Of course, all of this talk about friction, sparks, and fire would not be complete without remembering the time when God struck a spark and started a fire. That fire is the one that never quenches, never consumes, and never dies. That fire is the fires of hell and the realm of the Enemy.

That’s a whole lot of words to get to the question of what does all of that have to do with our relationship with God? Well, we constantly reference it when we talk about our relationship with him. We talk about a preacher who preaches about fire and brimstone. We talk about preachers who are on fire for the Lord. Then there is your wanting to create a spark in someone to fire them up for the faith, to direct them down the right path towards the light. We talk about getting someone around strong believers so some of that will rub off, friction again, and point them towards God. I’m sure you can come up with examples of your own, so think about it.

How about you? Do you have God’s fire in you? I’m not saying you have to go stand on a street corner and preach to the passersby. If someone asks you if you are a follower of God, of his son, Jesus Christ,

do you mumble a quiet “yes” or do you admit it in such a way that the questioner knows here you stand in your faith. Or maybe you are one of those who deny your faith because it isn’t popular or politically correct to be one of his. If you are just lukewarm, what can you do to create a spark that will light your fire? Who or what will be that which you rub against, scrape against, that crates the friction that brings fire, warmth, and light into your life, your soul, and to all of those around you?

Remember that fire warms as well as destroys, so why not do whatever it takes for you to be in the warmth of God’s love. If you are not there today, then today is the day to start. Do it.

It's The Wolf!

 We have all heard the cliché about the wolf in sheep’s clothing. It is usually used to describe a person who shows a good exterior in terms of looks and behavior, but uses that to conceal an opposite and evil side. I thought of that for some reason the other day and wondered where it came from. One source is Matthew 7:15:

Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. (NKJV)

I also found a source in one of Aesop’s Fables. He was a slave and storyteller in ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BCE. His story goes like this:

Once there was a wolf who could not get enough to eat because the shepherds were too watchful. One day he found a sheepskin, put it on, slipped into the flock, and ate one of the sheep. He followed them back into the barn in order to eat one later. However, the shepherd decided he wanted lamb stew, so he went to the barn and chose a sheep (actually the wolf) and killed it. The moral of the story is seek to do harm and harm will come to you.

Lastly, of course, is the tale of Little Red Riding Hood. I’m sure you remember how the wolf tried to fool her by dressing up like her grandma. The story ends with the wolf being discovered and killed by the hunter.

In our secular world today we meet many sheep. I don’t mean the shy, withdrawn, quiet introverts, but rather good people and good companies. Unfortunately, a few of them turn out to be wolves. A typical example would be an investment banker who takes his clients’ money and then swindles them.

How about in our personal and spiritual lives? Satan definitely fills the role of the wolf to perfection. He is the Father of Lies, which includes all of the tricks and deceptions. While you aren’t likely to actually meet him face-to-face, he is constantly on the prowl looking for souls to gobble up. His treachery is often subtle, with small temptations. We may reject them at first, but he will keep trying and trying until he finds the right circumstance, the right temptation, to start you down his path and away from God. It doesn’t matter who you are, we have all fallen under that spell and put a foot on that path. So, where do we turn for help? The Good Shepherd!

In John 10:14-15, Jesus said: “I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and they know me. Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for my sheep.” (NIV)

And that is exactly what he did on Good Friday.

So, what are you going to do about the Wolf, Satan, when he comes to call? He won’t be wearing a sheepskin. He may be in a nice suit or she might be in a pretty dress. In either or any case, it is still the Wolf. So, how do you figure it out? By constantly praying for our Lord’s protection, that he makes sure our eyes are open and our hearts and souls are on his path. He has given us the power and strength to recognize the sheepskin; we just have to use it as he taught us. So, are you asking for his vision and protection or are you trying to do it on your own? The second choice leads to the loss of everything, including eternity with God. Ask and you will receive he told us, so why wouldn’t you, why don’t you?

It Ain't Always Bad

There’s a song written by Bruno Mars, Phillip Lawrence, and Ari Leving, and recorded by Mars, called “Count On Me.” There are a few different versions with minor deviations in the first verse, but the one I heard first was sung by The Sea Chanters, which is the vocal group that is part of the U.S. Navy Band. It is out there on YouTube, along with several hours of music performed by the band.

The first line of the chorus is this:

    “You can count on me like one-two-three

        I’ll be there”

If we look at the song as if God and we are having a conversation, how would we look at it? Now, on first glance it is easy to assume that this is God talking to us, promising us. But, if you look at the next line, you might come to a different conclusion:

    “And I know when I need it

    I can count on you like four-three-two

    And you’ll be there

    ‘Cause that’s friends are s’posed to do, oh yeah.”

Now the critical question is which part of the two parts of the chorus is you talking to God and which is you listening to what God has to say to you? How about both?

In good times and bad, and even in between, there is God’s promise to us to be there when we need him and there when we don’t think we do. Yes, he is always there for us, of course. Sometimes we may feel we can do whatever it is on our own. For some reason, it usually doesn’t turn out quite the way we envisioned it. God is always there for us, helping even though we don’t think we need it. We must not try to cut him out by trying to go it alone. That is God’s message in the first line of the chorus.

But don’t we also have a part to play in that line? Certainly our role to play is to let God know he can count on us to do his work, follow his teaching, obey the rules he gave to us thousands of years ago. Whether we do so by becoming one of his ministers and spreading his word to others or by just living the way he wants us to live, to show by example how he is an integral part of our lives, it is our role to play.

The second line of the chorus is our declaration of faith. We are saying that we believe he is there for us at all times and in all ways, that we can always count on him to be forever in our lives.

That line of the chorus is also God’s statement of having faith in us to live our lives according to his desires, as spelled out in the book he gave to us. Knowing that he counts on us is not a burden, but rather a source of joy in knowing we are doing his work, furthering his desires to bring everyone to him.

So, yes, we do what is needed for each other, are there for each other, give out of love what we each can give, and know without doubt we are both loved in return.

It's Wonderful!

 There is an oldies radio station that I usually listen to which plays music from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, with an occasional song from the 60’s thrown into the air. When I am driving down the road, I can go back in time, remembering those times, and sing along with those words. The other morning, I had to back my car out of the driveway so my wife could leave. Just a few seconds after I started the car, an old Elvis Presley song came on, “The Wonder of You”.

If you have never heard it before, or your memory of the words has gotten dim, here is the first verse:

    When no one else can understand me

    When everything I do is wrong

    You give me hope and consolation

    You give me strength to carry on.

    And you’re always there to lend a hand

    In everything I do

    That’s the wonder

    The wonder of you

While the song is obviously a love song of course, especially considering who sang it, just take the time to listen to the whole song. (YouTube, of course) This first verse is a very powerful declaration of our faith in God. It admits to him that sometimes we are less than perfect (by human standards), that sometimes we really screw things up. Even when we do that, he is still there; he lends a hand and helps us when we stumble, when we fall.

We, each of us, has a friend, someone who is there for us in good times and bad. On those rare occasions, this may be someone who has been there for decades, come what may. Other times, we have a great friend, but with the passing of time, distance, and circumstances, we drift apart. Given that you know yourself best, it may be difficult to know there is an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving God who loves us anyway, regardless of what we do, how we live. He even loves those who don’t know him or who deny him. I’m sure there are times when you wonder how he can love you. I know I do. How it must humble us to have someone love us and want to be a part of our lives. God does.

Whether we are faithful followers or one of the prodigals, he is there to give a helping hand whenever we need it. He is there, his hand is out, just waiting for you to reach out and grab it, our wonderful God. Why not make it so in everything you do?

Out Of The Dark Side

Were you around in 1977? That is the year we were introduced to Luke, Leia, Han, Obi Wan, and Darth Vader. That was the year “Star Wars” was released and a series of movies was born. I was living in the Philippines at the time, courtesy of the Navy, and hoped I would get to see it before it was gone from the theaters. When I returned to the U.S. in July 1978, it was in the dollar movie theaters. Like all good dramas, it had to have an awesome villain and Darth Vader was definitely it. While we watched Obi Wan teach Luke about the force, we also saw Vader using it, but as the Dark Side. It was the classic case of the taking a powerful good and turning it into something evil. Of course, in the third movie, we saw the Force conquer the Dark Side. Hooray for the good guys!

At the beginning of timeless time, God created his angels, in different ranks and duties. Sadly, one of his archangels took God’s gift and turned it into the Dark Side. As we all know, God created Hell and cast Satan and all of his followers into that everlasting fire, the fire that never quenches, never dies.

The power that Satan has is much more powerful than that which seduced Anakin Skywalker into becoming Darth Vader, even given that one really exists and the other is the work of a writer’s imagination. Satan’s power is not all-powerful, of course, but it is so widely varied that we often do not see it, his temptations, until we have fallen under his spell, into his trap. His wiles are many, his descriptions clever and sophisticated, frequently disguised as something good. We have all fallen for his tricks at one time or another, and many times after that. Could God step in at that point and tell us that what we are doing is wrong and to reverse our course? Of course, he could. He actually did that once, by sending his son, Jesus Christ, to walk among us and teach us. The one thing God did not do, and will not do, is take away our free will, our right to choose which path on which our feet trod. Just as Satan cannot force you to sin, it is your choice, so also can God not force you to reject it. It is always your right to choose. God gave that gift to you. It is part of your spiritual DNA. Yes, God may use other people or circumstances to try to guide us in the correct direction; he just cannot force us to do so.

We have all been told that we sin seven times per day. What we are not told is how many times we have rejected those sins. Now, I’m not saying you should keep a notepad handy and keep score. Every fall is a failure and every rejection is a victory. One of God’s other gifts to us is the number of times he forgives, for that number is limitless. How great is that in that he forgives our sins and cheers our victories without limit. That is a real win-win situation.

How about you? Hove you fallen into the Dark Side of Satan’s wiles? Are you still there or are you struggling to get out? Then look for the light and crawl, run, fight your way there. Focus on the bible passage, John 8:12, when Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (NIV). Are you instead being victorious and patting yourself on the back? That is wonderful, but don’t forget that pride is one of the big sins on the list.

If you are walking in darkness, then you now know how to get to the light. Why not start now?

Count On Me

There’s a song written by Bruno Mars, Phillip Lawrence, and Ari Leving, and recorded by Mars, called “Count On Me.” There are a few different versions with minor deviations in the first verse, but the one I heard first was sung by The Sea Chanters, which is the vocal group that is part of the U.S. Navy Band. It is out there on YouTube, along with several hours of music performed by the band.
The first line of the chorus is this:

          “You can count on me like one-two-three
             I’ll be there”

If we look at the song as if God and we are having a conversation, how would we look at it? Now, on first glance it is easy to assume that this is God talking to us, promising us. But, if you look at the next line, you might come to a different conclusion:

           “And I know when I need it
             I can count on you like four-three-two
            And you’ll be there
             ‘Cause that’s friends are s’posed to do, oh yeah.”

Now the critical question is which part of the two parts of the chorus is you talking to God and which is you listening to what God has to say to you? How about both?

In good times and bad, and even in between, there is God’s promise to us to be there when we need him and there when we don’t think we do. Yes, he is always there for us, of course. Sometimes we may feel we can do whatever it is on our own. For some reason, it usually doesn’t turn out quite the way we envisioned it. God is always there for us, helping even though we don’t think we need it. We must not try to cut him out by trying to go it alone. That is God’s message in the first line of the chorus.

But don’t we also have a part to play in that line? Certainly our role to play is to let God know he can count on us to do his work, follow his teaching, obey the rules he gave to us thousands of years ago. Whether we do so by becoming one of his ministers and spreading his word to others or by just living the way he wants us to live, to show by example how he is an integral part of our lives, it is our role to play.

The second line of the chorus is our declaration of faith. We are saying that we believe he is there for us at all times and in all ways, that we can always count on him to be forever in our lives.

That line of the chorus is also God’s statement of having faith in us to live our lives according to his desires, as spelled out in the book he gave to us. Knowing that he counts on us is not a burden, but rather a source of joy in knowing we are doing his work, furthering his desires to bring everyone to him.

So, yes, we do what is needed for each other, are there for each other, give out of love what we each can give, and know without doubt we are both loved in return.

You Can't Be Fired (But You Can Quit!)

You’re Fired! Perhaps you have been on the receiving end of that announcement, or maybe you were the one who said it to someone else. Before he became president, Donald Trump had a TV show called “The Apprentice”. The contestants all competed for a single position in the Trump organization at the end of the season. Each week, he would review the accomplishments of them for that week and would eliminate one by saying, “You’re fired!”. I worked for a company once that was bought out by a smaller company and, of course, the new owners told us that they were not planning any layoffs, that we would all keep our jobs. Then they started downsizing. When the VP I worked for was let go, I knew my time was coming and, sure enough, the next day they packed up the things that were in my cube and escorted me out the door. In a sense, those of us who were let go had the last laugh because a year later they went out of business, fired by their customers who took their business elsewhere.

How about our position with God, and his son, Jesus Christ? As believers and followers of his teachings and commandments, can we be fired and lose the opportunity to get our promised reward of an eternity with God? None of us are perfect and we all violate his rules again and again, we all sin. What if God got fed up with you and decided to fire you, strip you of your heavenly reward? Fortunately, we know from the bible that there is no limit to God’s forgiveness. When we sin, it is a matter of asking for that forgiveness. If you confess your sins, repent for them, and ask for that forgiveness, then God will pardon you for it. But you have to ask.

How about those people who reject God, reject Jesus Christ? Those who sin against God and do not repent? Do not seek his mercy? What happens to them? Some people believe that God sends those people to hell. Many years ago, I attended a weekend retreat and renewal of faith. One of the speakers said God does not send people to hell, they choose to go there of their own free will! God will do everything he can, in any way he can, to convince them to change and spend eternity with him. Sadly, some people still continue down the wrong path to a different eternity.

Which gets to the second part of the title, the part that says you can always quit. I am sure you have seen that dramatic moment in a movie where the star says, “You can’t fire me, I quit!”. Well, I have already shown that God will not fire you, no matter what you have done, as long as you ask for or are willing to receive, his forgiveness. So, how do you quit? Simple. Just turn your back on him, reject his ways and plans for you, and refuse to accept him into your life. Even after seeing and knowing what he has for you, some people still quit, stop being believers, and go the other way for timeless time.

So, how about you? Maybe you are the stellar employee, or maybe you just feel you are barely hanging on to your faith and belief. God has a plan for you, regardless of which end of the scale you find yourself. You can still get that final paycheck, that final reward for your good and faithful service.

Or you can quit.

It’s your choice.