Suffice it to say that this day, prayer for us would be appreciated. I don't usually ask for prayer and most of you know that. When I do it is usually for other people. This is one of those times.

People making choices. We all have the ability to make a choice. Amy and I were talking the other day and she said "why did God make us that we would have to go through some of the things we do?" Big question from a 16 year old. Why do we go through things and why did He make us? Certainly He made us because He desired friendship. He gave us free will that we might operate out of love towards Him rather than robotically. The other answer is that sin entered the world and we are where we are at.

Those are somewhat simple answers for somewhat complex issues and perhaps some would disagree with the simplicity, but the reality of all of it is, we are who we are and the situations around us need not control us.

I personally have a peace in the midst of the storm and I appreciate those that have pulled in.

But I guess the real topic of the day is commitment. Where is our commitment? I know that Tina and I are called to Springfield and we will be here until God calls us out one day. Commitment is that glue that holds you to something or someone when all hell is making its voice known about you. When commitment is not there we are constantly trying to voice "improvement" when we are not even in the picture. It happens in marriage often. A spouse continually expresses disapproval and discontentment over the other while the fact of the matter is, when the wind of lust blows by the door they are out of there. It happens in churches where "members" attempt control by voicing discontent when they are not plugged in to what the vision is. Let me tell you why I am so adamant about commitment in people. It is the only thing that works in a marriage going through a trial. It is the only thing that holds water in a church that is taking on the enemy by speaking the truth.

I haven't always been committed to situations;children, wife, church and work. It took Jesus to straighten me out.

If you and I are not 100% committed to our spouses, God will deal with us. Our churches, the same. Please don't stay in a church you are not called to. If the vision is not singular, or yours will not fit there, it will cause DI-vision. I believe in diversity of gifts and I believe in allowing everyone the opportunity to minister, but if your church has a focus that has been God given and you can not find a place or you are not satisfied, seek the Lord, that He might order your steps to bring much fruit to HIS Kingdom. I don't know many pastors looking to fill seats with people who are not looking towards the vision that God gave the church. This by the way does not apply to marriage. If you are married-you ARE married. I received a call the other day froma woman who felt the Lord was calling her out of her marriage because her husband was not growing as fast as she wanted Him to. That's not God.

So I ask you as you come into this "new year" to check your commitment level. Are you committed to Jesus? Fully and totally. How about your spouse?? Does she receive the attention that you give your friends?? How about your kids?? Are they part of the Kingdom?? Unmarried?? How about your church and jobs?? Does contentment(this is for all!!) reign in your life? Peace? This is an important topic, for if you are faithful in little He will bless you with greater.

And to be honest with you, I have thought about how to pray in the situation we are in. I watched my wife cry through cell group last night. I am reminded of the "Mose's desert crew" and their cry for quail as the Lord is scraping Babylon off their lives. Reminded of the stragglers, those not plugged in, who are removed by the enemy(there are many biblical examples of the result sof being "lone rangers")and left behind. We don't want to cry out for "quail", and we know there is a "what shall we learn, Lord?" in here. We know that once again we are in the refiner's fire. We(well maybe I) welcome this and we ask for your prayers.

We remind you of your commitment to Him, before all else. Let no man stand between you. Tina said last night, "that which you covet will you lose". Why? Because it exalts itself over Him.

May God bless you and keep you. May the peace of God be always in place as you rip out every vestige of "babylon" in your life. Cast down the imaginations that exalt themselves against the name of Jesus. May He watch over you and guide you. May the reminders of days before Him, be simply a memory and not a direction you follow. May the fullness of His covenant with you be in the forefront of your mind, forever being reminded that you are a child of the Most High God.

Jesus loves you and He desires that you walk in the fullness of His Word. That all sin would be removed by the power of His Grace and the working of His Love. He would desire that you would seek Him this day, for without Him who are we? Christians do not need Jesus as a crutch, but as life support.

And below a copy of a sunday school letter to God:

Dear God,

The bad people laughed at Noah - "You made an ark on dry land you fool". But he was smart, he stuck with You. That's what I would do. - Eddie