Passing Down Traditions

How important are traditions?  My family has several traditions around Christmas time.  Over the years of our marriage, some of the traditions have changed somewhat.  We have a Nativity scene that takes a prominent place in our Christmas decorations.  For years, I would refuse to place the Wise Men in the Nativity scene.  Instead, I would find a shelf, bookcase, or table somewhere to the east of the Nativity scene and place the three Wise Men there.  Laura would beg me to put the Wise Men in the Nativity scene.  After about 7 or 8 years, I finally gave in and allowed the tradition to change. 

There are some traditions that will never change.  I can almost envision my grandchildren gathering around Laura, just as our boys have done on Christmas Eve since Ethan was a baby, to hear her read "Twas the Night Before Christmas."  The way that my dear wife reads that story every year is spell binding.  She may enjoy it more than the boys do.  After that story, I read the Christmas Story from Luke 2.  After we finish reading about the birth of Christ, we have family prayer.  

Christmas day will start another round of traditions.  We'll get up early (though not as early as we used to, at some point, the boys started sleeping later), and open presents.  I'll sip on a cup of coffee, and watch my family open their presents.  Laura will finally insist that it's "Daddy's turn to open one," even though, I'd just as soon sit and watch all of them open their presents first.  We'll finish opening presents and then my OCD will kick in and I'll clean up all the paper, ribbons, boxes, and bows.  

At some point, before we go to have Christmas dinner with the rest of the family, I'll find myself sitting alone thinking about my mother and how she loved Christmas.  I've got the glass figurine that my sisters and I affectionately call "Mama's Christmas Lady" sitting on my shelf.  I'll find myself staring at, wishing I could tell my Mom "Merry Christmas" one more time.  

Traditions are important because they are what make us families.  These rituals are the ties that bind us together.  Whether your tradition involves singing Christmas carols, watching those classic movies, or just spending time quietly together, don't take them for granted.  One day, those traditions will mean the world to you.  

I can still remember opening presents on Christmas morning, and seeing my Mom sitting in the corner just watching her children.  Traditions are handed down generation after generation.  What are you handing down to your children?  Will my boys grow into men that will be sitting in the corner watching their families open presents?  I can only hope so.  Thanks Mom, for passing that tradition down to me, I have been blessed beyond measure.  

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!  May your day be filled with joy, laughter, and traditions.  

Psst! It's a Secret!

Psst.  Can I tell you a secret?  It's two weeks from Christmas day and I'm a bit depressed.  During this time of year that we are supposed to be jolly and merry, I find myself depressed.  This is going to be a challenging year for my family.  This year will mark the first anniversary of my mother-in-law going to Heaven. This year also marks the first anniversary of my wife's grandmother's home going.  And yes, I'm finding myself struggling a bit with depression.  Oh, and need I add to this the fact that my sister-in-law and her family moved back to their mission field of Argentina early this fall?

I'm not a Scrooge or a Grinch, we've decorated the house, hung the stockings with care, and the front yard is all aglow with icicle lights and yard decorations.  Just the other day I wore a Santa hat to work.  From all outward appearances, it should be a Merry Christmas.

But the truth?  I find myself on the verge of tears every now and then.  I find myself sighing deeply. Instead of feeling merry, I feel melancholy.  Usually, buying presents for my loved ones brings me great joy, but this year, part of me feels like I am just going through the motions.

Do you know what I've realized over the last couple of days?  It's okay.  Believe it or not, it's okay to feel  depressed.  Why?  Because it's an honest emotion.  A couple of weeks ago, I posted a mini Facebook rant about pride and how God hates pride.

That post has stuck in my mind and I've come to the conclusion just a few moments ago why it is sticking in my mind.  I was being too proud to admit to myself that I was going through a bout of depression.

Do you know that the Bible teaches us about how to handle depression?  Oh, it's wonderful.  Let me set the context for you.  David and his men are hiding in plain sight among the Philistines.  The Philistines decide to go to war against Israel and don't want David to have any part of that battle so they send him and his men home to Ziklag.

When David and his men get home, they find that their city of Ziklag has been attacked and set fire, but even worse their families have been kidnapped.  David's men get terribly upset and they blame David--in fact, they're about to stone him when we read the verse of 1 Samuel 30:6 "And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God."

Did you catch it?  Reread that verse.  When David was distressed, which the dictionary defines as experiencing extreme sorrow and discomfort, notice what he did. . . He encouraged himself in the Lord!  The very next verses tell us that David called for the priest and they prayed!  

So, we'll have a Merry Christmas.  The boys will be excited about their presents.  My lovely wife will hopefully enjoy the gifts I am getting her.  (Yes dear, I have started your Christmas shopping.)  I may be a bit depressed, my smile may be a bit wistful.  But I'll spend some time praying and encouraging myself in the Lord, and it will be okay. 

If you find yourself depressed this time of the year, give yourself a Christmas present and realize, it's okay to be depressed.  It's okay.  Admit you're struggling and seek the Lord's help.  

Oh, and by the way, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.  

The Poison that Keeps on Killing

Poison!  We shudder to even think about it. Hopefully you've never experienced the dread of having to call the Poison Control Center to ask about something your child ingested.  Hopefully, you've never lost a pet to antifreeze.  Perhaps you have had to put out some mice poison to help control some unwelcome visitors during the winter.  Poison is not something we like to talk about.

There is one form of poison that is worse for the person giving it than the intended victim.  The Bible speaks quite a bit about this particular poison for this very reason.  What is this poison?  It is strychnine?  It is cyanide?  Nope, far worse and much more deadly.  It is bitterness.  Bitterness can ruin a person.  Bitterness can ruin a person's future.  The most amazing thing about bitterness?  It's completely avoidable.

We don't have to be bitter.  Notice what the Bible says about bitterness in Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:"  Put away the bitterness!  If the Lord gives us clear direction to do something, that clearly means He will enable us to do that thing.  We can put away bitterness of spirit.  The question is why should we?

The answers to this question can also be found in the Word of God.  Bitterness causes defilement.  Notice this verse with me:   Hebrews 12:15 "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;"  Imagine with me a concrete sidewalk.  Imagine with me a tree growing up beside that sidewalk.  Do you know what will happen after time?  The roots of that tree will grow up under the sidewalk.  Eventually, the roots will cause the sidewalk to crack and crumble, and what was once a useful walkway has become defiled.  Bitterness will do the same to you and me.  We can start our lives in a condition that makes us useful, but if we allow bitterness to settle in, it will grow from a small seed of anger into a root of bitterness that defiles our whole life.

Let's look at another passage of scripture:  Romans 3:12-18 "They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes."   
This passage is to me very sad.  This is what bitterness will do to a person--bitterness will make you do things and say things that normally you wouldn't do.  Bitterness will cause you to lose your fear of God.  Reread that passage and notice all the negative characteristics of this person:  unprofitable, none that doeth good, deceit, poison of asps, cursing and bitterness, shed blood, destruction and misery, no peace, no fear.  And we wonder why people who are eaten up with bitterness are so unhappy.  

I am glad to report this afternoon that bitterness can be averted.  There is a cure!  Let's look at one last passage of scripture:  Exodus 15:22-25 "So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.  And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.  And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?  And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,"  

The people of Israel were terribly upset.  They had traveled three days and all of sudden they had no water!  The only water they had was bitter water--they couldn't drink it!  What where they to do?  They could sit around and complain and mope and carry on about how unfair it was that they didn't have any water.  Notice what Moses did--he cried unto the Lord and the Lord showed him a tree.  Not just any tree, but a specific tree that when Moses threw it into the water, it was made sweet.

If you or someone you know, is being consumed by this root of bitterness, there is only one thing to be done.  Take them to this same tree--that old rugged Cross that Jesus Christ bled and died on for my sins and your sins--including the sin of bitterness.  Here's a simple three step method for rooting up the bitterness in your heart:  1)  Ask God's forgiveness for your bitterness, 2) Ask those you are bitter towards for their forgiveness.  3)  And as the recent Disney movie "Frozen" says, "LET IT GO!!!"  Forget whatever is in the past that is causing you to grow bitter, cause if you don't, that root will begin to grow again and it will be much harder to get rid of it the second time.

Play Ball!

Man, it has been a very long time since I posted something.  It might be because of everything that we have had going on recently.  Between filling the pulpit for my Pastor, a hectic first quarter at work, and family stuff, my middle son decided he wanted to play baseball.

We signed up for Little League with much anticipation.  Alex was very excited about the prospect.  Soon enough we were in practice twice a week.  We learned the basics...how to throw to a cut off man; how to lead off a base, how to stand at the plate, how to handle the ball with a runner at first and second.  It was a good experience for us all.

I was tagged as assistant coach.  Primarily, I think, because I showed up to the first two practices.  We've got a great coach, Coach Josh.  He really loves the game and wants the boys to learn the game and to learn to love the game the way he does.  Currently, we're in second place in our league.

I've learned a lot about the strategy of baseball.  I have learned when to send a runner to second and when to fake the pitcher out.  I've learned that a walk really is as good as a base hit.  And I've learned that sometimes, just sometimes, getting to first base is it's own reward.  I've learned nothing tastes better than a ball park hot dog after a win (with mustard, of course.)

I've also learned a lot of life lessons.

For example, I've learned that the more you fuss and yell at your kid during the game, the worse they will do.  Attitude is so much more important than talent.  Attitude will win a game when talent can't keep up--or has given up.  I've seen parents get so far inside their kid's head that they can't think straight.

We've got a player that is totally awesome in practice.  Hits everything that comes close to the strike zone; fields like a demon, and throws out runners left and right.  Come game time, he can't tie his shoes without tripping.  Why?  His parents are there and they offer "constructive criticism" from the stands.  Doesn't help, not even a little bit.

I've learned that kids see everything.  Tonight, we had an interesting experience.  A parent from the other team was a wee bit upset with their coaches and begin to express their discontent.  This parent used language that made me blush, and I was on the other side of the ball field.  Eventually, the police arrived and helped the parent find their way from the park.  I had 12 boys asking me what happened and what was going on across the field and why they had to stop playing for thirty minutes.  To them, it is a game.  It's about playing and having fun.  I told my boys not to worry about it.  But you know who I couldn't stop thinking about?  The little boy sitting on the bench listening to his parent rant and rave and use language that would give a sailor pause.  How do you explain that to your kid?

I've learned that losing well is more important than winning well.  (For reference, see three paragraphs above).  You want to see a coach get ill with his players?  Watch Coach Josh's face if the players drag off of the field or limp onto the field. We've lost two games this season.  We didn't get beat by the other team, we beat ourselves...because we were losing poorly.  Everybody is going to get behind from time to time.  The important thing is to keep your head in the game and figure out what needs to happen to get runners around the bases.

Baseball is truly a microcosm of life.  You have your supporters, your opponents, your obstacles, and your chance to try.  It's taken me about six games to realize that at home plate all batters are equal--three strikes, and you are out.  Sometimes, in life and in baseball, you've just got to take a chance and swing.  Who knows, maybe you'll just get that base hit that your team desperately needs to get back in the game.

Advice on a Weight Loss Journey

A friend of mine recently asked me for any advice I may have about weight loss. After some thought, I gave him these six things and thought it might be worth sharing. I hope it helps you, if you need it.

Remember all the lectures about peer pressure, temptation, and addiction? Well, unfortunately, they apply to weight loss as well. The culture we live in has gotten to the point where everyone thinks it's okay to be overweight because it is so prevalent.

Your body gets addicted to having certain kinds of foods and the more you eat of them, the more you crave them. Sugar is just one example. Well meaning people will unknowingly becomes drug pushers and try to get you to eat a slice of pie or piece of cake or another slice of pizza. They just think they are being hospitable, but what they are really doing is feeding your body's addiction.

When I look back at my weight loss journey (and I do consider myself a recovering food addict, by the way) there are about five or six things that made this time successful.

1. Find your motivation. I've tried to diet many times with no real success. I found my motivation in my children. I had come to a place where if something hadn't changed, a heart attack or stroke was in my future and I didn't want my children to go through that or my wife to have to change my diapers and feed me like a baby.

2. Find your support. Laura and I decided to take this journey together. Your spouse's support is critical. Not only will the meals that are cooked have to change, but the food that is brought into the house will have to change. Simply, if it isn't there, you can't eat it. At times, your wife will be the only person in your corner cheering you on. There's a reason Rocky always looked for Adrian, know what I mean? Women understand some things better than men do.

3. Find your plan. Find a diet plan that works for you. For me it was Weight Watchers, for others it's counting calories. Have an organized diet plan and stick to it. Whatever plan you use, keep a food journal. Just write down everything that goes into your mouth. That will help make it real. Be prepared to defend your diet plan; people will look at you and say "Is that all you're eating?" At one point, I had people asking me if I was anorexic.

4. Find your exercise. Unfortunately, dieting alone is not enough. You need to exercise religiously. I have learned that I love running and weight lifting. Whether it is a daily walk, a gym membership, or some other form of exercise, move your body.

5. Find your goal. Set small goals. My first goal was 10 pounds. Once I lost the first ten, I set another goal for 20 pounds. I weigh myself every Wednesday morning and record my weight on a spreadsheet. Now, my goal is to stay between 173-176 lbs. I see 177 I get nervous and begin reviewing how I have been eating and what needs to change. At some point, someone will tell you that you've lost too much weight and that you look sick. Don't listen to them. I've discovered the only people who say things like that are those who could stand to loose a few pounds themselves.

6. Find a way to forgive yourself. You will backslide, you will see the scales move backwards from time to time. I tell people I lost 110 pounds, but in all honestly, I lost 120 because I gained 10 back and had to take them off again during the process.

Weight loss is a journey that at times may be slow, may be difficult, and may seem impossible. Trust me when I say it is a journey worth taking.

My Son, My Teacher

Today, my oldest son turned twelve.  In some cultures, that would make him a man.  The thought of that makes me smile.  When he was very little, I started writing a booklet, pamphlet, whatever you might want to call it.  Here's an excerpt in honor of my little boy who is becoming a young man.  Be gentle, this writing was straight from my heart.  

My Son, My Teacher

-1-

The day my wife and I found out that we were going to have a baby is a day that I will not ever forget. After 6 weeks of prayer, asking the Lord for His guidance and direction in starting our family, He answered our prayers in a most definite way. Laura was expecting. We were so excited. I remember thinking time and time again everything I would teach my child, what I never dreamed of was what the Lord would teach me through my child.

On October 7, 2001, Thomas Ethan Otto came into the world. It figures that my wife would disobey me about this matter. The only instruction I gave her about delivering our child was that she could not go into labor on a Sunday. Of course, she did. About 8:00 pm, I saw my son for the first time. My mother-in-law, Janine Hicks, had not stopped praying ever since I had first taken Laura to the hospital late that afternoon. The nurses could not believe how easy of time Laura had with her first delivery—Laura did not think it was too easy though!

I quickly realized that something wasn’t quite right though. The nurses weren't as relaxed as they should have been. There was tenseness in the room that I did not understand. As the lead nurse carried my son in her arms, she practically ran down the hall. I followed her worriedly, not knowing what to expect. She looked back at me and hesitantly said “Everything’s okay, Dad.” Somehow I didn't believe her.

The nurse ran past the waiting room, where our friends, family, and it seemed most of our church family were waiting for news. I found my voice had left me. I stood watching the nurses through the nursery windows as they hastily worked on my son. I turned to a dear sister from church, Mrs. Brenda Baker, and told her these words: “The nurses said he wasn't breathing right. . . he’s not breathing right.” She said perhaps the most comforting words that I have ever heard. Mrs. Baker said “The Lord is not going to give him to you and then take him right back. The Lord won’t do that. Not our God.”

Ethan was stabilized and we thought all was well. A day later, the pediatrician told us that they were going to have put Ethan in the neonatal intensive care unit that he had some kind of infection, but they weren't sure what it was. The next time I saw my son, he had wires, and tubes stuck all over his little body. I was broken hearted. I began making phone calls. The first was to my Pastor, requesting that he would bring the church to prayer for little Ethan. Brother Pierce assured me he would. The next calls were the hardest to make. I had to call the grandparents and tell them. My voice broke over the phone as I wept silently telling them that there was something wrong with their brand new grand baby. 

I had to get alone. I walked to a quiet corner of the hospital. There I poured my heart out to God,
railing against Him; I asked Him how He could do this, how could He take my only son, my firstborn. How, I asked over and over again. I begged God for my son’s life, but I did not seem to hear an answer. This is when God taught me the first of many lessons through my son. God showed the depth of a father’s love. As my tears subsided, I heard that still, small voice speak inside of my heart. God spoke and this is what He said: “Now you know how I felt. Now you know how much I love you.” God showed me the power of a father’s love. God broke my heart that day. Here I was, telling God how terrible it was that I might lose my son, when He knew the pain I was feeling. As I stood beside my son as he lay in the incubator, I could almost hear Jesus on the Cross as He cried out “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mat 27:46 KJV)
God showed me exactly what He must have felt that day as He watched His only begotten son be given a mockery of a trial by God’s chosen people, as God watched His son be beaten and mocked by the Roman soldiers. As Jesus walked up that old hill, God must wept bittersweet tears; His plan was being brought to pass, but at such a cost. Salvation was being brought to man, but at the greatest price imaginable.


A few days later the doctor told us that we could take Ethan home. They could not understand it,
but somehow the infection had disappeared. The doctors said that there might have been some sort of false reading done on the original tests because day by day the traces and signs of the infection had disappeared—much too quickly for the medicine to take effect. I knew what had happened. I knew Who had dealt with the infection. My God had heard the prayers of the saints and answered them in a way that only He can. My son was healed, not by doctors or by medicine, but by the hand of the almighty God.

-2-

The days past by quickly after we took Ethan home, unfortunately, the nights did not go by quite so fast. I was not expecting it, but the Lord was about to teach me another lesson through my son.

Ethan was a sickly baby. He seemed to keep a cold most of the time. Everything we would try did not seem to work, he just kept getting sick. During this time, I worked third shift a local factory. Five nights a week I was at work, thinking of my family. The other two nights of the week, I was up with my son, letting my wife get some well-deserved rest. It was during these long nights that my Heavenly Father taught me another lesson. Like many Christians, I have often found it hard to find time to pray—or rather, I have found it hard to make time to pray. God showed me during this time that there is always time to pray when you have a need, but that you should not wait for a need to arise before you pray.

One particular night, Ethan had a hacking cough. He was just a little fellow, and every time he would cough, his entire body would shake and tremble. I learned how to pray very quickly. My heart breaking, I learned what God was trying to teach me through my son. I had waited too long to begin praying. If I had just been praying more for my son, if I had been praying diligently until God answered my prayers, God seemed to say that Ethan wouldn’t be wracked with cough and fever. I can remember holding Ethan close to me, rocking him to sleep. As we rocked together, the prayers flowed from the very depths of my soul. On this night, it seemed as if the very stars were bending low to listen to this poor saint of God pour out his heart. I can remember how hot Ethan was that night. I can also remember how as I continued to pray and beseech God, how that little body began to cool off. Another lesson was learned that night—pray, and pray diligently. Thank the Lord; I have been able to apply this lesson to all parts of my life. Surely, Paul was led of the Spirit when he wrote to the Thessalonians this simple statement “Pray without ceasing“(1 Th 5:17).

-3-

The days, weeks and months seemed to fly by. We were a very busy family, our lives full of church, ministry, work, and family. Things just seemed to be piling up on me. It was during this time that God used little Ethan to teach me yet another lesson. Ethan was not keeping his formula down. Every time Laura would feed him a bottle, it would come back up. We did not know what to do. As we grew increasingly concerned about Ethan not eating, it seemed as if the Lord was dealing with my heart about something. I could not figure it out, so I dismissed it.

Ethan kept getting weaker and weaker as the time passed. He just would not keep his formula down. Working with the pediatrician, we finally found the right formula—one Ethan would keep down. The change was marvelous to see. Ethan began growing. He but on some much needed weight. Before he was so very pale, but now he was getting color in his cheeks.

As I sat in my study thanking the Lord, the truth of what God was trying to show me struck home like a thunderbolt crashing home. Ethan was not growing because he was not eating. My Christian life had come to a stand still because I was not eating. As my life became more and more hectic, I laid aside my daily devotion and I had stagnated. My preaching had become stale. My witness had become dull.

My heart ached mightily. God put a verse in my heart. Second Timothy 2:15 says “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” I was not studying. I was not showing myself approved unto anything.

I began my personal devotions with a renewed passion. Do you know what happened? Everything began to turn around. That peace that passeth all understanding made its way back to my heart.

My son has taught me and continues to teach me so many things.  How amazing is it that God has taught me so much about my relationship with Him through my relationship with my son?  

                       

Choices, Choices

I’ve had a heavy heart for the last several days.  To say we have had a lot going on in the Otto household might just be an understatement.  We've had our share of difficulties and more than our share of blessings in this last week, however that’s not why my heart is heavy.

Friday night, we had a lock-in at our church.  We were fortunate to have 29 young people between the ages of 6 and 18 at this lock-in.  We had a great time with games and activities and lots of fun, but the most important and most moving part of the night was when my good friend Brother Devin Hargrave preached a message out of the Book of Daniel.  This message wasn’t the typical message on Daniel, you know, the fiery furnace or how Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself. 

His message really boiled down to choices and the choices we make in this life.  I watched the young people listen to Brother Devin preach.  I watched their faces as he spoke from the heart about other young people he had ministered to in juvenile facilities—10 year olds in juvenile correction facilities because of choices.

I watched their faces as Brother Devin talked about how kids made bad choices on who they hung out with and those friends got them in trouble.  About how one boy told Devin that he hadn't done anything wrong, but that his buddy smarted off to a police officer and he got taken along for the ride in the police cruiser.    I saw the looks in their eyes as Devin told of people in the Kentucky State Penn that he had ministered to because of choices they had made as young people.

What I saw on the faces of these children both amazed and alarmed me.  There were a couple of preteen children who had a blank look on their faces.  At first I thought it was because they were tuning out the preacher, but then I looked closer and saw the pain of recognition.  They knew people who had made poor choices and were paying the consequences for those choices.  

As the preacher told the young people about a young man who disobeyed his mom and dad and back talked them and argued with them incessantly until his parents kicked him out their home, I watched the young people struggle with this.  The thought of their disobedience causing their mom or dad to kick them out of the house was more than some of them could take. 

I saw a preacher’s kid fight to hold back tears and struggle to keep his face together as Devin preached.  The pain in that kid’s eyes amazed me.  He was making some connections to the pain he had caused his parents through disobedience. 

I saw a girl wipe away tears as she listened to the preacher tell the truth about choices.   I saw a young man bow his head and begin to pray, earnestly talking to the Lord.  I saw God work in many hearts and minds. 

Later that night, the girls were over in the other building and the boys were bunked down in the fellowship hall, “sleeping,” of course.  I began to talk to the Lord about my burdens for these young people.  But then as I continued to talk with the Lord, I begin to think of others that I have been burdened with because of choices they have made or are about to make.

Choices can make or break relationships.  Bad choices can ruin an otherwise bright future.  Choices made in haste can set you on a path that you never intended to go down.  Every choice that we have to make should not be made lightly. 

Philippians 4:6 tells us to pray about everything—every choice, every decision, every opportunity.  Do we really do this?  Do we really take the time to pray and ask God what He would have us to do regarding something or is it heads we’ll do option A and tales, we’ll take option B?

I’m burdened.  I’m afraid.  I’m alarmed.  Why?  Because many choices are being made that will have long reaching consequences in lives all around me.  Choices are being made that might impact my church family. Choices are being made that might impact my children.   My friends are being impacted on choices they have made.

There are several verses that the Lord has given me over the years that just sort of stick in my mind.  One of them is in Joel, chapter 3.  This verse says simply “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision, for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.”   

Are you in the valley of decision?  Are you at a fork in the road and not sure which way to go?  I wish I could tell you which way to go, whether to the left or to the right, but I cannot.  Be careful, friends, be careful with those choices that need to be made.