pastorrudytlc

What a mess this world is in and we human beings began it. Now more than ever we need God’s mercy on this planet! Mercy is when God doesn’t give us what we do deserve. And in light of our behavior as the United States of America- we should be expecting lots more divine discipline than merely a time out or an hour of standing in the corner. Mercy is freely given to those who seek God first and ask for it. When we finally get to the point when we admit that what we are doing is wrong and humbly cry out for forgiveness and make a genuine commitment to look to heaven’s will before we try it out the earth’s way- only then will we see more blessings than bombs falling from the skies again.

In my opinion, our President has not been a good example of leadership for such a time as this. Elected officials should not build for their people an environment of pride and stubbornness. This shows more insecurity than it ever exudes strength! Nothing good happens when one becomes an isolated maverick and purposely ignores the laws of the land and the counsel of those placed around him or her for a reason. And how does one rally the people to have confidence, courage and respect for authority when he himself doesn’t usually practice what he preaches? A man who calls himself a Leader but has nobody behind him when he turns around is just out for a long walk. But the problem that calls for our need for some passionate praying is that the destiny of our nation is in his wisdom or lack of it.

I do pray regularly for our President and for all of our governing officials just as the Bible commands us to do. And the beginning of wisdom is to fear God and recognize who you really are and who you are not! When a human being believes that he himself is the ultimate authority- we are in big trouble. No Perfect Presidents Allowed! The Democrat FDR walked this country through the greatest of challenges by talking to the people and not just at them! He once preached, “In these days of difficulty, we Americans everywhere must and shall choose the path of social justice, the path of faith, the path of hope, and the path of love toward our fellow man.” The Republican Ronald Regan could both motivate the troops and mourn with the brokenhearted and he would do so by relating to the ones that he was charged to direct. He once boldly declared, “We are never defeated unless we give up on God.” There have been many huge opportunities these past few months for our President to make a stand or a stirring statement or encourage the country- but he has been uncomfortably silent. It makes me wonder and cry out, “Where are the heroes now- when we need them more than ever?” Dion’s classic song “Abraham, Martin and John” seems more relevant now than in the 60’s when it was written!

I do wish our President would call out upon our Country for a day of fasting and prayer. A day where we confess our wrongdoings, look to make things right with one another, make steps to help stop the deadly behavior that is undermining our homeland from the inside out and seek the Lord! Even the Leader of the most pagan nation on earth at its time in history- Nineveh- called out for his citizens to tear their clothes and pour ashes on their heads and repent. You can find that story in the book of Jonah! But I can already hear the snickers of some of you who are reading this and asking, “Is Pastor Rudy serious? We are much more advanced than those fairy tales of old. And what God would we pray to in our multicultural society?” But we have a choice here in America! We can choose to worship the God who made us in his image or stay imprisoned to the people who have attempted to create god or worse yet- no god at all- in their own imaginations!

If you go against the grain- you must get ready for some splinters but now more than ever, we believers need to pray first and then be ready to make some bold moves on behalf of the Jesus we say we serve. We need to speak out and make others aware on behalf of the Christians being beheaded and persecuted all over this world. We need to pray for the Middle East and for Israel. Allow your world to be bigger than what it happening in your own backyard. Let’s gather more often as the Body of Christ in public places to pray and worship the Lord as he promises to inhabit the praises of his people. Let’s look for daily open doors so that we may be Jesus in skin to others around us. Let’s offer hope to the hopeless and grace and truth to those who are lost and confused.

Living in this place has given me both a headache and heartache. I tell God often that I wish I could have born in a different era in our history. We may be more technologically advanced than ever before but our spirits are shriveling up and dying. We are an egocentric society. We have left the greatest commandment which tells us to love God and love others. But even in our faithlessness- our Lord is faithful and true and no matter how bad we get it wrong, he will one day put it all right! So I roll up my sleeves and press on and ask God to use me as an instrument of grace and truth. Will you do the same? Will you look for those places where God needs to raise up a leader, a truth teller, a loving and empathetic servant of the King? I close with this verse from 2 Chronicles 7:14, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

In light of the Robin Williams tragedy, I just read yesterday that a well known preacher wrote that real believers in God don’t get depressed! He was going on and on about how if Robin Williams would have had a real faith- it would have prevented his spirit from ever arriving at the place which led to his horrific decision to take his life. My blood pressure rose as I read the entire piece and I decided that I could not just remain silent and dismiss it as some misguided soul spouting off more legalistic religious ignorance. I genuinely believe that what he was spewing out under the guise of truth was paralyzing, condemning, dangerous and deadly statements! It is pompous and holier than thou clergy like this particular individual that has actually done more harm than good when it comes to leading people to the real life and freedom that the Bible offers! The word of God was given to us to not enslave our broken and contrite hearts to nothing more than endless shame and misery but to actually free us to the life that our Creator has always intended for us to experience.

What gives some the right to pronounce such definitive judgments upon others? I don’t believe that we all know each other as well as we think we do. Just because somebody is creative- funny and has an explosive and infectious personality on the outside- sure doesn’t mean that they truly have arrived to the place where they have a real peace with who they are on the inside. Boy do I know that one personally. I am troubled by any one who would make such an absolutely absurd statement that real believers don’t battle with anxiety, insecurity or depression. If that is true, then I would be counted as one who would not be listed among those that God has chosen to love and save and redeem and renew. Jesus has saved me but the transformation project is still in process. What you see today is a work of art that is still under construction and the last I checked, God is performing this artistry amidst a place that attacks his subjects on a daily basis. Christians are not exempt from the storms and the tempests that living on planet earth affects and infects everyone!

I battle the darkness of depression every single day of my life. I have done so as a child. It was my ever present insecurity that brought me to my knees as a teenager and made me cry out to Jesus to love me when nobody else would or could. I know he lives in my heart and I know he literally has saved my life and given me a hope and future. But that doesn’t mean that trying to navigate my way through any given day doesn’t provide an ever present challenge! So many people claim that they know you but what do they really know? Don’t they realize that any human being only sees you in part but it is only God who sees the whole? It is comical to me that when I was younger, I thought this depression was something that I would someday grow out and it would pass via the avenue of puberty! But when I look in the mirror, I notice that I am not getting any younger and while the truth is setting me free- the life that must be lived in the mean time can be overwhelming and suffocating at times.

Will I always have to deal with this hurt this side of heaven? Yes! But I no longer see it as a handicap but as an instrument that God has used in my journey to make me realize what a gift life is. I love what I do. I love to laugh loud. I will break out in song at any given time of any given day no matter where I might be. I can be goofy and I am not afraid to be embarrassed! I love my God, my wife, my kids, and my flock unashamedly. I passionately dive in where others are content to shuffle. Like Robin Williams, I too can be unpredictable and love shaking the status quo up just because I can! But I am a survivor, who desperately daily needs the love, prayers, counseling, companionship and dare I say- yes- even the medication to function at the level that keeps me as a strong participant in the race!

I know that part of my legacy and history will include a lifelong battle with anxiety and depression. God in his crazy and clueless to me ways has chosen to use this gaping weakness to shape strength in me that he uses to encourage others who also battle this enemy. As Pastor Rudy, I am a shepherd who has a real compassion and empathy for those of my sheep who also have felt like they don’t measure up and fit in with the rest of the program! I don’t throw clichés at situations that need more than a passing slogan. The answer is not just pray more or read the Bible more or wake up and shape up and just snap out of it. It is a disease and an ongoing never ending spiritual warfare whose agenda is meant to snuff out the light of the lives of those who were meant to showcase the mage of God through their extraordinary days on earth- but in a moment of weakness- they lost their way. I thank God for his mercy, and his constant grace and those amazing miraculous moments where I easily could have given up- but didn’t. It doesn’t make me better- just soberly grateful!

I share this to give encouragement to others who are being looked down upon when they should be lifted up as a friend. I also welcome you to share with me your stories- your insights and your prayers. We need each other more than we realize. But if we keep pretending that we are all as perfect as can be with no glitches and blemish free- we will lose many more individuals like Robin along the way! I believe every day God gives us a choice of how “relational” we will choose to be and whether we are going to present our pretend self or the real deal. I know who I am and I humbly accept who I am not. I am beyond amazed that the God of all creation loves me and his love has given me the reason to fight on. But I battle not just for me but for my brothers and sisters who are harassed by the inner darkness daily that want nothing more than to steal, kill and destroy us.

I pray to authentically love you as Jesus loves me but I can’t love the “you” that I don’t know because you keep it hidden! So let’s take the risk and go deeper with one another and invest the necessary time that could very well save our lives! Let’s share the healing and redeeming love of God with one another while we can and let’s not put these unreasonable expectations upon one another that we always have to be happy, happy, happy all the time. There are seasons this side of heaven that absolutely stink! You can’t fix them and I can’t make them go away. God has promised that he will abide when I can’t abode! Even if our biggest accomplishment is that we got out of bed when we wanted to just keep the covers over our head- let’s not make light of what might be a way that we can be lifeguards who protect the treasures of one another.

Real believers do get depressed. Read the Bible! Look at the Psalms. Check out the prophets. Some of our comrades did even lose their way. But admitting the need is the first step in applying the proper care to the problem. I don’t want you to not know how loved you are on my watch! I hope you feel the same way about me. And we press on- not being satisfied with just what we may see on the surface- but willing to go deeper into the soul!

I make no secret that I will stand with Israel and God’s People the Jews with all of my heart for all of my days. It disturbs me greatly how today’s media is portraying God’s chosen people as villains and warmongers when nothing could be further from the truth. Israel is just doing what any nation would be expected to do when they need to protect themselves from unprovoked violence and hatred. No other people group throughout all of history has had to put up with more unjust animosity and abuse and attempted annihilation like the Jewish Nation. Too many times in history past had so many so called moral and religious individuals stood idly by while millions of our brothers and sisters from the family of mankind were bullied, beaten, battered and nearly done away with!

God made a promise to Abraham back in Genesis 12:3 that proclaimed powerfully that, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” One only needs to be a student of God’s word to know that we must stand with Jewish Family. Their faith is founded in loving the Lord God with all of their hearts, souls, minds and strength and to love their neighbors as themselves! Hamas on the other hand has made no secret that they would love to see death and destruction to Israel! What part of that equation is hard to grasp and understand!

I am greatly disappointed in the lack of leadership and courage coming out of Washington. Planes are shot down and innocent people get blown away and nobody steps us and has the courage to go beyond being politically correct and call sin and crime what it really is. I miss John Wayne! Where is Gary Cooper at High Noon? How can Dodge City ever be safe to live in again unless Marshall Dillon takes charge and has zero tolerance with terrorism? I know I am stepping out of the safe little box here where we can’t stand for any principles if it might offend an enemy but please listen to me Secretary of State John Kerry — Israel is our ally, not Hamas!

As Dragnet’s Joe Friday preaches, “Just the facts” and no matter how the media might want to spin it- the truth is that Israel is engaged in a brutal battle with the terrorists of Hamas. It has been well documented that Hamas has fired thousands of rockets at Israeli civilians from Palestinian civilian areas. When Israel seeks to stop the missile fire, it always warns Palestinian civilians to flee the impending attacks. But the uncivilized and evil forces of Hama which looks eerily familiar to Hitler’s Nazi’s of old- actually shows no kindness towards its own citizens by literally using them as shields in these danger zones. Hamas’ clear tactic is to kill as many civilians as possible — both Israeli and Palestinian — and then heap the blame upon Israel. And what makes my head spin is that the propaganda machine is working once again and society is cheering for the wrong regime!

This tactic is superficial. It is cynical and barbaric. But because too many human beings have bought into the charade that peace means getting along with each other no matter what the cost- even to the point of compromising our values and morality- once again the anti-Semitic posse is gaining momentum! Why are we people so gullible that we keep falling over the same hole in the sidewalk day after day rather than making the effort to properly repairing the road! Many in the international community are being duped and the media are nothing more than talking heads of brainwashing the masses. And, to my deep disappointment and embarrassment of what is happening to our one nation that has wandered away from being under God- it appears that our own government has taken the bait and serving it in ample supply to whoever has ears to hear!

I am deeply troubled by reports out of Washington that has promoted a ceasefire proposal that specifically addressed key Hamas demands — such as the easing of the Gaza blockade — while largely ignoring Israel’s security requirements. Wake up America. You can’t negotiate at a table where leaders don’t commonly respect life itself! Have we forgotten the shenanigans of Hitler with Neville Chamberlain? You can’t break bread with people who will poison your slice while your head is turned! To foolishly adopt Hamas’ demands is to hand Hamas a victory for its violence. To promote Hamas’ demands will not end the bloodshed — it will merely encourage it.

So while we appreciate the politicians desire to stop the bloodshed in Gaza, I’m pessimistic by the reports that we as a country will abandon Israel and get behind a nation that will stab us in the back! Now is not the time to ease the legal and justified blockade of Gaza. Now is the time to destroy Hamas’ terror tunnels, remove Hamas’ missile stockpiles, and demilitarize Gaza.

It is more apparent now than ever that Israel’s blockade of Gaza is critical to its defense. For years the international community has called upon Israel to ease restrictions on the importation of “dual use” items such as concrete. We now see that this concrete was poured directly into dozens of multi-million dollar tunnels to enable Hamas to murder Israeli soldiers and civilians.

Rather than help Hamas build its military capability, I call upon Washington and the American People to use the power of their office to ensure that this violence is never repeated. It is time to pray for the peace of the Middle East! The only way to achieve the peace we seek is to demilitarize the terrorists of Hamas. Hatred never survives and sometimes you can’t play both sides of the fence! I have made my choice and I am staying on this side of Jerusalem and will stand with the people that God has proclaimed as his very own! This is one man who will not persecute my Jewish friends and family anymore. I encourage you to do the same!

Today my youngest son Joel turns eleven years old! He is a living and walking miracle. He is the light of my life and one of the greatest gifts that God ever bestowed upon Terri and me. I could not imagine my world without him and I am grateful to God that I don’t have to. You see, after the births of our two sons Nicholas and Benjamin which occurred four years apart after my daughter Abbie was born in 1991-Nicholas in 1995 and Benjamin in 1999 respectively- both of these precious boys were taken from us and ushered into heaven within a matter of hours after their arrival here on earth. There was no rhyme or reason as to why they did not live. I can only tell you that it wasn’t because of a lack of prayers or desire or the ton of love we were ready to offer them. I actually played tug of war with God and held on to each of them for dear life- but my grasp wasn’t nearly powerful enough and in the end, when the Lord took them- He also ripped away large pieces of me.

But in 2002, we got word that Terri was pregnant again. We were terrified as well as guardedly optimistic. I remember when the doctors advised us that the wisest move to make would be to terminate the pregnancy rather than risk more mental anguish and heartbreaking results. Terri and I knew that this was no choice at all. We have both made a commitment to fight for life this side of heaven until God closes that door and makes ready the move to glory. I remember going into the chapel at Cape Regional Hospital and screaming my guts out to Jesus. If you saw the Movie recently, “Heaven is For Real,” the chair that Pastor Todd kicks as he cries out for his son Colton in his hospital prayer room is mild compared to the kicking and screaming that I was doing on behalf of our baby to be.

They were nine of the longest months that the Sheptock’s ever persevered through. There were moments along the journey that we thought déjà vu was going to rear its ugly head again. There was no guarantee and no sure thing and when in the wee small hours of July 30, 2003 rolled around- and Terri was giving birth to a baby we had no assurance that we were going to be allowed to raise- I humbly closed my eyes and wished and hoped and dreamed for God to have mercy and supply supernatural grace for our broken spirits. Our dear friends Jennifer Welsh and Karen Makowski were both the nurses on duty that night and when Joel’s body temperature needed to warm up- we bypassed the incubator for the heat of Daddy’s chest and I summoned all the love my fiery body could offer to get that boy’s internal thermometer to rise! Let’s just say I was a hunka hunka burning love and Joel was going to feel the flames of my affection. Needless to say, Joel was born healthy and strong and defying the experts- he became our physical reality of the spiritual promise that God would redeem the grounds the locusts have eaten.

We discovered early, that Joel was no ordinary child! His very name means “Jehovah is Elohim” or “The Lord is God.” As a young toddler, he once told Terri that he saw Jesus living inside of her heart when he was in his Mommy’s belly! He has an incredible insight and even though he was born three years after my own Father graduated to glory- there were moments that I could see my own Pop shining through my baby’s eyes!

Joel is far from perfect, but he is a boy who has a huge heart for others. He has compassion for the kids that others are just content to bully! He loves the Lord and is not afraid to share his faith with others his own age. Before our baseball championship game this year in Dennis Township, after I asked all the parents for their permission- my 10 year old son was not afraid to lead us in prayer before we took the field. He loves baseball, basketball and soccer! He is an artist and both a singer and writer of songs. He amazes me by his ability to put together Lego’s projects that would have taken me forever to accomplish. He loves the oldies and actually went to see Neil Sedaka with me in concert. He devours information and is student of history like me! What a gift to have somebody to watch all those old War Movies on TCM with. Joel honors the rules and boundaries and respects his elders and those in authority. But most of all, when I see Joel- I am reminded of a God who knows how this man named Rudy needed the blessing of raising one more child and I couldn’t have asked for a greater gift than the one he gave me eleven years ago today!

Happy Birthday to you-Joel Thomas Sheptock! You make me feel so young- and you keep me a child at heart! You give me reasons to never take a human’s word over God’s final promises! You make me smile and have restored my joy. I know someday my whole family will be reunited in Heaven- but having you here by my side helps me deal with the pain of loss and the hope of tomorrow! When you scored the winning run in our recent championship game and jumped in my arms in pure celebration- you gave me more pleasure than any earthly treasure could provide. I love you Son forever and ever- no matter whatever! And I pray for my readers today to love people and forget the things that steal your joy and cherish what lasts and hug and hold on to the relationships that matter most!

I didn’t become a Minister because I needed a job! I have always looked at what I do as more of my “life call” than just my profession. I don’t put on my “Pastor” hat during the day and then take it off right before I go to sleep at night. God made it very clear to my heart that he wanted me to give my life to follow him and to serve him by preaching and teaching and shepherding others. This has at times been incredibly rewarding and at other times- much like it was this past week- excruciatingly difficult!

We had to say goodbye to a very precious 11 year old girl named Morgan, who was killed in a tragic auto accident. She was quickly ushered from this world and carried into the waiting arms of her Savior, Jesus. She was a bright light and a nurturing soul to all of us who had the privilege to have this special angel as a part of our world. While society might have labeled her as one thing- I knew she was a true treasure to anyone who invested the time to discover the genuine masterpiece that she was. I wish we were all like Morgan- loving and open and hospitable to anyone we come in contact with. Why is it that so called “normal” individuals can be so full of themselves that they leave no room for wonder and magic? Maybe that is why Jesus made it very clear that unless we become like little children- Heaven would never interest us!

My grandkids live seven hours away in Johnstown, Pennsylvania so I like spoiling my adopted grandkids at our church. Morgan was one that I would always try to sneak a candy bar to. She would ask quite inquisitively, “Where do you get all that candy Pastor Rudy?” And I would smile back and tell her that I would buy it for amazing kids like her! She was also one of the few very brave individuals who actually liked to sit right up front when I preach at The Lighthouse Church. My daughter Leah coached Morgan’s soccer team and my son Joel had her in his class for several years in Dennis Township. So having to be the one to officiate her funeral ripped my heart to its seams!

Losing a child is something that can’t be fixed! My wife Terri and I have buried two of our sons- Nicholas who was born when we lived in Omaha, Nebraska and Benjamin who was born back in 1999 while living here in Cape May County. Our boys were born to only live a short time on this planet. But those few hours have changed our lives for the rest of forever! No words can ease the pain. No amount of time that has passed has made the enormous canyon that they have left in our hearts any smaller. Only the grace and mercy and reality of God has kept Terri and myself from residing in a rubber room or not living at all. Where was God when all of this happened? The same place he was when Morgan graduated to glory! He was holding on to us parents when we couldn’t muster the energy to lift a finger! I share this all because the best thing anyone can do to help somebody who has been through a tragedy of this magnitude is to not attempt to make the pain go away but to accompany and love that wounded mother or father through the valley of the shadow of death! Only resurrection and reunion will ever be enough to heal the shattered remains that will abide as long as we remain this side of heaven.

So last Wednesday, I stood before a grieving audience with no intentions of trying to answer any of the “Why” questions. I have learned that it is only the “Who” answers that are what we need to limp through to yet another dawning day! Loving God and having others who love us enough to walk with us through the rain and the pain is what will have to suffice until our empty arms are filled once again! As a matter of fact, when we drove over to Cold Springs Cemetery, I actually did the graveside remembrance for Morgan while standing on my own son’s grave! I looked down and saw the marker that read, Benjamin P Sheptock. Nothing can prepare you for that! Coincidence—I don’t think so! And God’s grace found me and the family and friends right there in the middle of the muck of our misery! Don’t ask me what I said or how I did it. I lead with love and allowed my heart to be vulnerable and absolutely available and I know God met us there.

I asked Morgan’s Daddy if I could take a picture of her bicycle before I left his home the other day. Morgan loved to ride it and greet her neighbors while she did. Her bike still had training wheels attached to it. And seeing it I am reminded of two things. First, we all need the training wheels of a real relationship with God while living here on earth. There is just too much suffering and injustice to bear without God there to keep us from ending our journey in the nearest ditch! Second, Morgan doesn’t need those training wheels anymore! She is popping wheelies as she wanders trying to meet everybody she can and I know she is offering them some lemonade in the process! I live with my feet on the ground but a large chunk of my heart already in eternity. Morgan reminded me of that fact loud and clear this week! “See you soon Sweetie and I’ll have a candy bar for you!”

July always reminds me of the sounds of summer and that definitely includes music and lots of it. Growing up in North Jersey, whenever we could go to the beach back in the day- or venture to the local community pool- everybody would have their radios by their side and most of their stations were tuned to Music Radio 77WABC. Growing up we all had our favorite songs and many of us kids would sing along religiously with our transistors glued to our ears. And for me, when the notes from the songs like “Up On The Roof” by The Drifters, or “Penny Lane” by the Beatles or “Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes” by Edison Lighthouse or “Joy To The World” by Three Dog Night came soaring over the airwaves- I turned the volume up as loud as it would go. I knew all the words by heart and I would get out to the local record store and buy that 45 as fast as I could raise 69 cents! And then every Tuesday night I would wait for Cousin Brucie to count down the top songs of the week to see where my pick hits landed on the survey.

I thank God for music and I couldn’t imagine what this life would be without it. Many times I believe that the Lord has given me a special melody at just the right time to remind me that I am not alone or a ballad to give me the much needed strength necessary to face the next mountain to climb or storm to survive or provided me with a triumphant tune to celebrate the victory. I have certain songs that I will forever associate with a certain moment and a specific place in my adventure. Maybe you have the same! All I have to do is hear a few notes from the classic Bobby Helms version of “Special Angel” and tears fill my eyes as I am whisked back to that night when my Dad shocked my Mom by taking her in his arms and relived their wedding day as they danced together on that anniversary in our living room as if they were not surrounded by 6 kids at! And when the Righteous Brothers’ song “My Soul and Inspiration” plays- I am once again singing that song with my brother to my new girlfriend at that time- the very woman who would become my wife- my Terri! I could go and on. How about you?

But I also have certain songs that are my favorite to hate. When I was a disc jockey on the radio, these were the certain tunes that I could not wait to use my explosion special effects upon and blow to smithereens with pieces of the vinyl flying everywhere! Records like “Feelings” by Morris Albert, “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot, “YMCA” by The Village People, “Torn Between Two Lovers” by Mary McGregor and Pat Boone singing “Ain’t That A Shame.” Let just say that Fats Domino would agree it was a real shame anybody let Pat Boone near his song!

Two songs that would cause both my eyes and stomach to roll in disgust were one, “Mac Arthur Park” by Richard Harris. This never ending saga of an overly melancholy someone who left a fresh baked cake out in the rain and the recipe is now lost forever and how that should cause dismay and despair in my life is beyond me. Go to the nearest bakery and eat it inside and all should fine! And two, in the sad story of “One Less Bell To Answer” by The 5th Dimension, the woman is now complaining because her man has left her and she now has one less bell to anser and one less egg to fry! No wonder the dude left! What grown man is supposed to survive on one egg??? Had she had enough sense to scramble or fry a few more or make the poor guy an omelet now and then, chances are real good he would still be there! And as a bonus bogus lyric that so many people wrongly think is such a wonderful happy little ditty because it is entitled, “We’ll Sing In The Sunshine.” If you listen carefully to the words- this chick has already made up her mind that she does not believe in commitments and so if you are choosing to be with her- don’t get your hopes any higher than one year because as soon as 365 days go by, she is hitting the highway! It makes me want to scream and I usually do.

How about you? What are some of those songs that for you cause you to experience the same sensation as if I was to scratch fingernails on a blackboard or chomp my corn on the cob right in your ear? Be honest. Email me at pastorrudytlc@comcast.net. I would love to know the records you love to disdain and why. I would also, on a positive note, love to hear about those special ones that will always bring a sincere smile or sentimental tear. Don’t be shy. I promise I will not get mad at you unless you start picking on Barry Manilow songs. If you do that- I will probably not be sending you a Christmas card any time soon!

Have a safe and meaningful summer. Make some wonderful memories and concentrate on relationships over projects and things. And don’t forget to add some music to your day. Good or bad- they all come back and tell the story of the way we were and the kind of people that we are now! Rock, Country, Gospel, Classical or Soul- play it like you mean it and sing it from the heart!

One of the reasons that I believe Christianity isn’t as contagious with the watching crowds as it should be is because those of us who claim to wear the name of the Lord aren’t bringing our best game to the table often enough. I am not just talking about being able to spout off Scripture like we are auditioning to be an auctioneer. I am not just talking about conforming to acceptable church etiquette and minding our manners! I am talking about being the people that the Bible talks about when it comes to identifying those who love God and love others!

Christians are supposed to be the ones who lead by love. They are those who serve without whining. They go the extra mile without being asked. They turn the other cheek and forgive when they would have every right to fight! They aren’t worried about others having to know their names- but are content if they only leave Jesus upon the lips of those they are surrounded by! They answer to a higher standard. They do what they do for a divine audience. They care about what others just carelessly sweep under the rug. They are not striving to be politically correct but are praying to become powerfully connected to a culture that is looking for leadership with honor. Integrity matters and excellence counts- even when nobody else but God is looking!

Could it be that maybe too many of us are trying to live a supernatural way using only very natural means? Could it be that we might mean well- but our good intentions are dying on the pages of our Day-Timer? Could it be that we have become numb or too comfortable? Maybe we have settled when we should have been surging? We are all guilty of serving God left-over’s when he definitely deserves the first cut of who we are and what we have to give. Our faith could very well resemble showing up on race day to run the marathon when we haven’t even trained a day leading up to this event or prepared our bodies so that they may have the endurance they need to sustain a pace and cross a finish line. Our culture likes to celebrate the victory before the battle has even begun!

Maybe we could learn a spiritual lesson from the scrub oak tree. Consider this a modern day parable for the soul! During the wintertime all the trees lose their leaves except the scrub oak. And it has these crummy little leaves and the wind blows like mad and it keeps blowing through autumn and it blows through winter and through it all, this scrub oak still has its leaves. Eventually come springtime, the scrub oak finally surrenders its leaves! Do you know how? Because the new life of what needs to blossom finally pushes off the old ones that have long been dormant.

I think this is a really good illustration of what needs to happen in the Body of Christ in our present day society. It won’t come through verbal attacks or militant protests. Just shouting at our neighbors or lifting up our noses in blatant disgust as we boastfully shove our holier than thou lifestyles down their throats won’t work! It isn’t via alienation or worse yet- just compromising so badly that nobody would be able to point out even one difference between a believer and an unbeliever! It will be when the church finally and humbly allows the flow of the Holy Spirit to push the growth of new life into the heart of Christians! The new life of God will cause the old life in us to cease existing! The rot and the ruined will fall away and the vibrant and the victorious will be here to stay!

I believe with all of my being that if you want to change the community for Jesus Christ, the worst way to go about it is to stand in judgment and protest and just point condemning fingers. But what would happen if we who claim to follow the Lord actually began living a holy life that oozed the grace and truth of our loving Savior? The outcome would be that others would want to come to Jesus Christ. They would recognize on their own that they are missing a huge piece that isn’t found in a stuffy religion but is discovered in a real relationship with God. And if those of us who go to church started living like that- the end result would be that Cape May County would not be able to ignore us! They would have to deal with the evidence of changed lives happening everywhere in their midst!

I’m not interested in marching anywhere. I am just interested in winning people to Jesus Christ and allowing him to push off the old by the new life that comes. God help us from settling to just create a ruckus when we are capable of being initiators of a real revival! This would happen if we would just become what we say that we already are!

If you are looking to take Jesus beyond the walls of the local church this weekend- join us this Saturday, July 12th, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm at the Cape May County Park and Zoo Bandstand. We are calling it “Lighthouse In The Park” and it will be a time of worship, inspirational testimonies, and even a spiritual challenge or two from me! It is free and it is a time to show our community Jesus! I would be honored if you wanted to join us. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and let’s allow God to use us as his holy fireworks that others would stand amazed at the glory of God in our own backyard!

Another summer is in full swing here in Cape May County. School is out and vacationers are invading the territory by storm. Like you, I drive a bit more defensively- never expecting the other motorist to do the right thing! On a positive note, I take more walks along the North Wildwood Sea Wall where I hope to catch a breeze to cool down my otherwise overheating body as I also get a glimpse of the beauty of our homeland. I might sneak over to grab a delicious and unique hotdog at Maui’s or at the very least hope to see Hope who manages the local Wawa. Whatever the occasion, I am setting my mind to live with an attitude of gratitude for what is rather than pining aimlessly over what is not! I ask God to purposely open the eyes of my heart to see the blessings rather than the blunders in the life all around me.

I like to joke by making this statement, “You know the one thing I hardly ever do is complain…” I am a habitual whiner by nature. I can tend to be overly critical and always wishing I was someone else living somewhere else owning something else rather than truly appreciating what I have already been so graciously given. Let’s face it! I hate heat and humidity! I shuffle though the summer season. As the Loving Spoonful used to sing- when it is “Summer in the City” lots more than the back of my neck perspires with “the dirt and gritty!” And even though I pride myself as one being very witty- I sometimes long to live at the North Pole! Hey, my full name is Rudolph and Christmas is only 6 months from today! What is really funny is that my kids got me my own personal air conditioner for the bedroom for Father’s Day! I immediately turned to my wife Terri and jokingly asked her, “Where are you going to sleep now?” I was envisioning icicles hanging from my pillow and a wind chill of negative 20 on Route 83!

But I eventually go full circle and exit my self-centered circle of one! And when God gets a hold of my senses- I return from my spout off sessions with a heart that longs to be selfless and used by him. I love the fact that God allows us to vent and talk and jump and shout and knock ourselves out- as long as we follow him in humble obedience! The Lord knows I will do whatever he wants- wherever he wants it done whenever he may choose to use me! I know I may make a lot of noise in what can be at times expressed in an intolerably full volume- but when push comes to shove- I desire my life to shout to the world of the goodness of the Lord!

If summer is the season to go dancing in the streets- then let me do so with the heart of a child. And if raindrops start falling on my head- then I will play out in the storm while jumping in a few puddles along the way! I will sing my song out very strong with the hope and prayer that maybe you might just sing along. I want to run against the wind with the heart of a warrior and assure you that you don’t need to worry baby because everything is going to be alright! It’s a miracle- a true blue spectacle that I’m still here and this genuine Jersey boy is going to walk like a man whatever God has planned! I’m a believer and I could not leave here if I tried! God’s truth is in my ears and in my eyes and whatever the fool may choose to believe- this follower has decided to take the love of God to the streets! Do you want to dance with me as we grow up still crazy after all these years?

I have no idea what is ahead. Part of me actually doesn’t really care about the details. The guarantee that I have is no matter where I go- the presence of my Lord will be right here! So as I embark upon my 18th year as the Pastor of The Lighthouse Church, I want to renew my childlike innocence that clings to the fact that if I believe- I will see and taste and know the glory of God in our midst! I never want to wander this earth without the wonder of heaven! And no matter how many miles I may have left to go-let’s just say I long to not only make the trip- but be aware enough to enjoy the journey! So have great summer and the best Christmas ever!

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In this week alone, I coached my son Joel’s Little League Baseball Team to win the Dennis Township Minor League Championship. I had all of my children and grandchildren together for a glorious day as we went to the Cape May County Zoo and Morey’s Piers to make some lasting memories. I officiated the wedding of a tremendous young couple with so much promise named Brian and Lauren as they launched their new adventurous life together. And I oversaw the funeral of an awesome woman who left us so shockingly suddenly named Linda Keech. She was just at church and then by that evening she was gone and we didn’t even get to say goodbye. Seven days of a whole host of emotions that my Lord captured and contained in one very humble and fragile combustible human heart and soul! I laughed and cried and cheered and died all in the same day. God, do any of us really ever know how amazingly wondrous this world is while we are so busy living?

We are now in the midst of June, a season of graduations and weddings and new starts and summer ventures. I don’t know how long I have on this planet. Each day is a gift and it should be unwrapped as so. It should not be demanded or taken for granted. I do know that God has given me the freedom to choose and I choose to engage and breathe and dance and sing and love lots while I am able. I do know that I want to stop becoming so vulnerable to the traps and the landmines that attempt to steal, kill and destroy what precious moments that I have been given. I want to excel in the areas that God has so graciously gifted me in. I want to impact and share and communicate to as many as possible as effectively as possible that the secret to life is making sure that you are in a right relationship with the God who made you!

On any given day we need to be very aware of those who really have no other goal but to rain on our parade and stomp on our balloons and criticize rather than fantasize of how fantastic Emerald City can truly be. I love the song from the Broadway Show Wicked, “Defying Gravity.” I really believe that God created us to lots more than just survive. He weeps when we wimp out to settle for much less than what was originally planned within our DNA. I am calling on the Encouragers and the Coaches and the Lovers and the Dreamers and the Artists to do what they do best and that is keep on calling those around them to a much better world than the one that is! You have more power than you think you do. With one smile or random act of kindness, you can literally alter the course of somebody’s destiny today. But if you are too busy consumed within the design of your own little cocoon, you will miss the skywriting on the horizon with God’s assignment for you.

I know that for all the good that I do, I also have failed in so many areas. I know that for every dream that has come true, there have been many that have died on the nightstand. All I know is this: being alive is not as much a right as it is a holy present and I want to be aware of the magic before it becomes a regret of the past! I can’t please everyone around me. I can’t control what God only knows. I can’t make others happy when they are committed to being miserable. But this much I do know, I want to live the life that God has orchestrated just for me. The one that He fearfully and wonderfully composed. I want to be His instrument of sweet soul sounds that cause the hearts of others to wake up and shake up and get the heck out of bed!

Another week has come to an end. I have not been promised this week to come. I have no idea if I will still be around come next weekend. No matter! Ready or not, here I come and nothing is going to hold me back from the days that God has ordained for me. May I live them to their fullest – loving Him and loving others and never forgetting to keep the music turned up nice and loud and when I can- the air conditioner icy coldHere comes summer and there goes Rudy!

I hate to wait! If I set up a meeting with an individual and then that person decides to be fashionably late- it drives me nuts! I start our Church services on time- even though many will come after it begins! If I go to a restaurant and can’t be seated immediately, I am out of there! If the lines are too long at the supermarket- I will abandon my shopping for another time. If I am stuck in traffic, I will literally turn off the main road and try to navigate my way- without a GPS- to get to my destination just so I can keep moving! Standing still and being in a holding pattern was not the way God wired me. And yet- still He bids me to wait on Him and to be still and to cease striving so that I can know undeniably that He is God.

They that wait on the Lord! Those words are in the Bible and I cry out to God, “Are you serious! What is so holy about waiting?” And then I realize that waiting is not a passive behavior at all. Waiting on God literally means that instead of manipulating the circumstances, or attempting to pull the right strings or make important phone calls to key people or force open doors just so that my will can be done- I am content to look to God for the divine signs and supernatural signals before I proceed. Like the angels in heaven- I have my eyes so fixed on my Heavenly Father that the moment he beckons me- I am in total tune with his desires. This exercises my faith to allow God access to make the first move! Waiting on God keeps me from just getting sidetracked and suffocated by nothing more than spiritual busy work that has some temporary value but no eternal impact!

A common practice among Christians these days is to stamp God’s name on plans and actions that quite frankly; he wants nothing to do with! We light our own fires and claim that God has set this situation ablaze! We do what we want to do and then tack on what I refer to as “The God Card!” God actually tells us to be quiet in his presence so that we can truly hear his voice above all the other noise! Sometimes church can be the noisiest place in town. Our volume may be turned up so high that there is no chance for any of us to hear God’s whisper! We just don’t like waiting on God so if he doesn’t get it done within our imposed time frame- we panic and don’t pray! We believe that if Jesus is satisfied to dilly dally around- we make the executive errant decision to do it on our own! And there lies the biggest flaw in our walk with Jesus! This relationship is not just us doing the blabbing and Jesus being quiet before us! It is absolutely more the opposite!

The hardest periods of my life have been when God appears to be silent. Add silence to my list of impatience as qualities and characteristics that just don’t come easy to me. I want to be active. I want to march. I want to run! I want to move. And honestly, I want to do it for God! But the discipline of “waiting” ensures that we are also living our days with God! I know that there is a temptation to be so passionate and radical in our faith that we just can’t wait to get out of the boat and start walking on the water but this is not the way to go about it! Peter didn’t just impulsively decide to do some water walking that night he and the disciples saw Jesus strolling upon the waves. Peter asked Jesus to call him out of the boat! Peter waited for the invitation before he made his move. Without a clear calling of God, all we are doing with our behavior is taking matters into our own hands! And the best place to be is in the grip of God’s amazing grace no matter where the place we may be!

Maybe the prayer that I just prayed in my journal- may be the cry of your soul today!
“Dear God, please bid me to come! I want to wait on you and serve you no matter what may be on the menu! Forgive me Lord for having ants in my pants when it comes to jumping the gun of ministry! It is not holy to break down the doors that you in your sovereign wisdom have locked. I confess that my mind wanders and my attention span is limited! I recognize Jesus that you are in the silence. You speak when I am willing and ready to listen. You unveil your will when I am ready to abandon my own agenda! Make it my goal to yearn for the Planner over the plans! Let me hunger and thirst for your company! Let me sense when I am running ahead of you God or lagging way behind! Use me Lord! I want you to cleanse me so that I may be an instrument of your power! I make room in my heart to wait on you. I am plugging in to heaven’s energy source! Empower me to be content to follow you step by step as you are the Leader- the Master- the Creator- the Designer- the Author and the Finisher of my faith! If I am in doubt of your authorization- I won’t proceed! But when you give me the green light- may I fire up and run this race in a pace of being a blaze that brings glory to you alone! In your holy name I ask… Amen!”