Jesse Caro’s Blog
ENCOUNTER ~ REAL. RELEVANT. CHURCH

Environmentalist are in a tough spot, deciding how to proceed from here. As it turns out energy generating wind turbines come at a cost. Of course they are a bit expensive, but there is an environmental cost. Studies have shown that our friend, the bat, runs into these energy producers at night… becoming a major threat to the bat population. The bat is becoming a quickly disappearing species in many areas in the country. Not good news since they are one of those animals that show environmental health (and kill pesty bugs as an added benefit). These poor bats are, unfortunately, coming to their demise due to these wonderful energy producers. Oh, where does the environmental movement  go from here?

Strike 1:

The other day we experienced a little family shake-up/crisis, followed by  discovering someone had defaced some of our church yard signs. It was not a good end to last week, nor a great beginning to this one.

Strike 2:

Found out Monday that Chloe had gotten H1N1. Splendid! The house went into a complete disinfectant mode and the anxiety level went up 2 notches.

Strike 3:

Yesterday I was at a prayer breakfast, left… driving home I stopped for an ambulance. The guy behind me did not! Not a good start to that day. Insurance and the police report stated that it was, of course, not my fault. But that is very little consilation for my sore neck and aching back. My van did not appreciate the impact either.

Not being a believer in luck, I am cornered into a position of believing that some principality or power is setting aim in our direction. Being a believer in the providence and protections of God, I am acutely aware that He is ever watchful, mindful and concerned. And so, I will rest tonight in Him, despite my car, back, neck, H1N1, personal trials or church dramas.

There are 5 times more Polar bears now than there were 50 years ago.

Along that line, a recent article written in Science Magazine by Princeton’s Tim Searchinger states some facts about bio-fuels and global warming:  “corn-based ethanol, instead of producing a 20% savings, nearly doubles greenhouse emissions over 30 years and increases greenhouse gases for 167 years. Biofuels from switchgrass, if grown on U.S. corn lands, increase emissions by 50%.”       hmmm… And yet, there is no halt on subsidies for ethanol or other biofuels. Is anyone out there suspicious that we are getting played? Is anyone suspicious that this is a political agenda not an ecological one?

There is a Psalm that is close to my heart…. Psalm 121:1,2.

I will lift up my eyes unto the hills. From whence cometh my help? My help cometh from the Lord who made the heavens and earth.

I grew up hearing this Psalm in Spanish and the ring to it is so much more beautiful (and informed)…. Alzare mis ojos a los montes. De donde vendra mi socorro? Mi  socorro viene de Jehova, que hizo los cielos y la tierra.

As I ponder this Psalm I am struck with the care of God.  In Spanish Socorro is  “rescue”. The idea is not that I need help to get something done… not “I need a hand with something”. It is more like, “I am sinking, adrift and I need a rescue party or I am going to perish”! When you need to be rescued (and “help” ain’t gonna cut it) God is where you need turn. You turn, if you are wise, to the Maker of Heaven and Earth. To turn to self, one’s strength, the promise of others, or to turn to chance…. foolishness. I love, too, the assurance in the Psalmist’ pen: “my rescue comes from the Lord”. And praise to Him, it always does. He is always there never to leave and never to forsake. It may not seem like it, but it is in His nature. He by definition is a Saviour.

The key seems to be in the posture we have… the mindset. In difficult times it is a good reminder to look up. Don’t look down. Don’t look back. Don’t close your eyes and try to forget… or wish upon a star. Don’t look over the hill for greener pastures. Look up! Look to Him! Rest in His promises. He, the Saviour, Creator, Rescuer and Friend brings relief in His perfect time.

This just in: the warmest year in the last ten years was 1998.

Update: across the United States in the last couple weeks, there have been hundreds of record breaking lows… including here in North Carolina!

We are so excited, Chloe…. you turn 5 today! Next year you will have to use two hands to count how old you are.

My sweet Chloe, where has the time gone? I remember when mom was going to the hospital in Sacramento for a check up. You would be coming soon and the doctor wanted to make sure all was well. We had not yet really settled on your name, but finally decided on “Chloe Grace”. Good thing too, because you were coming early! They wanted mom to stay there and go ahead and get you out of her tummy.

I was so excited and scared. The doctors were not sure if you would be healthy. They were a little nervous about your little heart. Sacramento had a hospital that would take care of you if there were any problems. We were so scared and prayed so much that God would take care of you. You finally came out of mommy’s tummy and you were so beautiful and sweet. And, yes, our wonderful Jesus has taken care of you every day since. We thank Jesus that you are healthy  and our very special child. Surely God has an incredible plan for your life.

Every year you get older is a gift of God. It is our joy to see you grow, to see you play, to see you become such a wonderful young lady. You can not imagine how much your mom and I love you. You are our gift on your birthday and our joy could not ever be any greater.

My dearest Chloe, I hope you had a great day. I just wanted you to know how very much you are loved. May the Lord give you many, many more birthdays. May He grant you every blessing. May the Lord protect and defend you. May He always shield you. May the Lord favor you as a special child and gift. On this, your fifth birthday, I pray blessings over you and wish you the happiest Birthday and many, many more.

We love you dearest Chloe.

SNL had a skit on Saturday night making fun a bit of Obama. Basically the Obama/actor discuessed how he had not accomplished a thing int he last 9 months.

As expected the media is outraged by the skit. An anchor on MSNBC actually said that that kind of humor was inappropriate. One network said it was “unfair”. CNN basically circled the wagons for Obama, wondering if Obama himself should reply to the “accusations”. They even did a “fact check” segment to see how credible the skit was in its “facts”.

Now, if this does not illustrate media bias I am not sure anything ever would. Challenge: see how many times in the last 8 years a Bush skit on SNL was defended against. See how many times anchors said a skit or joke from any outlet was criticized as “unfair”. I mean, for heaven’s sake, if anyone can find any occassion when any media outlet has done a “fact check” on SNL comedy on any republican…. ever? Can you imagine the credible media going out of its way to defend a president from SNL? If it’s Obama, anything goes. Where was the media defending the Bush administration against the trash over eight years, like books written to show how to assisinate President Bush? A shoe gets thrown to Obama like it was at Bush and the media would have the mob hang the journalist and do an expose’ on the shoe manufacturer in order to bankrupt the company.

Have thought some about the prodigal story today and yesterday’s message.  Dealt with the Father’s love as the son returned home.

Was struck today with the truth that God’s love (the Father’s love) is so over the top. It is almost the most unbelievable part of the story… as though the listener is supposed to not believe the reaction of the Father. Everything else in the story is credible: audacity of a youth, squandered living, rock bottom, decision to return. But killing animals, big parties, robes, rings, sandals? A little over the top considering the disgrace that was caused to the family. And, in a way, that’s the point. It is unbeliveable, over the top and beyond belief. God’s love is especially overwhelming and incredible…. particularly when you take into account the deep depravity and shame we cause. This is, in many ways, the climax of the story and it was great to preach about it…. an easy sermon about God’s unearned grace.

We have been studying the parable of the prodigal son. This last Sunday’s message was on the strategy he employed to get himself out of the mire he was in… repentance.

I do want to point out an important aspect of what the prodigal did involved in repentance: he left the pigs. He went to the Father, though he did not know what the reaction would be. It is a great sadness in the modern church that it is seemingly ok to invite Jesus/the Father into the pig pen. But, in this picture of repentance adding Jesus to a junk life does not cut it. Making Jesus part of your lifes experience is to fall short. The vivid picture Jesus paints is one where we leave the lifestyle of sin for the freedom of life in Him.

While there are levels of what it is to repent (hear the messages at www.encounterchurchnc.org), I trust that we will be a people discontent in having Jesus be a part, and not all, of our lives.