Pretend I'm from Missouri, Just Show Me

I would like to let you know; I really care!  If there is anything I can do for you; please let me know! I’ll be there for you; you can always count on me!  I’ll be your friend to the moon and back! I promise; we’ll get together soon! I love you!

Have you heard comments like the ones above before?  Are you like me, doubting and knowing that half the time they are empty words?  I’ve come up with this saying in life, it is one that I wasn’t familiar with until moving to the Midwest a number of years ago and spending time in Missouri, my response more times than not, even if only thought and not spoken are, “Pretend I’m from Missouri; SHOW ME! 

Unfortunately, we live in a world where more times than not words are just empty and the person speaking them either doesn’t take them seriously or the person hearing them is just reminded that it is okay to be lied to and the other person just doesn’t take them seriously or seriously doesn’t care about them. For someone that is a Christian, to speak words without understanding the intent of those words or intention of honoring those words can be devastating to their witness.  It is one of the reasons, that in all honesty for me, is why I continue to have such a difficult time trusting others.

I am reminded of a concept as taught in the Bible:

When you make a promise, say only “Yes” or “No.” Anything else comes from the devil. ~ Matthew 5:37 (CEV)

Think about that concept by the way the words were spoken by Jesus! Does it ever seem like we hear a lot of excuses as to why a person can’t or doesn’t keep their word? Why their yes isn’t yes or their no really no?  This verse gives explanation as to the reasoning here, it plainly says, anything else other than keeping promises anything other than our word is of the devil. No excuses, only the need to improve and make sure that we are acting accordingly with the concept of calling ourselves a follower of Jesus.

Does this mean we won’t make mistakes or that things don’t come up?  Of course not, but it is clear, those are the exceptions as opposed to the rule and that above all, we think about what we say before we say it and we keep our word. If we make a promise, plan on keeping that promise. At that point, all those things in the first paragraph begin to change.  Our experiences, our expectations, and our word will be different.

I’m not from Missouri, I’m originally and always will be from Tennessee. I would rather not have to experience the SHOW ME state moto and concept, but unfortunately, I expect to. Can it change?  Yes, but it requires people to change. Will you think about your commitment, your yes, your no before speaking them in the future? 

I've always felt the following song applied to this in so many ways. Give Broken Promises by Rez Band a listen in this lyric video:

 Broken promises Resurrection Band with lyrics - YouTube

For going on some thirty years now I have done the work of The Virtual Pew, in part planting seeds but another huge part is getting to know people and being called by many Pastor Mike by my involvement in social media. From engaging in life, I have seen the impact of my work on people on the fringes all over the world. I have run homeless programs, housed homeless people worked with drug addicts, prostitutes and much more. All while giving back my salary, and for the last 8+ years not taking a salary. You can help tremendously by supporting the work, not just from the movie reviews but the work that goes along side that in the development of relationships of helping save lives and give purpose to the lives of others. I appreciate your consideration in this calling that I have seen and know God uses. 

If willing to help, it is greatly appreciated. I ask you, do not write checks or make contributions to me. All contributions should be made either to The Virtual Pew or Mosaic. The Virtual Pew is a Religious Organization and Mosaic is a 501-C3 nonprofit. 

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I am more than willing to share at your church, business and so forth. I have shared across America as to the work God has done and done for me. I love those opportunities.

Blessings and thank you,

Mike Furches

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Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word. Here is our contact information

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Email: mike@furches.org

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Who Are You?

Over the years I know people think they know me, but truth is, few do.  As an example, let's see how well you know me.  Of the following items, which ones are true, which are not true?

1) I have appeared on National Television at least 2X's

2) I have been quoted in Time Magazine

3) I have spoken to over 26,000 people on one occasion, and 10,000 plus on at least 5 occasions

4) I have contributed and been published in Psychology Today and The Psychosocial Journal

5) I played pro soccer for 6 years, and premiere soccer until I was 38

6) I played soccer for 2 years with the Tulsa Roughnecks

7) I have coached NCAA National Wrestling Champions

8) I was a boxer in High School

9) I am friends with many former and recent Olympic Wrestling Competitors

10) I have written 1 book and contributed to 4 other books

11) I was in a gang

12) I have been homeless

13) I was endorsed in a political election by Al Gore, The National Right To Life and the NAACP

14) I have confronted 2 governors about their policies face to face, one after they were governor, one while they were governor

15) I served on a Presidential Task Force for the Hiring of Persons with Disabilities

16) I served on a Federal Task Force regarding Fair and Reasonable Accommodations for The American's With Disabilities Act, (ADA)

17) I lived in a YMCA Transient Center for approximately a little over 2 years

18) I have had writings appear on the official web sites of George Romero, Johnny Depp, and Stephen Spielberg

19) I have appeared in 4 movies

20) All of the above are true

The answers to which of the above are true and which is not true will follow at the end of the post.

The truth is, there are many more things I could share that are true that people would have a  hard time believing and many things that people think are true which are false. People like to make assumptions though don't they? They think they know you and in reality don't, or if they do, there is always so much more they don't know.

Truth is I am not who I used to be and am so different in so many ways it is unbelievable.  I kind of muse at times at people who think they can pull things over my eyes through their manipulative behavior or where they think I am not smart enough to figure things out as to what they are doing.  I don't give much credence to IQ testing but my IQ test has me test out to a superior level. I always wondered how someone who failed in school like I did could be smart?  This doesn't mean much to me though other than to say I am smart enough to sometimes figure out a persons intentions and what they are really up to. It also means I am smart enough to not try to compartmentalize people. I have made drastic changes in my life; myself, and thankfully others along the way have benefited. I care about that, in the past I would have cared less but God has the ability to bring about change to the unchangeable.

I was a thug, a punk, a bully. Most people who know me now couldn't have stood me. At times some of those attitudes of, "I don't care what you think," still come about, sometimes the confrontations come out, but I hesitate, I think, I hold back what would have at one time been certain inappropriate responses. I'll be honest, for those who try to manipulate or control me, I kind of laugh, thinking, if you only knew. I come from a family that is strong, a family of Alpha's if you will who over the years where the men and women seldom took crap from anyone. 

Now why do I say this? It is simple; if I am that difficult to figure out, if I have had to learn to manipulate, create and figure out others and myself to maintain my own sanity, I figure there are others who have done the same. We do what we must to survive as the human desire to survive takes us to places we never imagined. We will eat, drink and do unimaginable things to survive. Yet, in that willingness to do unimaginable things, sometimes the issue of pride is what holds us back. Pride is one of those determining traits that can lead us down the path of destruction, whether it be relationships, opportunity, potential, or even a major thing, like eternity. 

You see many are unwilling to look adequately at who they are, why they are the way they are, and ultimately, give that over and become a slave to the person of Jesus. It comes down to realizing, I am nothing, He, (Jesus) is everything. I am a slave, He, (Jesus) is my master. At that point we come to the place where we realize the potential of change, not to be who our environment or situation makes us to be, but to be the person God wants us to be.

It is one of those areas where people who are not followers of Jesus don't understand. The Christian or follower of Jesus puts all of their trust, all of their value in Christ, He is the one we emulate. Others will and do think they know God but the truth is, they have never opened the Bible to do serious study on God. They may have heard a sermon, albeit from a horrible teacher a time or two but they have never seriously investigated the truth of what the Bible says themselves. When they say things like, "You should never judge," or "The Bible contradicts itself," or any number of things we may have heard, we know they have never opened or studied the Bible because the things they say the Bible says, it clearly doesn't.

Here is the challenge, while we may have had many experiences, those experiences do not make us who we are. I am not who I was and while there is value in the things I have done, there is more value in who I am now and what I will do tomorrow. My eternity is secure, I know that! It is secure because I no longer live for me, I live for the creator of the universe. Am I perfect in my ability to follow him? Heck no, but I am on my journey. While I am not sinless, I sin less today than I did yesterday and hopefully will sin less tomorrow than I will today. That is the journey that leads me to the place where the things of Jesus matter. It is a journey that understands, it is no longer I who live but Christ Jesus who lives in me. That is the challenge for all of us that follow Jesus isn't it? What an honor to let Jesus show and shine through our lives. We get to the place where we want to be like him as opposed to being who we are or what others think we should be. At that point, when people ask, Who are you, we can say;  "A disciple and follower of Jesus." Who are you? 

Just in case you may have forgot, the answers to the above questions follow: 

Here are the answers to the above questions.  #1 - 4 True, #5, sort of true, I played semi pro soccer for Texas Instruments and Umbro International against various premiere, select, and college teams for 6 years., #6 False, although I did practice some with the team, I never played for them, #7-18, all true, #19 False, I have appeared in 1 short movie, 1 feature film, and numerous documentaries, #20 clearly, False

To see the following video, just click on the video, if there is a problem click on the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdLIerfXuZ4


The Virtual Pew and our other work is supported solely by the kind contributions of others. You can click on the donate button below to give any amount to this work that does so much more than just post articles on the net; I draw no ongoing salary from the church I pastor, Mosaic Wichita which is predominantly a homeless church; I am grateful for any small amount you can contribute to help with this ministry.  Believe me there is much more going on than most realize. I will also provide information to verify the ministry and income that comes into this ministry and work.  Thanks and feel free to share any material from The Virtual Pew, I only ask that appropriate credit is given and a link to the original site with the materials provided.

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There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives. You can also contact me for a free audio book link of The Keystone Kid at mike@furches.org You can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/.

Hopefully you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word. Here is our contact information

The Virtual Pew
1249 N. St. Francis
Wichita Kansas, 67214
Email: mike@furches.org

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