A Day of Weeds

I hate weeds. They mar the look of the yard because they grow faster than the grasses I desire. They often bring stickers and burrs. They invite more pollen to incite the onslaught of my allergies. I HATE WEEDS! I think this sentiment is common amongst most people.

I have learned over the years that weeds do not infest only our yards, but also the hearts of those in our churches. Consequently, we are losing ground in the culture that we live in with regards to effectiveness of our witness. Allow me to explain. In Luke 8, Jesus is addressing a crowd of followers. Why were they there? A variety of reasons: some were curious; some needing healing; some wanted a show; some were drawn by the Lord. He turns them and begins a parable: the sower.

If you are familiar with this story, Jesus describes a farmer who is sowing seeds which fall in four different locations. These locations represent the four different heart conditions that are given the Word of God. The first fall on the side of the road and get snatched away by birds. The second, rocky soil, which withers for lack of moisture. Number three is the weeds and thorns. The seed sprouts, but grows up in the midst of weeds that choke it out. Finally, some seed also falls on good soil which grows and yields a crop.

The third soil is the one that jumped out at me today. Jesus explains the parable in verses 9-15, and it was the three things in verse 14 that act as weeds in our hearts that captured me: worries, riches and pleasures of this world. It was what Jesus said these things do the heart of the person (soil) that stood out to me. He says it causes them to "bring no fruit to maturity," The NIV renders it, "they do not mature." That hits the nail on the head of too many in our churches. So many us are just anemic in our faith, and the tendency is that we have gotten ourselves so fixated on what the world has to offer, we become fruitless or immature. Our faith isn't growing, we become self-centered-- some call us "consumers" and we lose heart quickly.

Now, are these things bad in themselves. No, however, when they become the center of our lives, and we allow them to dictate to us how we are to live, those things become godlike and thereby become idolatry. James actually describes this by saying, "whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (4:4)

What is it that drives us. Do we spend most of our time worrying about things that are going to blow away in the wind or can be lsot with the next stock market plunge? Or are we storing up treasures in heaven that are eternal. Today we are living in a day of weeds. I guess it is time to do some gardening!

Fabulous... Inspiring Story

Grab your hankies and sit a spell... it'll cost you 20 minutes, beat that in the local cinema!

Then click here for a short movie...

Duct Tape for Churches

They say that duct tape can fix anything. I wonder if there is a spiritual duct tape for churches? Next week, I have the privilege of preaching for a local church while the Pastor, a friend of mine, is on mission. In my preparation, yesterday, I was listening to a sermon on community by Matt Chandler at the Village Church. The front part of the sermon he was describing the kind of life we are called to live. He says this:

"Romans 6 has one of my favorite ways to put it. It says, 'In the same way you once chased what is sinful, now chase what is godly.' So think back on when you were a scoundrel. For me, I would stay up late for my sin of choice, I would rearrange my schedule for my sin of choice, I would forgo sleep for my sin of choice. There were things where I enjoyed this or I wanted to do that or I wanted to go here, and I wired my life in such a way. And this is saying, 'In the same way, you once chased sin, now with that same energy, with that same zeal, with those same sacrifices, chase what is righteous.' That’s profound if you let your mind think on it and chew on it and wrestle with it."

That is profound, but how do you make that happen? He concludes that without living in community, where someone has free access into your life - in which to speak truth in love, to walk fully this out is virtually impossible. That is what God designed the church to be. He is the one who empowers us through His indwelling Spirit, but the body works in us to love one another, encourage one another, and rebuke one another to make this happen in our daily life. I need my brothers and sisters in Christ and I am grateful to those of you who know me and love me enough to speak the truth in love into my life when it is not well reflecting Christ. The body is what God designed for accomplishing His will in your life and on this earth. If you are not connecting in community to the Body of Christ, you are missing out! You will not likely be all that God has created you to be.

It breaks my heart as people are leaving churches in droves, much in response to bickering and complaining within the walls over things that have absolutely no eternal significance. If we are going tell people about the love of Christ, we must first show the love of Christ to one another. This takes hard work... sometimes ALOT of hard work. But the payoff is out of this world. The church, when functioning as it intended, is irresistible to the world. We have got to keep it together! I believe there is a spiritual duct tape. It is called love. Love covers a multitude of love... love never fails... love preserves all things... It is when we live together in love that the world knows that our Christian faith is real.

Walking with the Good Shepherd, pt 5

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows." (vs. 5)

A few weeks ago, my wife and I went to a conference / retreat in the DFW area where we were blessed to stay at the Great Wolf Lodge at a fraction of the cost. We had ample time to play at the indoor water park therein. In the center of the park was one of those huge buckets of water that is constantly filling and then dumping out 1,000 gallons of water on whomever happens to be lingering below. It reminded me of this verse as it is a great application.

First I ask, who is it that prepares this table? There is that "you" that keeps recurring in this text. The God of the universe is serving us! And where is He serving us? In the presence of our enemies! I remember when I was growing up, it gave me incredible sense of safety to eat lunch at school with big kids that liked me. None of the bullies would mess with me if I was hanging out with my befriended behemoths. So, spending time with the Good Shepherd has its benefits, especially when it comes to being around the ravenous wolves.

In the next part of the verse, David describes some of those benefits. "You anoint my head with oil..." this can be strange imagery to us in the 21st century, but in that time this usually was a symbol of two different things: healing and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Like the large bucket at the water park, we must constantly be connected to the steady stream of water of God's presence in His Spirit through prayer and time in His Word. As we do, we are constantly being refreshed and healed, but not only that, when we are being filled, our cup runs over and splashes out onto others.

Unfortunately, too many of us are trying to splash out on others when all we get is the trickle we get on Sunday mornings... if that much. If we long to make a real impact in our world, we must have that constant filling of the Spirit. "...be filled with the Spirit, " (Eph. 5:18) The verb phrase "be filled" is the command in this verse, and its tense literally means to constantly continue being filled. It is not a once and for all, but rather a continual process.

Is your cup being filled daily, or are you trying survive and minister with only the grounds left in the bottom of the cup. Your Good Shepherd has an incredible feast set before you daily in front of the Enemy. Come and get it!

Walking with the Good Shepherd, pt 4

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." (vs. 4)

Right off the bat, this verse affirms the same thing Christ stated that in this life, trouble is guaranteed. The verse begins with "...even though..." not "in the unlikely event." My own life has been wrought with trials, testings, and downright irritations-- be that from people or circumstances. I meet person after person that longs for a life this side of heaven that was never promised by our Lord. The first person I meet is the guy in the mirror each morning. I have the audacity to think that I should live a privileged life free from harm and free from trouble. That is a lie. Truth be known, as much as I moan and complain in the throes of discomfort, I have grown more during those times than any cushy period of my life.

The other things I notice when I look at this verse is first, that I "walk through." That gives me hope; this valley is not my destination, but rather a thoroughfare. Why? Because it is but a shadow, not the real thing. If we are in Christ, we have life. He is the resurrection and the life! The second thing I notice is that "I fear no evil." Why is that? The Psalmist tells the Lord that it is because "You are with me." Remember who that "You" is? The Lord, our Shepherd, our Provider, our Comforter. This same Lord is our Protector. David records in others Psalms that He is our fortress, and our shield. He is the One with me. Why is it, in spite of God's track record, that never seems to be enough for me? Maybe I am the only one with that problem.

Next, with what does our Good Shepherd protect and comfort us? The rod and the staff. Is David being redundant? Rod AND staff? What's the deal? Well, here's the deal. The shepherd's rod is a twofold instrument. It is a short handled stick often described with a knobby end on it. It can be used as a close range weapon and a long range weapon. But here's the catch, this weapon can be used against enemies of the flock, or on wayward flock as well. God's discipline can be very comforting. God lays out His boundaries, and when we get into dangerous territory, he sometimes whacks (note: "whack" is not in the original text) us back on the path. (cf. Heb. 5:8)

Not only does he whack us when we need it, he also, uses the staff. The shepherd's staff is the traditional instrument most of us are familiar with-- the long pole with a hook on the end. That hook, is what I would call the "grace hook." That is when we have disobeyed and gotten off the path disregarding the chastisement (whacking) and in need of rescue and in need of grace. The Good Shepherd, doesn't leave us to the elements nor predators, but rather, leaves the 99 for the 1. That's His heart. He left the privilege of heaven for the peril of earth, all to go after those of us sheep that have gone astray. Have you gone astray? Perhaps you are in the midst of some whacking. Maybe you should stop and re-evaluate the path you are on. The Good Shepherd is there to comfort and protect.

Walking with the Good Shepherd, pt 3

When we have spent time at the quiet deep waters and in the green lush pastures, we find the result in the beginning of the next verse, “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.” (vs. 3) He restores our souls. That is such a tremendous promise.

Today you cannot turn on the television without seeing an advertisement for some herbal concoction or new pill to counter stress and renew energy. It is obvious how our world, which in large part, has rejected the one source of true restoration. And yet, they continue to look for renewal and freedom from stress. Conversely, I cannot tell you of the countless people I have known that, although they have been through so much physically, emotionally and mentally and yet in the strength of the Lord, always have something to give and always are ready to encourage. They can do this not through their will power, but because they regularly lie down in green pastures and drink deep of the still waters. The prophet Isaiah offers this version of the same promise, “Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” (40:31)

The promise of restoration is so important because we must walk in this life. Everyday, we choose our paths. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Contrary to popular belief, there are right paths and there are wrong paths. But when we linger at the deep waters and in the green pastures, we are guided in the paths of righteousness. These are the paths that do not lead to destruction. The Psalmist describes how to know the right paths from the wrong, “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” (119:105) Friends the more we stay in God’s word, the less likely we are to follow the paths that will destroy us.

At the end of this path is God’s glory, “for His namesake.” When we shine, He shines. I read this morning in Hosea 6, that God doesn’t long for our religious activity and empty rituals, but rather, he longs for us to be what He designed us for and to do it for His glory. That is when we will most experience true joy. Have your been restored recently? What are you waiting for?

Looking Down the Road

Few adults that I know can say that their lives have turned out exactly how they expected or planned. I think that is because life, much to our chagrin, is really outside of our control. Little decisions can take you down paths that can forever change your expected destination. Circumstances beyond our control push us down paths we never intended to go. And yet neither of these situations is unexpected to God. He knows what He's working with from the start... from before the start to be truthful... and He knows where He is going with us. But the truth us we really may never know what our ultimate purpose in this life is in the grand scheme of things.

Today, I began reading the book of Matthew again. And like many times, I was wading through the genealogies in Chapter 1 trying quickly to get to the "good stuff." Then, the Holy Spirit teaches me something unexpected. It really does help to have read through the Old Testament a few times because you can know a little of the stories of those mentioned in passing. I found my myself zeroing in on who some of these names in Christ's lineage are. Some of these dudes are not so cool. Some downright evil. And yet, here they are in the line of the King of kings. God used them in the path to His purpose.

You never know how God will use you in His purposes. This can be hard to see because our view is limited by the now, and few of us really think with an eternal perspective. So, as you look down the road, be encouraged. God can use you for great things. God's not done with you!

Tangles

Last night as I was putting the girls down for bed, we read through the story of Joseph in their children's bible. Even in the simplified version, it addresses one of the focal passages in that account. All of the bad things that happened to Joseph happened for a reason. Sometimes God allows us to get to see the reason, sometimes He doesn't. Joseph, had amazing clarity in this area. In retrospect, he says this to his brothers, "'Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.'" (Gen. 50:19-20) He says this decades after having be sold into slavery, wrongfully accused of sexual misconduct and spending years in a dungeon as a result.

I think one of the hardest questions that followers of Christ face is why does God allow bad things to happen. We may never know all the specifics. I have had horrible things to me and to those I love. Some of it I have gotten to see good result, others not yet. I read a story this morning about Corrie ten Boom that really captures the whole issue of perspective. I wanted to share it with you she has incredible insight into the whole world of suffering,

"Corrie used to speak to audiences about her horrific experiences in the concentration camps, and she would often look down while she talked. She wasn't reading her notes. She was actually working on a piece of needlepoint. After sharing about the doubt and anger and pain she experienced, Corrie would reveal the needlepoint. She would hold up the backside of the needlepoint to reveal a jumble of colors and threads with no discernible pattern. And she'd say, 'This is how we see our lives.' Then she would turn the needlepoint over to reveal the design on the other side, and Corrie would conclude by saying, 'This is how God views your life, and someday, we will have the privilege of viewing it from His point of view.'"

- Mark Batterson, In a Pit, With a Lion, on a Snowy Day.

Overcoming Spiritual Gluttony

I recently added to my repertoire of Pixar flicks seen. Melody and I enjoyed a Daddy/daughter date and took in the newest movie, Wall-E. While it was probably my least favorite of their productions, I found myself reflecting on some parallels I saw in the movie with the Christian church in America. I won't belabor nor ruin the plot for you, but in the movie, earth civilization has evacuated the planet due to excessive waste and pollution. They all board an "ark" of sorts to escape sure demise, leaving robots behind, of whom Wall-E is the last, to clean up the mess while the eco-system returns to normal.

While in space, the humans, being the consumers that they are, are encouraged to relax, take it easy and let the ship and all automated services do everything for them, chores, all movement, spoon-feeding them among others. The result after 500+ years of inactivity, is hoards of massive people floating around in hovering lounge-chairs who, when they fall out of the chairs, need robots to help them back into their chairs!

One of my primary responsibilities as a minister, and a follower of Christ, is to make disciples. However, the church today has taken on such a consumer mind-set. Many people go to church to be fed, but they don't want to learn to feed themselves. The result is what I would call spiritual gluttony. We have at our finger tips a vast amount of resources, and yet we are probably one of the most spiritually illiterate cultures in history. It's like they want spiritual growth by osmosis. That is not what scripture teaches. Spiritual maturity comes at the price of exercise and suffering. "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil." (Hebrews 6:12-14)

Having been a believer, myself, for over 30 years, I am ashamed that I am still as immature as I am. God's patience and grace in my life has sustained me, even in those days, weeks, and years that I wasn't hotly pursuing Him. I think we all get into dry times in our lives where we don't sense growth happening; nevertheless, it is the constant practice of spiritual disciplines that yields growth and strength. John Ortberg, in The Life You've Always Wanted, likens this to the difference between trying to run a marathon verses training.

So, there they are, both of them on the coffee table. The remote and the Bible. Everyday we get to choose. We can either try or we can train. And don't forget... it ain't about the knowledge, it's about the transformation. If all our training does is make us more versatile at Bible trivia it is useless. We only truly believe, what we live. (cf. James 2:26)

Keep Pushing

Recent weeks have brought some significant change in my life. Before we moved here, I had begun to workout; however, when we came here, I had to stop as there wasn't a facility to continue. Well, a few weeks ago, our town opened a new fitness center and I am back at it and working out again 5 days a week. It has been refreshing starting again, and I am starting to enjoy the benefits of the hard work. Pants are fitting looser, I rest well at night and I know that I am working toward an overall better physical condition. Perseverance, however, is the key. It will do me no good if I wane in my regiment. The Lord has brought one theme up over and over to me in recent days so, I thought I would write a few lines about what I am learning.

In my workouts, I have days that are harder than others. I may wake up feeling weary (like this morning) and it takes everything I have to get through. Sometimes, when I start a new level of weights or add reps I have to deal with pain and soreness. There are days that are just routine and boring and I just have to suck it up and move forward. And there are also days when all my ducks are in a row and I jam and feel great after.

Since the place opened, I have seen many different faces. Some I continue to see, some I do not. I am sure some will come and go, hit and miss, some will drop out altogether as the demands on body and time are more than they are willing to commit to. There is an incredible parallel to our spiritual walk.

A dear friend whose blog I frequent has for his blog title, "Finishing Well." I think that is because that is his heart's desire-- to finish well. Over my lifetime, I have failed to finish things I began. Some things it took me a while, but I kept at it and finished. It gives great personal satisfaction to finish what you have started. I am finishing my reading through Hosea, and I am reminded that once again, the life of Israel has some traits that mirror the Christian church in America. They started well, but they were not finishing well. They got sidetracked, by what John Ortberg calls "shadow missions." Shadow missions are things that distract us from what we are called to do. They can keep us from finishing the race.

Hebrews 11 gives a list of folks that finished well. I believe there is another list in heaven that Christ looks at when we enter his presence. It's a list for those who finish well and then He tells those that have loved Him, "'Well done, good and faithful slave You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'" (Matt. 25:21) In order to win the race, we must finish well. The Christian life is filled with many who start well, but don't finish well. In case we become arrogant, we should also mind our own steps, as we are all just a stumble from finishing well. We must trust in God's ability to complete what He has started, not what we are capable of.

Chasing Smoke

My oldest daughter has, for the last few weeks, been participating in a basketball league called Upwards Basketball. The whole Upwards program is geared for building kids up and teaching them to work together as a team, and to enjoy playing sports as a way to glorify God. One of the things they do for the kids is at the beginning, which is the highlight of most kids day, is they get to run through a tunnel filled with smoke as the announcer calls out their name. Within minutes though, the smoke has cleared and it's time to play the game. The kids are there to play the game, not to chase the smoke. God has been teaching me much of the same lesson. Once again, I am in a barrage of very specific messages that I am hearing from multiple places saying roughly the same thing-- stop chasing smoke.

The last couple weeks, I have been studying Ecclesiastes, and though I didn't do it intentionally, it is really complementing the book I am reading. I wonder if the author, John Ortberg, was reading Ecclesiastes while writing, When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box. The major premise of the book is our life is short, make it count for things which matter to God. Solomon says the same thing. He begins his book by saying, "'Vanity of vanities,' says the Preacher, 'Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.'" What I have learned in this reading of Ecclesiastes is that the word "vanity" is not just saying things are meaningless, but the word can be translated as "smoke" or "vapor." He is not necessarily saying that life is a waste, but rather, don't waste your life on things that blow away like smoke. Solomon goes on to explain that as he has tried everything the world has to offer, it all has one theme in common. He uses this phrase to describe life's pursuits over and over again, "striving after wind." It's all chasing smoke.

As a minister, I have participated in a large number of funerals over the last couple of decades. And after I am done, I always find myself in a state of healthy contemplation. One of our saints was promoted to the Lord's presence this week. So, once again I am thinking. Listen to how Peterson renders what Solomon says, "You learn more at a funeral than at a feast— After all, that's where we'll end up. We might discover something from it. Crying is better than laughing. It blotches the face, but it scours the heart. " (Ecc.7:2-3) Some funerals are filled with wailing and tears, especially when the young perish. Others, there is a spirit of celebration because a righteous life has finished well having invested in the lives of other people. They weren't chasing smoke. They left a spiritual legacy that will be carried on in honor of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ortberg describes a familiar illustration in how to measure what is worth our lives with tennis balls and sand in a jar. The tennis balls are what counts: God, People, Calling, & Joy. The sand is just filler- all the other stuff we spend our time on. So, we must put the tennis balls in first, because once the jar is full of sand, the tennis balls won't fit. And once the jar is full, it's over.

That is how I want to finish. When I leave this earthen vessel, I want people to be able to say that "I am closer in my relationship to the Lord because of this man." I don't want to chase smoke. We all have the same number of hours in a day, if we spend them on things that will blow away in the wind (i.e. possessions, status, etc.), we will have wasted our lives, because it all stays here. I want to put the tennis balls in the jar first. I have to ask myself, when I give myself to something, does it REALLY matter in the grand scheme of things. There is a temptation to believe that we can always start tomorrow, but we are never promised tomorrow. So, let's do it today!

Needing Eye Surgery

It has been a number of years now since I was first diagnosed with myopia. Myopia is defined in Wikipedia, as "a refractive defect of the eye in which collimated light produces image focus in front of the retina when accommodation is relaxed." Now before you begin prayer vigils for me and my "critical condition," let me assure you that I am going to make it. As a matter of fact, it is most likely that my condition will not result in my demise. For those of you, like myself, that are not as well versed in medical terminology (I had to look this stuff up)... I am nearsighted. In the most simplest of explanations, I can only see clearly when things are close. Much farther than a couple feet, I require corrective lenses, and until God gives me my glorified body or we can save the small fortune Lasik would require, I am doomed to wear eyeglasses.

I am, unfortunately, stricken with a spiritual myopic condition as well. I think most folks are, really. We can only see the here and now, and truth be known, we don't do so good with seeing up close and should have spiritual bifocals because what we see right now is pretty blurry too. I tend to see things most often from a very worldly perspective. I focus merely on what I think I see, but God's desire is that I begin to develop what I will call "forever eyes." I believe that when we receive Christ by faith, God gives us a new set of eyes. And, like getting new glasses, we must use them frequently in order to adjust to seeing with our new sight. If we used our forever eyes regularly, it would give us a tremendous amount of perspective on the here and now.

There's an old Alfred Brumley gospel song whose chorus sings:

"O Lord you know I have no friend like you

If Heaven's not my home, then Lord what will I do?

The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore."

Too often, we spend our time looking at where we are now and trying to set up shop here on earth, but, like John Ortberg describes, that is as foolish as trying to redecorate a motel room when we are staying there-- this place is not our home. Oftentimes, I get discouraged because I focus on that which is temporary. But God wants me to fix my eyes on Jesus and on my eternal destiny. Listen to what God describes for us through his prophet Isaiah in chapter 65:

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;

And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind." (v.17)

Some versions translate the word "behold" as LOOK, SEE or even PAY ATTENTION. The chapter finishes with a vivid description of where our eternal perspective should be focus.

I especially like that way Eugene Peterson renders this passage in the Message. In this verse, he says, "All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten." God has SO MUCH better in store for us. If only we could learn to use our "forever eyes" we would know exactly know what Paul was saying when he said, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known."

Until then, I will be needing daily eye surgery.

Are We There Yet... pt. 2

So, here we are, we have returned from a long trip, and yet I find myself still exhausted in every area of my life, wanting so desperately to have been refreshed after a week off. But then, as frequently happens, God begins to speak to me. I had just finished reading the Gospel of Luke these past few weeks, and had actually began to read the first couple chapters of Acts, when I was led to get back into my study of the Pentateuch. I had left off in Numbers. In addition, I am reading John Ortberg's, Love Beyond Reason. That is were the Lord's message to me converged.

I think there are times in our lives when we get so wrapped up in our circumstances that we spend time in the Word and it falls on deaf ears what God wants to say. We get impatient with people, with ourselves and we just want to give up. Then, comes the two-by-four... WHACK! I was reminded in a very short period of time of what God does in the lives of His people. God is most interested in our character NOT our activity. When God takes the people out of Egypt, the people were so weary of the slavery, I think they wanted the Promised Land more than they wanted the Promiser of the Land. He had given them some amazing examples of how big He was, plenty enough to trust Him, but they did not believe. They did not trust in Yahweh, the Promise Keeper.

Then come the cries, "Are we there yet!?!?"; "How many more miles?"; "How much longer until we're there?"; "We're hungry,"; "We're tired of eating Manna,"; "We're thirsty,"; "This water's bitter"... Are we there yet? It's an old problem with a simple, but impossible, solution. Impossible apart form the power of God. It is an issue of faith, of trust, of... contentment... contentment not just in the material things that we currently have, but rather at the core of who we are.

One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 37. Many a day I have poured over this Psalm when I was going through a pity-party. Wanting out, wanting a change, wanting more, asking God, "are we there yet?" Those are the days when our hearts cry out, "Lord I am tired of it all, please come back, take us to heaven, now!" But I have found the answer to this common dilemma is echoed throughout Scripture, Old and New Testaments alike. My favorite in this Psalm is in verse 4. "Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart." In my worship of self, my tendency is to focus on the latter half of that verse, and yet, it is the first half that is so critical. When I delight my self in the Lord, it is not that He will give me whatever I want, but rather, He becomes and manifests that which my heart most longs for... eternal life. Along around this verse the focus is on knowing and trusting God. Check it out for yourself. Jesus described this focus in His prayer in John 17:3, "'This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.'"

God reminded me that it is not about the destination; it is all in the journey and with whom we are traveling. Like my daughters, I have gotten into the mindset, "get me out of this car seat, I want to be there now!" Instead of resting in the the hands of the driver, enjoying the trip, and enjoying being with the family, I just want to be there now. I didn't want to sing another song, play another round of I spy, nothing. I was not content in who I was or more importantly, who He is. You see, God is a God who takes His people to the Promised Land by way of the desert. Ortberg describes it as the "roundabout way." These are the places where God develops us into His likeness. Ortberg quotes Thomas Merton, "The man who does not permit his spirit to be beaten down and upset by dryness and helplessness, but who lets God lead him peacefully through the wilderness, and desires no other support or guidance than that of pure faith and trust in God alone, will be brought to the Promised Land." I had allowed myself to be beaten down by the dryness and helplessness of the desert.

Where are you in your trip? Is your heart crying, "Are we there yet?" Are you chasing the emptiness of the world's treasures, or rather, are you sitting back and enjoying the ride with your Father doing the driving? That is what He desires. The question is will we delight ourselves in the driver and the voyage?

Are We There Yet? part 1

Along with millions of others this past week, I loaded up the car with our family and traversed the countryside for a couple days of the good life with our family. My two girls are now almost 5 and 20 months old. My oldest, Melody, we have traveled with numerous times, and she has always traveled well. The younger on the other hand... well, let's just say we haven't and she doesn't. Melody is now at the age where she has learned the world-famous traveling phrase, "Are we there yet?" She anticipates the undivided time she will glean from the aunts, uncles and cousins present and can't wait to put on her best performances, as the world (a.k.a. my sister's house) is her stage! So, even though she has been told we won't arrive until well after dark, she is on an internal timer set to go off with the above mentioned mantra every 2-3 minutes-- beginning at the time of our departure, 3 PM.

Now this is somewhat manageable, however; the other child, although her verbal skills are not yet fully developed, has no trouble in relaying the fact that she loathes the invention of the car seat and is convinced that it was, by engineering, not intended for occupation beyond 15-20 minutes. We know she is adamant about this fact as she sounds off her opinion in crying, whining and pleads for momma every 15-20 minutes! Understand, this is the norm; however, the intensity of this song on our holiday voyage was raised a few notches as she was sick and running a fever.

Our trip was scheduled to take 7 to 7-1/2 hours in total. After 6 hours, we had just made it half way thanks to heavy Austin traffic and frequent stops to frees the inner ear canal of its new nemesis. We made the executive decision that it would be best for all in our exhaustive state to stop for the night in San Marcos. We woke physically refreshed but asking God why there was not a toddler's version of Dramamine available. The total trip down we squeezed 7 hours into 11 hours-- the trip back was only 10 (yeah!)! You parents reading this are most likely snickering thinking, "Yep, been there; done that!"

In the midst of my exhaustion I was not prepared for the lessons God had for me on this trip. Once again, in perfect and sovereign timing, He coincided, both circumstances, messages from His Word along with conversations and other readings to pull out the proverbial two-by-four to drive home a message I needed to hear desperately. I will expound further on this lesson tomorrow or the next day... to be continued.

Start Fresh

We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it. God's purpose is not limited by your past. He turned a murderer named Moses into a leader and a coward named Gideon in to a courageous hero, and he can do amazing things with the rest of your life, too. God specializes in giving people a fresh start.

-- Rick Warren

Finding Favor

Big Tom is a new friend of mine. I have only known him for a few months, but he has quickly become one of my favorite people. He is a great story teller and an all round funny person with a huge heart for serving God and others. He has been a believer for only a few years, but God has truly transformed this man's life. His background, like many, is pretty rough, but the hand of God on this man's life is very evident. He recently was offered a new job. And while all new jobs have that honeymoon period before the reality sets in, this job seems to be a stark contrast to where he served the last few years. Not only did his compensation go up, but the work environment and his schedule has drastically changed and this has been a tremendous blessing from God.

Big Tom is a hard worker and always has been as I understand. From what I have personally observed, he can work most people under the table - as can his boys. I know that his ability to get things done definitely attributed to his new-found employment, but I also firmly believe there is more to it. You see Tom's life transformation took place at the core of his being. When he came to Christ, he was truly a model of what Paul talks about in Romans 12; Tom was transformed by the renewing of his mind. As a result, the way he thinks and consequently, the way acts is controlled by the Spirit of Christ in him. He understands where he came from, and so he has a truly humble attitude about himself. And as a result, I believe Tom got his new job, like the one I read about this morning, because Tom found favor with others.

As I was reading through the life of Joseph, one thing began to stand out to me. Joseph like Tom had a rough start. He was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. But beginning in Genesis 39:2, we see a key thing that I think made a huge difference in Joseph's life. God was with Joseph. As a result, everything that Joseph touched went well. Even when he had been falsely accused and thrown into prison, we see that Joseph found favor in the eyes of those he served.

Now that does not mean, as I know that Tom can attest to, that everything is roses. I definitely do not fall into the camp of thought that just because you are a Christian that you have the right to wealth and riches, because I firmly believe that God uses the roughest times and trials in life to shape and develop our character. At those times, we are compelled to realize that we are not in control and consequently we must rely on God which is where He wants us to remain. It was obvious that Joseph's attitude and actions were affected by his trust in the Lord, and as a result people took notice. It is an Old Testament example of what Peter's charge to the church that I discussed in my sermon, "Living Out Loud." There are many other passages that teaches this same truth.

It causes me to ask, am I finding favor with those that I come in contact with because my actions have been affected by what I believe? This is contrasted by the seeking favor of men. I think Big Tom is an example of the way it should happen. He found favor in others because he was seeking after God. As a result God has blessed him. Congrats Big Tom!

Freefall

Don't you wish sometimes that God used e-mail? I know I do. I had two reminders today that God, however, does not use e-mail. We have two very dear friends that are on the verge of some significant life changes. The circumstances are different, but I am fairly certain that either one would appreciate an e-mail from God or any form of direct revelation for that matter would suffice.

I have been around long enough to know from personal experience that sometimes God might as well write it on the wall, His direction is so clear, and yet at other times you are left praying for clarity because you either have no clue what God is doing or what He wants you to do. It may be circumstances where like one of my friends where you have the green light to move forward, but you have no sense of God's direction either way. Or it could be like the other friend where you have clear direction, at least you think so, and then all of a sudden you experience huge road blocks or road closure all together.

I guess in both situations my counsel is that which has been offered to me in times like this. Trust God, and take the next step. And really, it's the first part that is the hardest. I think waiting on God is hardest because it involves control. If you are like me, you have a tendency to want to take the reigns. Few people enjoy where their lives are totally out of their control. And yet, that is where God wants us to stay. Even Paul had this issue. In 2 Corinthians 12, he was sharing about all the great things he had been afforded, and yet he hit a road block, he called it the thorn in his flesh.

Much speculation has been spent on what the exact thorn was, but the end result is the same regardless, "I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." You see Paul learned what is so hard for most of us to realize, especially while we are in the midst of those times. God does His best work, when we have no other choice but to trust Him. Sometimes, the end result is His developing our character and learning to trust Him a little more.

Please don't think I have all this figured out, because I frequent those uncertain times when I am looking for clarity and God's direction in life's choices. But every time He brings me through, I have a new thing to look back on and say, "If God brought me this far, He'll get me through the next challenge." This is when the journey is so much more valuable than the destination.

Striking a Pose

God continues to teach me things through my girls. The latest lesson came a couple days ago while we were praying before our evening meal. After I closed with "amen" our youngest (15 months old now) looks at us, throws her hands up in the air, and says "ta-da!" It was really cute. We all had a sweet laugh over the deal, and she squealed with glee taking in the extra attention she got, and it is becoming a little routine for her as she has repeated the performance a couple times since. I asked myself why she felt that moment was an appropriate response at the time- as if I could possibly understand the mind of a child. I asked myself where did she learn that as we have never taught that to her... or had we?

Those of you that know me the best, know that one spiritual discipline I long to improve on is my prayer life. Paul tells the Thessalonians to "pray without ceasing." That is the mark that I frequently miss, but I think sometimes when I am praying by habit and not a desire to commune with my Holy Father, sometimes I throw my hands up and proclaim to God, "ta-da! I did it God, I did my duty." And yet, that is a far cry from God's desire or what I need most desperately. If you are like me, you respond in the old familiar way, "but I am really busy right now in my life!" Unfortunately, (fortunately) God sent a cutting rebuke from a deal friend in the form of a quote from Martin Luther, "I have so much to do (today) that I should spend the first three hours in prayer."

Maybe you can join me in praying the following: "Father, your Word tells me that those who seek you find you. In those times I am most stressed and most busy, may I have the heart of your servant that would adjust my life to spend more time with you when I am intensely busy."

Here is a little resource I found that may help you set this up in your life. Click this link.

Peace, Be Still

Thomas Kelly wrote, "People nowadays take time far more seriously than eternity." As I reflect on the conversations I have with people, it seems the pace of life seems to increase almost daily. Now, I do not live in the metroplex, and so much of the hurried-ness I experience pales in comparison to that which those who live there subject themselves.

Over the past few decades with the advances in technology, we have seen an increase in what John Ortberg, in his book The Life You've Always Wanted, calls "Hurry Sickness." It is funny to me, because I still remember hearing ads about how certain gizmos would increase your time, but in fact, it has just opened up slots of time in order to fill them with more things. The result is families and societies that are falling apart.

This not only affects our world, but it begins with our spiriutal lives. Ortberg states, "The great danger is not that we will renounce our faith, but settle for a mediocre version of it." Perhaps this is why the Father tells us to "be still and know that I am God."(Psalm 46). Jesus who was always in step with His Father's will, knew that was a result of getting away. "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." (Luke 5:16).

If Jesus in His vast ministry felt it necessary to withdraw, why do we think we can do it more efficiently without it. I know when I do not withdraw, my life just seems to collapse on itself, because the foundation is no longer there. So, we must take time to be still. Ortberg suggests that we adopt the practice of "slowing." He even suggests that we can do some practical things to begin training ourselves in that discipline. This includes things like intentionally getting in the longest line at the grocery store or driving in the slowest lane in traffic. Try it, if it is a real stretch for you, you may really need to do more research into this discipline.

So, stop reading this blog, and get by yourself and be still. It will be difficult slowing down your brain for a period of time. It is for me anyway, but try, and it can refresh your soul. The tyranny of the urgent will be there when you get back.

Wake Up Call

I am by no means an expert when it comes to travel, but I have stayed in my share of hotels and inns. One of the amenities that I have found to be pretty standard regardless of the number of stars the establishment boasts is the wake up call. Very simply, you call the front desk and let them know you would like a wake up call and what time you would like it to happen. The clerk or concierge then inputs your request into their computer which in turn rings your room phone at the requested time telling you it is time to get up.

I think we get all sorts of wake up calls from God. God's Word calls it fruit. One of these that I was talking about recently with a friend is the issue of family life and spirituality. This area of my own walk with the Lord has been a real struggle for me. I guess this is hard for me because of my learning style. I am one who can read it and learn some, hear it and learn some, but I tend to learn exponentially more when I see it modeled and have someone coach me as I do it. I, like many, grew up in the church. Yet, it grieves me that I saw (or see) so few examples of how to lead my family spiritually. Oh, I received the message that I was supposed to be doing it, and even saw a few doing. However, until the last few years, after I have blown it big in many ways, there hadn't been many who were willing to invest in me and my family. I have had a few astute people that have been gracious enough to point out the obvious to me (that I screwed up) but never said, "Say, do you know how to do this, I noticed you were having trouble. Can I show you how I do it?" Usually what I heard was versions of "You moron, get your head out of your rear and get it done!"

When you look at instruction Deuteronomy and in Paul's letter to Titus, we get very specific instruction in verses 1-8 of chapter 2 that examples should be set as a key element instruction, not just imparting information, but demonstrating how to do it. Mentoring is becoming a lost art. Author, speaker and pastor, Steve Farrar, attributes this to the Industrial Revolution when fathers were taken out of the homes where their sons worked along side them. If this is the model Christ used, shouldn't we pay a little more attention to it? Now parents are absent from the home, they abdicate their responsibility to the church. We step outside of God's design, for the family, the church or society and then have the gall to act surprised when our world comes crumbling down around us.

God gives us wake up calls every day. It is time we pick up the phone and answer the call. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." - Galatians 6:7-8