Keep Knockin'

"Patience is a virtue."  How many times have we heard that?  It seem like whenever there's something on the horizon that we don't see yet, or an answer to our solutions that's just around the corner, a friend or family member draws alongside and tries to offer some encouragement with those four small words. It might involve a job promotion or paying back that student loan.  It might even have to do with bearing someone's unwanted character flaw.  Someone at church who is a talker.  A child who's lazy and won't clean up after themselves.

It's as if patience will get you through the situation.  In fact, if we look back in the book of Galatians, one of the fruit of the Spirit is patience.  "The fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control.  Against such there is no law."  But if we consider the verse and what God wants to do in our hearts, it's more than just developing a virtue.  Anyone can meditate for thirty minutes or sit quietly while a son or daughter decides whether or not to tell the truth.  It all has to do with what you're doing while you're waiting.  God desires to draw near and be the one we rely on during that time of duress or difficulty.  And waiting on Him is the object lesson.

Jesus tells the parable of the unjust judge who is holding back on ruling on a widow's case.  And the widow comes night after night, knocking at his door, pleading for him to listen to her.  And finally the judge says to himself, "I'll just listen to her only to get her to stop pestering me!"  The parable is meant to demonstrate the importance of prayer and seeking God in our situations.  Unlike the unjust judge, God wants to hear from us.  He wants us to keep knocking.  Not to play a game of "Who can catch my attention," or "Let's see how long I can get her to keep coming back."  He wants us to rely on Him to move us through the difficulty or situation.

We had an incident when we had to wait on God to arrange carpool for our daughter.  Jessie faced a difficult situation where she had to stay with a girl at a house until Annie came and picked her up after work.  We thought it was a good arrangement as she was an acquaintance.  But after a while the girl began to pick on Jessie and copy off of her homework without permission. There were other issues, but Jessie began to buckle under pressure.  We went to the Lord for help, and we found a friend with whom Jessie could go home.  But Annie had to talk to the other mother about the incident.  And the mother was one of those "Extra Grace Required" women who could easily be rubbed the wrong way.  So we went to God in prayer.  Again and again.  And on the day Annie was going to talk to the mother, I found myself at work continually lifting her up in prayer. 

If this sounds like it's getting off course, it's not.  Patience isn't about developing a waiting nature against time.  It's about asking God to draw close to us while we wait on Him and His answer.  He pours out His grace on us during that period.  It's difficult sometimes.  Perhaps a friend has cancer and we're asking for comfort.  Or perhaps a child is having difficulty in school and we're praying for a better reporte with the teacher.  Whatever the situation, when we wait on God and seek His way, He gives us the grace and direction to move through the situation.  Then, whatever the answer, He is glorified and we find peace through the difficult time.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;

knock, and it will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks receives,

and everyone who knocks it will be opened."

He Who Calms the Sea

"Those who go down to the sea in ships,

Who do business on great waters,

They see the works of the LORD,

And His wonders in the deep.

For He commands and raises the stormy wind,

Which lifts up the waves of the sea,

They out up to the heavens,

They go down again to the depths;

Their soul melts because of trouble.

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,

And are at their wits' end.

Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble,

And He brings them out of their distress.

He calms the storm,

So that its waves are still.

Then they are glad because they are quiet;

So He guides them to their desired haven.

Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, 

And praise Him in the company of the elders."

Psalm 107:23-32

On the same day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."

Now when they had left the multitude, they took him along in the boat as he was.  And other little boats were also with him.  And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.  But he was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.  And they awoke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"

Then he arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!"  And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.  But he said to them, "Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?"

And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Wo can this be, that even the and and the sea obey him?"

Mark 4:35-41

Man of Sorrows

He passed away May 2016.

The man who had taught me to cast a line, and balance a checkbook, and trim the yard, and built a fire...he was gone.  It wasn't sudden.  It wasn't like Dad was there one moment then gone the next. The cancer had progressed slowly.  First in the pancreas, then to the liver.  We sat with him in the hospital during the transfusions.  He and Mom were so diligent with taking their constitutions.  But the steps became slower, and then he brought out the walking sticks.  A few more rests on the couch lying down.  Finally, a hospital bed was moved into the bedroom and the transfusions ceased.

After he passed, I would still smell the scent of his aftershave around me.  I walked to my parents' front door expecting Dad to greet me with a handshake. I would look up from dinner but the chair at the end of the table was bare.  I'd read a newspaper article and lower the paper to ask for his opinion just to find the sofa across from me empty.

The months dragged on.  I spent hours sifting through the memories.  How he stood by my side during the Boy Scout cake auctions, or guiding my hand as I sanded down our soapbox derby car, or even the stern warning he gave me after an altercation with my mother. I would stare at the ceiling at night, noticing that the darkness above reflected the emptiness inside of me. His words.  The scents. The telephone calls.  Memories would cloud my mind, but the void was still there.  I would be at work, and the overwhelming sadness welled up deep within my soul.  I would rise from my chair and take stroll around the office until my emotions would settle into a manageable state. When I thought I had passed through to a calming respite, his heavy breathing during his final moments would echo in my mind.

Two months before the next Christmas, my family and I sat together in church.  Pastor Jim and the worship team led the congregation in praise.  While others lifted their hands in praise and joyous exclamations, I sat in a daze.  Time had slowed. The drawn out minutes seemed like an endless sailing through dark waters. I didn’t know how to go forward.  I wasn't sure how to get through the days or the long nights.  I was just about to step out into the isle and walk back to the prayer team for help when a sudden impulse gave me pause.  I chose to pray first. I dropped to my knees and quietly called out to God.  “Lord, I don’t know what to do.  There's a numbness inside that I can’t seem to overcome. I want to celebrate and commemorate my Dad rather than suffer. It seems like I'm in a closed-up room and can't find a door.”

The singing seemed to dim, and I felt the Spirit move within me.  The Lord brought Isaiah 53 to my mind. It was the passage on the Suffering Servant.

"A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. 

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; 

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows..."

And Jesus spoke to me. "I know your sorrow. I know your grief, for I have suffered. I can carry what you bear.  I am the Man of Sorrows. Take my hand and let me lead you. You carry this heartache and loss. You were never meant to carry it apart from me. I know the way through this. Take my hand and I will carry your sorrows." In my mind I saw Him reach out His hand to me. I prayed, "Lord, I don't know how this will go, but I trust you. Lead me through this."  I took His hand.

   I knelt there for a while, spending time in His presence.  I didn't know how it would continue, carrying Dad's loss inside while walking the Savior.  But after a while I stood.  A couple of seconds passed, and then Pastor Jim began the next song. I smiled in thankfulness. The song was called "Man of Sorrows". God was confirming what He had just spoken to me.

As the years go on, I remain in awe over how God knows the right time and place for me.  That place has always been at His side, trusting in His justice, His mercy, His power.  In all the times I've called out to Him, Jesus remained faithful and true. In 1 Peter 2, the apostle calls us to walk in Jesus' steps, "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." As the One who created us, loves us and shepherds us, God knows the best way to guide our souls.  If you're lost, call out to Him and you will be found. If you've sinned, cry out in humility for "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." And if you carry grief, know that He is there to carry it with you.

The Eagle Scout

   I know a man who spent his life obeying the Boy Scout law and following its creed.

   We were walking down that wilderness trail together when I was young.  It was a gorgeous day.  Beautiful!  Trees and bushes and rocks aligned the path on both sides. The leaves were so bright and sharp with color. But I guess that's the way it is in one's memory, isn't it?  And Dad stopped me suddenly, lifted his hand high, pointed up at a clearing and said, "Look, son!  Look!  Do you see that eagle there?  Do you see him soar?  Isn't he magnificent?  Wow!  He knows each feather on his wings.  If he bends one wing one way, he flies to the right.  If he bends another, he goes the left.  And did you know of their keen eyesight?  Eagles can see their prey from way up there in the sky.  And because he knows his abilities, and because he can see so far, he can soar anywhere he desires.  He's master of the skies, and commander of his destiny.  Oh, what a feeling that must be!"  And Dad looked down at me with a spark in his eye and an excitement glowing on his face for that adventure ahead.

   Further down the trail, we saw some boys with their fathers to the right.  So we pulled over to the side.  Dad stuck a feather in his band and I stuck one into mine, and we were Sequoia and Onnaweata.  And we sat in a circle with the others at night, talking about respect for life and obeying authority and telling stories of our ancestors.  And Dad and I built an incredible Teepee.  OK...Mom sewed it together.  But Dad and I drew some really neat pictures on it.  He was by my side during the hikes and the camp-outs.  And I swear that old Indian chief made rain pour from a clear sky one night!

   But after a while, we traded our feathers for sashes.  And Cub Scouts turned into Webolos. And Webolos turned into Boy Scouts.  And I remember we were setting up a tent one afternoon when Dad pointed to some scouts who were building a fire and said, "Look, son.  Look!  Do you see those scouts over there?  See how they're prepared?  They planned ahead.  They secured the area for safety.  They defer to one another out of courtesy.  But look at their faces.  See their looks of satisfaction?  That's because they applied their skills and took the time to do a good job. Find satisfaction in all the work you set out to do."  Some scouts began to gather around him to listen, and Dad admonished them to do their duty to the troop, to push forward to be leaders in their community, and carry a reverence for all living things and for God above.  "Come back again, sir," the scouts replied. "We would hear you speak further on this." And Dad became a mentor to Scouts across the country.

   He turned back to me and continued. "It doesn't matter if it's studying for a test in school, or painting fire hydrants for the firemen to see, or even baking a meal for a sick friend...find that satisfaction in a job well done. Create a vision for yourself.  Invite others to be part of that vision.  The most wonderful person I have alongside me is your mother.  And by the way, son, wonderful job on your band concert. You're a terrific trumpet player. I wish I was as good at music as you are!"

   Although his hands never picked up an instrument, they were never idle.  They were riddled with calluses after yard work. One moment they would be stained with ink after drafting a speech for the Board of Directors, the next they would be measuring a board to create a new table for his wife. "Measure once, then measure again for accuracy," he would say. "Line your numbers up evenly when balancing the checkbook. And mark on the calendar not only the due dates for your bills, but for writing to your grandparents."

   It wasn't just his hands, either.  His voice would command military officers. Business men would find themselves stammering in his presence when their projects weren't up to par.  His voice would carry over the waters during the crew races and ring out loudest throughout the house during the Christmas parties.  He once pulled me aside while the guests were serving themselves food one evening, pointed to a group of people and said, "Look, son! Look!  See those men over there? I know each one of them.  It's simple to attend a party and laugh and joke.  But a man should never walk alone. I have your mother. She's the most honest, hard-working and loving wife there is.  We share the laughter, the work and the joy of raising a family and walking through life together. And remember, when it comes to your friends: you don't find time for friends...you make the time.  Let loyalty and adventure be the banner for you and your compadres.  Extend kindness to them at all times. And son, Julie's a wonderful woman. You're lucky to have her."

   There were times when he seemed distant, times when work would call him away. And when he left, I would call out, "See you later, alligator." He would always reply, "Off a while, crocodile!"  And it would be a little while. A few days, a week, a weekend.  And the piano music would echo down the long halls during his absence.  But he would be back and we would continue that adventure down the trail together.

   We walked further down that trail, and heard a rustling in the bushes. We crouched down together, and Dad pointed to the noise and whispered,"Look, son! Look! See those key executives hiding over there? Oh, they think they're so sneaky! They play with numbers behind their backs thinking that no one is the wiser. But they'll receive their just reward. Never seek after a profit for money's sake. The material can be there one day and gone the next. But value integrity. Honesty. And be sure that the investment is in people. Let those who hear you benefit from your words. Become a mentor to those under you in the company. Seek peoples' trust and admiration not by exalting yourself, but by demonstrating the values of dedication, responsibility and respect towards others. You could be a sailor on a nuclear submarine, the Secretary of the International Atomic Energy Agency, or an engineer of a power plant. It wouldn't make a difference in your position.  A janitor, who puts in extra hours to get his children through college, can be as highly esteemed as the CEO who ignores the elevator and chooses to walk up 20 flights of stairs to get to work each day. It's not the position but those honorable values you hold true and live out that counts.  And son, I know it's tough working two jobs, but good job being responsible. You're taking care of the family"

   After a while...his steps became slower. His back stooped a little more.  Dad stopped by the side of the trail to lie down for a rest. He looked up at me and said, "Look, son. Look. Do you see this man? It's been a long walk. And it took me far. It hasn't always been smooth sailing, but I worked as hard as I could and tried to take advantage of the opportunities that lay before me.  But my greatest love has never been my work, but my family.  I hope that hasn't been lost on you "

   And I replied, "Dad, perhaps your sight has faulted you a little. For I can confirm that there is no other man that I would trust more for the safety of my children than you.. And the other day, I heard a voice behind me say, 'Let's run those numbers, and then check them again for accuracy.' I turned around expecting to see you there, but it was my son encouraging his partner to review their Power Point project. You should have seen the look of satisfaction on my daughter's face after finishing a game of two-on-two on the basketball court. She took the time afterwards to confront one of the other players for unsportsmanlike conduct. Perhaps students going through the Harvard Business School should heed the example of one who has so effectively modeled integrity and responsibility, and who's shadow stretches over the world of corporations and utilities.  And if I may say so, sir...I'm most beholden to you."

   And now, that scout walks that wilderness trail with another companion. And his Savior stops him suddenly, lifts a nail-scarred hand to the sky, points and says, "Look, my friend! Look! Do you see that eagle, scout? Look how he soars. Look at him fly. He uses all his skills and abilities to find that joy of flying. He's certainly commander of his destiny." And He looks down at Dad and adds, "That's quite a feeling, isn't it?" And Dad gazes up at his Lord... with a spark in his eye and excitement glowing on his face for that adventure ahead.

In memory of Denton Louis Peoples

December 3, 1940 - May 24, 2016

                                       

The Meeting

I had a dream last night.

I dreamt that I was walking down the John Muir Trail, just out of Tuolemne Meadows.  Somehow or other, I had been separated from the group.  We were headed to Mount Whitney, and had three weeks to do it in.  I was a little worried.  Not for the amount of time I was separated from them, but because I had the food for the night's meal in my backpack.  But I knew I would catch up.  I had the sense that I was on the correct path.  Plus, it was lovely out.  I'd hear some chirping every now and then, and the switchbacks weren't that sharp.

A few miles into the hike, I spotted a figure walking towards me.  He had a scouting uniform on him, and seemed strangely familiar.  We met and began conversing with one another.  After a while, I remarked on his attire.

"Why are you carrying a fishing pole, friend?"  I always addressed new people as "friend" to relax the mood.

"I carry it so that I will teach my children to make a living for themselves.  I'll take them to work, teach them how to change a tire on the car, and how to be diligent and dedicated to their job."

"Why did you choose those hiking boots?  I've never seen a sturdier pair!"

"I wear then because I intend to do a lot of traveling with my wife," he replied with a smile.  "Wherever life takes us, we'll walk together.  I'll never love another, and I'll trust her like none other.  We'll give our time to each over, love one another, and explore together.  In fact, there won't be another couple that will compare in fellowship, joy nor family!"

I glanced down at his belt.  "What strange designs!  They look Indian.  Why does it say "TRUTH" on the front."

His visage became stern.  "One needs to live and work with integrity.  I've seen fools in high school who don't care a bit about what kind of future they're building.  I've heard of criminals running companies and not being held accountable.  But for me personally...I see a future built on integrity and perseverance.  Where workers actually trust the management and people are held accountable for their mistakes.  No one is perfect, and I don't doubt I'll make some mistakes.  Hopefully, I'll find others who will carry a vision for building this country on honesty and hard work.  Something that will be competitive with other countries and make us proud."

I laughed a little.  "You're right.  Nobody's perfect.  I hope you find the future you're looking for.  It sounds very ideological.  But I suppose we need people like you.  I'm just trying to survive high school without being bullied or getting into any fights!  Say, isn't that a bible in your hand?  I pick it up myself from time to time."

He shrugged.  "I believe in God.  I also believe in respecting every living creature.  We have to work together, and we're all part of this beautiful world."  He glanced around himself for a turn, and then added, "And it is beautiful.  Look at that view.  Think about what Muir experienced when he first came out here.  Very few trails, maybe some rattlers.  But the fresh air...the incredible view...I bet it hasn't changed much since John Muir.  Hopefully, there were fewer bears!"

We laughed a little and he replied, "I suppose we just need to stick near to our friends and not let those unruly bring us down..  By the way, what do you like to do?"

"I enjoy the outdoors.  And I enjoy music."  We talked a little about our favorite country singers, and then I asked, "Is that why you wear that cowboy hat?"

He gave a little chuckle.  "No.  The hat's to keep the sun out of my eyes."  We talked a little more, and then continued on our way...him hiking one direction and I the other.  And a midst seemed to cloud my mind.

But I never forgot him.  And I still carry something of him with me wherever I go.  I'm sure that one day we'll meet again and hike that trail together.

His Strength and Love

The sun is on the horizon, and this tent will one day be brought down.
Joy, peace and love align my path as I walk

with the Carpenter towards His land.
And although the heartaches and trials wear me down,
His love gives me the strength for the road ahead.
Matthew sang it best when he said,

"Hello, my name is Child of the One True King",

as I leave my regrets and defeats behind.
For His hands bore the scars of His love, and His resurrection reflects
the same power that He pours into my soul.
May His love pour out unto my own family and friends as we fall on His promises of a new life in Him.

School Problems

Autumn was settling in.  It was dark by the time my car rolled into the driveway.  Getting a little chillier.  I stepped into the front room and found James heading into the office with his homework in his hand.  "Hey, pal!  How was your day?"  Tessa looked up from a drawing she was working on, and said,  "Someone stole James' lock at school."

I couldn't believe my ears.  It was difficult for me to understand that crime existed in James' school, much less that it had touched my son.  And it was a cool lock.  A combination lock that was set to letters, not numbers.  James had come up with a distinctive word.

"What?" I asked.  James stood there with his papers.  "Someone stole my lock." he said, "It wasn't there when I stopped by my locker this morning."

It still seemed out of sorts that that kind of thing could still take place at Middle School.  Both Annie and I agreed to have our children attend public school rather than home-schooling them.  We understood the issues surrounding why parents preferred home-schooling: distrust in the school system, more in-depth learning one-on-one with a parent, un-Christian concepts being taught in the public sector.  But we also saw it as an opportunity for our children to be lights for Jesus to others, and for them to connect with other children.  Plus, we could provide the teaching to counter what was learned in school if anything was taught that was contrary to what we believed.

"Did you tell the principal, yet?" I asked.  James shook his head.  "Well, tomorrow you can stop by the office and file a report with the secretary."   I hung up my jacket and we all headed to the table for dinner.

Later that night, James and I talked about the incident while he took a break from his homework.  "So, do you think someone watched you while you opened your lock one day?"

"Maybe." he replied.

"Tough thing, having someone steal from you, huh?" I asked.  James nodded his head.  We were sitting on the couch, hanging out.  "You know, that's a hard thing.  Stealing is against one of the ten commandments.  Plus, it's difficult to forgive someone over stealing something when you don't know who that person is."   James nodded.  "But the bible says, 'Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.'  And even if you never find out who did this, you'll have to forgive them from a distance.  Shall we pray over it?"

"Sure."

We prayed together, then James stood up and went to finish his homework.  I started to remember a time back in college when a Holocaust survivor had come to speak.  She was a Messianic Jew who had witnessed a Nazi soldier shooting a fellow Jew in the face in a concentration camp.  She carried so much hate for so long.  She shared how she was at a previous speaking engagement and a man from the audience came up to her afterwards.  He identified himself as that soldier.  Hatred and anger welled up within the speaker.  She knew that God wanted her to forgive him, but didn't know how.  So she called out to God and asked Him to pour out his love into her heart so she would be able to forgive, and God did.  The former Nazi walked away forgiven.

Tessa came up behind me with her brush and started shaping my hair.

"Ow." I said.

"Sorry.  I'm trying to cover your bald spot."  Brush....brush...brush.  "I have most of it covered, but it's a little too big."

"Ow.  Thanks very much."

Giggle.  "Kristine threw a ball in my face today."

"What?! Ow!"  I had turned around and her brush pulled against my hair.  Oh my gosh, I thought.  Both of my children had something happen to them in the same day!

"Dad.  I'm not finished with your hair."  I turned back and started fuming silently.  She continued. "We were at recess, and the ball hit me in the face."

"Did she do it on purpose?"  This wasn't the first time my children had to deal with bullies.

"No.  It was an accident.  But she said, 'Well, next time don't get in the way, Tessa!'"

This was a little different.  Whereas James dealt with an unknown, Tessa had to face one of her classmates every day.  "Did she apologize?" I asked.

"No."

"Well, it's hard when the person isn't sorry.  And if I remember right, this isn't the only time you've had difficulty with Kristina, am I right?"

"Kristine, dad.  Uh-huh".

"I'm sorry.  It doesn't sound like she was very sorry about hitting you.  You can't control how people feel or act.  But you can control how you react.  Do you remember what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount?"

"Love your enemies and do good to those who hurt you."

"Tough to do sometimes, isn't it?"

"Uh-huh.  But she's always giving me bad looks when I look at her and keeps correcting me when we're in small groups."

"I'm sorry, sweetie.  It's hard when someone keeps being mean to us over and over.  But in the times we have trouble forgiving, we can call on God and ask for help.  'God, I'm having trouble forgiving Kristine.  Please help me," or "God, I just want to yell at Kristine. Help me to tell her to stop being mean but to be gentle and loving at the same time."  We talked about different ways she could react to Kristine the next time she was mean.  Tessa took rubber band and tied a pigtail on top of my head.  "Ow."  I think I was able to count the number of hairs that she pulled out in the process.  She peaked around to the front and started laughing.

We're so human.  And sometimes when we're hurt, or someone strikes out against us, the emotions and feelings take over and we want to hurt and strike out in kind. Or huddle in a corner and fall into darkness.  But God's love and light is greater.  He's stronger than our pain and much more forgiving than we are.  And the carpenter-preacher who said, "Follow me" is able to guide us in the way of love and forgiveness.

Trust in Him.  He won't let you down.

A Witness to God's Power and Glory

A small group had shown up for the church service. It could have been because it was the last week of school for elementary kids. First few days of vacation and all. Could have been the heat. 108 degrees on Friday. 104 degrees on Saturday. But we're used to the hot summers in the North Valley of California. Regardless of the reason, a small showing didn't reduce the joy of worship.

"And He comes in Power and we call on His name.

Show your power, O Lord our God.

Show us your power, O Lord our God, our Lord."

I looked around the room.  Some people were standing up and walking around, laying their hands on the shoulders of others and praying for them.  The practice was started eighteen years ago by our head pastor and the elders.  Pastor Doug had stood before the congregation and encouraged people to draw closer together in prayer and support during the worship.  He then stepped down from the podium, walked over and took his wife's hand, and together they went to a couple in the congregation and began to pray for them.  Since then, others have carried out the same practice.

When I consider our congregation, it's funny how different we are within the body of Christ.  Some people are introverts, some are extroverts.  Some talk a lot while others will simply nod and smile during conversations.  There are the active, physical fitness types and the calm, quiet readers.  All of us are sinners forgiven by God and gathered together to serve and love Him.  The differences cause me to think back on those group of misfits of Jesus. You know...the disciples. Talk about diversity! Four fishermen (and fishermen were looked down upon in that day), a money-loving tax collector, an embezzler, doubting Thomas, and a couple of anti-government rebels. Yet, this group of misfits were the ones that Jesus chose to lead His church after He had left them. And he prepared them for that departure. Jesus warned them of his death, predicted their abandonment, and even singled Peter out as the one who would deny him. In spite of this, Jesus prayed for them.

"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

And Peter did deny Jesus. The rooster crowed, Peter realized what he had done, and he ran off weeping.

But did you notice what happened afterwards? Jesus was crucified and died. Someone paid for his grave and Jesus was buried behind a rock. Three days later, Mary went to anoint his body with oil and found him gone. When she went to tell the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead, she found Peter with the disciples. They had all gathered together. No one was pointing their finger at another. No "I told you so." They had all deserted Jesus. Those distrustful, greedy, doubting and rebellious disciples were all gathered together. And Peter was with them. He could have just run to the hills and become a hermit. Separated himself from the others and lived a life apart from the rest. But instead, he banded together with his brothers. And Peter was with them when Jesus rescued him. Jesus reached down and touched him and gave Peter the strength and salvation he desperately needed.

We're a lot like those disciples. We can be distrustful, greedy, doubting and somewhat rebellious. It wouldn't take much for some people to break off from the others and run to the hills because of sin. But if that happened....what would come next? It would give Satan a chance to sift those people like wheat. They could become paranoid, guilt-ridden, and suspicious of all who came near. And sin would rule over them.

Contrast that with the one who is found within the church...the body of Christ. That person finds grace in their time of need, fellowship in the Spirit, love from their brothers and sisters in Christ, and the power of God poured out abundantly. As I pointed out in "One Year Later", the church is where we get to witness the glory of God. We learn how to serve one another in love. And we experience joy!

I was listening to Focus on the Family a few years back, and someone related a story regarding the importance of fellowship.  A youth group leader noticed that one of the boys, John, wasn't showing up at the meetings anymore.  Tom, the leader, decided to pay a visit to John's house.  After the mother invited him in, Tom found John sitting in front of the fireplace.  Greetings were exchanged and they sat watching the fire together.  "Hey, John," Tom said, "do you see that ember that's in front on the rocks there?"  He pointed to one lonely piece of wood burning on the rocks.  John nodded, and Tom continued, "See how it's getting dimmer and dimmer?  It's getting colder as it's away from the rest of the wood.  That's what happens when we separate ourselves from the rest of the body of Christ.  The light we're meant to shine for Christ grows dimmer and dimmer."  John looked at Tom and smiled.  "I get it, Pastor.  Yeah...I'll start coming to youth group again."

When I'm with my brothers and sisters in Christ within the sanctuary, something happens.  I witness God's power and mercy.  Not just in the praise that we lift up to God, but in the love and strength that He shows through the community.  And I feel humble in that presence. It has everything to do with God revealing His love towards His children. He wants to lift us up and for us to know the fellowship of His Spirit.  We're left with a sense of awe over how great and good God really is.  I'm sure this must have been what Peter experienced after the risen Christ revealed Himself to the disciples.



If you're lost or guilt-ridden or even if you feel apart from everyone else, Jesus has provided a place for you to run to. One of the purposes of the church is to grow as a body of believers into Jesus who is the Head. We weren't meant to walk in Him alone; we need each other. Remember that Jesus Himself has prayed for you.  He wants you to know His power and love.  That one of the purposes of the church.  I encourage you to find a Christian church to attend where you'll be able to experience God's love and power with others.

"O God, You are my God;

Early will I seek You;

My soul thirsts for You;

My flesh longs for You;

In a dry and thirsty land

Where there is no water.

So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,

To see Your power and Your glory.

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips shall praise You.

Thus I will bless You wile I live;

I will lift up my hands in Your name.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,

And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips."

Psalm 63:1-5

Father's Day

The Skit Guys

The Closet

I was awoken in the middle of the night by a knocking at the closet door.

"Annie! Did you hear that?" I whispered to my wife. Annie's soft breathing rose up from the pillow beside me.  I glanced at the clock. E-gads! Who could it be at this time of night?

I stumbled out of bed and opened the closet door. A paunchy middle-aged man stood inside. Three-day stubble, slightly balding and wearing an unwashed Styxx T-shirt and jeans.  A toothpick was protruding from the left side of his mouth.

"Look," I said, "This isn't Bloom County and my name isn't 'Binkley'. Go away."

"You cut me off." He said in a low, gravelly voice.

"No I didn't, you degraded, smelly loon! I was turning left and the light was yellow...as yellow as your teeth!  You started turning right as I was coming around. Didn't even look before you started moving."

Barney (all of my antagonists are named Barney) took his stubby finger and began poking me in the chest. "Look, you raving, Evil Knievel! You shot out of your turn lane too fast and dangerous for the drivers around you.  Get it into your head that you need to look at what's happening around you before stepping on the gas."

I didn't like his finger, and I certainly didn't like the greasy smell emanating from his body.  I glanced over my shoulder to see if the knuckle-head had woken up Annie.  "Get back to traffic school, you prehistoric monkey-brain! I had the right-a-way. You need to wait for the other drivers to finish their turn before you turn on a red light!"

"The only 'monkey brain' in here is you! I got your plate number and you need a few weeks in traffic school."

I wouldn't take any more.  "Have at it then!" I yelled and leaped at him. We fell to the floor and started throwing punches. I had been wanting to hit him for some time. We scrambled for a number of minutes before I heard a voice say, "Husband, what are you doing over there?"

A light suddenly appeared overhead. I looked to my left. Annie stood by the door with her finger on the light switch. She tilted her head to the side and tiredly asked, "Who's in the closet, now?"

I felt my face get red.  I was standing in my Green Lantern boxers and white T-shirt in front of the clothes.  I looked at the once-ironed shirts hanging from the rack, and the sweaters stacked on the shelf above.  "Um...Barney."

"Who's 'Barney'?" she asked calmly.

"He's the guy who cut me off down by the Target store."

"You mean...two months ago???"

I nodded.  It seemed a little sooner, but I had been wrestling with him for a while.  Annie signed, then walked over to me, took my hand, and sat me down at the edge of the bed.

"Who else is in there?" she asked.

I took a deep breath.  "Ummm...a bully from my Freshman year in high school, the guy who short-changed me at that gas station in Concord, and my sixth-grade teacher."

"Your sixth-grade teacher?"

"Yeah, she and I never got along very well.  I think she's still out to get me."

What was her name?"

"Mrs. Barney."

"They're all called Barney, aren't they?"

"That's right."

"Are Jeeves and Wooster still hanging around?"

"No.  They were with me for just one night."  I paused, and then said, "You know, that just didn't come out right."

"That's a pretty full closet.  I'm surprised that you actually fit some slacks in there."

I sat still, feeling stupid.

"You know what the bible says?" she continued.

"Yes," I replied.  "The ground opened and ate up 250 people."

"Besides that.  Do not go to bed angry.  Work it out before you go to sleep.  'But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly.  The LORD will hear when I call to Him.  Be angry and do not sin.  Meditate with your heart on your bed, and be still.'  I think this is why you're angry a lot.  You carry your past hurts and offenses with you.  God wants you to confess when you mess up, and forgive when others offend you.  That means putting it behind you and not holding grudges.  It's about moving ahead to receive the joy God has for you."

We sat there in silence for a minute or two.  She still held my hand and let it sink in for a while.  "Yeah," I said, "I guess I still hold onto stuff."

"Why is that, do you think?"

I let out another breath.  "I guess it's because I enjoy holding things against people.  I actually like getting angry at others.  It feels good."  I looked over at Annie.  She had a patient look in her eyes.  No judgement. No anger.  That's one of the many reasons I loved her.  She saw what kind of man I was and still was committed to encouraging me, lifting me up, and holding me through those difficult periods.  Like now.

"God's grace is so great.  Do you remember what Ephesians 5 says in the bible?"

"' Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children, and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God'.  God wants me to forgive others just as He forgave me."

"Yes," Annie continued, "and He wants you to forgive yourself when you mess up, too.  He wants you to walk in His grace and live a life of love.  That's following in Jesus' footsteps.  And when we're weak, just as you are right now, God wants you to call out to Him and ask for the strength to forgive and move forward.  I want you to be filled with joy, not anger.  You put on quite a different face for people to see; they can't see the anger inside of you.  But God wants to set you free from that anger so that you can do the work He's called you to."

We sat in silence for a moment more, and then prayed.  I asked God to help me in my weakness, and asked for forgiveness in not forgiving others.  I asked for eyes that would help me to see others as He saw them...with eyes of love.  When I finished, Annie prayed over me.  She then looked into my eyes and smiled and I saw God's love in her.

She stood up and led me over to the closet and opened the door.  "Okay.  Time to get them out."  I then addressed each Barney by name and forgave the person when necessary and forgave myself when needed.  I made a commitment to approach a member of the church the following Sunday to seek some kind of reconciliation.  Finally, I stepped back.

"I think I'm ready to move on." I said.

Annie looked at me with a furrowed brow.  "You're sixth-grade teacher isn't called 'Mrs. Barney', is she?"

"No, and neither is the pastor."  I looked at the clock.  It was nearly dawn.  "Wow.  Amazing how much time that took.  Better get the coffee on."  I looked at Annie, and gave her a peck on the cheek.  "Thank you.  Again."

I thought back on that verse, "It is for freedom that Christ has set you free."  Freedom from anger, freedom from lust, freedom from greed, freedom from pride.  Jesus came to set the captives free, which is all of us.  And I experience that again and again through Him.

It was a good start to a new day.

One Year Later...

So...it's been a whole year.

Things are a little different since I wrote "The Birthday Post".  Not for my hair, mind you.  My son still stands up during church and pokes my bald spot for everyone to see.  "Still there, Dad."  Hmmm....maybe it's time to move out of the third row.   I've gained a few pounds.  OK, I've gained a lot of weight.  And my daughter can still race circles around me with her skateboard.  In spite of all that, I would have thought that the days leading up to my birthday would have been a little more light and fun.  The children are doing well in school.  My wife is finding substitute teaching jobs.  We started having a family devotional during dinnertime.  God is providing.  However, I find myself a little emotional.  My anger is flaring up too easily.  I get depressed over ever little thing.  It took me a while to put my finger on what was wrong.

If you read my post "My Search for God", you know that I've been going to church pretty much my whole life.  I grew up going to the Episcopal Church as a child (God save the Queen!).  I enjoyed church.  We were taught early on to put money into the donation plate weekly.  Sunday School was fun.  I became an acolyte and assisted the priest with the services at the alter.  It was great to be part of the annual Christmas Pageant.  I was into events and service for the church.  When I gave my life to Jesus in college, things really changed. Church was no longer made up of events and religious duties.  Now I was immersed in fellowship and found joy in prayer groups and bible studies.  Annie and I dove into church when we were married, getting involved with ministry, bible study, and our friends lives.

A few days ago, when I stepped back to evaluate my situation, I was surprised to find something missing.  I'm still going to church and attending Wednesday night Community Group.  But I'm not connecting with other Christian men from church as I used to.  I'm not involved in any accountability group at the present time.  Obviously, I'm missing something big.  All of this caused me to start looking at the importance of church and what it's all about.

When people look at a church and compare it to the church described in the New Testament of the bible, they may see some differences.  Church members in the first century were meeting every day.  They gave and shared all they had with one another.  There were people giving their lives to Jesus by the thousands.  It seems like the church was alive back then.  And some people today make the decision on whether or not to attend church based on those differences.  I think people get discouraged when they see church members acting selfishly or not in accordance with what the bible promotes: selfless living, servanthood, lifting others up according to their needs.

"Churches are built on human efforts, not on God's word."

"I was hurt or abused by the controlling nature of the leadership."

"Churches don't reflect an Acts 2 description."

Martin Bell comments on the condition of churches in his book, The Way of the Wolf:

"Or how about that other group over there?  They're all holding hands as they march.  The only trouble with this is the men on each end of the line.  Pretty soon they realize that one of their hands isn't holding onto anything - one hand is reaching, empty, alone.  And so they hold hands with each other, and everybody marches around in circles...And, of course, a bigger circle is deceptive because as we march along it looks like we're going someplace, but we're not."

Some churches don't have a vision for where they're going.  Others seem like they're built around the pastor or people who are climbing the ladder of popularity.

"THIS IS A CHURCH, THIS IS A STEEPLE.

OPEN THE DOOR, HERE'S THE PEOPLE."

But when one looks at all the descriptions of the early church within the New Testament, a glaring fact keeps peeking out of scripture: God is the one in charge.  There are a couple of passages that a pastor will most times reference when considering how a church should "work".   Philippians chapter 2 and the passage on servanthood comes to mind.  Certainly Ephesians 4.  To learn more about the guiding hand of God within the church, we can get a picture of His involvement in 1Corinthians 12.  In fact, several phrases stick out.

"There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons." (v. 6)

"But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each

one individually just as He wills." (v. 11)

"But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body,
 just as He desired." (v. 18)

"But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which 
lacked,so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have

the same care for one another." (v. 24)

Those passages show that God is deeply involved within the church.  He arranges the Christian community for His purpose.  God is the one who gives each person the gifts needed to build up the body.  He's the one who appoints individuals for certain responsibilities.  He composes the body to honor those who seem small.  Everything is done by God according to His will.

It's interesting.  Of all the churches one could hold up as a good example of the "ideal" church, Corinth doesn't come to mind.  It seems like the Corinthians needed a lot of hand holding.  How to eat, how to deal with sin, the whole spiritual gifts thing.  It could even be that some people today, who are disillusioned about church, may have visited a church that looked a lot like the one in Corinth.  The "perfect" church may or may not be out there.  But the apostles took time to write about the structure of the church in their epistles for a reason.  Christ has continued to use the church for His purpose throughout the ages, beginning with the first century A.D. through to today.

In his book, Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer states "Christian community means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ.  There  is no Christian community that is more than this, and none that is less than this.  Whether it be a brief, single encounter or the daily community of many years, Christian community is solely this.  We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ."  Bonhoeffer goes on to say that only in this community can we fully:

Understand and experience God's word together;

Strengthen our hearts with certainty;

Encounter one another as bringers of the message of salvation;

Live together in Christ on earth and will one day live in eternal community with Christ in heaven;

Learn to love one another as Christ loved us.

There's no doubt that some churches get it wrong.  But you can't grow as a Christian very well apart from the Body of Christ.  It's within a church that one learns how to serve, how to admonish, and how to give.  It's where the glory of God is revealed.  Yes, God's invisible attributes are seen throughout creation (Acts 17:6), but His glory and work is revealed when a bunch of sinners, who have been justified by the blood of Jesus, get together to glorify His name in unity.  That same band of forgiven sinners are a light to the world as members of one body - having the same love, the same purpose, and the same Spirit.

I keep thinking back to the phrase, "having the same love".  Love is the key.  When Jesus was having his last discourse with his disciples, he stated "This is how they will know you are my disciples, that you love one another."  That's how others will be pointed towards Jesus.  The early church met daily.  Not just on Sundays.  Today that means getting involved in one anothers' lives.  Rubbing against each other.  Letting others peer into your daily living and looking into your brothers and sisters' lives, too.


I'm going camping this weekend.  James and I are headed to the Nevada wilderness to fellowship, work and have fun with 40 other men from our church.  There are a lot of guys going who are a "man's man".  Tough guys. Guys who like physical work and physical play.  I'm not like that.  I'm the "give me a corner and a book" guy.  But they're my brothers in Christ, and I need to connect with them.  To be vulnerable.  To get involved in an accountability group.  To grow in Christ.  To love others as Christ loved me.

I need to take a step of faith.


Maybe you're thinking about it and realize you need to get connected, too.  Here are some steps to consider taking.:

1. It starts with faith.  Trust that God has gathered members into a church for a purpose.

2. Take a step of faith: go to church.  If you believe in Jesus, you're a forgiven sinner.  You're going to find a lot of broken individuals and other forgiven sinners in churches.  For those who have been burned by hypocritical leadership, healing actually takes place within the community of believers.  Believers who will love and humbly serve you.

3. Don't be so picky about what church to go to.  If it's a Christian church, and they're providing opportunities to learn and love each other, go for it!  Don't keep looking for that 15 child choir-4 bible studies during the week-donut hole snack after church-15x4 foot baptismal tank-10 minute long sermon-comfortable cushion backed chair all in one church because it's probably not out there.

4. Get involved in the bible studies and accountability groups.  If there isn't one...start one!

5. Get grounded and stay for a while.  Even consider staying for a lifetime.  God brought you there for a reason, and love continues to grow over time.

Will you join me in that step of faith?

On the Run

If you were to Google Frank Abagnale's name, you'd come up with over 475,000 results.  In spite of that, many people who are not involved in finance or banking may not be too familiar with his name.  Frank Abagnale was one of the world's greatest forgers.  He would cash checks at banks across the country and be out of town with the money before the checks were returned unpaid.

He was quite the adventurous teenager.  Abagnale left home at the age of sixteen.  His parent had gotten divorced and he was down on funds.  But the reason he started forging checks and conning people wasn't for the money.  It was for the challenge.  Abagnale wanted to see what he could get away with.  And he got away with a lot.  Forging checks was only part of the adventure.  Within a short time, he passed himself off as a Pan Am pilot, posed as a resident director of a hospital, and even became an assistant to the Attorney General in Atlanta.


The man was brilliant.

Frank Abagnale wrote about what it took for him to play the con in his book, Catch Me If You Can.  He would work on honing his abilities of observation, along with changing his personality and delving into research.  He mocked those individuals who had high IQ's but feared getting caught.  Much of his teenage years were spent dodging the FBI and authorities.  Towards the end of his running, Abagnale sought a safe haven in Montpelier, France.  It was there that the French police caught him.  Eventually he was thrown into Perpignan Prison.  His cell was five feet wide, five feet high and five feet long.  Not much room for a man who spent years hopping Pan Am flights from one end of the United States to another.  He developed double phenomena  and lost weight dramatically.  His running was over and he was living in misery in a dark, dank prison cell.

I admire Abagnale's brilliance.  But it was too bad that he used that brilliance for his own selfish needs.  Everything he did was done for the con. Working in a hospital, practicing law, playing the role of a pilot. Once he left home, Abagnale never saw his father again; his father died while Frank was in prison.

Fleeting relationships and always on the run.  That's not life.  That may be fun, but that's not what life is about.  That doesn't bring the kind of peace and love that we were made for. When it comes down to it, we all have the choice of whether or not to use our abilities, our talents and our gifts for good or bad, for right or wrong.

Jesus was teaching about fearing God and not living for oneself.  He spoke this parable:

"The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.  And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'  So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have many goods laid up for may years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.'  But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'

"So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Frank Abagnale manufactured his own meaning and generated his own motivation.  But he left out ethics, the knowledge of good and bad, and the counsel of conscience.  It can happen to all of us.  And in the process, we leave out God.  The way one is rich towards God is to love God and love one's neighbor as oneself.  That's pretty different from living for oneself.  In fact, that's pretty different from the life a lot of us live.  But God's promise is true:  there is joy for those who love others.

In prison, Abagnale faced up to the consequences of his criminal ways.  One judge commented that Frank was a bright young man, but instead of making a worthwhile contribution to society he had chosen a different course.  After serving in prison and being extradited to America, Frank ended up turning his life around.  He now runs a successful company that assists banks in protecting themselves against fraud.  Talk about irony!

What do you live your life for?  Is it for fun?  Is it for adventure?  What about success?  God wants to fill your heart with His love so that you're able to live a life of love for Him and those around you.  The only way to do that is through Jesus.  Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.  This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for one's friends."

That's a love worth knowing.  It's a life worth living.

That Nature Within

Buck watered his horse and turned in for the night.  He had spent the day riding, putting as much distance between him and any Rangers who had been following him.  The day should have left him exhausted, but thoughts of the earlier events cluttered his mind.  One question continued to surface:

"Why had this been imposed on me?"

In the classic western, The Lone Star Ranger, Zane Gray's Buck Duane shoots a man named Bain.  Bain was a drunkard, and had continued to hunt Buck down, looking for a shootout.  Buck held off facing Bain for some time.  But finally, he sought out his uncle to discuss his options.  The decision had already been made, but he trusted his father's brother.  And his uncle made a keen observation.  Once you killed a man, it becomes a lot easier to do again.  Don't do it.

When you think about it, that can be said about most anything.  Buck Duane wasn't the exception.  In fact, it happens to us all.  Drinking, lust, gossip, fighting.  It starts out as an idea, then can lead to something much greater and deadlier.

One drink.  There's nothing wrong if I have another.  I remember how it felt when I had three in me.  I felt free.  I felt happy.  I was able to forget the pressure of the day.  I want another.

I need another drink.

or

It's good to talk with Betty.  It seems so natural.  Tanya and I have been having so many arguments at home.  But Betty can relate to how I feel.  And she's even pretty.  Not just pretty, but has a great figure.  Man, that dress she wore the other day made her look hot!  There's really nothing wrong with going for a quick bite during lunch together.  I look forward to her company.  I can even imagine us being together more often.  I can imagine her being in my arms.

or

That promotion should have been mine.  It seems like whenever I'm about to get the attention I deserve at work, Peggy steals the spotlight.  She's so into herself and thinks she belongs on the rung above the rest of us.  I hate her!  I have to look at her every day with her pompous smile and high-and-mighty attitude.  The boss should be reviewing my proposals with more enthusiasm than hers.  Someone needs to take her down a notch!

And a small bite becomes a bigger bite. And a bite becomes a meal.  And the meal is never satisfying because there's always another reason to drink.  Or to hate.  Or to desire.  That's the nature of sin.  When we give into it just once, then it becomes easier to do the next time.  And we become more willing to cut that next person down, or lift that next drink to our lips, or add that collection of pornographic flicks to our list.  And the question becomes, who have I become?  Why am I like this?

But it's not just you, and it's not just me.  We all face temptations.  "All have sinned." is what's stated in the bible.  At one point in the New Testament, the Pharisees approach Jesus and get on his case about how his disciples would eat food without washing their hands.  I can hear my own mother's words, "Wash your hands before you come to the table!"  It's a good tradition.  After Jesus points out a tradition of the Pharisees that was different from what God commanded, he calls the people to him and says,

"Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean', but what comes out of his mouth...the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.'  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander."

I don't think many of us want to believe that.  We don't want to admit that it's part of who we are that causes us to cheat on our spouse, or steal, or lie, or cut others down.  We want to believe that we're all basically 'good'.  And we do give to the poor and help our family and friends out.  Those are good things.  But the truth is also that it's within our nature to sin. We add to it every time we say "yes" to what's wrong, and choose to not do what is right.  Or good.  Or holy.  If Buck was honest with himself about the gunfight, he would have realized that he always had a choice; it was a choice his uncle had pointed out to him.  Buck could have chosen to turn his back on the fight and walk away.  We all have that regret at some point.  That we could have chosen something different.  But in order to deal with a guilty consciousness  we choose to look away and buy into that age-old thought:

It's just natural for me to do it, so why change?

And it becomes easier and easier to cut others down, to open the bottle, to fall into adultery, and to lift ourselves up above others.  The result is a broken home and broken relationships.  Once loosened, the tongue wags on.  And so we choose not to change because we don't see any way out...even though we know what is good.  It's as if we're drowning in a river and need a hand to pull us out.  Or we're skydiving and the parachute won't open.  Either way, changing one's nature seems near impossible.

But that's the reason why Jesus came.

Jesus had just finished visiting with some children and turned his attention to the crowd around him.

Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"

So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "

The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?"

Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Here was a man who was very much like us.  He wanted to know what it took to obtain eternal life.  It sound like he had it pretty good.  But Jesus challenged his thinking.  In spite of all the commandments the young man kept, he was still lacking something.  Jesus encouraged him to let go of his wealth and follow him.  But the man went away sad.  He was rich, and it seemed impossible.  In fact, Jesus commented that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.  Jesus' disciples exclaimed, "Who then can be saved?"  And Jesus reply is the same for them as it is for us:  "With men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

With God all things are possible.

God's promise is to each one of us.  His love for us is greater than we can comprehend.  Think about it.  God is the One who formed you within your mother's womb, the One who was watching over you during your joys and sorrows, the One who still followed every step you've made and every breath you've breathed.  He's the God who wants you to be with Him forever.  He wants you to enter His Kingdom. That's why He gave Jesus to us.  It's for that reason that Jesus died on the cross for you.  If we turn to Jesus and believe in him, old things fall away and new life begins.  He changes our heart condition.  That's how great God's love is.

At the end of The Lone Star Ranger, Buck Duane finally finds the peace he was seeking from the blood lust of gunfighting.  He falls in love, and love is what changes him.  No more fighting, no more wandering around the countryside in fear.  He finds peace.  It's just a story, but the truth is still there.  Love is what changes people, and the greatest love there is is from God.

That kind of love is worth looking for.  It's a love that God has for you.  Trust in Him and He will never let you go.

Mighty to Save

We were down on money.  In fact, Annie and I looked at the checkbook and calculated that we didn't have enough for bills or food.  Within the last month, we had spent $2600.00 on repairs for both cars.  We started to pray.  But I was worried.  I didn't want to dip into credit and have more to pay with principle and interest.

I was reading my favorite blogs one day, and came across one by +Kimberly Medina  on "Prayers Answered Through Forgiveness". She had sought the Lord when she had car trouble and, after lifting it up to God, someone agreed to fix her car from free.  I was so moved by her faith that I took it to the Lord again, but trusting that He would provide.  In the process, God showed me what I already had and how I could use it.  I had 2000 comic books sitting in boxes on shelves in the garage collecting dust.  After a call to the local comic book store, I took twelve boxes down to be reviewed.  The owner spent an hour plowing through them and ended up giving me money for one box.  It was enough to cover us through the week.  God rescued us, just like He had so many times.

I look back on what Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mount.  "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will come unto you."  Those other things he spoke about are our clothing, our food and shelter.  They make up some of our worries.  But a lot of our worries don't originate from the possession of material things.  If we were honest about it, we'd realize that many of our problems are a result of our own doing.  We put our own priorities before those of our loved ones.  Commitments take the place of love.  Time is spent selfishly rather than on the needs of our children.  We seek to build our own kingdom.  And God becomes a catch phrase.  When that happens, we don't know God's peace or love.  God gave us life so that we would live it to the fullest.  And having material possessions,  rising within the company, or gaining the applause of others doesn't seem to bring peace and love to my heart.  There's only one who can do that and that's God.

And He has provided for that peace and love.  One day at a place called Calvary, a carpenter-preacher gave his life so that you could know life.  Jesus died for your sins on the cross so that you could enter into a wonderful relationship with God.  Three days later, he rose from the grave.  Eternal life begins here and now by believing in Jesus.  And that life isn't made up of bills, mortgages, and computers.  It's made up of experiencing the love of God and loving our friends, family, neighbors and even our enemies.  Our focus shouldn't be on "getting by" or building up our own kingdom, but on experiencing God's love.

If you feel like life is confusing, or you're just not "getting by", maybe it's time to turn your focus onto God. He moved heaven and earth so that you could know Him and His love.  We still have bills to pay and cars that need fixing, but we don't need to worry.  Turn away from your own kingdom, and seek God and His kingdom and His righteousness, and God will take care of the rest.  He is mighty to save.

FBI releases video of two ’dangerous’ suspects in Boston bombing

Be on the lookout



FBI releases video of two ’dangerous’ suspects in Boston bombing

The Gift of Life

I was roaming around Google +, just seeing what was out there. A video of a cat salvaging a stuffed animal from under a desk, a post of Spock mind-melding with Dr. McCoy, and a beautiful picture of the Butchard Gardens in Victoria. I was reading the responses to a quote from Carl Sagan when something caused me to blink twice.

"I didn't ask anyone to die for me."

Obviously, the comment was directed to something a Christian had posted about Jesus. Whenever there's a post involving religion, belief or the "inerrancy" of science (ha! ha!), many times someone throws in a verse or reference from the bible. In this case, someone made a comment related to Jesus dying on the cross for the benefit of another person.  What struck me was how the writer identified the value of life. Yes, I mentioned 'value'.   As I stated in A Pitch for the Angels, death really was never meant to be.  I believe that we were meant for life, but because we hurt others and God (our sins), death was brought into the mix.  But we all have the choice on how to live out our lives before facing the big "D".  So when it comes to sacrificing one's life for the benefit of another, the choice is up to the giver.  Most husbands would sacrifice their lives for their wives whether they asked them to do or not. The factor that determines that sacrifice could either be the value of the object, or the lack of value of the husband, or love itself.

One certainly can point to the the armed forces and state, "What the government is asking for, in essence, is for individuals who are willing to sacrifice their lives for their government." During boot camp, it's the opinion of a number of people that the government instills in the minds of soldiers that their country is worth the price of one's life.  In that regard, I, as an individual, might point to a soldier killed in action and make the claim, "He/she died for their country, but not for me personally."

http://www.secretservice.gov/presidential_inaugural.shtml

Consider the President of the United States.  The President walks into a room with bodyguards surrounding him.  When President Reagan was shot, his bodyguards quickly transferred him into a car for protection.  Signing up for that job is met with the understanding that the President is worth sacrificing one's life for.  It would be an honor to die for the leader of the free world.

Or take the example of a mother and her child. Most mothers (if not all) would exclaim, "I would give my life for my baby!" There's even a proverb that goes, "Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly." That's how valuable a child is to the mother.  One could arguably say, "But a baby could never 'ask' the mother to give her life for her; it's too young." Kind of ridiculous, but it could be reasonably pointed out.

When stating that the sacrifice of life was not demanded or asked for, it begs the question: When is the sacrifice of a life demanded?

What is it about the issue - Jesus dying for an individual - that drives people to cry out, "I didn't ask for it?" Part of it has to do with pride. "I make the decisions over what affects my life and what doesn't. If I want someone who wants to give his/her life for me, I'll marry that person." But it's my say whether that happens or not.  But most of all, it has to do with relevancy.  What does Jesus have to do with me?  It goes back to the purpose of life.  If I were to accept a naturalist's perspective (that all that is touched, seen, heard, felt and sniffed is all that only exists), I the one who pretty much determines any purpose associated with my life, what defines good and evil, and my relationship with the world and everyone around me.  But when we consider our emotions, the draw to believe in something greater than ourselves and the reality of love...we realize that there's more to life than what can be measured in a test tube in a scientific research lab.  That knowledge points to the fact that we are not alone and that there is a greater Good that is reaching out to us to draw us near.  I call that God.  And He's reaching out to us for a purpose.  He wants to give us life.  And this is where Jesus comes in.

"You see, at just the right time, when we were powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

God demonstrated His love to you by giving Jesus for you.  Because of all the wrongs we've done to each other and the way we've thumbed out noses at God, our sins have prevented us from knowing God and experiencing the love, peace, hope - the life - that we were made to have.  And that's the reason for Jesus dying for you.  That's the reason God wants to extend His grace to you.

But as +Jason Velotta states in his blog post, "Royally Pardoned by King Jesus", the gift of God's grace is something that needs to be accepted.  Just as in the example of George Wilson and the pardon for his crimes to stave off execution, each one of us needs to reach out to God and accept the pardon He gives for all our sins.  The pardon for all our sins, which leads to life, has to be accepted from God in order for that life to be received.  Jesus gave his life so that you may have life, and that life is more abundant than anything you have right now.

"God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life."

Jesus did give his life for you, and that's good because you need it. Just like I need it, my neighbor needs it, my garbage man and my boss needs it. The world needs it. And the most important decision you could make in life is to take the hand of God which is reaching out to you, and accept that life. He gave his life for you so that you may know true life. That's something worth grasping onto.