“Space… the final frontier.”

And why that suddenly came to mind I have no idea. Too many old reruns of watching Star Trek as a kid I guess, “Captain Kirk, you’re needed immediately on the bridge,” and I’m sure I could think of other one liners if I gave myself a few more minutes, “Okay, beam me up Scotty.” Hilarious when you think about it, especially the outfits, but still, despite all the bad acting, Star Trek really was kind of a fun show. It was all about the adventure and exploring and, being the setting space, they never really ran out of new places to visit inhabited by all kinds of strange creatures.

But why all this talk about Star Trek you ask? Like I said, I sat down to write and for some reason that was the first thing that popped into my head. Actually, as of late I’ve had “space” on the brain. Not “spaced out” mind you, but literally “outer space” and just yesterday was reminded of how really, really BIG it is and I think we tend to forget this, living here on this little planet we call Earth, which really is a big place in and of itself, but what I mean is, I think it’s easy for us to get swept up in just our day to day activities; “what will I wear today? How am I gonna pay the bills? What should I make for dinner?” and who knows what else we need to add to the day’s never ending “to-do” list. Honestly, sometimes it’s exhausting, and sometimes, at the end of the day, we just need to let out a big sigh of relief when the sun finally does set. Hmm, where am I going with all of this?

The verse that comes to mind is this and I think it was Paul who said it, “for to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) And I urge you to read it again, “for to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” And I wonder… how many of us really think like that? If we’re honest, probably less than one percent of our day is thought like this and instead looks more like, “got to do the laundry, go grocery shopping, work, how will I get the kids to and from…” you name it. And again, that list can go on and on.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) Be still? You’ve got to be kidding? Space. Hmm, take a moment and think about it. How can I go about making my life more about living for Christ unless… I can take a moment and think about it? Unless, I can take a moment and contemplate… my minuteness, impermanence, compared to Him who is infinite? Huh, and yet still, “what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:4) Amazing. When I take a moment and really think about it I realize, that to have the mindset Paul is speaking of in Philippians 1:21 is to live in the temporal. “Set your mind on things above, not on things of the Earth.” (Colossians 3:2) Because even as Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) Space. And why is that the topic? Because, when you really think about it, when you have a moment, look out into the night sky and go, ” wow, God, you really created something HUGE here.” But why?

“As it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) Hmm, and I get to thinking. I think of all the people, those doubters who would say, “why would I want to go to heaven anyway? I mean, what could we possibly do there for all of eternity?” Hmm. Looking out into the “heavens” I can think of lots of things filled with all kinds of possibilities. First and foremost, getting to hang out in the presence of one incredibly amazing God, and secondly, having all of eternity to explore His vast and seemingly never ending creation. Sounds like fun, does it not?

Look here digg.com/d1ofQT if you want to see what I’m talking about.

Early

It’s early and as I sit at my desk with the window open overlooking our community pond the sun is shining, and yet as I take a moment to perhaps daydream, I start to see more and more of those little white puffy clouds (like sheep) begin to proceed across that great blue backdrop we call sky.

It’s now that I hear the lawn mower service, their distraction like clockwork every Tuesday morning, the steady hum or buzz of their equipment encroaching on my serenity, only to find another distraction as I hear the voice of my neighbor Christy, down on the lawn below.  Christy, a single mom, like myself, along with her five year old son Cameron as they play with their dog.  I then hear Cameron ring my doorbell (for fun) and then, I hear Christy scold him.  Aw, to be young again.  Nothing better to do but chase your dog and ring the neighbor’s doorbells, because surely they must be sleeping (especially at 8:30 in the morning when they’re on vacation;). If I had a dog, which someday I hope life and Time will once  again afford me  (for now, I’ll have to settle for my crazy parakeet) I think it might be fun to chase him or her, though ringing doorbells of my unsuspecting neighbors? at my age,  probably not such a good idea (though still, the idea is tempting).

But… up early this morning I got to thinking about how at the beginning of our lives (and I think seeing and hearing Cameron out playing on the lawn below reinforced this) life is so much more carefree and easy. Our whole lives spread out before us and filled with possibility. And then? We have to grow up, don’t we? and perhaps at times life doesn’t always turn out to be the picnic in the park we thought it’d be.  Life and all it’s demands has a way of pressing in. Whether it’s family, work, finances, something. It’s always something. And for me I think most of all, it’s Time.  Time, that pesky culprit.  If only we had the ability to stop it. But Time will halt for no one.  Better yet, to grab some rope and attempt to lasso it, tame it, so that instead of Time getting a handle on us we can at least try, try, to get a handle on it.

So… why am writing all of this?  Honestly, I just felt the need to write something, hoping that practice will make perfect, right? But tomorrow, tomorrow I’m turning thirty-nine (and how this happened I have no idea. Again, I think Time had something to do with it) but at least I’ll be spending it at Disney World so maybe, just maybe, for a day, I’ll get to feel like a kid again.  Honestly though, most of the time (inside) I already do anyway.  I mean, didn’t Jesus say something to the affect of, “unless you all become as little children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven?”  I could google it, but I’m pretty sure He did.

Yes, to be like Cameron, or rather, to have the mindset of a child. And what is that?  Trusting, believing, carefree, simplicity.  Faith.  How many of us as adults really live like that?  God says… but do we believe Him?  For a child it is so, so easy.  God says… but oh, how many of us worry.  God says… but oh, how we don’t want to let go of anything.  God says… what?  How many things? And yet, how much easier life might be if we did and really could live like that, “with the mindset of a child,” trusting, believing, and God as our Heavenly Father who always, always is looking out for us.  Who always, always has our best interest at heart.  Who always, always loves us and sees us just like that, perhaps as we truly are;  His little children.  At least I like to think that’s how God sees us and from what I’ve read in His Word I think that’s a pretty good assessment. In His eyes we can chase puppies, ring doorbells and who knows what else, and does not God expect it? Maybe like the loving parent, He can look past all our imperfections, and sees only the cuteness, the fondness, that feeling where love wells up in your heart and where it came from? Well, only God can answer that question and yes, even sometimes He has to discipline us, but God as loving Father and us as His children…  it’s a good thing to dwell on, is it not?

Time.  It makes me think of a favorite line from a maybe not so favorite movie of mine, but I loved the line anyway and it’s always stuck with me.  “Pretend we’re starting out in life, instead of ending up.”  And what do I take from that?  That no matter what or where you’re at in life, whether it’s something you always wanted to do, become, a relationship you’ve been wanting to mend or, even your relationship with God, no matter what it is…  “it’s never too late to be early.”  God bless!

Chai Tea Latte’s

Message on a cup while sipping a Starbucks chai tea latte today. Yes, a decadent luxury.

“The Way I See It” #288

My cousin in Tibet is an illiterate Subsistence farmer. By accident of birth I was raised in the West and have a Ph.D. The task of our generation is to cut through the illusion that we inhabit seperate worlds. Only then will we find the heart to rise to the daunting but urgent challenges of global disparity. –Losang Rabgey, Ph.D. National Geographic Emerging Explorer and co-founder of Machik, a nonprofit helping communities on the Tibetan Plateau.

And the Way I See It… there is no such thing as accidents. If God gives, He gives so that we can give it away. Funny, the things God can teach while sipping chai tea latte’s

“Good Grief!”

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about Charlie Brown. I don’t know why. For one, maybe because it’s Christmas time, that, and it’s A Charlie Brown Christmas was one of my all time favorite holiday specials. One wonders though with the current state of things now, “do they still allow this to be shown on tv?” Afterall, the words “Merry Christmas, the nativity, and unto you a Savior is born!” are all mentioned during its airing.

Yes, what does Charlie Brown represent to me during this holiday season? And I think Linus says it best; Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas! Yes, Jesus. “For unto you a Savior is born!” A Savior. And I do just want to say that again, “a Savior.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14)

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

A gift. And that’s exactly what Christmas is; a gift. That Christ came and died for us, in our place that we might live. “A Savior,” who if we call upon will reconcile us to God, transforming our sinful nature into His glorious righteousness. A gift, and to the world God has extended it. To every man, to every woman; this present. The question is; will you accept it? “Good grief!” it’s Christmas.

A Growing Trend Pt. II

I literally just came across this on Pastor Chris Elrod’s site and found it so amusing I thought it would be the perfect Part II to my post “A Growing Trend.” I think this speaks clearly to the heretical teachings that are taking place in our churches across America today within the Emergent Church movement.

Christ is not a trend that He should change, but He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His Word declares it!

Are you in the middle of a wasteland?

There are times in our walks that everything seems to be going just fine. We are at ease, our minds at peace. Than there are other times. Times when it is all we can do to force ourselves into His Word or find the time to pray. These are the dry times. The times when we find ourselves in a parched and barren wasteland. We cry out, “I am so thirsty!” yet still, nothing seems to satisfy. We read. We look. But all the things we search for, even when and if we do find them they are still not enough.

Why does God allow this, these times when we find ourselves in the middle of a desert? Here it seems even God is absent and perhaps He is. Will we still trust Him? Will we still believe? Will we still continue to trudge along, yet still so thirsty? Or, will we abandon? Will we turn our attentions? “It is nothing but a mirage,” the Lord says and for a moment we think, yes, we hear Him! “But it looks like a place I can rest, Lord, with pools of water.” And again, “it is only a mirage,” He says.

Will we listen when we are in the middle of a wasteland? Did the Children of Israel when God led them round and round the wilderness for forty years? Did they listen when they were lost? Or did they turn their attentions? Building golden cows to save them?

There is always a reason for the wasteland. Perhaps when it is we find ourselves there that we find what we are really made of. Will we still turn to God? Will we still pledge our allegiance to Him and Him alone? Or, will we like the Children of Israel build our golden cows, allowing nothing but a mirage to snare our wayward hearts and drag us elsewhere?

If you are in the middle of a wasteland, hold on. Keep your eyes and heart steadfast on Him and He alone will lead you out.

Running

Walking with God is a challenge or as the Apostle Paul put it; a race. If anyone thinks it is easy then I might have to wonder, “are they really in the running?” or perhaps, “is it they are just beginning?” Either way, if you have ever run a race before then you would know from experience that the beginning is always the easiest.

I myself had the opportunity to participate in a race once and believe me, for me, this was no small feat. I ran a half marathon with a friend of mine a couple of years back and trained for all of three months I think. Thankfully though, I did have some residual left from the previous year I had spent running, so physically I wasn’t starting from complete scratch. But thinking back, wow, ya just three months and then I embarked on a half marathon and I will never forget the experience.

It was a clear day in the North West, sunny with mild temperatures. Perfect running weather. They gave us our numbers, we pinned them on. I was pumped! Everyone lining up, a mob of people really, and I knew I wasn’t there to win, I was just there for the experience of it. I was just there to finish. I had been training (though just three months) and the farthest I had ever run up until that point was all of eight miles, nevermind that today I was looking at thirteen. “If I made it to ten (running)” I told myself, “then I would be happy.”

At the sound of the pistol the crowd took off! “Pace yourself,” my friend says and I know she’s right. Too much too soon and I will have nothing left over when I near the end. So, we take it pretty leisurely, enjoying the scenery.

“Mile one, mile two, mile three,” and I feel great! There are people cheering everyone along the way. Short pit stops to grab a quick cup of gatorade, orange slice, and then “carry on! Carry on!” We keep running.

“Mile four, mile five, mile six,” and everything around us is so pretty as I can think of nothing more beautiful than the North West on a sunny day. Ya, it’s at this point the endorphines have really kicked in.

“Mile seven, mile eight, mile nine. Mile nine?” Yes, mile nine! and I think to myself “and look! I’m still running! and I still feel great!” and even I am amazed. This is the farthest I have ever run before in all my life and I feel as though I will never run out of energy. I even remember joking with my friend at this point, “they should give us medals for this!”

Then… “MILE TEN” and imagine if you will some ominous music as I hit the marker, “du-du-du-du!” and not only me but my friend too who has never run a half marathon either. At mile ten it was as if our bodies just gave out, crying, “I’ve had enough of this!” Just plodding along now. Every part of my body hurting; arms, legs, torso. Everything I think but my brain. My friend too is giving out, “I have to stop,” she says, “I have to walk.” “No,” I encourage her, “you can do this!” “No,” she says, shaking her head. “Just let me walk, for a little bit,” and so she walks, “you go on ahead” she says but I am not wanting to leave her. Afterall, she’s the one who had encouraged me to do this half marathon to begin with and so I think to myself, “I am not in this to win,” and believe me, I wasn’t even anywhere close to placing, “I am just in this to finish and to finish running this race with my friend.”

And so… I walk, but in my attempt to walk with her for some reason walking for my body is even more painful than running. “Oh my god,” I say, “it is too painful to walk!” and again I have to start running, it was either that or stop all together which really wasn’t an option so, “come on,” I tell her, “we can do this, you can do this! It’s only three more miles!”

Yes, it was just three more miles, three more miles of grueling pain, but you know what? Together we ran it and we finished and when we came across the finish line, guess what? They put medals around our necks! Ya, I kid you not. Who would’ve thought it!

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

“But What About Him?”

God is faithful. God is about direction. Am I going a wrong way? Or is there some part of me, some part of my thinking that perhaps is a skew and needs fine tuning? More than likely. Often we are awry but God is gracious and long suffering. God is always teaching, the question we should/need to be asking ourselves though is this, “do we hear Him?” and “are we listening?” That is what I love about devotionals. They are often very poignant on one particular thought and get straight to it, or at least for me, that’s what a good devotional should be doing and today? that’s exactly what one of them did, “God, is that you I’m hearing?”.

In my devotional today from “My Utmost For His Highest” I read about Peter and I love Peter I think most of all. He is rash, short tempered, bold, stubborn, does and says stupid things and then lives later to regret it; Peter. Probably for myself one of the Apostles I can most identify with and yet, I am thankful that the Lord still loved him, had a purpose and a plan for his life even. Yes, Peter. Contemptuous Peter.

Today I read once again the account of Peter; where the Lord restored him after he had denied Him three times. What I noticed though in today’s text was this; where Peter, after Christ proclaimed the end of his life outcome seeing the Apostle John then asks, “well, what about him?” and Christ says, “well, what about him? You, follow me.” And I thought, “how interesting,” this little piece of dialogue between Peter and Christ and it really got me thinking. That, and Oswald Chambers take on the whole subject.

“Well, what about him?” There is no doubt that we are supposed to preach Christ. There is no doubt that is our “Great Commission,” but when our eyes drift from the Lord to our fellow man and we find ourselves asking God, “Lord, well, what about him?” then it is here we have lost our focus. Christ said, “never mind him. You, follow me.” We must remember that God is in the midst. We must only make our focus Him. Our goal Him. Our aim Him. Pursuing with all of our being to be rightly related to God, fully dependent on Him and Him alone. This is what we should be aiming for and when we find ourselves finally wedded to Him in complete abandonment it is only then that it becomes perhaps as Chambers says; that we become so abandoned to God that the consciousness of being used never enters in.

If I am worrying or wondering about the “outcome” of my fellow man, well, it is not for me to worry about because after all, it is out of my hands. That is God’s business but as for me? I am to follow Him, eyes on Him and as Christ told Peter before Peter asked, “well, what about him?” Christ said we are to do this; “Feed My Lambs, Tend My Sheep, follow Me,” but then… we are to leave the outcome to Him.

JOHN 21: 15-22
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah,do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

For today’s (11-15-07) devotional from “My Utmost For His Highest” go to www.rbc.org/utmost and God bless!

A Growing Trend

Today as I read one of my favorite devotionals “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers I am reminded. Oswald leaves today’s devotion with this last line, “it is not Christ for me unless I am determined to have Christ formed in me,” and I can’t help but think, “how true. How many of us are claiming Christ yet unwilling to let Him be formed in us? How many are conforming rather to the lusts and complacency’s of this world?” And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2). “A growing trend,” and so how do we prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God? There must be a measuring stick.

“A growing trend,” and what is it? Perhaps it is this; there is no measuring stick. The Word of God is not inherent. But if that were the case then what do we really have to hang our faith on? Love? “Yes, love” they say. “Love is the only way.” Yes, love, true, but even Christ as they dragged the woman caught in adultery to His very feet, though He did not condemn her told her, “go and sin no more,” not what the “growing trend” would say in regards to sin. No, rather the “growing trend” would say, “the bible doesn’t really say that. It is no longer relevant for us today.” Hmph! “Poppycock!” that’s what I say.

“The growing trend,” would have me believe that the Word of God is up for interpretation and again they say, “that isn’t what it really means.” Then if that were the case then perhaps I will throw out any verse that doesn’t really suit me. If the Word of God is not inherent than it is all up for grabs – eventually and “the growing trend” keeps on growing.

The Word of God must be inherent. The Word of God is still relevent today. The Word of God says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Perhaps off this very verse alone we should learn that “growing trends” are not always the right roads. The Word of God must be the measuring stick; and the only way it can be is if it is held up as inherent. Jesus Himself says, for narrow is the gate and difficult the way. But the “growing trend” would teach us differently.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:15-23).

The “growing trend” would say there is no such thing as a “call” to holiness. But if that were the case than why did Christ die for me? “He hath made Him sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The only way the righteousness of God can be made manifest in me is if I am willing and determined to let Christ be formed in me and if anyone should tell us differently then hold everything they say up to the Word of God; for it is by it we do the measuring.

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3).

** For today’s devotional from “My Utmost for His Highest” go to www.rbc.org/utmost .

The Eleventh Hour

God is such a good Father, He really is and I guess today that’s what I want to reflect on; His goodness and His purposes. He has been working in my heart a lot over these last few weeks and teaching, always teaching. But He reminds me, that even in difficulties, even in trials He is still working, sometimes even orchestrating their very existence because of something He has purposed to work out in me or maybe someone else. That even in difficulties God will still turn them around and use them for our good and He does, He really does. “And we know that all things work together for good to those that love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

It makes me think of Peter, when he and the other disciples were out on a boat in the middle of a storm (see Matthew 14) and here comes Jesus, walking on the water – yes, even in the middle of a storm and Peter seeing him goes out to meet Him, eyes on Him. It isn’t until he takes his eyes off of Jesus that he then starts to sink, noticing the waves around him, yet even then Jesus catches him, “I will not let you sink,” He says, or this is what I imagine He would say when we find ourselves in the middle of a storm, “I will not let you sink.” Christ is there and He holds our hand, we need only to keep our eyes on Him until He returns us to the safety of the boat and then, did you notice what happens? The storm ceases to exist.

You see, even in the midst of adversity, trials, or whatever we might find ourselves in, God will not allow the winds to blow forever, but while they do, we need only keep our eyes on Him.

From my journal the other day:

When we are in the thick of it – God comes. He takes us by the hand and upholds us. He speaks comfort to us. He is our strength. He gives us understanding, and though it may not be complete it is enough to sustain us. He is gracious and knows what we can and cannot handle and when it is we start to lose our grip on it, when it feels as though we ourselves might come undone, this, this is when God comes; and it is “The Eleventh Hour.”