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- Keystones of Our Faith - Keystones of Our Faith: When we consider our faith, and why we believe as we do, what would you say are important events or elements that made the difference in your belief that Jesus is Messiah, Lord, and Savior? I suspect that many of us would answer that the most important event was the resurrection. Someone may say, that is all well and good, but how would I know you’re a follower of Christ?? That question brings us to the heart of how Jesus equipped us. In the sermon on the mount, and related passages, we are given encouragement that gives direction for being a Christian. I call them keystones, they are Jesus’ way of describing the heart of a disciple. Five Keystones of Christ -- Continue reading
- … And I Grew - ... And I Grew: Every one of us has a life journey. An array of experiences and emotions, broad straight aways and curvy detours. Ups and downs. Times of loss, times of joy. Whether we are aware of it or not, each pause, each bump, each celebration along the way was designed by our Lord, as he fashioned the path that would equip us to follow His will. We make decisions that we regret, we experience the heights of happiness, or we suffer the loss of a loved one, but if we truly believe we're following the Lord, we need to go a little easy on ourselves. These events, these decisions, and even regrets are God's way of preparing us for what's coming next. Continue reading
- Nonagon! - Nonagon! Nonagon? What the heck is a nonagon, you ask? In the early days of Christianity, many of the followers of Jesus became discouraged and drifted away. The disciples were also struggling. Some were impatient for Jesus to emerge as the leader who would over throw Rome and establish a new nation. They had seen no evidence that this was happening. Yet, in the face of dissenting thoughts and actions, Jesus continued this ministry, laying the groundwork in which the seeds of God’s plan would spring forth a growing crop of those who believed. In those early days, the disciples hid away in locked rooms out of fear of the Pharisees and others. Are we still doing that for different reasons? Are you apologetic when it comes to declaring your faith? Perhaps you find 'going to church' more comfortable in your PJs, streaming the service, hiding, as it were, and ignoring the blessed power of fellowship. Continue reading
- Kyrie Eleison! - Kyrie Eleison! We need to see the whole picture of a man blind from birth and his encounter with Jesus. It takes place just outside the city of Jericho, the oldest city in the world, the entrance to the Promised Land, and a place of trade on the Jordan River. On the outskirts of the city is Elisha’s Spring, blessed by the Prophet, and popular. It is a very busy place. Bartimaeus, the blind man, wrapped in his cloak and hiding his face, sits near the Spring, as always, begging for alms and crying out ‘Kyrie Eleison!’ Jesus invites him to come, and Bartimaeus jumps up, throws off his cloak, and runs to Jesus. ‘What do you want?’ ‘I want to see.’ Jesus answers, “Go, your faith has healed you.” Continue reading
- Jesus Stayed - Jesus Stayed: A touch of the Master will change lives. At Jacob’s Well and the nearby town, Jesus’ presence touched many and changed lives. Because Jesus stayed in the town and ministered, the people believed that He was the Messiah. At the wedding in Cana, Jesus and his mother, Mary, came and celebrated. Because He stayed, His miracle of water to wine was known. Because he stayed in Jericho one night at the home of the tax collector, that family was changed, and Salvation has come to this house. Think about your own life and how it has been changed because of the presence of Jesus within you, body and soul. Think of the quality of your life because of what he brings to you through his graces, his gifts and his presence. Continue reading
- The Purpose of Life - The Purpose of Life: What is the purpose of life? More to the point, what is my purpose in God’s plan? I don't know if in our modern day thought processes we can fully understand the question of purpose, and the one that follows, what is my purpose? In my digging into scripture, I could not find where Christ provided a direct answer to that question. However, he did provide us with a direction for how we are to apply these gifts and graces that God has given us; our vitality, and the talents with which we were endowed. He also responded to those who knew in their hearts that this life that we are living was transitory and incomplete and he offered ways to bring value and texture onto that blank canvas of our lives. At the heart of what Jesus said were two main principles of living, on which all true morality, wisdom, and faith depend. Continue reading
- Learning from Dirt - Learning from Dirt: We all have vivid experiences in our life journeys, experiences that have shaped use and formed us, as if we are the clay in the potter's (God's) hand. I've had indelible experiences in my growing years; Korea in the midst of a war, the experience at Heifer Ranch and all they do to end world hunger, to being blessed with children and grandchildren. These are more than vivid experiences, these are graces and gifts from the Lord who knows even before we are born what we would experience and how that experience would prepare us for what we did next. Count your many blessings. Continue reading
- I Did It His Way - I Did It His Way: Let’s start the new week off with something different, and maybe fun. In 1969,Paul Anka released his hit song, I Did It My Way. Eight years later Frank Sinatra recorded it and it became his theme song. Initially, I liked the melody and lyrics. Then I listened more carefully to what he was saying; that he didn’t need any help, didn’t need a Lord and savior. He could do it all on his own, his way. I don't buy that, not for a moment. That song does not express the sentiment of a believer. So, here is my re-write of the lyrics. Sing along, think about what the words say, and enjoy. My title: I Did It His Way. Continue reading
- The Prayer II - The Prayer II: How about those times when you are not plummeting to the earth from 14,000 feet, or on the verge of a medical crisis, or on that roller coaster wishing you weren’t, and things are good and you’re not scared, confused or lost? You know, when things are going smoothly, and you’re enjoying life. Or, maybe you have a decision that you must make, A or B, two good choices, but simply cannot make up your mind. While either is good, which is better? Do we believe that with His help we could make good choices or better choices or wiser choices, even in the face of confusion, chaos, and conflicting voices? Choices that are right, even if they are unpopular? We pray that we will always keep our focus on the Will of God. Continue reading
- The Prayer I - The Prayer I: You stand at the open hatch of the of the Cirrus SR20. You had packed your own parachute, under the watchful eye of your instructor, and you are ready for your first solo jump. You enjoy the ride, then your focus shifts to the altimeter, waiting for that magic number of 4,500 feet to click. You reach for the ring that would release the pilot chute. The ring comes off in your hand! A panic thought, dear God, what do I do? We all have these moments during the course of our lives when we are vulnerable. We don’t know what’s next and we worry and we fret. In time, we turn to our Higher Power, and symbolically, we pull the release for our pilot chute: “God, I need help for me!” and His grace, and our faith, responds. Continue reading
- Choose Forgiveness - Choose Forgiveness: Do you need to forgive someone? Seriously, think about that. Someone you need to forgive, or perhaps it’s yourself? Ah-ha, is that the problem? However the hurt was inflicted, whether by yourself or by someone close to you, and it doesn't have to be a violent or abusive situation maybe you just felt like you were left out or put down, or perhaps they didn't understand you. It matters little because of whatever it was, addressing it is the only way you're going to get over your brokenness. Forgiveness? Do we have a choice? Jesus reminds us that if we do not forgive others their sins, our heavenly Father will not forgive ours our sins. Continue reading
- Who or What Do You Worship? - Who or What Do You Worship?: Sometime ago I was digging into commentaries on the Sermon on the Mount, and came across counter-values to the Beatitudes that I found interesting and I think something that we can, to a degree, relate to. Try this one and see what you think: Blessed are those who are poor in spirit. CV --self-confident, competent, self-reliant. You get the point. On the 'Blessed' side of the equation we have those who follow the Lord's admonition to love others and to love God. While the Counter-Value (CV) side suggests that the tangibles that the world holds dear, worshipping the idols of wealth, domination, and self-confidence. Who do you love, who do you worship? We on this side of the resurrection we may have a better understanding of the point that Jesus is making. When we lift up our bank account, our herds of animals, our property, the stock market, whatever the focus of our life happens to be, and worship these, we aren't fit to worship the Lord. Continue reading
- Much-Afraid and the Shepherd - Much-Afraid and the Shepherd: I am reading, again, the book Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hunnard. It is an allegory of the Shepherd Psalm, where the main character is called Much-Afraid. Have you ever wondered away, looking for...something, or avoided doing what the Lord was leading you to do? Ever been defeated? Fired from your job? Divorced from the one you loved? Alienated from a beloved friend? Did you ever become Little Much-Afraid, dwelling in fear? How does a shepherd restore the soul of a sheep, or, for that matter, leads sheep along paths of righteousness? We live in the divine confidence that after every storm there is a rainbow, no matter how long it takes to show up. The lesson learned by Much-Afraid, that transformed her into Grace and Glory. Continue reading
- Who Packed Your Parachute? - Who Packed Your Parachute? On this Labor Day we honor all those responsible for the comfort and ease of our lives.Charles Plumb was a US Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience! One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!" "How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied. This is a message for all of us. In this life, there are so many who have touched our lives in a variety of ways, that guided us to where we are now. Angels, unaware? Thank you, parachute packers! You are Angels. Continue reading
- I Shall Not Want - I Shall Not Want: We can all remember painful and difficult seasons of our lives, times when we've felt discouraged and fearful, had no idea where we were going or what we are to do. Those moments when we felt an intense sense of aloneness. What do we do? What did you do? Often times that is when we feel the presence of the Lord. Maybe it comes to you in the music, or a conversation overheard, or what you can see out your window, or just a thought, planted years before that re-emerges. When a person can come to the place in life where they can say with absolute unwavering conviction, 'Yes, but my God is in control,"'there is an awesome sense of strength and assurance that will fill the heart to overflow with an indescribable joy and peace. Continue reading
- The Road Not Taken - The Road Not Taken: In The Road Not Taken, Frost has beautifully laid out our life dilemma, choices and acceptance or regrets. At some point in your life journey, did you choose one route over another, and did it make all the difference? Life is difficult. That's a reality and we know it because we experience it. It is a great truth, perhaps one of the greatest truths, for, once we truly understand and accept that fact, then life is no longer difficult, in the obstacle sense. Why? Because once that truth is accepted, that life is difficult, it no longer matters, it simply is a truth, and we move on to dealing with what follows. We've often heard it said that the life of a Christian is not an easy road to follow. It is a road less traveled, but it's one road that once you truly travel it, there is no other route you wish to be on.The problems that cause the Christian life to be less easy, are also the problems that call us to courage and to use our wisdom; indeed, they serve to create our courage and our wisdom. It's only because of problems and challenges, adversity and loss that we grow mentally and spiritually. Continue reading
- Wrestling with God - Wrestling with God: On August 21, 2002, I underwent surgery to replace my right hip. I have no recollection of wrestling with God, but nevertheless, my hips was a problem and had to be replaced. Maybe I don't understand the concept of ‘wrestling with God’. I do know I struggle with my faith from time to time, hesitant to speak up or show others that I'm a Christian. We struggle and are sometimes conflicted in our understanding of what God is saying to us. We apply our flawed and earth-bound human minds to the task, and it is at that point where I struggle. It’s not that the Bible isn’t perfect, complete, and finished. It is our understanding and application of His Word that is woefully lacking. What God has given us is so much more than we can grasp at any one time. Continue reading
- Ponder Anew and Trust - Mary's Story: Trust. Consider Mary. What thoughts came to her as she watched Jesus grow through childhood, adolescence and into adulthood, and onto His ministry. Many opportunities for her to call to mind what the Angels had told her and those shepherds: “This baby will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High,” and “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Did she question herself, Is this the Messiah, playing there on the floor, stumbling as he learned to walk? Is this the Son of God crying to have his nappy changed or to be fed? But the hardest one, the one that pierced her heart, was what Jesus was going through just above her, as she sat at the foot of the cross. Still she trusted what God had promised. Continue reading
- Does He Know My Name? - Does He Know Me? In a recent My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers makes this statement: “It is possible to know all about doctrine and still not know Jesus.” That hit me hard! Did I have a personal relationship with Jesus? Or did I just have a personal relationship with doctrine? Have I missed the best part of my faith walk? If our focus is on the trappings of Christianity instead of getting to know Jesus, intimately, then, yes, we are missing something. Perhaps we should take a page from Mary, or Thomas, or Peter, to overcome our doubt and denial and to see and believe, and to love, and, thus, to deepen and, maybe restore, a personal history with Jesus. Continue reading
- Do As I Have Done - Do As I Have Done: If you listen to the news too much about the election you get the impression that our top candidates are vying for the role of king or queen, with too little emphasis on serving “We the people.” Somewhere I got this old fashioned idea that the leadership of this country should be serving us, to protect us, to make our lives better, not the other way around.This snapshot of Jesus that we have in scripture, has him washing his disciples feet as a lesson on how they should serve one another. Knowing that we should serve one another isn't enough, as defined by whatever measure you use; we must actually serve one another as Christ did for his disciples. Friends that is a heavy lift. It's hard for us to think about taking on the lowliest job in the world for another person as an act of love. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you. Continue reading
