Dive, Dive, Dive!

Seahunt, not too many people remember the show. The best part is when the captain said, ”dive, dive, dive.” It meant that there was going to be action. A life and death situation was about to take place where someone (an extra) was going to die. The special effects were simple, a toy submarine in a pool, stock photos of real subs, and then the imagination filled in the rest. Ah, the good ole days.  

That's what I thought when I went to the basement and found a foot of standing water throughout the entire basement. We have never experienced this, who do you call? Thanks Nathan. Who has experienced this before? THE INSURANCE GUY, and he put his super hero powers into play and called all the right people. Then my secretary, Ruth, called people in the church and before you know it there were people helping to drain the swamp (basement not Congress). Then my son called and offered to drive from Indiana to help clean up.

And that is FAMILY! There is still a lot of work to do, but to see bothers and sisters in Christ make things happen is an awesome sight. ”And they will know you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” Dive, dive, dive...what an adventure! I'm just saying...

Holy, Holy Batman!

Holiness is a scary word. Partly because we don’t understand what it means, and partly because we think we do and can’t live up to its expectations. The Apostle Peter quotes the admonition, “you shall be holy, for I am holy,” and if you’re like me you nervously answer, “you got to be kidding.” We mistakenly equate holiness with perfection, and that is the wrong way to look at holiness. God is Holy, and his holiness is perfect, because perfection is at the core of God’s character. But Holiness isn’t perfection. Holiness is separation 

When Peter wrote for believers to be holy, he was telling them that they needed to separate themselves from the world. God is holy because he is totally separated from his creation, and like him we are to be separate from the sinfulness of this world. Paul admonished us not to be conformed to this world but be transformed in our thinking. If we are to become more and more like Jesus we need to put aside the things of this world and commit ourselves to the way of Jesus. 

I can hear the sucking sound, sucking all the fun out of the room. Holiness isn’t a ‘drag’.  We don’t put aside the fun things (hobbies, sports, etc,), rather holiness helps us define what and how we engage in them. But more than that, holiness helps define how we engage the world. If we abandon the worldview of the unbeliever and take hold of God’s worldview, then everything we do will be for God’s glory, and we are most satisfied, content, happy, and fulfilled when God is most glorified.

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1Peter 1:14-16.

I’m just saying

That I May See Wondrous Things

Open my eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of your law.

I am a sojourner on the earth;

hide not your commandments from me! Psalm 119:18

This past weekend was wondrous. I love a good storm, and a good snow storm was even better. The digging out wasn’t so much fun, but the new, soft snow fall was magnificent. Fortunately, we watched it from the cozy confines of our home, around a fire, with the idealic picture of our dog laying in front of the fireplace. The whole thing was wondrous. The beauty of the snow, the power of the wind all spoke of God’s wondrous nature, creativity, and grace.

By nature we long to see the wondrous things of God, His power in Creation and His power to transform lives. We want to see people healed, really healed, and their spirits transformed from darkness and into the light. Yet, when the Psalmist asks for open eyes, he longs for something different, something I wouldn’t have asked for. He wanted to see the wondrous things in the law of God (the Bible). Why? What could be on its pages that would rival the wonders of the universe, the complexity of the human brain, the beauty of a new born, or the delicacy of a butterfly wing?

Behold, I long for your precepts;

in your righteousness give me life! 

Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,

your salvation according to your promise; (Psalm 119:40,41)

In His Word there is life, love, salvation, and promise. In His Word we know God. In His Word we know His Son. In His Word we know that we are His children by faith. In His Word we know that we are one Family, united together in one Faith, through one Spirit. In His Word we know that he will return and take us home. There is nothing more wondrous than this, the name of Jesus. Open my eyes, Lord, that I may behold the wondrous things of your law. I’m just saying...

Awe and Wonder

What does it mean to feel awe? What sense of wonder fills your soul? The Grand Canyon is vast, so vast it is difficult to comprehend. Rebecca and I stood at the rim looking at what seemed to be a painting. It was set against a blue background and the colors were varied, brilliant in some places, shadowed in others. My mind was trying to make sense of it, and it couldn’t, accept to stare and stand amazed. The Grand Canyon was the masterpiece, the artist was God, so what is the object of my amazement? 

Look among the nations, and see;

wonder and be astounded.

For I am doing a work in your days

that you would not believe if told. (Hab. 1:5).

God was orchestrating a pagan military machine that would overtake Israel. What was unbelievable is that God  used a pagan nation to bring judgement on his people. But judgement isn’t the only way God creates wonder, he did it when Jesus calmed the storm, when Peter healed the blind, and when thousands believed and followed. The greatest of these is the transformed heart. “I’m doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told,” God said. What work is He doing in our midst that creates awe and wonder? What hearts and lives are being transformed? 

I wish you knew what I know. I wish that the testimonies of God working at St. John were loud and open for all to hear. I wish the stoic Swiss heritage would break free in praise. I wish the awe and wonder of God’s working could fill you as it does me. Is it every day, no, but he is working, and it is exciting to see. I’m just saying...

A Matter Of Trust

Yet you are holy,

enthroned on the praises of Israel.

In you our fathers trusted;

they trusted, and you delivered them.

To you they cried and were rescued;

in you they trusted and were not put to shame. Psalm 22

Trust doesn’t come easy. Although I would like to think I can trust anyone, more often than not that premise has proven to be untrue. A word in confidence shared with others. A feeling expressed twisted out of context. A moments relapse and judgement comes swift. These aren’t imaginary scenarios. They happen to people every day, they have happened to me. Sadly, I have perpetrated them on others. Based on our experience, by the time we are teens we should be paranoid of everyone. No, trust doesn’t come easy, but we all expect others to trust us.

Running, the dry leaves crunch beneath their feet as they raise their arms to protect their faces from the whipping branches. Behind them they are pursued by their advisary until they come to the edge of the precipice. Hundreds of feet down to the deep lagoon, or face certain death from behind. The hero turns to the heroine and says, “trust me.” Why In The world should she trust him? Unless he had jumped from those heights before, she is a fool to trust in a guy she had probably just met. The movies are full of that scenario — Trust Me.

We are faced with indecision, the loss of a loved one, a lay-off, childlessness, spouseless, or in pour health. All you want are good things, and the desire of your heart. Jesus said the father would not give stones, but your hands hurt from their sharp edges. Then he stretches out his hand and says, “trust me.” The disciples were faced with the same decision. Jesus had said some pretty hard things, and everyone left him. He turned to his followers and asked, “will you leave as well?” Peter responded, “No Lord, for where else can we find eternal life.”

So, how do we trust in God when doing so is an inner struggle? We trust, because God always delivers on his promises, and his promises are different than our wants and pain. I trust the Lord, not because he will take away my pain, but because he is the source of life. Where else would I go? I’m just saying...

So Close and Yet So Far Away

“Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.” Psalm 22:2

Crossing over the Colorado mountains begin on the plains. If you had only, ever, seen rolling hills, the Rockies would seem close, even though they are hundreds of miles away. It isn’t until you reach them and begin to grasp their enormity that you can appreciate the size and distance. 

We come to Jesus with a promised personal relationship with God. He loves us and wants to be our ABBA, daddy, and friend. Our experience with close relationships makes us believe that there is a corollary between our earthly relationships and our new relationship with God. He loves us, gives us good gifts, not fish or stones, he is ever present, and we are given assurance through the working of His Spirit and ours that we are his children. Then it happens.

Pain, suffering, difficulties, and sin hit us like a brick wall and we cry out to God in our desperation and there is silence. We cry out again, and The Silence persists. Our Jobian friends chastise us, conjole us, encourage us, and yet the voice of God remains silent, and we find no rest. “Why are you so far from me?”

Like the Rockies, God never moves. He is the same today as the day we began to follow Jesus. The problem is our perception. His attributes of Father are the same, but there is something uniquely different about the application of those attributes, and the enormity (holiness) of God keeps us from understanding it. Yet, he does not leave us alone.

So, as we move away from the hot plains, a cool breeze sweeps down from he mountain, refreshing the weary traveler and promising something better. Even then it’s far beyond what you can imagine. I’m just saying...

The Refrain Of Silence

”Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?

O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,

and by night, but I find no rest.” Psalm 22:1,2

There have been times in m life where this passage has been true, as I am sure it has been for you. Bowing your head at church, or in He silence of your home, you entreat God and the skies are silent, and you wonder why? You remember the stories of God’s faithfulness, and ask, “why not me? Why won’t you show yourself to me?” And your pain simmers beneath the deafening silence of your heart.

God’s silence can rock your faith, as you see the smiles of those he has blessed and begin to believe “I’m just not good enough.” “If only I would have?” Or “Giving more money, time, and effort would illicit His kindness.” But to no avail, all promises and effort still come up short. Why bother?

The psalm actually begins with this verse, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The very words Jesus spoke on the cross. In his agony he cried out, uttering the words that we sing. The refrain of silence. Jesus is our advocate because he knows what we go through. He knows that there are seasons of pain brought about by variables too numerous to count. Some of our own doing and some of it not. Either way the outcome is the same — silence. Not because God doesn’t care, but because there is a bigger picture we can’t see.

For Jesus, it was to deal the final blow to sin and death once and for all. His endurance was for our hope. His abandonment for our acceptance. 

For us, “Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” 1 John 3:2,3. 

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:16-28.

There is much we can still do to alleviate the pain in our lives, but the true remedy is in he cross of Jesus. Seek Him in your distress and you will find peace. I’m just saying...

What Guides My Life

Vision — Boring. That’s what I used to think. Partly because I have always known what God has called me to. I may have veered off His call on occasion, but He has always brought me back in line. It is here that I find myself most fulfilled. My call has been marked by different signposts, or verses, that have guided me on my Journey. Here are some with a little commentary.

When I was saved — “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever would believe in him would have eternal life.” John 3:16. As a young man a friend shared this verse with me and helped me understand my need for a savior, and that God’s love was meant for me too. 

When God led me to Bible College — “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2nd Timothy 2:15. I was confronted by two unbelievers about the accuracy of the Bible and had a crisis of faith. A friend suggested I learn to rightly handle the Bible by going to bible college. 

My life verse — “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” Colossians 1:28. I never intended to be a Pastor, but when I graduated from College I knew the truth of this verse to be the guiding principle of my life (full time or not).

Motorcycle Verse — “And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” Jude 21,22. When I started riding motorcycles my motto became “firesnatchers,” based off this verse in Jude. My decal on my bike often illicit the question, “are you a fireman?” In a sense, yes. 

As I have grown to appreciate the old and the difficult — “Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” Jer. 6:16. Along with this,

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13,14. The past anchors us to reality, the narrow gate and difficult road focuses our intentions.

Not everyone will have “life”verses, but as we are in the Word, God directs our paths along this winding road toward dinner. My new verse to mark my way is:

Open my eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of your law.

I am a sojourner on the earth;

hide not your commandments from me!

My soul is consumed with longing

for your rules at all times. Psalm 119:18-20

I’m Just Saying….

The Manifestation of Awe and Wonder

Open my eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of your law.

I am a sojourner on the earth;

hide not your commandments from me!

My soul is consumed with longing

for your rules at all times. Psalm 119:19,20

The Psalmist lived his life longing to see the wonderful things of God, but he sought them, not in the heavens, not in miracles, not in healings, but in God’s Word. He knew that experiencial revelation was for a moment, but God’s Word endures forever. 1 Peter says the heavens and the earth will melt away with a roar, but not one period or comma would disappear from God’s Word. So the psalmist’s soul was consumed with longing for a revelation of God, in God’s revelational Word.

But what if? What if the Psalmist experienced, 

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us...” 1 John 1:1,2.

The phrase “looked upon” means to behold with awe and wonder. What the Psalmist longed for, the disciples experienced, but their “word of God” jumped off the page and into history. “The Word that was with God in the beginning, was God...and the Word became flesh.” John 1:1ff. No longer did God hide himself behind the veil, but for our sake manifested himself for his disciples to see, to hear, and to touch. They have become his faithful testimony, through whom we are consumed with longing to look upon with awe and wonder. One day, we will behold Him in all of His glory, and the living written word will again appear. What a glorious day. I’m just saying...

The Pirate Code and other Suggestions

Tied up and ready to die, the question was asked, “but what about the Pirates Code?” The answer? “The Code is more of a suggestion than rules.” That’s how I have been with rules and policies. They’re necessary, but they are made to benefit us not to rule us, and so it has been easy to overlook rules and policies that seem archaic, redundant, and simply in the way. Now, that’s my perception. An organization, and a church,  need rules and policies to maintain a well functioning system. So, I work diligently, if not consistently, to follow the guidelines. Why is this important? Because, in contrast there is a law that I love, rules that I long for:

Open my eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of your law.

I am a sojourner on the earth;

hide not your commandments from me!

My soul is consumed with longing

for your rules at all times. Psalm 119:18-20

Like the Psalmist I want to see wonderful things in the Law (of the Lord). I don’t want to see information, I want to see transformation. I not only want to consume the Word of God, I want to be consumed by it. I love being in the Word. I love seeing what God has to say, but I want more than knowledge (though that is necessary). I want to ache when I have not heard from God through His Word. If I wrestle with all the rules in the world, there is a set of rules my soul will long for, for they give life. I’m just saying...

Running on high octane

Today has been one of those days where you wake up with your feet hitting the floor running. I feel as if I am running on high octane. Oh, I still have all my aches and pains, but I seem more focused, more alert, more aware of my surroundings. Poor Porthose is curled up, tired of trying to keep up. I know I will crash tonight, and if I do it early enough I will be well rested for Worship tomorrow. 

The real question is not, “how much did I do,” but “was it productive?” Let’s see, I pegged and glued the top and side of a table I am making out of wood from the playhouse, Lincoln log set I made (just the extra ones), I cutoff the ends and ground off the paint of an old propane tank I am going to make into a forge, I took down the Lincoln log playhouse and put it back on the rack, took Porthos for a walk, cut up the Christmas tree to burn, help take down some Christmas decorations, and now I am waiting to go out with Rebecca and some friends.

I thank the Lord for the health and opportunity to be able to enjoy certain hobbies, and hobbies are good (and productive) in moderation. They take my mind off of the other business I get caught up with. I love making things and I love giving them away. So, yes it was a productive day, and I look forward to jumping into a new year of ministry, where my hobbies meet reality, and the people I love. 

“Whatever you do, whether eating, drinking, or hobbies or anything else, do it all unto the glory of God.”  I’m just saying.

Maybe Again Next Year

The children stopped their laughing,

Everyone’s gone home,

But we’re here,

wishing you wouldn’t leave

The toys are sitting idle

No one begging to read

And  right now,

We feel so incomplete

It’s you and me,

All alone in our house,

I don’t know how to say it,

I guess we’ll just have to play it by ear. 

Maybe Next Year

We wish you were here.

(To the tune of “Meet Me Here” by Pat Terry)

We came back to an enthusiastic Porthos (spent the day alone as we took Josh and the family to the airport). It’s awfully quite after having all our family for a whole week, and the grandkids for two. It is good that they have all gone home, that’s what we as parents raise them to do, leave and cleave. It makes our next reunion all the more sweet. Here is to the joys and sorrows of family. I’m just saying.

That Which We Have Seen

We have this great need to experience things with our own senses before we will believe; the more senses the better. Taking someone’s word for an event or fact that I haven’t experienced is the essence of faith. Whether it is the resurrection of Jesus or the assassination of Kennedy. People will say, “I’ll believe it when I see it,” is a statement of mistrust, lack of faith, cynicism, or denial. God created us to be Inquisitive. He built into our DNA and given us a command to learn, experience, and have first place over all of creation. But sin (again) uses His good gift as an excuse not to submit to His sovereignty. If I can’t see it, touch it, smell it, hear it then it can’t be real. Set aside the fact that we have experienced so little of our universe. “How can God exist? If He did, why doesn’t He show Himself?” “And the Word became flesh,” “the life was made manifest,” and it isn’t enough. 

Think about it. If God truly revealed Himself, that changes everything! If He came in human likeness, died for me, rose from the dead then how can I ever live my life like the world? “The light shines in the darkness,” how can I not want to express my gratitude in the most over the top way. Jesus said when I love, forgive, care for, and reach out to the least of people, then I have done it to him. So, how do I love my wife better, my children more, my neighbor differently, the homeless, the alien (illegal), the religiously different, those who persecute me... my enemy? It changes everything!

I need to be aware of this every day, every moment, and every breath. If not, the darkness blinds me, sin hardens me, self-interest surrounds me, and the world owns me. “Lord, I believe, increase my faith!”  I’m Just Saying...

Happy New Year Flu

No matter what you try to do,  there is something about a sin infested world that fights against being healthy and happy. Off to the doctor who prescribes more medication to fight the symptoms, but is never the cure. Cure to a healthier lifestyle comes with its own set of difficulties and pain. That’s why I am determined NOT to make New Year resolutions. They are prescriptions for failure. However, I have set out two non resolutions: 1. Eat less, 2. Walk more. That’s pretty vague (especially eating less). I could eat less donuts and still not feel bettter. Maybe I should include a number 3 — eat more healthy, but we don’t want to get crazy.

Sin is much the same. It is bent on making us miserable. It’s sole purpose is to move us away from God and an empty, lifeless existence. We don’t like the sin, and we try so many things to make us feel better, but none of them are the cure. Do this, stop that, and everything will be better, different, less destructive. Too often, our attempts are to alleviate the pain, but not to restore our relationship with God. Only a relationship with God will give us the type of life we hunger for, but we have starved so long that we don’t know what good food really taste like. John Piper said, “we are most satisfied when God is most glorified.” The cure is God’s glorification. It doesn’t start with us, but with the God who saves us. When we seek God’s will, no matter how difficult it seems, in the end we will be most satisfied.

For now, my gut hurts, my body aches, and the cure is allowing my body to fight off the flu. The medications will cover the symptoms as I await the cure, until then pass a tissue. I’m just saying...