Deep End of the Pool

When I worked in 911 as a “call receiver / dispatcher”
it seemed like the call types came in groups. 

For instance, one night the majority of calls would be
dog barking complaints.
The next night, the majority of the calls would be
Domestic Violence in nature. 
Then the next night we would deal mostly with
traffic complaints.
This happened often enough that it seemed
(at least to me) like there was some sort of pattern. 

Anyway, now as a “pastor” ~ I notice the same thing.

Some weeks, I only deal with “issues” in marriages.
The next week, I will only deal with grumpy stuff in
church that has some people disgruntled. 
The next week, I will mostly deal with funeral details.

So this week the topic of discussion seems to be:

(((( drum roll ))))
Issues of FORGIVENESS.

I find this interesting because everyday this week,

I have counseled at least one person on “forgiveness”. 

99% of us, don’t realize that there is a HUGE difference

Between “forgiveness” and “restoration”. 

Forgiveness is between YOU and GOD. 

Restoration is between YOU, GOD and the OTHER PERSON. 

So it is very possible to achieve “forgiveness” even if you cannot get the offended person involved in “restoration” of the broken relationship. 

Forgiveness has to do with the good Lord giving your heart peace. 

The person who gains the most from forgiveness is the person who does the forgiving. 

I will cut this short by suggesting we follow the example Jesus set for us in Luke 23:34,

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them,
for they don’t know what they are doing.”

Or the example of Stephen in Acts 7:59,
As they stoned him, Stephen prayed,
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
He fell to his knees shouting,
“Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!”
And with that, he died.

So the PROOF that you have experienced genuine forgiveness,

is when you can, with a pure heart, ask God to let the person
that offended you off the hook.   

I will wrap this up with 1 more command from the good Lord:

“Make allowance for each other’s faults,
and forgive anyone who offends you. 
Remember, the Lord forgave you,
So you must forgive others”
Colossians 3:13

If we need to discuss the “Forgiveness” issue further, let me know.

I’m praying for you….

Scaling Walls

I read Don Quixote as a young boy, so perhaps I was ill-advisedly influenced by his fascination with charging unbeatable windmills.

My fascination with Don Quixote moved me to begin a life of coloring outside the lines and always taking the path less traveled.  If there was a hard way to do something, rest assured, that would be the path I chose.  And if I couldn't get it done, I would simply, out of sheer stubborn determination, stay in the battle and wear it down until it surrendered.

USMC General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller is the most highly decorated Marine in history. In Korea, he led his Marine's into battle and found they were surrounded 29 to 1.  The story I read stated that General Puller stood up and yelled to his men, "All right, they're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time".
The next morning when reinforcements arrived and found the Marine's had stood their ground and fought all night.

A friend of mine once commented, "I am sure there is a harder way for us to get this done, but I have no idea what that might be."

When I was 15 years old, my father decided it was time that we embark on the proud tradition of "teaching the boy how to drive".  On the surface it appeared a harmless right of passage that millions of young boys survived before me.  My reality was somewhat more complicated.

My long-suffering father spent many hours with me in his 1967 Ford pickup driving around town.  Between parallel parking that old beast with no power steering and learning to start a manual transmission on a steep hill, my experience was tedious and painful.

One of dad's favorite comments was, "Son, you are a remarkable driver.  
A lesser driver would've missed one or two of those potholes."
It was his attempt at survival humor as he watched me knocking his tires out of round and the front end out of alignment.

It pleased my father a great deal when I discovered that it was ok not to rub the tires up against every curb I parked next to.  All that time I thought sidewalks were markers to advise on how far off the travelled roadway I needed to park.

Some of us have a natural ability to do everything the hard way.

It reminds me of the 1st Rocky movie where the coach told Rocky that it was ok not to block every punch with his face.

As I got older, I realized how wise my father was and how many walls I could avoid running into if I listened to his advice.

"With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall."
2 Samuel 22:30

Our spiritual-takeaway is simply this:
"With God's help,
we can move over unsurpassable walls
that have repeatedly beaten us in the past."

So what is the difference?

The difference is between doing life on my own terms
verses doing life on God's guidance and power.

I believe it comes down to
"WHO YOU OBEY????"

If you obey your own desires,
then God will allow you to walk alone in the dark.

However, if you obey God,
you will find that He will lead you safely
THROUGH the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

"When you go through deep waters,
    I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
    you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
    you will not be burned up;
    the flames will not consume you."
Isaiah 43:2

My question is this:
Are you getting tired of running into brick walls?

Are you ready to give God control?


 

A Spiritual Reboot

Congratulations ~ you survived Thanksgiving.

You are 1/3 of the way through “the silly season”. 

All you have left is Christmas & New Years. 

I just watched a news video of a WalMart in Georgia that showed a special “Black Friday” sale on “pay-as-you-go” iPhones.  The video showed hundreds of people ASSAULTING each other to get one of the phones.  I had to turn it off because I was on sermon-overload.  In that short news clip, I collected enough sermon illustrations to last 3 lifetimes. 

My wife and I went on a “date” yesterday (Black Friday) and dropped by Best Buy to check out the new laptops and were overwhelmed by the mass of aggressive shoppers. 

Silly me, all this time I thought the U.S. was in some sort of recession with a shortage of jobs and money.

So, I thought it would be healthy for us to take a moment for a REALITY CHECK. 

Do you remember the “old days” when there was a “RESET” button on the back of your VCR or digital equipment? 

When it “froze-up” ~ all you had to do with push the small red “RESET” button and the computer “rebooted”. 

Well, that is what this BLOG is, a “Spiritual Reboot”. 

During the “silly season”, there is a tendency to HURRY PAST GOD.

 Write this down somewhere because you will need it later: 

“As the speed of your life increases ~

the quality of your relationships decreases”. 

“Busyness” is the #1 killer of relationships. 

 

You see, priorities never conflict. 

If someone is important to you, you will make time for them. 

Your “spiritual take-away” today is a self-check”. 

Ask yourself this:                 

 “Are your relationships suffering because you are too busy?”

If so, “What are you going to do about it?” 

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.

Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!

There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” 

Luke 10:38-42 NLT

Remedial Prayer Class

Remedial Prayer Class

God enjoys spending uninterrupted time with His kids.

This requires us to stop with all the distractions and pay attention to what He has on His mind.  This is one of those concepts that sound a lot more fun than actually doing it.

Think about this, you have an appointment to spend 30 minutes with the most wise person that has ever lived.  You get to ask anything -- talk about anything -- get feedback on any topic.  So when you walk into the room and sit across the table from this amazing person -- you open your mouth and don't shut up until it is time to leave.  And you never -- not for a moment -- stop talking long enough for the other person to respond to any of your thoughts or questions.

Then to make this illustration more absurd, as you walk away, you shake your head in disgust because you didn't learn anything.  The whole experience was shallow and apparently ineffective.  

Welcome to most people's prayer life.

Have you ever babysat a 3 year old?  Jabber jabber jabber.  The word "Why?" is asked at least once in every breath of air and the words are so rapid-fire that you don't have an opportunity to respond.

Imagine how God feels.  The Creator of the universe -- sitting on His Great Throne, pleased that one of His children is coming into His presence to spend some time.  Then jabber jabber jabber.

For some reason, we have the idea that the Creator of the universe is in need of our advice on how to answer our prayers.  Does that sound absurd to anyone else?

"Our Heavenly Father, hallowed be Thy name.  Be with us today as we...." -- ask yourself this, is it possible for you to go somewhere that God can't find you?  Why do we ask God to be with us when He is everywhere, watching everything, at all times?

I'm on a roll so be patient with me.  How about our prayer where we name our requests -- then go into detailed instructions on how we want God Almighty to handle them.  Is there a chance that He knows more about answering prayer than we do?

OK - relax - I am done being sarcastic.

So exactly what does God want from you in your prayers?

Tell me this.  What exactly do you want in a conversation with your wife / husband tonight?

Honesty?
Humility?
Humor?
Expressing concerns?
Expressing doubts?
Expressing affection?
Expressing appreciation?
Thoughts about pain?
Thoughts about issues?
Thoughts about suffering?
Thoughts about relationships?

I could go on but for the most part, I hope I have nudged your thinking toward a healthier conversation with the good Lord.

And finally, it is ok to stop talking and listen for His influence.  God's Spirit will nudge you in a direction, lay something on your heart, move your thoughts toward Truth, point out something that needs corrected....

Your "spiritual-takeaway" is.... slow down and enjoy your time in God's presence today.  Don't be in a hurry.  Ask yourself, "What do I know about God?"

I have a challenge for you:
Pray for 10 minutes -- share your honest thoughts with God -- and don't ask for anything.  Simply share your thoughts and -- don't forget to thank Him for whatever God's Spirit brings to your mind.  Go slow.... relax

"Be still and know that I am God"
Psalm 46:10

U.S. Army Experience

My experiences in the U.S. Army boot camp were ~ oddly enough ~ amusing.  For instance, they spent 26 weeks trying to teach us how to march.  Their reasoning was “organized troop movements” ~ which is different from the “gaggle straggle” that most of us were more comfortable with. 

Anyway, one day they decided to give the command, “ABOUT FACE” ~ which in theory means that the whole platoon would be marching one direction and then in perfect unison, pivot together in a 180 degree movement and continue marching in perfect unison in the opposite direction without missing a step.

If YouTube would’ve been invented back in my boot camp days, they would have had a video gone viral with the “ABOUT FACE” command.  If they gave the command to commence with the “Hokey Pokey”, it wouldn’t have come off any more discombobulated. 

After calling for medics and emergency chopper evacs for the wounded, the Drill Sergeants never attempted that dangerous maneuver with the likes of my company. 

So in light of that fiasco, the Drill Sergeants invented a new marching command, just for us, “MARK TIME”.  Which simply meant that we were to (hopefully in unison) pick our feet up and set them down without going anywhere (or inflicting injury on our self or anyone else). 

Finally a military command that we were able to master.  If there was a competition for “MARK TIME” marching, we would’ve easily taken 3^rd or 4^th place. 

I am quite sure our Drill Sergeants were impressed with our “MARK TIME” skills because they would have us spend all day (and most of the night) in the company parking lot, refining our “MARK TIME” skills. 

We looked like a real army.  We had the commands of a real army.  But when it came to marching, we were seriously lacking.

How many people claim to be Christians ~ dress like Christians ~ talk like Christians ~ and for all appearances, seem to be “followers of Jesus Christ” but when you look below the surface, the findings are disturbing. 

Our spiritual-takeaway from this is quite simple:  “Are you the real deal when it comes to God or are you simply living a “MARK TIME” experience? "

Often people like the comfort and security that comes with being a “Christian” and stick their toes in the water but never go any further. 

Will you decide to allow God the authority to change your life? 

Will you decide to allow God’s Word the authority to change your life? 

Will you decide to allow God the authority to change your life patterns? 

Will you decide to allow God the authority to change your life goals?

Will you decide to allow God the authority to change your desires? 

“I am certain that God,

who began the good work within you,
will continue his work
until it is finally finished on the day
when Christ Jesus returns.” 
Philippians 1:6

“so, dear brothers and sisters,

I plead with you to give your bodies to God
because of all he has done for you.
Let them be a living and holy sacrifice
—the kind he will find acceptable.
This is truly the way to worship him.
 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you
into a new person by changing the way you think.
Then you will learn to know God’s will for you,
which is good and pleasing and perfect.” 
Romans 12:1-2

Remarkable Gratitude

It is easy to take common things in our life ~ for granted.

For instance, I live a rocks throw from the Columbia River. I see it every day and drive across it numerous times throughout the week.  For the most part, my mind is distracted and I seldom slow down to admire the majesty of this breathtakingly beautiful gift that God has flowing through our backyard. 

I have friends that save all their vacation time and money to drive up to our neck of the woods and camp along the Columbia River. 

Their dream is to retire and move to a small wooded area along the Columbia River so they can admire the beauty of this God blessed area. 

I find myself wondering how long they would live here, before they too buckle into a schedule and neglect to “slow down and smell the roses”? 

Would it be a matter of weeks or months before they zipped across Barney’s Bridge without giving a glance at the majestic river flowing beneath? 

This week, a recently widowed lady in our church, told me she needed help raking the leaves in her yard.  I never even batted an eye, I simply commented, “I have a friend that would be more than happy to help”. 

 

Nothing like volunteering people without asking for their input. 

 

I simply shot my friend a text and explained what was needed and forgot the matter.  Within 24 hours, my friend and his family had all the leaves raked and was a wonderful blessing to this dear lady grieving over the loss of her husband.

Today I was reflecting over the wonderful Christian spirit my friend and his family demonstrated this week and was overcome with gratitude. 

I am surrounded by such a large number of people that daily live the love of Christ ~ that I begin to take it for granted because it is so common. 

What a remarkable blessing. 

“I have not stopped giving thanks for you,

remembering you in my prayers”  
Ephesians 1:16  

One of my FAVORITE Poems

"What God Hath Promised"

By Annie Johnson Flint

 God has not promised

skies always blue,
Flower strewn pathways
all our lives through;
God has not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

God has not promised

we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He has not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.

God has not promised

smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain rocky and steep,
Never a river turbid and deep.

But God has promised

strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
 

 

God's Book

THE PERSON OF THE BOOK

GENESIS: Promised Seed

EXODUS: Passover Lamb

LEVITICUS: Scapegoat

NUMBERS: Brazen Serpent

DEUTERONOMY: Great Lawgiver

JOSHUA: Prophet, Priest and King

JUDGES: Judge of All the Universe

RUTH: Kinsman Redeemer

SAMUEL: Anointer of Kings

KINGS: King of Kings & Lord of Lords

CHRONICLES: Great Historian

EZRA: Rebuilder of the Temple

NEHEMIAH: Rebuilder of the Wall

ESTHER: Saviour of the Jews

JOB: Friend that Sticketh Closer than a Brother

PSALMS: Song of the Ages

PROVERBS: Truth

ECCLESIASTES: Great Preacher

SONG OF SOLOMON: Wonderful Lover

ISAIAH: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and The

Prince of Peace

JEREMIAH: Weeping Prophet

LAMENTATIONS: Street Preacher

EZEKIEL: Rebuilder of the Kingdom Temple

DANIEL: Stone Cut Out Without Hands That Will Someday Come Back to

Earth and Establish a Kingdom as Supreme Ruler and King

HOSEA: Forgiving Lover

JOEL-MALACHI: One Coming in Bethlehem Judea

 

MATTHEW: King of Kings

MARK: Suffering Servant

LUKE: Son of Man

JOHN: Son of God

ACTS: Power of the Church

ROMANS: Dynamite of the Gospel

CORINTHIANS: Restorer of the Carnal Nature

GALATIANS: Rent Veil and Overcomer of the Schoolmaster

EPHESIANS: Heavenly One

PHILIPPIANS: Our Sufficiency

COLOSSIANS: The Shadow

THESSALONIANS: The Great Coming Christ

TIMOTHY: Our Great Appearing God

TITUS: Blessed Hope

PHILEMON: Great Master

HEBREWS: Best of All

JAMES: Fulfiller of the Law

PETER: Rock of Ages Cleft For Me, Let Me Hide Myself in Thee

JOHN: Assurance of our Salvation

JUDE: One Able to Keep Us From Falling and Present Us Faultless

Before Christ in Glory

REVELATION: One Saddled on a White Horse Coming Back to Set Up His

Kingdom

HE’S THE PERSON OF THE BOOK!!

Squirrel

You know the old story about a puppy working hard to dig a hole in the back yard, except every time a squirrel would run by, he would become so distracted by the squirrel that he would forget about digging the hole and go chasing the squirrel. 

Well, that story describes me very well this week.  About every 2 minutes my brain screams, “SQUIRREL” and I am off on a wild goose chase. 

“There is nothing so useless ~ as doing efficiently ~ that which should not be done at all”.  (author unknown)

This Sunday’s sermon topic is difficult.  I call it, “preaching in the deep end of the pool”.  After I get done, no one is moved to slap me on the back and congratulate me on inspiring them.  Face it, some of the messages in God’s Word are like a hunk of jerky that requires some chewing.  Some Sunday’s the sermon seems more like a McDonald’s apple pie that everyone loves and demands more of. 

When I preach sermons or teach Bible studies, I usually teach verse by verse through a book in the Bible.  This method insures that I don’t skip around and only teach things that people like to hear and I like to talk about.  In college, my professor called favorite topics, “sugar stick sermons”. 

The downside of teaching verse by verse is, often it leads to muddy waters that are either politically incorrect or simply downright confusing.  Which obviously makes my task more challenging.    

This Sunday’s sermon is a topic that tends to be misunderstood and unpopular.  I spent all week trying to work on this tough sermon topic. 
However, it is remarkable how many things there are to work on besides what I am supposed to be working on.  A good illustration is the fact that I am writing this blog about finding other things to do than what I am supposed to be doing ~ writing Sunday's sermon.    

Have you ever had a very uncomfortable task staring you in the face that just refused to go away? 

Often I suspect we work harder to avoid the task than if we simply sat down and worked the problem. 

The most difficult part of this sermon is moving people past their cultural conditioning ~ their presuppositions.  Opening their minds and hearts past what “world” says is fact and moving them toward what God wants them to believe. 

((( sigh )))

I know, I know, I need to get back to working on my sermon for tomorrow. 

SQUIRREL…..

My Spiritual Perspective….

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people”  Colossians 3:23