Get Lost!

I hate being lost. Hate. It. There are few things more stressful to me than not knowing exactly where I'm going. I'm not even particularly comfortable with guessing.

It's a control thing.

It's true in general, and it's true in my life as well. I've never been somebody who always needs to have a plan, but I've always had the need to be in control. Even if I didn't know where I was headed, I had to know where I was. There's a difference, you see, in knowing where you are and actually having a destination. For me, the destination was never as important as simply knowing my location.

Yet, as I seek to follow God's Will, I find I sometimes don't even know that much. And I'll be honest: it's unsettling. This has been what might be called a "growth area" for me, as I learn and grow in Christ. Giving in. Giving up control. Recognizing that, even when I don't know where I am or where I'm going, He does.

Have you ever followed a friend to a destination, because you weren't familiar with the area? I still do that. Having lived here for over a year, I still don't always recognize where I am... and certainly have no idea how to get wherever it is we're going. So, I wind up following somebody. If you've been in this situation, you also know that knot of panic that settles in your stomach if, Heaven forbid, they go under a yellow light, stranding you at the red.

This is what it feels like to step outside of God's will. Speaking from the experience of years of wandering around lost, you find you lose that need to have control as soon as you hear His voice say, "Here I am."

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
³ He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell^[a] in the house of the Lord

(For more on this topic, see my earlier 2-part post, Where To, God? Part 1 ... Part 2)

Repost: "Sweet Merciful Heaven, It's Only Wednesday!" -- And Other First-World Problems

(originally posted 9/26/12)

I didn't sleep well at all last night. Nothing in particular,  just for some reason, my body wanted its requisite seven hours, and my brain wouldn't get on board with the idea. I left my cell phone -- which doubles as my alarm clock -- at work last night, which meant I had to crawl my way out of bed to hit the snooze button on the actual alarm clock. Of course, the new cups for our single cup coffee maker haven't arrived in the mail just yet, so I had to wait until I got to work to brew and enjoy my first cup of coffee. Brushed my teeth before leaving and found a little "pink in the sink" as they say,  and thought, "Man, when I actually find a dentist, I'm gonna get yelled at about my flossing habits."

But, somewhere between tiptoeing through the room to avoid waking my wife and stumbling around to find where ever it was my kids put my shoes, I realized... I have it pretty darn good.

There are people on this planet who have never even experienced bad coffee -- let alone the sweet, smokey aroma of a well-crafted morning blend. There are people in this very country -- in my own neighborhood -- who would happily do anything for a job. I make a living doing what I love. I worry about gingivitis while there are people across the globe who have lost teeth and even lives because they simply don't have enough water for dental hygiene. I have a beautiful family that loves me, while some children will never know their fathers.

Yet how often, in my complaining, do I actually take stock of all the ways I've been blessed and tell God, "thank You?"

Remember Paul's final instructions in 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18: " Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

And remember, too, that those circumstances the early church faced were not nearly so cushy as those faced by you and I on a day to day basis.  

And maybe, in learning how to be grateful for the things we've been given, we can remember also that the point of blessings is often to bless others with them. There is a hurting world out there, and we, after all, have a pretty good life.

Love Note Day: It's The Little Things (Repost)

Today is Love Note Day. So with that in mind, this is a repost from October 23, 2012 - a reminder of the little ways God says, "I love you."

It's The Little Things

Consider this: when you are in a relationship, what means more to you? Is it the occasional grand gesture of outward love; or is it the many little things that person does for you? Is it the big dinner on your wedding anniversary, or the notes left in your lunch sack, the text messages or emails just to say "hi," or the simple act of picking up the kitchen?

When it comes to God, we often look to the Grand Gestures as proof of His love: The crucifixion of Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, the blessings of our families.

Yet,  His sacrifice and forgiveness aren't the sum total of His relationship with us. In fact, those things were necessary to begin the relationship. I have found, as I grow in this relationship with my Creator and Savior, that He also shows me He loves me in countless small ways. Little blessings. I'm beginning to learn that growing in this relationship means recognizing those small blessings for what they are, and thanking Him for them.

Sometimes,  it's a good cup of coffee at just the right time (I often joke about this, but think about it: who made the coffee bean, the water; who gave me the ability to afford a coffee maker?). Or He shows me a sunrise when I need to be reminded of His glory. Sometimes, it's the laughter of my children when I need to remember just how blessed I really am. God knows what I need, and when I need it. He knows how to tell me He loves me when I most need to hear it.

All of this leaves me asking two questions of myself: am I thanking Him for all those little ways He says He loves me? And how am I telling Him in return?

What's In Your Backpack?

Fairly recently, there was a big issue regarding the amount of stuff in the average student's backpack. Enough, experts worried, that the load could potentially cause serious injury. Book after book of Important Material, different binders for every class, and Heaven help them if they played sports and brought their own lunches!

Carting around 30-40 lbs of Education isn't just painful; it's actually harmful.

Life gets like that, student or not. By now it's a well-known fact that stress can contribute to early death. A recent study even suggests those with elevated stress are 50% more likely to die early. Yet we all carry it on our backs. The cares of this world. The burden of sin. Whether you realize it or not, the guilt of a life lived without God. All of this is shoved into our proverbial backpacks and carried around all day. If you're walking around, there it is -- all your care, all your worry, all your guilt and pain -- strapped to your back. This isn't a new problem: it's as old as sin.

And that's exactly why Jesus offered an alternative. It turns out, all that stuff you're carrying on your back? You can trade it in.

 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

When you hand your stress-filled pack over to Christ, He will, with your permission, empty it of all that excessive junk. He will fill it instead with Love and Grace, and shoulder your own weight for you. Life doesn't have to be heavy. It doesn't have to be a burden. All of that can be lifted from you, the weight removed from your shoulders. And, standing straight for the first time, you can know what Christ meant by a life abundant.

Get Ready

Pre-, post-, or amillennial ... when it comes to the end of days, what we don't know -- or at least what we don't agree on -- could probably fill more books than the entire Left Behind series. Including spin-offs.

But, and this is important, I don't think God requires that we all agree on exactly how He's going to accomplish his Ultimate Will. He's going to do what He's going to do, regardless of how you, I, or anyone thinks it's going to happen. More vital is that we are now and always ready for Him to move, however He's going to do it.

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 

“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (Matthew 25:1-13)

Are you ready? Are you loving as He has loved? Are you going into the world and teaching His gospel, telling everyone of His great love and mercy? Are you prayerfully going about your day, in communication with the Father? Are you living your life in such a way that God is, even now, pleased with what you do with what He has given you? 

Get ready. Get right. And then, get to work. When He returns, however He does so, whenever He does so, it will be a glory the likes of which you and I have never even imagined. So be watchful, and be ready. You won't want to miss it!

Love, and that whole "submission" thing

Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:24-27)

I don't know how many people really use this passage as a guide in their marriages. What I do know is that a whole lot of people who claim to are only using half of it, and usually not correctly. So, a quick word on that: submission and servitude aren't the same thing. Not remotely. 

But speaking of service, let's look at that pesky, mostly ignored portion: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her..." 

Very often, we ignore this entire section of Scripture because it makes us uncomfortable. But when we really look at it, we can see a beautiful, wonderful prescription for a loving household. Christ didn't come to dominate the church. He came to humble Himself, to serve her, to die for her, to lead her in the ways of God, and back, ultimately, to the arms of the Father. 

You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (-Jesus, Matthew 20:25-28)

This is what Holy Love looks like. It is a sacrificial, desperate love. It is the kind of love that makes a man willing to die for his wife. The kind of love that weeps with her, that rejoices with her, that wants only the best for her.  

Imagine how marriage would look if men would truly love their wives as Christ loved the church!

Your Best Life Now!

Fact: God never promised us an easy life. He never promised us earthly prosperity or good health or even
happiness. At least, not in this world, as it is now.

A whole lot of Christians are looking for God to provide for them an enriched earthly existence, free from the burden of debt. In excellent health, with a perfect family and 2.5 kids and maybe a dog. A whole lot of Christians believe they can have all their materialist dreams come true, and all they have to do is think positive. Think -- no, believe -- prosperity into existence, and God will come out of His lamp, nod His head, and grant your wishes. After all, Jesus came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly, right?

Okay, sure. But I fear there may be some confusion here. Life doesn't mean prosperity. Abundance doesn't mean prosperity. An abundant life is one lived in Christ. An abundant life is a life lived in service to the Creator. Not a life of health, wealth, and happiness.

Just ask the Disciples. They moved around place to place, gave up everything to follow Christ and survived on the good will of fellow believers. All but two were ultimately martyred.

Or, go straight to the source and see what Jesus had to say. Sure, He said something about "abundant life." But He also said, "Blessed are those who mourn --" because there will be mourning -- "for they shall be comforted." 

He said, "blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake --" persecution! That doesn't sound an awful lot like health and wealth -- "for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

Paul talked about his health and wealth thanks to following Christ: 

From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? (2 Corinthians 11:24-29)

Man. Talk about your "Best Life Now." 

... maybe he just didn't have enough faith...  

But praise God, because our reward is Heaven. Our reward is a life full of Christ and His great love and mercy. Our reward is an eternity by the side of our creator. I'll take that over The Eternal Genie any day.  

Never Forget... But Remember...

September 11, 2001. It's been twelve years since the tragedy of 9/11 occurred, but it remains etched in our
collective memories, a date that lives in infamy in the hearts and minds of my countrymen. A date that means much to us, but even more to the families of those whose lives were cut brutally short by the zealotry of fanatics.

"Never forget." The admonition is plastered on posters, on t-shirts, and online. Never forget what happened. Never forget what we lost. As a nation that has been in war or on the brink of one ever since those events, indeed "forgetting" is nearly impossible. But the call remains: never forget. Never forget the men and women who died simply for showing up to work that day, or just for being on the wrong plane. Never forget the religious fanaticism which fuels the sort of hatred that allows a man to murder thousands of people he's never met, even when it means dying in the process.

Never forget the horror of it, lest we be tempted to our own self-righteous wrath.

But in the midst of remembering national tragedy, in the seeming flood of awful event and awful event that seems to occupy the headlines, remember, too, that there is hope.

I will never forget this awful time,
    as I grieve over my loss.
Yet I still dare to hope
    when I remember this:

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease.

Great is his faithfulness;
    his mercies begin afresh each morning.
(Lamentations 3:20-23)

That Man has made a mess of things is the understatement of eternity... but the God of all Creation loves us with an unending love. He shows us a mercy that never fails. The world around us broils in wrath and war and godlessness. But in Him, we find peace. 

The words of Christ, in Matthew 11:28-29

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

In The Beginning

In the beginning, God...

For me, these are four of the most important words in all of Scripture -- indeed, in all of language. Some of the great philosophical questions of man are answered in this single phrase.

In this one phrase, we learn God is eternal. At the beginning of time -- at least by our reckoning -- God already was. We learn where we came from. If God was, in the beginning, we know that everything that came after must have been made by Him. And indeed, the rest of Genesis 1 and 2 bear that out. We get the sense of our place. We are not the center of the Universe; He is.

He is the Will that set the Universe in motion; the Force that keeps it together. He is the Hand that guides it, the Eye that watches over it, the Lungs that give it life.

He exists outside the universe, and outside Time, voiced in Jesus words: Before Abraham was, I Am! (John 8:58)

In the beginning, God created...

There was no beginning before God acted to make it so. When God created, there was the beginning. Not before.

God is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End.  He is before Time and after. Before the Universe and After. Greater than the plans and wars of nations; greater than the motions of planets and suns. He is the Creator... but He is so much more.

So when you hear the words, "God loves you, and has a wonderful plan for your life," I want you to understand exactly what that means.

Of Presidents, Bears, and Failing To Do The Wrong Thing

Today is Teddy Bear Day. Most people have heard the story of how the Teddy Bear came to be. It started in 1902, when, after a frustrating hunting experience, President Teddy Roosevelt was presented with a baby bear. Mr. Roosevelt, the presenter suggested, might like to shoot this bear so at least they wouldn't go home empty-handed. The president of course refused, and the incident was portrayed in a newspaper cartoon. A toy maker picked up on the idea, and the rest is history.

Originally, I was going to use today to illustrate something about mercy. Instead, I'd like to point out how badly we need it. See, Roosevelt isn't remembered in this incident for showing mercy to this baby bear. Not really. Rather, he's the hero of this tale simply for refusing to do something horrible.

Think about it. This small bear cub hadn't done anything to the hunting party. It hadn't even grown into a mature adult. Whether or not you agree with hunting as a sport, I think anyone with a heart pretty much understands why shooting the cub would've been a rotten thing to do. This isn't mercy; it's humanity. That the incident was commemorated tells us something about ourselves, I think.

We, the human race, tends to see simple kindness as something extraordinary. We have this idea that we deserve to be rewarded somehow for not taking part in doing the wrong thing, or because we managed, somehow, to do what's right.

I'll never forget the day when, as a substitute teacher, I was asked by my students about drug use. Actually, I believe the direct quote was, "I bet you did a lot of drugs in college, huh?" He really wanted to know. So I told him: no. Not even once. I've never been drunk, and I've never even experimented with drugs. The students were incredulous. How did I manage that? How did I get through college and not do drugs? It's just sort of taken for granted that, at a certain age, you're expected to do the wrong thing, and anyone who fails to do the wrong thing is either a hero or pariah. I'm honestly not sure, to this day, how they viewed me.

But what all this tells me is simply this: we need a savior. All of us. It's so easy to do the wrong thing. Doing the right thing, even if, in hindsight it was as simple as just making a decision, can seem like an insurmountable challenge at the time. The truth about human nature is that defaulting to the wrong choice is ingrained in all of us. And that's why I need God. That's why Jesus came. Because even though we all do it right now and then, even though anyone can (theoretically) avoid the bad and embrace the good, much of the time, we simply don't.

My prayer this morning is that God help each of us to stop looking for the pat on the back every time we do the right thing. That He help us instead see our need for Him. That He forgive us our depravity which causes even simple acts of kindness to seem extraordinary, and that we look to Him as the perfect example of how to live a truly good life.

Don't Wait!

I mentioned yesterday how much I hate being late. At odds with this is the fact that I'm also a champion procrastinator. Back in high school, I used the "I work better under pressure" line like I invented it myself. Possibly, there's even a little truth to that. But whatever the case, I tend to wait on a lot of things until the last minute.

This was true for homework, and is still true for housework, for various aspects of my day job, and even for my home life. But worse than that, it's also true when it comes to sharing the Good News of Christ with other people.

Consider: we believe Man is fallen, and can never attain the perfection required by the God who created us. We can never be good enough to even enter His presence. Our lot is an eternal death, wholly separate from the God of the Universe. Yet, by his painful execution on the cross, Jesus, the Son of God, who wrapped Himself in flesh, made it possible to stand before God completely justified and unashamed. He took that imperfection and provided us a way to become something new and better in Him. And in so doing, He restored our relationship with the Father who never wanted us to walk away. This is the Gospel, and it's for everybody. But we wait.

Penn Jillette is an illusionist and avowed atheist. A few years ago, a man risked mockery and humiliation by presenting Penn with a Bible. While it didn't change his mind and force him to his knees to beg forgiveness of the God he has denied, a seed was planted. A powerful one. So powerful, Penn took to the internet just to tell everyone about the experience. And then Penn Jillette said something so profound, it has shamed me, and humbled me, and stuck with me ever since.

If you believe that there’s a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward—and atheists who think people shouldn’t proselytize and who say just leave me alone and keep your religion to yourself—how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?

I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.

So what are you waiting for? We are given one life, and an unknown amount of time. We were given Grace and forgiveness by Christ, and a command to let everyone know they can have it too. If we continue to put off our daily chores, if we continue to insist we can work on that project better under pressure, in this one thing, let us stop procrastinating. Because when it comes to the lives and souls of others, we simply don't have that right. 

Be Late For Something

I hate being late. Always have. Generally, I'm a pretty laid-back person, not really given to stressing out. But
if I'm running behind, and it looks like I may arrive after my intended time, watch out! I get stressed. I get mad. I start rushing myself and others, and basically making life unpleasant until we finally get where we're going.

See, before I had kids, this really wasn't a problem. My wife and I both happen to be naturally punctual people, and both of us enjoy getting where we're going on time, or even early. So we always were. That simple. Now it's been nearly nine years since my first born came into this world, and we still can't figure out how to get everyone out of the house in time to get where we're going without stress, fights, and headaches.

Slowly, though -- oh, so slowly -- I'm learning instead something far more valuable. I'm learning that, in all that rushing around, in all that "hurry up hurry up hurry up," I'm denying myself the pure joy of simply experiencing my family. And, perhaps worse, I'm replacing their future memory of their Dear Old Dad with this worn, stressed, always rushing madman where once a laid-back, fun-loving guy used to be.

There are things worth being late for.

Just like I've missed out on chances to really enjoy time with my children here and there, I'm also guilty, I'm afraid, of missing out on time with God. How often is my time with Him cut short -- or even cut out -- because of somewhere I have to be, or something I have to do?

But I'm reminded, even Jesus made time with the Father a priority.

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

This wasn't a one-time thing with Him. He made time for the Father. Didn't worry about being late to this or that, or not having time to do anything else. He knew that, once that first priority -- time with God -- was attended to, the rest would fall into place.

That's the great thing about priorities, when you think about it. When we put First Things first, the rest works itself out. And even better, when that first priority is God, we allow Him access to the rest of our day, to fill with blessings we may otherwise have missed.

So go ahead: be late for something. Take a little extra time to kiss your spouse and kids. Take some extra time to spend with the Father. The rest of your day will be far better for it. 

Hey, you. With the bomb strapped to your chest. I love you.

We read it so often, I'm afraid it's gotten too easy to fail to recognize the power of the scene. To misunderstand the significance of a man forgiving his murderers, even while he is being murdered. And yet, that's exactly the scene set before us in Luke 23.

And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. (vs 33-34)

Right here, in this act of Divine forgiveness, is where we learn two very important things about Jesus Christ. First, that He really did come to create a path between us and God; that He was so focused on that cause and mission He was not only willing to die for it, but still loved those who killed Him over it. Second, we learn He has not commanded anything of us that He was unwilling to do. 

Early in His ministry, Jesus gave a sermon. This sermon not only detailed what He expected of each of us, but told us how we would accomplish it: because it set the tone for His entire ministry. 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?  Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

We will have enemies. This is a fact of life. There are people on this planet who hate you only because of where you happen to live, the nationality you happen to have grown up in. They may not even know you, but they hate you. And there are people who hate you personally. We are faced daily with a choice: do we hate them back? Or do we love them?

And I don't mean just saying the words. It becomes all too easy to say you love your enemies. But to actively love. 

Looking at my own life, I wonder how often I pray for Al Qaeda. Not just the organization, but for the extremists, the hate-filled individuals who make up the organization. How many times have I asked God to quiet their hearts, and fill them with an understanding of His Grace? 

How often do I argue with or mock the misguided children of Westboro Baptist (the infamous funeral protestors), rather than pray for them to know and understand the love of Christ? 

When it comes to those with whom I strongly disagree politically or religiously, do I spend more time formulating an argument, rolling my eyes, and wishing they'd just shut up... or praying that they spend each day fervently seeking God; praying that He be with them in their troubles, and for the health of their families?

When it comes to those who hate and hurt me, the question is, do I hate back? Or do I love, as Jesus loves, enough to forgive?

Happy Willing To Lend A Hand Day

Possibly the most important lesson I'm having trouble teaching my children is the importance of helping. We don't help because it's our job to help. We don't help only when we get something out of it, or because we're simply cleaning up after ourselves (although this last would be great if done more often, too!). Maybe one of the reasons it's so important to me that my kids learn this lesson is that I've met adults who seem to have not learned it.

You know some of those people: they're the men who watch football while their wives fold laundry, do dishes, make supper, and carry in the groceries. They're the people who see a person in need standing on the street corner and cluck their tongues in disgust. They're the people who leave a church because they aren't "being fed," even though they've done nothing themselves to feed others. They're the ones who complain the loudest about whatever problems are happening in church, but have yet to hold a paintbrush, or work with the children, or make themselves available to assist on any level beyond that which they might consider their personal "ministry," assuming they even have one.

But as always, we needn't look to other people to provide an example of selfless, helpful love. We can look to God. If you want to see love in action, picture Jesus: exhausted, emotionally and even spiritually drained. He's been preaching. He's been calling disciples. He's been healing. And we know from Mark 5 that when He heals, he can feel the power flowing out from Himself (verse 30). And yet, called to the bedside of a dead girl, He will still summon the strength to command her to awaken.

When He left this earth physically, He sent His spirit -- who He named "Helper" (John 14:26) to aid us. Think of it! The God of the Universe -- the God who made Himself flesh and allowed himself to be crucified, to take upon Himself the punishment designed for us, in retribution of our sins -- would continue to help us, even now!

We're a needy people. Thank God we have a Loving Helper.

Nothing More Than Peelings

I like bananas. I mean, I like fruit in general. But I like bananas. The thing about bananas is, they're nutritious.
They taste good. And they're so versatile. You can eat them plain, cut them into your Cheerios, put them in grilled peanut butter sandwiches, bake them into bread... you get the idea. Hundreds of ways to enjoy the deliciousness that is the banana.

But you have to peel it first.

(Now, before the Whole Foods movement launches an attack, yes, you can eat the peel. But I'm talking about the fruit itself.)

To get the best use out of the banana, you have to remove the tough, bitter outer layer. Only then can you get to the wonderful, versatile fruit I've described.

Humans often have a similar shell. A peel, if you will. Created by circumstance: hurts, betrayals, fears -- these peels protect our soft, squishy reality from the harsh world outside. Like the banana peel, this outer layer is tough. It's bitter. And it renders us mostly useless.

The truth is, you can't be the most you -- you can't be everything you could be -- as long as you stay inside your peel. Until you expose the real you, until you offer up yourself -- including the soft, squishy fruit in the middle  -- for God's use, all you can be is an unpeeled banana. The peel is there to help you ripen... but stay inside and you simply rot, no good to anyone.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

 If you want to love authentically, and to be loved authentically, you have to get beyond the outer layer, expose the true You, and look for it in others. Just be gentle: we bananas bruise easily. 

Christians and Sponge Cake

I love sponge cake. Well, I love all cake. But I do like sponge cake a lot. One of the things I like most is how it absorbs the flavor of whatever you put on it, making it something entirely new. Strawberries, for example. Make a strawberry shortcake, with a nice strawberry sauce and whipped cream, and watch as your sponge cake turns red as it soaks in all that flavor.

Man. Now I want strawberry sponge cake.

But there's a point to this. Just as a sponge cake absorbs that flavor and becomes a new treat (and let's face it... as delicious as it is alone, it is a bit plain), people too absorb what's around them. We soak in the flavor of those with whom we surround ourselves. We begin to reflect the culture around us.

Maybe that's why Proverbs 13:20 says "He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed."

We are not unchanged, unaffected, by the people around us. We are changed, for the better or worse. This is doubly so when it comes to our spiritual lives. A life touched by Christ cannot be unchanged; we must allow ourselves to soak in His influence through the Spirit, being renewed and changed into something new.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)

How are you flavoring your life? With the love and fellowship of fellow believers, learning and growing in Christ? With the renewal of your mind by the movement of the Spirit of God within you? Or by the foolish ways of this world?

A Life Worth Having Lived

My wife likes to giggle at my gray hairs. Particularly because those random grays seem, for some reason, to grow so much faster than the rest of my hair. This is especially true of my beard, where I've simply stopped pulling them out, because when I do, they simply come back and bring friends. I used to tell my kids I had named each of my gray hairs after one of them, except, now that I have more grays than children, that, too, is a losing battle.

As I've grown older (though I am still reasonably young), I've learned quite a bit about life -- at least, I like to think I have -- and about growing older. I've learned that aging isn't by itself a noble thing. Everyone ages: good or evil, wise or foolish. Where I once believed the old saw that "wisdom comes with age," I now understand that foolishness knows no expiration date.

Proverbs 16:31 says,

The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness.

As a kid, I was made to understand the first part of this statement. Most of us were. "Respect your elders," we were told. But, as we read on, we see that age itself is not an indicator of worth or worthiness. Age is an indicator of the time we've spent on this planet. The value of our lives lies in what we've done with that time. If we have pursued God, and the Way of His Will, we have lived a life worth living. We have not wasted our days and years. We have made the most of what He has given us. If we have done that, we have earned those gray hairs in the best possible way, and they reflect the glory of a life well lived. 

I believe this is what Paul meant as he wrote to Timothy and reflected on the end of his own life. 

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

A life given to God is a life worth living. And a life worth having lived.  

Who's Flying This Thing?!

Have you ever seen a license plate that says, "God is my co-pilot?" While I get the sentiment, I've always been a touch dismayed by the implications. When you fly, the Captain, the guy in charge, is the Pilot. This is the person whose job it is to get you safely from Point A to Point B. This is the person who tells the passengers to buckle up (or instructs the flight crew to do so), because it's about to get bumpy.

If God is your co-pilot, you're in the wrong chair.

The co-pilot is a backup. There in case of emergencies. Or if the pilot has to make an unscheduled pit-stop. And very often, that's exactly how we treat Him. As long as things are going well, we might not even talk to Him. Or if we do, it's a quick "please" do this or "forgive me for" that. Then things get rocky, and we consider switching the controls over, but always ready to take it back in case God gets it wrong.

You know, the more I think about it, "God is my Co-pilot" may be one of the most faithless sentiments I've ever heard.

Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
    but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21

Fear, Roller Coasters, and Learning To Let Go

I love roller coasters. I spent a good chunk of my childhood afraid of heights, until my parents took us (my sister, brother, and I) to an amusement park. I made the determination, on that day, to find and ride as many tall rides as they had to offer. It worked! I started small and worked my way up, until I got over my fear of heights and became an avid fan of the rides. I visited that park and others, riding every new roller coaster they built. They built them taller, and I just got more excited to try 'em out.

I discovered, in a sense, that the answer to both my fear and my cure was found in faith. See, I'm not somebody who likes letting go. I don't like situations in which I'm not in control. I get carsick if I'm not driving. I've never even been tempted to drink to excess, or to even try drugs, because I find the very idea of losing control over myself abhorrent. My fear of heights was not a fear of heights; it was a fear of falling, and having no control over my descent.

My cure, ultimately, was a rational one. I knew the statistics on roller coaster-related deaths. I knew that, if I belted myself securely into one of those cars, I could rest in the knowledge that many had gone before me, many would come after me, and that, ultimately, the engineer knew what he was doing when he built it. For the few terrifying seconds of my first ride, I made the decision to put my faith in the engineer who built the roller coaster. And after not dying the first time, I learned there was joy to be found in letting go.

My journey of faith in God was similar. I learned to trust the One who created life, who designed this journey. I learned to trust the Engineer who designed the Universe. And I learned the joy to be found in letting go and just enjoying the ride.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. Psalm 37:5

If it wasn't for failure, I'd have nothing to be proud of

Failure is possibly humanity's greatest common denominator. We've all failed. We're all going to fail again. Failure is a part of life, and a vital key to success. Everyone from Michael Jordan to Thomas Edison has extolled the virtues of failing.

In the Disney film Meet The Robinsons, the Robinson family celebrates each failure, recognizing it as the next step to success. And this is all great, and there's a lot of truth to be learned from all this. But the joy in failure goes even deeper.

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - Emphasis mine. Obviously.)

I, like Paul, can celebrate failure because it is a reminder that I need God. I need God because I am too small to save myself. Because I am too broken to heal others on my own. Because I am too weak to serve Him in my own strength. 

And I rejoice in this need for Him, just as I rejoice in my need for my family. It is this need that brings us together and binds us. It is this need that becomes relationship, and love, and joy. Need is the basis for community itself, and because it is, it is a thing to be revered. I rejoice in failure, because in our weakness we find our need for one another, and recognize our need for a Savior.