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Perfect Peace

January 29, 2015 by areliablefaith

There is a term that occurs fairly frequently in the bible that bears deeper consideration – “Perfect Peace”. I read in Isaiah 25:3 today.  You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.  I don’t know about you, but there are times when chaos, stress, and difficulties bear down upon me and anything resembling peace – especially perfect peace, seems like a distant dream.

The past year has contained a number of extremely challenging events – unbelievable work stress, health issues, a heart procedure, job losses within the family – you get the picture.  When I think back it is interesting to note that there have been windows of light and peace throughout this time that were not related to external circumstances at all, but rather they were related to fixing my mind on the Lord and putting my trust in His eternal goodness and love.  In fact some of the most blessed and peace-filled periods have also been when the external situation was the most dire.

I recognize that this is because when things get so bad that I have no recourse, I turn fully to God for help.  You’d think I would learn to stay in a posture turned to Him, but I must admit, I am sometimes a slow learner.  Way too often I proceed with a “I’ve got it from here, Lord” attitude.  I recognize this for what it is – sin.  In my own self-sufficiency I stray from God’s calling upon my life to walk with Him.  Instead I often want to run ahead and do it my way.  As I write this I repent and turn to the gracious Lord and ask His forgiveness.  Because of Who He is and what He did on the cross, I can rejoice that He has forgiven me and I am empowered to walk with Him.

Because I have experienced the Lord’s perfect peace for periods and seasons in my life, I have identified a few primary keys to achieving this.  They are the tools He has given us to keep our minds steadfast on Him.

1) Read, study, mark, and obey the Word of God.  God has chosen to reveal Himself through the bible.  This is the chief means of understanding His will for us.  It is the instrument He gives us to weigh our thoughts and concerns against.  The writer of Hebrews under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gave us this admonition.  “For the Word of God is alive and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.

2) Become engaged in a local church.  We are made to be connected to one another in the body of faith.  In fact God has created us to be members of His family and that family is the Church.  We need to have persons we can emulate and learn from within the church as well as people we are peers and friends with.  As we mature we will also become mentors and coaches of others who are younger in their faith.  For this to be a tool the Lord uses there are two characteristics that must exist.  First it must be a church that is passionate about Jesus and sharing the gospel.  Second it must be bible-based.

3) Consistently talk with God.  While many people understand that this is prayer, I specifically use the term talk with God because my experience is He wants to have a conversation with us.  Granted His side of the conversation is not usually in spoken words, but the Creator of the Universe is able to communicate to us… through His creation, in gentle impressions in our heart, through an appropriately timed comment by another, through just the right reading at just the right time – God is able and wants to be engaged in our lives.

The bottom line, Our heavenly Father wants us to experience Perfect Peace.  And Perfect Peace comes from minds that are steadfast on Him.  My desire is to get to this place all the time.  The bible talks about the “mind of Christ”.  Jesus and the Father were connected.  Even though Jesus took on humanity and lived among us for a time, He never moved out of the place of Perfect Peace.  He lived in intimacy with the Father.  He invites us to do the same.  Join me in this endeavor, won’t you!

May God’s peace overwhelm and fill you today as you seek to maintain a mind that is steadfast on Him.

 

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A Life Well-Lived

January 27, 2015 by areliablefaith

 

 

 

I desire to live a “Life well-lived”.

I suspect that phrase will conjure different images to different people so let me give a quick picture of what I mean.  A life well-lived is one that fully hits the mark of why we were created and live on this earth.  It includes making the lives of those God places in our lives richer for knowing us.  It has as its heart beat a living, vibrant relationship with our Creator God, our Savior Jesus, and our Inspiration the Holy Spirit.  It will include minimal negative impact on others because of the things we say and do.  That is not because we live a perfect life (can’t be done unless you happen to be the Son of God and your name happens to be Jesus) but because we live a life of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation.  A life well-lived will be characterized by a high degree of peace even though it will likely have as many (or more) challenges and difficulties as anyone.  A life well-lived will be exemplified by intimacy with the Lord.

I guess it is important to note some of the things a life well-lived isn’t.  It is independent of worldly accolades and accomplishments.  It may include some, but it isn’t necessary.  It is not tied to worldly fame or the number of people who know your name.  A life well-lived is not one filled with tons of stuff, but rather one filled with quality relationships with the people who pass through our life.  It is possible to own a lot of stuff and still achieve the LIFE, but stuff is never the focus or priority of a life well-lived.

So periodically it is important to see how I am doing.  Admittedly it varies and I often have to make a course correction.  The past month has been one of those reflection times and a course correction is underway.  Basically it gets down to being intentional about setting and adhering to the priorities in my life.  Unfortunately I can get distracted and off-track too easily.  I relate very much to the dog in the movie UP that has a problem with squirrels.  (If you haven’t seen the movie I highly recommend it.  It speaks eloquently to this very topic.)

So I share with you now my Priorities as I step out of this period of reflection and into a renewed life.  Other than the first one they are not necessarily prioritized.

Become more intimate with my Lord and Savior – Jesus.  Beginning every day with quality time reading and studying the Word of God and talking to the Lord.  Jesus is real, present, and He wants to be involved in our lives in tangible ways.  Beginning the day when everything else is quiet and I can focus upon Him is the best for me.

Journal or blog.  I am not exactly sure why this is so important, but I have come to find that I am buoyed when I put a portion of my thoughts and discussions with the Lord down in print.  I hope and pray that the persons who read these are edified and drawn closer to the One Who loves them more than they can imagine.

Double down on love and understanding toward the persons God has put in my life.  This begins with our spouse if we are married.  Our children follow.  Extended family and friends.  I love my wife and I know she is the greatest gift the Lord has given to me besides himself, yet I often fail to show her the love and appreciation that she deserves.  As husbands we are called to love our wives as Christ loved the church, laying our lives down for them.  Check out Ephesians chapter 5:25-33.

Be more intentional about loving everyone who crosses my path.  It is easy to take for granted the person who serves your food at the restaurant, takes your money at the check-out counter at Walmart, or cuts in front of you on the highway.  Okay the person who cuts in front of you may not be taken for granted, but they definitely aren’t the object of kind and warm thoughts.  Turn those around to be opportunities to share from the well of love and blessings God has given to us.  A nice tip, a kind word of encouragement, a prayer uttered in faith are gifts of love that we can give.

Be more intentional about sharing the Good News of Jesus with people.  Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit is critical.  We’ve all met (or perhaps been) the person who wields the gospel more like a club than the precious gift it is.  “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:17.

Be actively engaged in the Body of Christ – the Church.  I see this manifested in two distinct ways.  Engaged in a local body of believers and within a small group.  I will probably expand upon this in the future.

Simplify and prioritize all the other things that demand and drain our time and energy.  Many of the chief priorities mentioned above can and should be practiced through our work and social interactions.  However I have had work and other activities move into the place of priority a number of times and the result has always been regretful.

Today is a new day.  I am making the decision to get back on track toward a life well-lived.  I realize mistakes I have made over the past few months and the lost focus.  I am ready to be the man God created me to be, to do the things He has called me to do, and live the life He has set before me to live.  Halleluiah! Halleluiah!  I am so thankful for forgiveness, fresh starts, and the opportunity to give my life to the Lord for Him to use a He sees fit.

Be blessed and be a blessing.

 

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Father of the Bride

May 19, 2013 by areliablefaith

I am soon to give my daughter away in marriage. Even as I write I feel a little of the turmoil Steve Martin portrayed in the movie “Father of the Bride”. I have no qualms whatsoever about the young man she is marrying.  Michael has proven himself to be fine young man… hard-working, polite, a good sense of humor, humble, honest, loving… all the things you hope and pray for your daughter.  He has treated Christin with the utmost respect and has already practiced the honoring and cherishing that all men are supposed to do toward their wives.

No, the thoughts that occupy my mind are not that Christin and Michael aren’t well suited for each other.  It is simply that one of the primary relationships in my life will undergo a major change… and change by definition contains huge elements of the unknown.  The moment I told Michael that he had my permission to marry Christin, I knew that things would never be the same in our family.

Now I am not in any way averse to change.  Change is an essential dynamic.  The only way to improve anything is to make changes.  I recognize that the quality of end results are greatly influenced by making the right changes at the right time in the right way.  Marriage is one of the most significant of life changes and, as I have seen in my family, it can be the greatest of experiences propelling us to a life of joy, faith, and love through any and all life circumstances.  For Michael and Christin I want to capture a few of the most important lessons I have learned over the years.  I pray these thoughts will be an encouragement for you as you begin your new life together.

Honesty in Love – Paul tells us that speaking the truth in love is one of the hallmarks of believers.  Honesty is a trust-building quality.  Love is a respect and relationship building quality.  Trust and respect are foundational to a healthy marriage.  The foundation is the first part of a building to be constructed.  It creates the stable footing that the building rests upon.  A poor foundation results in an unstable building.  Going back to correct a poor foundation is a difficult and painful task.  Get this right from the beginning.

Communication – Consistent, effective communication is another essential.  It is possible to be married and not communicate well, but you cannot have a great marriage and not communicate well.  If I continue the building analogy then communication is like the electrical systems within a building.  A building can be inhabited without electricity, but it is a lot darker and less suitable than one that has functioning lights, HVAC, appliances, etc.  To communicate well we begin by realizing that it is more than just the words we say, but how we say them.  We must become a student of our spouse and learn how to read them.  And we need to look at ourselves and understand how we communicate.  We must read the verbal’s and non-verbal’s accurately.  Is what I am saying truly coming through?  Given the many inputs my spouse is picking up, am I giving a clear and consistent message?  The foundation of honesty is never more important than when working through conflict and challenging situations.

Faith – A few years ago I would have said a shared faith is THE foundational element.  I’ve come to believe that this is God’s desire for a marriage, but He is able to bring this about when we work toward a great marriage.  This is one area where the foundation can be repaired by the Master Builder with amazing results.  Having said that, faith still is at the top of the list of essentials for a dynamic marriage.  There are a number of things that we do to build our faith – study the Holy Scriptures, Pray, attend worship services together, be joined with other believers in smaller, more intimate groups.  All of these are excellent and effective in growing our faith.  But on top of all these must be a consistent sharing of faith between husband and wife.  For faith in the marriage to blossom and grow it must be in the context of the husband and wife intentionally praying for and sharing what God is doing in their lives.  We must seek to become the husband or wife that God created us to be and then walk closely with our spouse in the process.  In some cases one spouse is in the trial more intensely than the other, but the burden is borne together.  At other times it is a fully shared trial.  This is the time to lean on the community of faith (and we all must have a community of faith to belong to).  But much of the time we will not be in a specific struggle.  These are the times to celebrate and accept the good life God has given us and look for ways we can help others.

Laughter – A sense of humor is another essential ingredient to a great marriage.  I am not referring to the ability to remember and tell good jokes.  A good sense of humor is simply the ability to see the world, and especially ourselves, in a light-hearted manner.  There are many challenges to be faced in life.  Marriage adds complexity to our life which brings many benefits, but also increases the number of challenges we will encounter.  We cannot focus solely upon the challenges and tasks before us without taking time to smile and laugh along the way.  Our health – emotional, mental, physical, and even spiritual, is impacted by the tightness we grip our life situations.  When we give our lives to the Lord, we give up control.  If God is sovereign and Jesus is Lord then there is nothing that impacts your life that He has not allowed.  Obviously if we put ourselves into difficult situations, if we walk counter to the way we are called to live then we will have some work to do.  But even in this God is faithful to forgive us if we turn from our sin and return to Him.

And that brings up the final key for a Great Marriage – Forgiveness.  I would like to have magic words to say that would prevent you guys from ever having a bad day, saying something you shouldn’t, or just plain missing the mark.  But life doesn’t work that way.  God lives with us in the midst of life and in the midst of life we sometimes stumble.  God offers forgiveness so that we can get up when we stumble and continue to walk and grow in Him despite our failings.  This is essential between a husband and wife as well.  Forgiveness is a divine gift from God that is able to work like a big eraser.  Faithfully given, faithfully accepted forgiveness is able not only to release us from the grip of a besetting sin, but it is able to propel us into a more vibrant, joy-filled marriage and life.

Marriage is one of the primary examples of God’s relationship with us.  In a number of places the Church is called the bride of Christ.  Jesus gave His life for His bride.  This depth of love and commitment is beyond what is humanly possible.  Thankfully we don’t have to settle for humanly possible.  God has called you to life in Him which goes way beyond humanly possible.  He desires that His children walk in and reflect His love consistently… constantly… confidently.  In your marriage you are give an opportunity to do this in a most enjoyable and wonderful way.  Join yourselves in the Oneness that God has called husband and wife to and immerse yourselves fully in the God Who loves you more than you can ask or imagine.

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Lavish Love

January 5, 2013 by areliablefaith

Have you ever met someone who couldn’t receive love?  Distant… reserved… guarded… sad – these are characteristics of the people I have met who struggled with giving and receiving love.  As I write this my heart breaks because I know what they are missing and I feel just a bit of their pain.  For love is the substance of the life God has created for us and us for.  Love is the Father’s most amazing characteristic even to the point that the Apostle John firmly declares, “God is Love!”

There are many ways we can miss this love.

We can accept a substitute and call it “love”.  Unfortunately we have many voices telling us what love is, what the ultimate experience is we should be seeking: the perfect romantic interlude, fame that results in fans who “adore” us, songs extolling varying shades of fidelity.  All of these fall far short of the Love that we are created to enjoy and share.

We can be hurt in an attempt to experience love and we allow the pain of that experience to keep us from opening up and trying to love again.

We can allow cynicism or hate to put blinders on our hearts so that we can’t see the love that exists around us.  There are times and places where love has been so maligned and attacked that it is much harder to see.  My mind goes to the brutal wars that have at times swept regions and countries or the horrific acts one person can perpetuate upon others.  However these are not proof that love doesn’t exist, rather they are adamant declarations of the need for the Love that heals and makes whole.

I read the book “Proof of Heaven” over the Christmas holidays.  An agnostic neurosurgeon, Eben Alexander, contracted a severe illness which put him into a death-like coma for 7 days.  During this time with his brain essentially dead he went to a place that he recognized as being a foretaste of heaven if not heaven itself.  One of the points that struck him and resounds in me is that he was totally and unconditionally loved.  It was so complete and tangible that his description made me think of being immersed in the most refreshing and satisfying light and warmth one can imagine.

I am convinced this Love exists and that it is available right now, right here.  In Eben’s near death experience all the distractions of this life were eliminated and he could experience this love more fully than he had ever come close to before.  However the same Lover who wrapped Eben in love in heaven has opened His arms in love for us here.  He was a carpenter and itinerant preacher who opened His arms wide on the cross in the greatest display of love ever.  He has been resurrected and today His arms are extended toward us with the desire to wrap us in His embrace of lavish love.

I was young and I am now not so young.  In my years I have never met anyone who truly sought the source of Love who didn’t find Him.  And in finding launch into the process of being transformed into an agent of His love.

Lord, I ask that you wrap your love around each person who reads this blog today.  Give them a taste of Your love.  For those who don’t yet have a relationship with you I ask that you give them that nudge, that hope, that tingle, that piece that they need to have the faith to reach out for you.  I ask that you give them a practical next step to take to begin living in a love relationship with You.  For those who already know you, I ask that you give them a double-shot of Your love today that they may share it with many others today.  Father, You are so wonderful, so glorious, so amazing.  I stand in awe of You this day.  And I thank You for Your love.

Have a blessed day my friend!

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Don’t Look at the Rocks

October 2, 2012 by areliablefaith

I got a kayak for my birthday last month. My son Sam already had a kayak and he was itching to go down the section III of the Chatooga River so the following week we headed to the river.  I probably should have taken a lesson or read a book or something, but I have canoed on some whitewater (class 1 & 2) but never anything above class 2.  I assumed we would scout each section and portage around if it was too challenging.  After the second rapid Sam said “Dad, this will take forever if we stop for each rapid.” so we only stopped when the roar of the approaching rapid was deafening.  I think that happened 4 or 5 more times.  The section III of the Chatooga is 18 miles of about 50 or 60 different rapids with several class 2, 3, and I think at least one class 4 rapids (I call it a waterfall) at the end.

Obviously since I am writing this and you are reading it we survived.  It was not the brightest thing we have ever done… okay maybe it was the dumbest thing I have ever done, but we did survive and I learned a few lessons along the way.

The first lesson was learning to read the river.  I have been on whitewater a few times and I knew enough to know I had to find the “V” where the main channel flowed.  Since we were going in September the river was quite low.  That might have been why we were the only persons on the river.  I did okay in the rapids that had a well-defined channel.  However when the river is low the channel tends to meander.  This is when I learned how important it is to strive for the channel to be followed rather than looking for the rocks to be avoided.

With each rapid my pulse would rise a little and I would try to run through cleanly without scrapping bottom and especially without running into the large boulders.  I noticed though that the more I focused upon the boulders the more I seemed to smack into them.  After about three rough runs in a row including my first spill as I piled up on a boulder and flipped, I decided to focus more on the channel and pull hard to stay on course and not strive just to avoid the big rocks.  And suddenly I began moving through the rapids better.

I think that is true in life as well.  I think we all know people (and perhaps at times have been people) who live trying to avoid calamity and bad times.  Their life is spent striving not to make mistakes or not to get hurt.  I haven’t done a scientific observation on it, but it seems like their success at avoiding trouble, difficulty, and pain is no better than the one who takes no particular precautions.  And I would say they often miss a lot of the fun, spontaneous, and thrilling aspects of life.  On the other hand I have definitely noticed that persons who strive to live a good and full life do so.  Again I can’t say that they are dramatically less inclined to experience challenges in life, but I am convinced they are better able to find the channel that carries them through.

Another lesson was the close proximity of fear and thrill within my heart.  I know that my lack of experience combined with the fact that when I was looking for a map of the river on the internet that morning I read how a man had drowned on the river when his raft flipped.  It’s surprising how that thought ended up being a subtle undercurrent in my mind when we got to a major rapid.  Sam tried to be helpful in this.  He knew a lot of the details since he spent a good bit of time up near the river over the summer.  He said, “Dad, the guy who drowned was old, out-of-shape, and in a raft.  You’re in a kayak so it’s different.”  I guess I need to remind him that what goes unsaid is sometimes more painful than what is said.

Because the river was low, travel time was slow.  I had anticipated a 3-4 hour trip.  After 5 hours of almost constant paddling I began to get a little anxious since the light was fading.  Fortunately the dimming light was only a shower and not true night, but we began to pull as steady and strong as our tired limbs would take us.  We came to a very chaotic waterfall which proved too difficult even for Sam to navigate (the one of two that day) so we both portaged.  While I didn’t have a map (did I mention this was the dumbest thing I have ever done) I knew that the last rapid was a Class IV rapid called Bull Sluice.  I confidently told Sam we must be at the end since this had to be Bull Sluice.  Into the river below the falls we began paddling again only to run into another, and then another rapid.  Oh my!  By this time I had hot spots on the palms of both hands while Sam was beginning to suffer from repeated hand cramps.

I realized we were not too far from being in trouble.  I hadn’t prayed a lot before this time, but now I realized my nonchalance about the trip could have put my son and I into real danger.  While prayer began in earnest so did the steady paddling.  I was really surprised how sore all of my body was becoming, not just my hands and arms.  But I had to block all that out and focus upon getting to the Hwy bridge that marked the take-out.  At about 6-1/2 hours we began to hear another roar indicating a significant rapid or waterfall.  As we got to the top we back paddled briefly before Sam said, “I don’t think we have another choice.” and he pulled briskly into the chute.  I watched as he descended through a couple of 2 – 3 foot drops and then he disappeared over the last drop and came back into view about 2 seconds later whooping and hollering.  At least that’s what it looked like from where I was up above.  Whatever he was yelling was lost in the roar of the waterfalling.

Since he made it I assumed three things (you know what they say about assumptions don’t you.)  I assumed it was a relatively simple and straight chute. I assumed he was yelling for me to come on.  And he was letting me know that it was fun.  Assumption 1 was correct except for the fact that when Sam disappeared it was because he went over a 10 – 12 foot waterfall… not exactly simple for me.  Assumption 2 was correct that he was yelling at me, but he was warning me of the waterfall and that perhaps I needed to reconsider.  Assumption 3 was correct for him, but not necessarily for me.

I made it through the first two drops in good shape and quickly moved to the last drop.  There is a moment when you realize you have made a mistake but there is no way to undo it.

That was what I felt as I launched over the waterfall.

Now for an experienced kayaker I am sure Bull Sluice with low water is a minor thing.  For an inexperienced, tired, grandfather that was a true “OH NOOOO!” moment.  I had just enough time to think “This is when I die.” as I went over the edge and disappeared under the water.

Looking back I’m sure I could have managed it if I had a clue what to do.  As it was I was flipped and under my upside down kayak in the cold, churning water in a heartbeat.  I floated that way slamming and bumping against rocks for probably only a second or two before I realized, “why don’t you get up there where there is air and you don’t have to bang against all these rocks.”

Sammy, for his part, did ask me if I was alright before he started chuckling.  I didn’t chuckle, I had to belly laugh.  I had experienced terror, I thought I was going to die, and survived.  And I KNEW we were almost at the end now!  A few strokes later we saw the bridge and 30 minutes later we were loaded up and heading home.  We had been paddling for 6-1/2 hours and had covered 18 miles of river with many exciting twists and turns, but we had overcome our own inexperience and short-sightedness to make it to the end.  We had conquered the river.

Sam mentioned that he would like to have another friend that he could come up and kayak the river with him.  I mentioned Michael, his soon-to-be brother in-law.  He liked that idea and said, “Yeah, Michael would be good.  He can carry his own weight.”  As I tried to think of another friend he could ask Sam quietly said.  “You know Dad, you carry your own weight too.”

At that moment I don’t think there was a nicer thing Sammy could have said than that.

It was a good day.  A good day indeed!

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True Prosperity

August 19, 2012 by areliablefaith

My oldest daughter mentioned the other day that one of the challenges with her new faith is the bias in favor of those who will do anything to get ahead.  Rhi does not do anything halfway so in giving her life to the Lord she has taken her work habits which were pretty ethical to begin with and made them spotless.  No more cutting corners for the sake of “getting better numbers”.  Prior to her conversion Rhi was a company ladder-climber with many persons envious of her rapid rise and her consistent high performance.  Since her very public conversion (the Lord used work confrontations as one of ways to get her to look to Him) Rhiannon has had many work challenges thrown her way.  I can so see the Lord working through these to strengthen her, but it is admittedly not easy.

Rhi, like me and many others, is sorely tempted to look at our performance in the workplace as a key barometer of how successful we are.  When others surpass us, particularly when we know they are not practicing sound, ethical behaviour, it can get under our skin and cause frustration and irritation.  We may even be moved to complain to God about this.  Fortunately David, who is refered to as a man after God’s own heart, did on several occasions.  We can see this best in the Psalms.  I think the best one is Psalm 37.

David acknowledges that the wicked flourish at times and it is tempting to wonder if our efforts at righteousness are of benefit.  If those who cut corners are richly rewarded it seems like plodding along faithfully will always have us playing second fiddle to those who do not have the same scruples.  But David correctly observes that the success of the wicked does come to an end… sometimes sooner, sometimes later but they always come to an end.  Even as I write this I can think of wicked rulers that have come to an end within the recent past.  Moamar Gaddafi, Hosni Mubarak, Saddam Hussein were all rich and powerful dictators who have fallen.

All of Psalm 37 is good, but I want to point out what I believe to be the key verse, verse 4.  “Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desire of your heart.”  The Lord spoke this to me once when I was laboring in intense intercessory prayer.  I stopped immediately and said, “No Lord not my will but Yours,” to which He replied.  “That is exactly why I am going to give you the desires of your heart.”  When our heart becomes so supple in God’s hand, when our intimacy with Him becomes the source of our greatest joy and delight, then we are in a place where we will want what He wants more than anything else.  And when that is our greatest desire, then things like worldly recognition and praise diminish in importance to nothing.

For me the prayer above was followed up by a move from Louisiana to Tennessee within a few months.  I was not praying for or seeking the move at the time, but it was something I did deeply desire and God brought it to pass.

Now concerning those who chose to do whatever it takes to get ahead in the world, I will only point out that each one of us have cut some corners in life and transgressed against the God who loves us so.  My response today is a bit different from when I was younger.  Very few of the persons I have known well who practiced this have lasted.  In the end it seems their actions came back to be their undoing.  A few have even faced their past with true conviction and repentance and come into a living relationship with God through His Son, Jesus.  But the point I am trying to make is that I don’t dwell on any perceived advantage that they might have.  I know it is short-lived.  Rather I focus upon the One who loves us so much that I can find my joy overflowing in His presence.  In Him I am whole, I am happy, I am fulfilled, I am called, I am equipped, and I am able to do anything He calls me to do.  And whatever He calls me to do is of greater worth than the things I might gain if I cut corners.

Today my wife and I are successful.  We count our success first by the relationships we have beginning with our relationship with God.  Next is our marriage and the intimacy and joy we share in being best friends and lovers.  Right behind that is our relationship with our children – they are all great people in their own right, but even more special because we share so much in common.  Next is the good health we walk in.  We realize this is a special blessing and we don’t take it for granted.  Notice that I have not mentioned our jobs anywhere in the list thus far.  That’s because we both enjoy, appreciate, and work hard in our jobs, but they do not define us nor are they our primary measure of success.  We both have good jobs and we do well in them, but if the Lord should separate us from our jobs, He would still be our delight.

My prayer is that this helps you to see that God’s frame of reference for success is bigger than the momentary success achieved by cheating or cutting corners.  I wish you a blessed day and pray that your delight will be in the One who loves you beyond comprehension.   To Him be the glory and honor and power and dominion for ever and ever.  Amen.

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An Update on My Absence

August 19, 2012 by areliablefaith

I don’t know how many followers my blog has – I’m not really to worried.  I think I am supposed to write so I write.  I want to be an encouragement to others and hopefully by being totally open and honest the Lord can use my experiences – both good and humorous as well as the difficult and challenging to help others.  My life today is so much richer because of the words or advice, encouragement, and wisdom others have shared.  I want to do the same for anyone who stumbles upon my blog.

I started a new job after 23 years in my old job and I have been swamped.  It is exhilarating to be in a new role where I can interact with so many persons.  It is also fun to be in a leadership role where I help set direction for the site.  But being a new facility means there is SO MUCH to do.  We are building work processes, hiring new people, developing and delivering training, all while we have production lines that are coming up to speed producing our product.  For the past 5 weeks I have averaged over 65 hours a week at the plant.  I go to work each day invigorated by the challenges ahead and I return home with that happy weariness of feeling like we’ve made progress.  (Truth in reporting requires that I admit a few times I’ve come home just weary, but most of the time we can see progress.)

So this is why I have not been able to post much.  While I am hopeful I will see a bit of a moderation in these hours, it may still be a few weeks.  I will endeavor to get back to blogging though because I feel it is something I am called to do.  Also I wrote a bit on our vacation and I will reread and post those as appropriate.  And finally I took photos on the trip so I will try to add in a pic to two.

I just wanted to give readers a reason for my absence.  Take care and have a blessed day!

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Florence and the Medici Legacy

August 10, 2012 by areliablefaith

Florence, Italy is a beautiful and historic city.  We visited on day 3 of our Mediterranean vacation.  Aside from the stifling heat and crowded conditions I was enthralled by the architecture, culture, and food. One of the highlights was entering the Duomo which is one of the largest cathedrals in the world. Admittedly the day was one of hustle and hurry from place to place as we tried to cram as much as possible into the day. One of the main reasons I enjoyed the Duomo is because we were able to slow down and just sit quietly for several minutes.

I have studied only a little of the history, but I understand that the Medici family was particularly powerful and influential in supporting / leading the development of much of the most beautiful of what we see in Florence. Not everything about the Medici family was magnanimous though. In fact a lot of the stories were anything but flattering. However their efforts were used to create the beautiful place Christin and I were able to sit.

Gazing upon the frescos and sculptures my mind rested upon the God who gives wonderful gifts and talents to man. A thought struck me that persists – the art in Florence and specifically within the churches was sometimes helpful to me in my meditation upon God. But at other times it was distracting by degrees. So the question arises – what is the true value of art?

It seems to me that the highest purpose of art is to speak to the deepest parts of our consciousness and point us to God. Admittedly I begin from a standpoint of knowing that God exists and that He wants to be involved in our lives. While He chooses to remain out-of-sight for the most part, it is not because He doesn’t want to be known. On the contrary He desires a relationship with us, but He wants that relationship to be one of faith rather than sight. So when I think of the highest purpose of art I see that it is to draw us into an acknowledgement of the one who gives gifts to people and creates beauty in this world. For many people art speaks more eloquently to the spiritual part of them than rhetoric ever could.

Another purpose of art I believe is to stretch us, to see things that we might overlook otherwise. I know the few moments in the Duomo made me realize I had allowed some of the negative “press” about the Medici family to cloud my perspective of Florence and this powerful family. That is not to condone things they may or may not have done, but it does mean I can look upon them as I do every man and acknowledge, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Hopefully their religious acts did not get in the way of meeting the savior personally. Jesus was able to stretch me as I sat on a little bench against one of the cool, stone walls gazing upon the grandeur of the place. My hope is He did that for the Medici family and for the hundreds and thousands who have passed through this beautiful city as well.

As we leave Florence I am stirred by the many generations that have gone on before me who have sought to honor God in their day and in their way. I pray that you and I may leave a lasting legacy, perhaps not with stones and blocks, frescos and sculptures, but with good deeds done and faithful obedience to the One who has called us to Himself.

Have a blessed day today and always!

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True North

May 19, 2012 by areliablefaith

I’ve taken members of my family to the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area on the Minnesota / Ontario border four times beginning in 1998. The BWCWA is a heavily forested, roadless region dotted with thousands of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. The way you get around is in a canoe and by foot.  The waterways are connected by portage paths that hearken back to the days when the Native Americans roamed the land.  Paddling your canoe across the lakes and through the quiet streams is an incredible experience.  Carrying all your stuff from one waterway to the next is hard work.  And while it is not “fun” in the traditional sense it carries with it a strong sense of satisfaction to successfully negotiate a difficult portage in an efficient way.

The times we have gone to the BWCWA we have used a map and compass for our navigation.  I really enjoyed the navigation aspect of our trips because we were forced to use a skill set that we weren’t familiar with and it required focus and attention to detail.  The skill of successfully using a map and compass is called orienteering.  Simply stated orienteering requires;

  • accurately identifying your place on a map,
  • determining true north with the compass,
  • adjusting the map to align with north on the map with true north, (for you true orienteering experts I am skipping the discussion of declination for sake of simplicity)
  • selecting the direction you want to go on the map,
  • transferring that direction on the map to the direction over the lake you want to travel,
  • picking out a landmark in the direction you want to travel,
  • striking out toward that landmark with a consistent focus upon heading directly toward it.

On one trip we covered 50 miles in 7 days with about 15 different portages.  To cover this distance with a group of young men required that we be efficient with our travel time.  Mutiny was a constant concern…  Okay, maybe I exaggerate a little, but it was important that we not paddle aimlessly around the lake trying to find the portage.  Being able to accurately select the location of the next portage from 1, 2, or more miles down the lake was crucial to paddling the shortest route and minimizing the pain and soreness that our “fun” generated.

As I think about those trips I realize that there are a few keys that made our orienteering successful.  Obviously the map and compass were essential.  We had to know where we were, where we were going, and what lay between us and our destination.  The map showed these things provided we knew how to read it.  The compass told us where True North was.  It gave us a constant and correct location of North which we could then align our map and then our direction to.  With the map and compass as essential tools, we also had to have the right map and we had to understand how to read it.  Finally we had to have a focus upon the point we were heading toward and we had to paddle.

I’m struck by how well this mirrors life.  Our map is the Word of God.  It gives an exact picture of the lay of the land… what lies around us, the path we should take, the dangers that lurk if we go the wrong way, where our destination is, as well as lot’s of detail about areas we aren’t likely to explore.  The compass is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity who comes to live in us when we are born again.  The Holy Spirit is our guide and counselor constantly pointing toward truth in a similar way to the compass always pointing toward true north.  The Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit together can always show us the right direction.  However we still have to focus upon the point which they identify and we have to do the “work” to get there.

At any one of these points we can get off track.  There are a lot of lakes in the BWCWA and if you don’t know where you are, the map can be confusing.  Map reading takes some practice.  The most important concept in reading a map is to know where you are.  Unlike modern GPS which tells you where you are, paper maps expect you to be able to pick out your location.  The bible has some verses which help with this.  Romans 3:23 says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  That’s the starting point for all of us.  But the next step is found in several places but I like the standard from John “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, to the end that all who believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

The Holy Spirit who resides in the believer is gentle and loving.  He does not demand or control.  He prompts, counsels, encourages, and gently corrects.  There are three terms used that describe a negative reaction that we can elicit from the Holy Spirit: we can grieve the Holy Spirit, we are told not to quench the Holy Spirit, and finally Jesus mentions blasphemy or sin against the Holy Spirit.  I’m not going into these in-depth now, but the point I want to take away is we can choose not to follow the direction the Holy Spirit much like we can ignore the information our compass gives us.  We do this to our detriment, but we do have this choice.

Picking out a landmark is one of those subtle points of orienteering that make navigating on the water so much easier than land navigation in a trackless area.  The corollary to this is being actively involved in the Church and being well read of inspirational literature.  Here are a few general landmarks that often come up – asking what would Jesus do, considering what my dad would do, reading about examples of others who have lived selflessly, observing humble, faithful followers in the Church.  These give me a landmarks to aim toward.  These are examples that the Word and the Holy Spirit point to.

The last step in this four-step process is the work we do.  We can do the first three and yet still end up dead in the water if we do not exert our will, strength, and energy in striving toward our destination.  As I think about this point it brings to mind the multiple different paddling experiences I have had… many times in beautiful weather with light winds or even a slight breeze behind me.  The time when we rounded the corner of an island and then headed into a strong breeze that was beginning to lift whitecaps.  It was day one of the week so our canoes were heavily loaded and riding low.  My anxiety was mainly for my wife who was in the canoe with our son Jon.  We really had to stroke long, hard, steady and the going was tough, but we all made it.  There were paddles in rain and mist that made the selection of a landmark more difficult and we had to trust the map and compass, constantly consulting them to be sure we were headed in the right direction.  We have made it through in all these cases.

When I say the last step is the work we do that includes the times of Godly rest.  God rested on the seventh day of creation which gives us an example we are to follow.  Our pastor is about to take a well deserved and necessary sabbatical.  We wish you well Pastor P!  Isaiah 41:31 tells us that “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, the will run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint.”  The work is the sum of activities that we undertake to get to the destination we are striving toward.

One of my life metaphors is that life is an adventure.  I see the map, compass, landmarks, and the work before me.  And in my heart I hear God whisper, “Dan, come out and play.”

Have a blessed day.

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Grace Period

May 13, 2012 by areliablefaith

On my last flight home, I arrived in the Atlanta airport early enough to jump on the flight an hour prior to my scheduled flight.  “Now your backs probably won’t make it until your scheduled flight” the agent said.  “Do you still want me to book it?”  I paused only briefly before saying yes.  I figured I could eat supper in the airport restaurant while I waited for my bags.

We arrived and sure enough the bag did not.  However I hadn’t counted on all the restaurants being closed.  As I headed to my car in the economy parking lot my dilemma was how to pick up my bag when I came back without having to pay an extra parking tab.  Now as silly as this is to say, this was a big deal in my mind.  I saw an airport employee and mentioned my concern.  She told me surely the officer who monitors the pull-up parking area would be understanding and let me zip in and get my bag.

A Chic-fil-a sandwich later I arrived 10 minutes before my bag was scheduled and I parked in the “Absolutely No Unattended Cars” area in front of baggage claim.  I quickly ran in to verify that my bag hadn’t arrived, which is hadn’t.  I also looked for but didn’t see any police officers.  I waited in the car until I saw people begin streaming out with big roller bags and I realized my bag must have arrived.  As I hustled back to the door I saw a large, very observant policeman constantly scanning the cars at the door.  As I tried to scoot past him he said, “Is there someone in your car?”  I’m just running in to…  “Is there anyone else in your car?”  I’m caught and I know it.  While I am committed to the truth I have to admit the thought zipped through, “Say yes and you can probably run in and get the bag before he knows any different.”  Instead I began “No, but I…”  “You can’t park here.  You have to move it.”  But where am I to park?  “Pull into the parking garage. it’s only a dollar.”  Aaargh – that’s NOT what I wanted to do!

Admittedly this sounds so silly now, but I was angry.  I have to admit I gave the guy one of my best, steely glares…  Okay maybe it wasn’t that intimidating, but it was shouting my displeasure.  Of course it would only work if he would make eye contact which he never did.  He was too busy being observant and watching for “parkers and leavers” such as myself.  I pulled away mad, but immediately the Holy Spirit started correcting me about my attitude.  I turned on the radio as I pulled into the parking garage right next to the baggage claim.  Not surprisingly there was Focus on the Family interview in progress where the husband was explaining how the Holy Spirit had helped him see the error of his ways in being a-less-than-understanding husband.  Aaargh again!  Can’t I just be a little angry about not being able to rush in and get my bag.  I walked briskly up to the door which took an entire 45 seconds.  The Holy Spirit was beginning to get through as I realized it was only a dollar and I WAS trying to break the well-intentioned rules.  Of course I then spent a little mental effort casting blame on terrorists and I still thought the officer was rude, so I didn’t even try to make contact as I walked past him into baggage claim.  (I really showed him what happens if he is rude to the paying customers.)

It took me all of 20 seconds to find and pick up my bag and I was right back out.  While I was feeling good that I was finally heading home, I was beginning to feel some regret for my thoughts and even a few of my actions… the old steely glare, while not noticed, was really a bit rude.  By the time I was pulling out of the parking spot and figuring out which way to the exit, I had to admit the police officer was only doing his job, I was trying to break the rules, and it didn’t really cost me much time.  I was moving toward contriteness as I pulled up to the booth to pay my dollar.  I handed the woman my ticket and a five.  The guy on the radio was still explaining in rather humorous terms what a dolt he had been (somehow it sounded vaguely familiar).  The woman in the parking booth smiled sweetly at me as she handed me my five back and said.  “You get it all back.  There is a 15 minute Grace Period so nothing is owed.”

Okay Lord, hit me with a two by four, I think I get this one!

My daughter recently put in her blog how she desires to go beyond just controlling her actions and reactions to having her thought life under control.  I can identify with that desire.  I know that I have made progress in submitting much of my life to the Holy Spirit and there has been transformation, but as this painfully true story illustrates I still continue to be challenged.  I doubt I am alone but I am determined that I will press on until every thought has been brought into submission.  Two scriptures come to mind as I wrap up.  Romans 12:2  “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  This is my step 1.  And when I do slip up I go to step 2 – Philippians 3:13  “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14　I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

God has created a grace period in this life for us to benefit from.  Thankfully the Holy Spirit is persistent, loving and kind.  He wants to meet with us, to relate to us, to live IN us.  I encourage you to live large in God’s grace today.

Have a blessed day.  God’s peace in abundance to you and yours.

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