Merry Christmas

To all of you who have read my blog, thank you. I hope that I have written something that has encouraged you and helped you along your journey.
2011 is fast approaching. Only God knows what is coming, so I hope that together we can all just walk with Him one day at a time and keep our eyes on Jesus.
I remember as a boy that when I was with my grandfather, grandpa Burkart, there was never anything to be afraid of. He was there to protect me and provide whatever it was I needed. He knew how to give good gifts. God is so more infinitely able to protect and provide I should have no fears for today and the days to come.
I also want to wish you all a Merry Christmas! I hope that we will truly celebrate Jesus' birth and thank him for the gift of salvation that He has made available for all who will believe and receive it.
Merry Christmas!

Little Did I Know

When I begin this blog I had no idea, obviously, what the future would hold. I know that life can be challenging and sometimes difficult but we can live through most of the things that happen to us and around us. I believe, in a wonderful way, God led me to begin this blog as a way of preparing for some difficult things in my life.

We can't always see at the moment what God is doing but once the "event" or circumstance has passed we look back and we see God right there; always walking beside us and in some cases carrying us through.

I have experienced another realization - God doesn't always remove us from the circumstance. Jesus went through a time of temptation. Peter fell to temptation twice (that we know of). Paul was unforgiving toward John Mark. God has the power to take us out of the difficulties we often face but more often then not He allows us to remain in the difficulty rather than remove us from it. It seems that sometimes He doesn't heal some folks until death. It seems that we hit "bottom" before things begin to improve.

Here is what I believe a part of the point is - God uses these circumstances in our lives to help us to understand more clearly how dependent we are upon Him! What are we going to do if God does not provide? We will perish! The nature of God is love and He loves His children. He will not allow us to face adversity that He will not provide the strength to endure. Our response is to be one of faithfulness because He is faithful; our response is to persevere because Jesus endured the cross scorning it's shame. We are to be obedient to His word because Jesus was.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives within me. The life I live in the body, I life by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" Galatians 2:20

Good Intentions

I had good intentions on reading through and writing about Psalm 119. It is a great set of verses to read and think upon. It shares and states much of what the Word of God means and does in our life and we get a glimpse into the heart of psalmist. So, even though my intentions were good, I was unable to accomplish my goal.

What happened? I am sure most of us have asked this question when it comes to not doing something that we had intended to do. For me, it seems, that my only consistency is my inconsistency. But regardless of the reasons I could give for not following through on this project, it still didn't come together as I had hoped.

It seems to be a part of life. And when I realize that I have messed up or failed at something I intended to do, I have two choices; either have self-pity and whine about it or just move on and seek to do better next time or tomorrow.

I sort of see this when Jesus reinstates Peter in John 21. Peter has messed up royal and he knew it and had already repented from it. (Matt 26:75) Here we see restoration and commission on one who had good intentions of dying with Jesus but had denied him instead. I love Jesus! He does not condone our sin but is a gracious, kind, compassionate and forgiving Savior. If you notice, Jesus never said "See, I told you were going to deny me". Jesus never brings it up. It doesn't mean he didn't remember it, he chose to not bringing it up or bringing it to mind.

I want to be like Jesus. When others fail to live up to the standards God has set, I am not going to say "My, my, my, how you have failed". I want to respond in kindness and graciousness towards them. They already know they failed and messed up, they don't need me to bring it up. Jesus has been kind and gracious towards me and has forgiven me of all my sin; "Hallelujah, what a Savior!"

Let's "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:14)

Psalm 119:25-32

The Psalmist continues to pray for the LORD to work and provide in and through His word. He prays for at least three things:

1. He prays for life (v25)

2. He prays that the LORD would teach him (v26)

3. He prays the LORD would give him strength (v28)

These three request are dependent upon God's word. It is from God's Word that we gain life. His Word preserves us and sustains us even when we feel alone and abandoned. It is through God's Word that we gain understanding and gain knowledge; it is our teacher through the working of the Holy Spirit. Lastly, the Word gives us strength. This strength is not ours but His. Ephesians 3:14-19, Paul prays for the Ephesian believers that God would "grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being" and that they would "have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge the you my be filled with all the fullness of God."

All knowledge or understanding or wisdom or learning, as it relates to the Word of God, has come from God and his word. I believe the repetitiveness of the Psalmist is a benefit for us. It is there to aid us to continually think of these things and to see the many benefits of God's Word.

Psalm 119

Over the past few days I have been out of town attending our annual state Baptist convention meetings. It was a great time and a time to get away and see come different scenery.

Because of that meeting and traveling, I was unable to continue my posts on Psalm 119. I should have said that for the next 22 post I would be writing and sharing about Psalm 119 and not for the next 22 days I would be posting thoughts about Psalm 119.

So, beginning tomorrow, I will once again be writing about Psalm 119.

See you then.

Psalm 119:17-24

In these verses it appears that the psalmist has gone from declaring intent (I have...I will) to praying a prayer.
His prayer is for God to deal or treat him good. The result of such treatment would then be living a life of keeping God's word. Often I wonder if we ask God to bless us or treat us well, not to live according to His word, but rather to have material blessings and ease of life. Obviously, this would not be the case of every follower of Jesus.
James says in James 4:3 "You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions" (ESV). I want to pray and act like the psalmist, God treat me well so that "I may live and keep your word".
The next thing he prays for is for the LORD to "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law" It is the Lord that gives light to the eyes. We were once in darkness until Christ shown his light into our lives so that we could see the truth of his word. Paul prays a prayer for the Ephesians believers that includes "having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe..." If the Lord doesn't open our eyes, we will never see the truth nor realize the hope, inheritance and power we have in Christ.
The last thing I would like to highlight is verse 24 "Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors". A part of what he is saying is that the witness of God is his delight and that witness is where he gets his advice. It is critical that we see God through his word and take our advice from him and those who follow his word.
May these things that the psalmist has prayed for be a part of our prayers as well.

Psalm 119:9-16

As I continue to look at Psalm 119 it is important to notice the question of verse 9. "How can a young man keep his way pure? Obviously, this question applies to everyone. It is a question we all should ask ourselves.
In Psalm 24, David asks two other but related questions: "Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?" A part of the answer to these questions are "He who has clean hands and a pure heart..." (emphasis added).
Jesus said in Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Purity is of most importance in our relationship with God. Warren Wiersbe understands this section to be teaching on holiness. So how does the Psalmist expect to have a pure life? Let me just list the things that the psalmist will do to keep his life pure:
1. He will guard his way according to God's word. (This is a subject that I am going to explore more in a later post)
2. He is going to seek the LORD with his whole heart.
3. He is not going to wander from the LORD's commands.
4. He is going to store up the word of the LORD in his heart.
5. He is going to delight, meditate, and fix his eyes upon the word's of the LORD.

This commitment to the Word of God ought to be the same for us. When we are committed to the Word to such a high degree notice the benefit:
1. Not sin against the LORD
2. Teach others the statues of the LORD
3. Declare the rules of the LORD
4. Not forget the word of the LORD

Both the discipline of study and it's benefits ought to spur us on to devote ourselves to its study. There is much to learn and understand so I hope as you read and study, that you greatly benefit from the process.

I am absolutely convinced and believe that the word of God is sufficient for all things. Here is a part of the reason that I believe this; 2 Peter 1:3 "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."

Through God and our Lord Jesus Christ and knowledge and understanding we have the necessary power and strength to overcome anything that might come our way. This may include health issues, relationship issues, financial issues, etc. Jesus is our hope. His word is our counselor. The Spirit is our Teacher.

For the next twenty-two days I am going to be reading through Psalms 119 eight verses at a time. This Psalm has much to say and teach about Word of God, my response to it and the blessing that comes from obeying it. Would you join me on this journey? If so, please leave a comment and let me know.

Psalm 119:1 gives us the benefit of keeping his "statues" and walking "according to the Law of the LORD"; it is to be blessed and blameless. I want to live a blessed life and a blameless life. The only way to do such is to obey, meditate and keep the word, precepts, decrees and commands of the LORD.

I hope that you will join me on this journey and at the end we will know more of God's word and then live to obey it more fully.

A friend of mine had asked if I was no longer blogging and I explained that I had been busy with my family and the seminary class that I am taking and just had not made the time to write. This friend then texted me and basically reminded me that God is always at work around me and that I should share what it is that God is teaching me or showing me.

God is teaching me to wait and be still before him. I sang a song last Sunday, here at my church, entitled "Be Still and Know" by Steven Curtis Chapman. The NIV version translates Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth". Warren Wiersbe states the the phrase "Be still" or as in other translations "cease", literally means "Take your hands off! Relax!".

This song and understanding has helped me to understand my response to God in life. He is in control, I'm not. He has the plan, he reveals it day by day. If I do it all, I get the credit and not God. So I need to let God be God and let him do what it is he wants to do and then he will be exalted among the nations and the earth. He is worthy of me taking my hands off of my destiny and the control that I want to have. I need to let him have it all.

There is a responsibility I have. This verse doesn't speak of not doing anything. I must be about prayer, Bible reading and study, meditating on the Word of God and service. I also must be obedient and faithful to him and his word.

In all of life we need to be still, take our hands off and relax; rest in the Lord and let him do what it is that he desires to do for his glory and our good.

I have come to understand, in a more complete way, the phrase"one day at a time". The reality is that we only get one day at a time. The hopes of yesterday are gone and we have no guarantee of tomorrow. So, today is all we have.

What do we do with the day we have been given? For some it's lived like every other day they have had. Getting up, getting ready for work, making another dollar, spending it on whatever they wish and think they will do it again tomorrow with no regard to the fact that tomorrow may never come. I don't want to live this way and yet I sometimes forget and fall into the same routine and mindless pattern of just going through the motions of working, sleeping, eating, watching TV, etc.

The way I want to live is to consciously understand that each day is a gift from God, a day to bring Him glory in how I work, spend time with family, interact with members of the community, drive my car, what I watch and listen too. All I have for certain is today and even in that, the day is uncertain as to how it will go. So, in reality, not only is it a day to day situation but truly a moment by moment existence.

When our hope is in the Lord, there is peace and not fear. I don't fear the future of this day or the days to come. My hope is securely upon the One who is Sovereign. This, I believe, is the realization of living one day at a time. We understand the importance of each day and thus don't take it or the things in our lives for granted. We value the day, family, opportunities to do good and bring God glory.

Another Adventure

As I wrote in my last post about Kara beginning high school and what milestone that is for us there is also another event happening in my life. After years of wanting to begin my masters degree, I am finally beginning it. This is my first week of "class". This masters degree will be a totally online degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) in Kansas City, MO. It already has proven to be a challenge in reading. There is a bunch to read.

I am really looking forward to completing this degree and gaining the benefit of knowledge and understanding from studying and reading the Bible and things related to it.

Sorry for the short post but in the words of one of my favorite people, Forest Gump "that's all I have to say about that".

The Beginning of the End

Today me and my family embark on a journey that will no doubt be exciting yet we have no way of knowing how it will all trun out. The future is uncertain, we have no idea as to exactly how things will go and yet we cannot stop time. Each day reveals a little more of what is coming and yet it is only in looking back do we have a more complete understanding of what has happened.

Today our youngest daughter began high school. The next four years will be filled with new experiences and joys. They also might be filled with difficulty and challenges. The reality is that every day is like the first day of high school, we never know for sure what will take place.

Like Forrest Gump's mama always said "Forrest, life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Unless they have the diagram under the lid, then technically you would know what you were going to get by following the diagram but maybe in Forrest's day they didn't have that diagram...excuse me, I digress.

I am excited for her and pray the Lord will bless her, make His face shine upon her and bless her. I also pray this for my family.

When Kara graduates in 2014, I will be 48 years old and hopefully done with my masters in theological studies and will have some more grand kids. Jude will be almost 5 years old.

The future is full of promise and hope but I really don't know what is going to happen. So in the midst of my optimism, I set my heart on the Lord, who is the one who sees eternity past, present and future. He is my Rock, my sure foundation. He is my life.

I hope today that no matter what you are facing or thinking about, you will place your hope and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and rest in Him. He will take care of us and provide for all we need and in the midst of it all, will bless us according to His riches in heaven. Only may we be found faithful and obedient to His will and word.

This past Saturday I did a 52 mile bike ride. The only problem was that it was supposed to be a 64 mile bike ride. So, why did I come up short? I came up short because I didn't have enough nourishment and time.

On Saturday mornings, my friend Mark and I and sometimes his wife Beth, ride bikes together. We often don't know where we are going until we meet up. This past Saturday, it was just Mark and me. We decided to head to Lindsborg, which is 19 miles away. I have made that trip many times so it was no big deal. We arrived in Lindsborg in good time. It was then I discovered that I had forgotten my debit card and I only had $6 in my jersey. This usually is not a problem except we decided to ride another 11 miles before we made the turn to come home. Mistake one is that I did not have the funds to buy enough food to keep my strength up. Oh, and the wind came up out of the NNE, which made it even more difficult to ride home.

Mistake two was that I thought I had most of the day to ride. When I stopped back in Lindsborg, on the way home, I had a text from Shelly that we were to be at Amanda's by 12 noon, it was 10:48 and I had 19 miles to go fighting a head wind all the way. Well, I tried but failed and Shelly had to come and pick me up 12 miles from town.

Here are some lessons I learned:

1. Be prepared, always be prepared. Even when you don't think you will need whatever it is that you might need, take it anyway.

2. Better to have more and not need it than not enough and wish you had it.

3. Know your limitations. When I discovered I didn't have the needed funds for food, I should have headed back home and not gone the extra 22 miles.

4. Make sure you have the time. If you don't have it, don't do it.

I hope that you will take what I have learned and benefit from my mistakes. In the future, I will more readily count the cost and to my best to have whatever I need to finish the course. Sounds like a spiritual lesson could be hiding in and amongst there! Maybe next time I will write about that.

Take care!

Just when you thought it was okay to go back into the water...Is the theme music to "Jaws" playing in your head?

Hey, sorry for taking so long between post on my blog. Our lives have been full and a little stressful over the past few weeks. No excuse for not writing but none the less a reason.

In the past few months, Shelly and I, along with Kara, have been experiencing some difficult days in regard to Shelly's health. We believe that we may be past the worst of it thanks to God and his grace and the use of medicine. Through this time of our life the name of my blog has come to be a great reminder that things do pass, it won't always be the way it is now. Again, if things are going well for you, hold on, it will pass. If things are not going well for you, hold on, it will pass. This idea of "And it came to pass" is really a law of natural occurrences. Things change for everyone, not just believers. But it is in the place that we put our hope that makes all the difference.

For those who are not followers of Christ, hope is placed in things like medicine, stock market, job, 401K, family, etc. All of these, while not bad in and of themselves, are destined to perish and change. For the believer, its different. Our hope is in Christ! He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. He never sleeps nor slumbers. He is faithful from generation to generation. Even while being pursued by Saul, David never lost his faith and knew that his hope was in the Lord. The psalmist writes in Psalms 121 "I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth" The writer here finds himself in the valley surround by the hills where the enemy has an "advantage" point over him and yet from those same hills the LORD comes and rescues and gives the victory.

For all you who follow my blog your hope is in the Lord and for that I am thankful. Keep your eyes lifted up to the Lord, no matter what circumstance you may be in today.

Who's Strength You Living In?

Have you heard the phrase "he's a self-made man" or "he pulled himself up by his own boot straps"? For the most part, we understand what people mean when they say such things. We assume they mean that the person they are describing is a hard worker, they started at the bottom and worked themselves to death to get a corner office or they mean that the person had such personal fortitude they were able to become what they are today.

The reality is, that there is no such thing as a "self-made man". The reason is that God has made each of us in His image. No one ever pull himself up "by his own boot straps". The reason is that God is the one who has given us breath and strength of our legs and hands and minds. "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made". (John 1)

Where does the strength come from to face the challenges of life? How in the world can we ever overcome the circumstances that seem to be insurmountable? The Apostle Paul was a guy just like us. He was weak, frail, timid and fearful. He was also proud, boastful and arrogant. That sounds like us, doesn't it? We have been all these things at some point in our lives. If Paul could be a committed follower of Christ in the face of troubling circumstance, then we can as well.

Paul had experienced beatings, shipwrecks, stoning, imprisonment, nakedness, hunger, plenty and scarcity. In Philippians 4:13 he states "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength". Please note that through the strength of Christ and not himself, he could face all the trials and adversity of serving Christ. Our strength is not ours but Christ's. We can do nothing apart from Him. We are powerless in the face of the ruler of this world and all his evil schemes. Without Christ and the armour He gives we are going to fail.

If you are a follower of Christ, who's strength are you living in? I think sometimes we are lured into thinking we can do this Christian life alone. We keep Christ in our hip pocket or at arms length just in case we need Him. The reality is we need Him every moment of every day. There is not a time we do not need Him. We are absolutely dependent upon Him to give us the strength and protection we need. But we must acknowledge this reality.

I love what Peter states in 2 Peter 1:3 read and listen to what he says: "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness". It is his divine power that gives us all we need and it's all for his own glory and goodness. Live in the reality of God's word and live in HIS power!

Storms of Life

I am sitting in my garage this morning watching and listening to the rain and thunder. When atmospheric conditions are just right, rain, wind and lighting are produced. Sometimes the storms are mild and pass within minutes. Other storms are bigger, longer and have the potential to do extreme harm to lives, homes and property. This morning, this storms seems to be mild. A little thunder, a little rain, and not much wind.

When we look back at our lives we often find times that were stormy. Whether it was a health issue, a death of a loved one, work related, church related, etc, we see those times as difficult. The storm is never fun to go through. It is filled with uncertainty and often our mind is filled with anxious thoughts because we really don't know what is coming especially when the storms come at night.

I don't know why storms come and do the damage they do but they do some positive results. After tornados or floods we see people rise to the occasion and help each other like never before. Agencies come together and provide care to those most affected by the storm. People helping people during the difficult time of life.

I don't always know why storms come into our lives. I do understand that God has purposes for the Christ-follower and that these storms cause us to be and display our dependence upon Him. But why the storms?

I believe the first reason is because of the curse of sin. Sin brings death and destruction and because we live in a fallen world there are going to be storms, both physically and otherwise. Secondly, there are storms in our lives to make us more like Christ. As I reflect upon the storms that Shelly and I have gone through, they have made me more compassionate, more sensitive and more understanding. When Jesus would see those in pain or hurting he had compassion on them, he was moved by their situation. His life on earth allows him to know and understand what it is like to be human (Heb. 4). Thirdly, the storms of our life allow us to comfort those with the comfort we have received from Christ (2 Cor 1). As we each go through our storm of life, at some point we move past it far enough that we can come alongside someone else who is experiencing something similar and be a comfort to them. Fourthly, in the book of James he states that the times of adversity come to test our faith which builds perseverance so that we will be complete in our faith, lacking nothing.

Storms are never easy to go through. With the Lord, we know we can face anything that comes our way. And lastly...they come to pass. The storms do pass and when they do they reveal a truth that remains...Jesus is there shining bright. He never leaves us nor forsakes us.

Right now the storm is still here. I hear the thunder and see the rain. But just beyond the clouds the sun is shining bright and when the storm passes, the sun will be revealed. May we never forget that Jesus is Lord over all things. As a song says "when I can't see His hand trust His heart".

My Consistency? My Inconsistency!

A recent event has caused me to reflect upon consistency. I rode my bike almost 90 miles in two days. Two days of riding leaves one tired and sore. The benefit of riding like this is that you know how much you can take while sitting a little seat. I think that is the only benefit. To get stronger does not mean ride 90 miles in two days and then not ride for another month. To get stronger it has to be more consistent than that. It takes an intentional plan of riding hard three days a week and then easy the other two and then making sure you take two days off to rest.

The Christian life has been referred to as a marathon not a sprint. You can't go to church all day on Sunday and then expect to do nothing the rest of the week and be a strong follower of Christ.

Jesus taught us to pray for "our daily bread". Jesus calls us to "daily take up our cross and follow him". The church in Acts is recorded to have met on a daily bases and the Lord added "to their number daily those who were being saved".

Here is what Paul said to the Thessalonians "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (italics added)

I think there is something to this daily walk with Christ and it should not be limited to a Sunday morning service only. So, let me encourage you to daily read God's Word, daily pray and meditate upon God's Word. Daily live out what you know the Bible says. Daily love the Lord with all you are. Daily, daily, daily do these things and see if by next month or next year you are not stronger than you are now. Remember, it's a daily thing.

Follow the Instructions

If you know me very well, which all eleven of those who are following my blog probably do, you know that I am one who follows rules. I drive the speed limit, I do not enter when it says "do not enter". When there are instructions I follow them. It is a blessing and curse. The blessing is I am following the rule or law. And I have no fear of prosecution. The curse may be that I am not spontaneous. It might be that I don't get out of the box very often or live life on the "wild" side. I am not a big risk taker. Again, this can all be good and bad, depending on your perspective.

There is one set of rules, laws, precepts, statues, words that I know are to be followed. Any guesses? I see that hand and you are right...God's word, laws, precepts and statues. His instructions are always perfect and right.

I have been reading and doing some studying on the book of Joshua. There is so much to this book and so many lessons to be learned that I will only focus on one of them for now. God gave Joshua specific instructions on how he and the Israelites were to take the city of Jericho. God said to take seven priest with seven trumpets of ram's horns along with the Ark of the Covenant and the fighting men and march around the city once each day for six days. On the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times. At the completion of the seventh time around the trumpets were to sound and all the people were to shout and the walls would come down.

What we read in Joshua chapter 6 is that Joshua and the Israelites did exactly as God had instructed. In the book of Hebrews 11:30 it states "By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people marched around them for seven days". The people followed the instructions that God had given and their faith in God, the giver of the instructions, brought about the victory they received. Jericho was delivered into the hands of the Israelites.

What would have happened if they had taken one day off to rest? What if on the seventh day they only marched around the city five times instead of seven? We all know that God's word is to be followed and obeyed. We all know the blessing that comes through obedience to His word.

One of my favorite passages is found in Psalm 19:7-11. When you can, please look at that passage. Verse 11 sums it all up; "By them (laws, statues, precepts, commands, ordinances) is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward."

God's word is to be followed and obeyed. But this must flow out of relationship and not out of obligation or guilt. God knows best and again, His way is perfect. Trust Him and do things His way and then reap the benefit of obedience.

What can you do?

It has been awhile since I last wrote. I took some days away from the office and just have not been inspired to write. But today, I have some things to share that I hope will encourage you.

Today, our grandson Jude, is having a surgery to reattach his small intestines. Right after he was born he contracted a very dangerous intestinal disease. It was a very concerning time for Josh and Kate and for all of us. Many people were praying for him and the Lord heard and answered our prayers for healing and protection. Well, today they are putting everything back together. This will greatly help Jude to grow and develop and it will ease the work that Josh and Kate have to do to care for Jude.

As with the first surgery, this surgery is the same in that what can I do? I find myself once again recognizing my absolute dependence upon the Lord to work and provide all our needs, both physical and spiritual. What can I do to help Jude or Josh and Kate? Though I might not be able to take away the circumstance, I have realized that there are things I can do.

One of the things I can do is be here. I almost wasn't. Before this surgery was scheduled I had committed to help lead and participate in a Sunday School conference. After arriving at the conference for a faculty meeting, I shared what was going on with Jude and immediately everyone there expressed that I should not be there but here in Kansas City. I didn't want to let anyone down and I was torn both ways. But their allowing me to be relieved from my duties made it much easier.

Another thing I can do is pray. Sometimes we think that prayer is insignificant when in fact it is the most important thing we can do. Who is it that can provide everything? It is the Lord and we need to go before His throne to petition Him for the things we need and to again declare our dependency upon Him.

Though there will always be things we can't do, look for the things you can do and then do it.

And it came to pass...

Discipline...who needs it?

I am thankful for the difficult times of life. Now, I don't always enjoy them but as I reflect upon some recent challenges, I realize that those things are intended to help me keep my focus on the One who is my strength and they have come to pass and not stay.

I am thankful for the winter season because it causes me to enjoy the spring weather and not take it for granted. Every season of life is beneficial but not always enjoyable.

Thus the topic for this writing. Discipline...who needs it? Now there are at least two ways of looking at discipline. Most likely, the first thing we think of is the discipline we receive when we have done something wrong and need to be corrected. Hebrews 12 :7-ff speaks to the discipline of God. This is the instruction we receive from the Lord as he teaches us through that instruction. (There is a lot more to say about the discipline of God. I will write about that at a later time.)

Another use of the word discipline is used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 9: 25-ff. Here the word is used to denote the physical restraint we place upon ourselves. It literally means to beat ourselves black and blue. Not that God intends for us to mutilate ourselves but it does mean that we are to restrain ourselves so that we do not become disqualified in serving the Lord. This could happen if we do not discipline ourselves and keep ourselves from drifting towards what comes natural.

The natural man craves what the flesh wants. That is comfort, peace, no expectations, no responsibilities, no work, eat drink and be happy. Apart from the Spirit of God we would all be doing these things to one degree or another. We would always take the easy road. The person who is filled with the Spirit of God, those who follow Christ, are different. We realize that this life is more than about us and that our lives are to lived out in the power and strength of the Lord. I believe this is why Paul used such harsh language when referring to the form of discipline he was involved in.

It takes great intentionality to live a disciplined life. Paul talks about how the athlete goes into "strict training" to be able to compete in the games. We see this example in the sports that we watch or the ones that we are involved in. Every competitor must discipline his life so as to train to participate in the sport. If they do not train and discipline themselves they will fail at and during the competition.

Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:8 "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." To be disciplined in the things of God will have eternal benefits. This does not mean I should let my body go and not care for it. Remember that "physical training is of some value".

As we live our lives here on planet earth may it be lived for the glory of God and that we live a life of discipline not only physically but more importantly spiritually.

Meeting the World

The weather has been a huge issue for us here in Kansas this year. It seems that winter has been happening for a year or two and most of us are more than ready for sunny days and warm temperatures.

Lately we have had some nice days and this past Tuesday we had an exceptional day to be outside so I took advantage of it and went on a 12 mile bike ride.

All winter I had my bike on what is called a trainer. It is a device that you put the back wheel of your bike in and then you "train" during bad weather or cold weather. Basically, it turns your bike into a stationary bike. (yada, yada, yada) Any way, I had been riding inside off and on, sadly more off than on, but I had spent a few hours each week pedaling my bike. I often would get warmed up and move my chain to the hardest gear and really get after pedaling. No problems at all at the hard gear. I sometimes felt as if I could pedal all day but often my rear could not go that long.

So, on Tuesday, I had the opportunity to get outside and ride. I left my bike in the harder range of gears and headed out to ride east of Salina. I soon realized that my gear selection was much harder in the "real" world than down in my basement on my trainer. I also realized that in the basement I did not have to fight cars, the wind nor climb hills. Riding inside can lure you into thinking you are stronger and have more endurance than you really have.

I liken this experience to living out our faith. The church is a wonderful place to come and receive biblical instruction, encouragement, discipleship and fellowship. Most of the time the church is a safe place from the difficulties we often face in the world. In the church, the opposition of that like cars, wind and hills are only slight and for the most part we are protected. But what happens when we leave the protection of the church building and all of it's wonderful benefits? What happens when we face the angry customer at our employment? What happens when we have to face the steep climb of going to our jobs where our boss or other co-workers oppose us because of our faith?

Out there in the world it can be a very different place to live than in the church community. And yet what we learn in the midst of protection will and ought to make us stronger to face the storms and evils schemes that the evil one throws our way. When we are faced with opposing views of creation, marriage, ethics or worldviews how do we handle them? Do we rest on the biblical teaching we have received, the training that we have done or are we so overcome with the cars almost hitting us, the strong wind or the steep hills that we give up and stop pedaling?

The training we receive in and through the church ought to help us out in the real world that we live in. Paul tells the Colossian church "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (Col.4:5-6) How do we know how to answer everyone? It is by the study of God's word. God's word must be studied, meditated upon and read if we are going to train ourselves to be godly and if want to have the strength do endure this life.
1Timothy 4:7 "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. (italics added)

Don't neglect the training.

A Great Question

Over the past few years I have noticed a phenomenon. Now, I of course am not a food scientist, but there is a situation that has caused me great alarm in the cookie realm of life. As many of you know I greatly enjoy chocolate chip cookies. Since the beginning of my life I have had a chocolate chip cookie in one hand and a chocolate chip cookie in the other. I really like chocolate chip cookies.

The one thing that I have noticed about chocolate chip cookies is that if they are combined in an storage bag or container with, let's say oatmeal raisin or snicker doodles (which I feel is a total waste of sugar and flour and eggs and vanilla, etc), the chocolate chip cookies take on the aroma of those other cookies and they even taste like those other cookies. This, in my book, is a great tragedy. Why does this happen? Are the chocolate chip cookies so weak in their own aroma and flavor that they cannot resist becoming another cookie even though at their core they are chocolate chip cookies? Does this transfer of aroma and flavor happen because they spend too much time with those other cookies in a sealed environment?

Jesus said "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12)

As a follower of Jesus his presence and light resides in me and hopefully is being reflected in all that I do. But what happens if I spend too much time in worldly pursuits? What happens if my saltiness loses it's saltiness? I become no good for anything except to be trampled on by men (Matt 5) In 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 the Apostle Paul teaches about the relationship between believers and unbelievers. He says what does righteousness have to do with wickedness or light with darkness? This doesn't mean we exclude unbelievers from our lives. If we did that how would they see or hear the truth of the gospel. Paul is speaking to partnership, intimate relationship. What most often happens is that the life for the believer, in an inappropriate relationship with an unbeliever, always becomes difficult. It seems that the unbeliever has more influence on the believer than the other way around. There is to be godly separation between an unbeliever and believer. This may mean that we are friends with an unbeliever but that we don't always go to the places they go or do things that they always do or listen to the music they listen too or watch the same T.V. shows they do. Jesus set for us the perfect of example of hanging out with "sinners" and yet he never was overtaken by their sin. His life always affected theirs. This is our supreme example. We ought to be so close and rooted deep in the Word and resting in the power of God that our life impacts those we hang with, especially those who are unbelievers.

This summer I will be cycling with guys, that for most of them, don't know the Lord in a personal way. Oh I pray my life will be lived in such a way that it positively affects them to ask for the reason for the hope that is in me. May this be the case for all of us as we do life in our place that God has put us. Don't be like a chocolate chip cookie when hanging with an oatmeal raisin cookie that you begin to smell and taste like an oatmeal raisin. Rather, may you always smell and taste like a chocolate chip cookie or better yet, may we smell and taste like Christ, the sweet aroma of grace and mercy and salvation.

Jude

This past Sunday was a special moment for Shelly and me. We were able to hold Jude for the first time. He came home on Friday and then Josh and Kate invited us to KC for a Sunday afternoon dinner to celebrate and to just have some family time with them and Jude.

The past four months have been filled with great excitement as Jude was born to moments of total helplessness as he faced surgery to repair the hole in his stomach which caused his intestinal disease. These past months have especially been trying for Josh and Kate with the "worry" that parents go through when their child is ill and thier future is uncertain. Yet, through it all, I witnessed my son lead Kate and himself to remain faithful to the Lord and to share their journey through CarePages.

I also recognize that my own journey of faith has been strengthened by Josh and Kate's journey and I have once again recognized the mercy and grace of God that has been with Jude and the things provided for him at every level. God has provided these things through the medical staff at Children's Mercy in KC and through the many prayers lifted on Jude's behalf. I must also recognize the will of God in Jude's life. God desires for Himself to be glorified and through Jude's life and the witness of Josh and Kate, I have glorified my Father in heaven.

As we were there in KC, I don't remember the exact conversation, the comment was made that the past four months now seem like a blurr or they seemed to have passed quickly now that Jude is home. I know that its our perception with things like this but I think that God provides that perspective so that we don't become so overwhelmed we get totally discouraged. The whole basis for this blog is to help me and you, the reader, to know that things don't always last forever whether good things or bad things. I am so glad that the last four months have "come to pass" and we can now begin to look forward to what may come.

Blessings

Where you at

In the course of life we sometimes come to a point on the road and wonder "how did I get here from there?". In my long and illustrious life (of 44 years) all of a sudden I realize that I'm older now than I was (duh)and I will not get any younger so where am I?
I have been on a journey the past 2 years that I never thought I would be on. There have been many changes that I have endured that have sought to bring me low and yet I find myself not low but different. For to long I have assumed so many things and have, to one extent or another, been adrift in a sea of complacency and predictability (if that is possible, I mean what is really predictable?) Things that I once thought certain and unquestionable are now things I wonder if I have totally missed it.
One thing is sure, none of this has caught God by surprise. In Acts 17:26, Luke recording what Paul said, it states "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live." This is an incredible verse. God is omniscient and omnipotent so of course he can determine the time set for me and determine the exact place I should live but I have not thought that way. My mindset is to think that I have determined these things. I do have responsibility to do obey and do what is that God wants but it is God at work. The road or journey that we are on is an opportunity to know God and to understand what He wants to do in and through our lives. God is the author and perfecter of our faith. He calls us to be holy, obedient, loving followers of Christ and in the context of that relationship is able to do wonderful and marvelous things that we would have never comprehended even if were given the opportunity to look into the future.
Don't waste what you are going through with self-pity or feelings of abandonment. God knows where you are. Sometimes we don't know why we go through some of the stuff we do but God does. His ways are perfect and in weakness His power is made perfect. Remember that if you belong to the Lord He only has your best interest in mind and greater than that He has His glory in mind, so give it to Him; all of it.
Take a moment and consider where you at today (I know, bad grammar, sentence structure, sounds like a 3 year old speaking). Thank God he knows where you are and the plans He has for you.

Missing the Obvious

Okay, so the other day I am in Kansas City, MO visiting Josh, Kate and Jude. After our visit with Jude I am leaving the hospital with Kate and Shelly and I am riding in the backseat. Now if you know me, riding in the backseat is a rare thing. As we headed back to Josh and Kate's apartment and I am in the backseat looking around, I spot a LaMar's Donut Shop. Due to me not driving I am not paying attention as well as I should have to the location of the shop but decide that on Saturday morning I will get up early and go get some donuts, another thing I rarely do.
I head out on Saturday morning and make my way to Main street in KC in the Westport area. In my mind I am thinking that I saw LaMar's setback from the road. I drive slowly down Main looking for the shop. I don't see it. Thinking that I must have passed it I make a u-turn through a strip mall parking lot to head back. Then I think "no it must be further down or on a different road". So I head north. I still don't find it. I head over to another road, Gillham I think, then head back south. Still no shop. So I go back over to Main and I notice on a sign with Home Depot on it that it has other signs below it. One of the them says "LaMar's Donut Shop". And I say to myself,"self, I was just by here two other times". Sure enough there it is. It is located in the strip mall that I had previously made the u-turn in. Well, by the time I realize it I have missed the turn-in and have to go another block to make another u-turn so I can come back and go to LaMar's!!
Good grief!! It was so OBVIOUS!! And yet I missed it three times.

OK, here is the point. Paul says to the Romans "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" Romans 1:18-20

God does not play "pick-a-boo" with us nor does he want us missing the obvious. As Psalms states "The heavens declare the glory of God". If we will take just a moment and consider all that God is and has done, we will quickly recognize that God is at work; blessing, providing, sustaining, protecting, leading, instructing and the list could go on. Don't miss what God has made plain to us. He has demonstrated his love for us. Don't miss the obvious. Don't keep driving around thinking you know best. Get the direction you need from his word. Let that direct you and guide you to the place the Lord wants you.

One thing is sure, I will never forget where LaMar's Donut Shop is. May we never forget the obvious or the things that God has plainly made known to us.

More Attributes of God

As we continue to look at the attributes of God please think about the difference these make in your life. When you get to really know someone you have affections for them, you trust them and sometimes you begin to think alike. I believe the same is true when we get to know God more deeply. Thus, the reason for me sharing these attributes of God. I not only hope I will grow deeper in love with God but I hope you will as well. Here are two more attributes that I hope will help you know God better and more intimately.

God is eternal. That is, He has no beginning nor end. He is not bound by time. God was, is and will always be God. Moses said in Psalms 90:2 "Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." Elihu makes this statement in Job 36:26 "How great is God - beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out." Jesus, in defending who he was said, "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am." God is eternal and because he is eternal what are we afraid of? Nothing should frighten us because God is eternal.

God is omnipresent, that is God is always present, he is everywhere at all times. It is important to note that God is not everything, as some would want us to believe. God is not a tree or bush or an animal or even a human (Except Christ came in human form yet was absolutely God) In Psalm 139:7-10 David records "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there, your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." What a great attribute! God is not some far away God that is not involved in his creation. He is omni (all) present (close to, here). This should bring us comfort and concern. We should be comforted to know that God is always with us, leading us, instructing us but we should be concerned as well that were we go he goes and what we do he is apart of. He is not a God who watches from a distant but he is near. Jesus promised in Matthew 28 that he would never leave us nor forsake us. God is omnipresent.

Attributes of God

This week in our staff devotion time we are looking at a few of the attributes of God. A.W. Tozer list 20 different attributes from Sovereignty to holiness to omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience. I whole-heartedly recommend A.W. Tozer's two books on this subject.

In this post let me share very briefly two of the attributes of God.

First there is Self-Existence. God has always been. He is the I AM of Exodus 3: 11-15. He didn't come into existence He has always existed. Acts 17:24-25 states "The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything."

Second, there is his immutability. This means that God never changes. He can always be trusted and will never be impulsive, unpredictable or moody. Malachi 3:6 states ""I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed." Also in James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

I would encourage you to study more about these attributes and know God in greater and deeper ways. I will share more attributes on my next post. Thanks for reading.

Living in a perfect world?

One of the things that I have noticed lately is how media projects an image of perfection. We see ads about having the perfect abs or legs or total body. We are bombarded with scenes of happy families enjoying all the creature comforts this world has to offer. Perfect teeth, perfect hair, perfect clothes, perfect home, perfect car, etc. But is this reality?
Over the years of ministry that God has allowed me to be involved in I sometimes see the other side of what the advertiser often portrays. I see individuals and families at the lowest points of their lives, wondering where the next meal or job will come from. Sometimes our circumstances are directly related to our own choices. I am afraid that all we see is the "perfect" side of life and for most of us it's just not reality.
Life is difficult and sometimes ugly. Teenage girls are constantly seeing ads of perfect beauty that is really unattainable. So, what's the answer or cure for all this superficial beauty and lie of perfection? Jesus Christ.
Jesus said that as believers we would have trouble in this world but not to lose heart, He has overcome the world. Nothing is perfect here. The standard we live by ought to come from the word of God and not "Vanity Fair". The reality is that everything in the world is fading away and one day will be destroyed. Cars will breakdown and rust, clothes will go out of style and deteriorate, flawless skin will one day get wrinkles, bodies will wear out. We were not made to live forever here but in heaven with the Lord. The choices we make here will determine our eternal destiny. Today is the day of salvation. If you hear His voice turn to Christ in repentance and faith. The result will be a changed life for here and now and for eternity.
We are not living in a perfect world. The world to come,the one in heaven, is perfect. So, which one do you want?

The Long Cold Winter

This winter has been one for the record book. We have had snow on the ground for weeks and went through several weeks of sub-zero wind chills. After a while, one day of 30 degree weather and a little sunshine is truly a blessing.
Life is like this. There are seasons we go through and depending on your age you will find that your life is in winter, spring, summer or fall. Solomon, in the wisdom that God gave him, commented that "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:" (Ecc 3)and then he list those things that we have all gone through.
Some of you might find yourself in the winter season where things seem cold and unpleasant. Some might be in the spring where things are new and growing. Still others might be in summer where it's hot and sticky or some find themselves in the fall season as some things come to an end.
I want you to know that whatever season you are in, God is sovereign and is in control of it all. When the wind is blowing -30 or the sun is beating down 100+, the God who created all things cares about you and your life. He wants our life to bring Him glory. No matter the circumstances, we may be in, He deserves the glory because He is God. He is Creator, Sustainer, Provider, Defender, Author and Perfecter of our faith, Holy, Righteous, Omnipresent, Omniscience, and Omnipotent.
I want to encourage you and me that no matter what we face the Lord is worthy of our praise, so let's give it to Him.
When I think of this winter season I remind myself of this statement...and it came to pass. Blessings

A Noble and Good Heart

Today I spoke at the Salina Christian Academy. I tried to communicate the Parable of the Sower to kids 3 years old to High School. Do you know how difficult that is? Fortunately they were in separate groups.
This parable is found in Matthew 13 and Luke 8. The relation between a seed like the wheat seed and the Seed spoken of in this parable, which is the Word of God, is really amazing.
The wheat seed has within it's shell everything needed to produce a harvest 30, 60 or even 100 fold. The Word of God contains everything we need for life and godliness (1 Peter). The Bible lacks nothing in the way of producing fruit and a harvest in the life a believer, the one who hears, understands, retains and preservers - the good soil. All it needs is good soil in which to grow and thrive.
The other thing I have learned about wheat is that is must be sown by itself, with no other crop and especially it cannot be grown with weeds. The wheat just can't compete. The weeds always win over the wheat. The weeds choke it out, taking all the moisture and the needed nutrients for the wheat to grow. As hard as it is to believe the seed, the Word of God, will be choked out by the thorny ground. The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches will choke out the word in that person's life and they never go on to maturity. As strong as the Word of God is it can't compete. This is why Jesus instructed us that we can only have one master. It will be either money or God.
What kind of soil are you? I hope that today you are good soil, that you have a good and noble heart for the Word of God to plant and that the roots will go deep in your life and you will allow God to produce a harvest in your life through His Word.

The Hand of God

Outside my window, of my office, there is a 3 foot snow drift. Snow drifts are both beautiful and dangerous. When they form in your yard they are beautiful as they are formed by the wind into long flowing arches of whiteness. They are dangerous when that same wind whips drifts across roads making it perilous to drive.
The wind is a maker of snow drifts but they are random, ill placed and sometimes dangerous. God's hand on our lives is different. There is purpose, intentionality and a reason for us being where we are. I am reminded of the Old Testament use of the clay and Potter.
Isa 64:8 Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Jer 18:6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

This is a wonderful reality for the believer to know that God is at work in your life on purpose with a purpose. Let Him form you by and to His will.

Hope in the midst of grief

Grief is a real emotion. To be sad or have sorrow is something the Lord demonstrated to us at the death of his good friend Lazarus. We all have grieved the loss of a relationship or at rejection. Most of us have grieved over the death of someone we cared about and loved deeply. In my experience, people deal with or express their grief in various ways. Some are quiet, some are more vocal in expressing their grief with crying, or fits of anger, frustration and questions of why. People grieve in many ways and I try to let them grieve however it may express itself.
For those who are followers of Christ there is a difference in how we ought to grieve. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Paul states "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope." For the believer who is left behind we are to grieve but we are to grieve with hope. Hope of what? Hope in this sense is a confident expectation of what the Lord will do. Our hope is in Christ whether we live or die. His promises are true and we wait in eager expectation to see all of them fulfilled. God never abandons those who belong to him. So like the Apostle Paul who said in Philippians 1:20-21 "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Grieving is never easy and there are not "pat" answers to it. We must look to the Lord and his word whenever we face these difficult situations.

My first real blog

Today I embark on a journey that I hope some will take with me. I am a husband, father, grandfather, and Pastor. My life is probably much like yours in the fact that sometimes things are going well and then other times they aren't. I hope to share life and more importantly what God is doing in my life in an attempt to display His glory, learn more of what His Word says and encourage those who might read this blog.
I don't promise to write something everyday but I do expect to write often.
"And it came to pass..." These words have encouraged me over the years and so I hope to encourage you in your life. I won't be selling any books I've written, because I haven't written any, yet. Nor will I be posting a website with my name as the address. I'm just a guy, on a journey following Jesus, that wants to share thoughts, experiences and struggles with anyone who will be willing to read this blog.