The Good, The Bad, and The Perfect

I live in the country and our front yard covers about three acres of open field, mostly tall grasses, milkweed, and goldenrod.   One gorgeous summer day about five years ago my (then) six year old son Collin and I had a great idea.  "Let's mow down a big area of the front yard and turn it into a soccer field."  We grabbed the mower, set the blade way up high and off we went.  One big rectangle down, I began to mow back and forth the length of the field with Collin right behind me.  He was having a ball,  running, jumping, and laughing at the top of his lungs.  He was laughing so loudly that I could hear him over the sound of the engine.  Then the thought hit me, "That doesn't sound like laughter at all but screams!"  I turned to see him surrounded by hornets.  They were everywhere and I could see them on his face and his arms as he screamed and flailed his arms wildly.  His terrified eyes met mine and and in an instant I ran into the swarm, scooped him into my arms, and ran.  I was brushing hornets off of him as I ran and I kept telling him that he would be OK.  He got stung.  I got stung.  We both survived.  Collin and I both learned some things that day.  Aside from the nastiness of angry hornets, we both had a real sense of the love a father has for his son and what we are willing to do for them.

The immediate connection between this real life drama and God's love for mankind may be readily apparent but I want to stretch you a bit.  I want to start with the less obvious and what will likely not feel so comfortable then I'll finish with the part that will bring you a bit more peace.

Let me ask you a question?  If you knew that there was a hive of very dangerous hornets in the middle of your proposed soccer field would you drive your lawn mower over them, your little child it tow?  Unless you are deeply disturbed, the answer will probably be, "No!"  Well, I'm not all knowing and I'm trapped in the confines of linear time and I don't know the beginning from the end.  I had no way of knowing the danger I was getting us into.  If I did, I wouldn't have done it.  I would have protected my child (and myself) from pain.  Here is the difficult part.  God knew the hornets were there.  He knew my plans and he saw the consequences before they happened. Yet, he didn't step in and prevent it.  Is it that he was unaware?  The Bible says God is sovereign over his creation and he reminds us concerning a sparrow that "not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father."  Jesus knew Peter would deny him before hand.  Is it that he is unable?  A God who is unable to no god at all.  The Bible says that he controls the winds, the waves, the creatures of the sea, and can move mountains.  I think a little hive of hornets is well within his control.

Do I know why God allowed this to happen?  Nope.  But I do know that love was made evident through it.  Courage and altruism was made known.  My son and I grew closer in one minute than we could have in a year.  This also reveals a God who's ways are beyond ours and one who's character has aspects of love and also of wrath.  I'm not saying I was being punished or that my son was but I'm also not certain that I wasn't.  I know I deserve it at times.  Collin (God bless his soul) is no angel either.

Lastly I want to tie in the beauty of this scene to the truth of Christ.  In the moment we were getting ourselves into trouble and were surrounded by the threat of death (physical and spiritual) Jesus Christ stepped into the swarm and swept up his children, taking the pain and suffering on our behalf.  His love was that great.  Jesus gave his life for us.  But here is a mind stretcher.... The Bible says it was the Lord's will to crush him.  God willingly allowed his son to die.  Evil?  No amazingly loving.  But hard to fathom.  The Bible is full of things that are easy and things that are hard to hear.  Let's not shy away from either but soak all of it up knowing that all things together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.

As I have seen God's character being put forth either as one who is standing above us wanting to crush us for our mistakes or, conversely as a God who is all love and wants us just to be happy and comfortable, I am urging you to see God as one who's love is beyond our comprehension but who's holiness and justice is equally perfect.  Read the Word, seek his face, and Jesus said the truth will set you free.

Peace,

David

A Dead Brother, a Sad Dad, and a Betrayed Savior. Pride and Greed Trump Relationship.

Today my heart is heavy and I am personally reminded again of the brokenness of the human heart.  I am sadly experiencing first hand how sin has clouded our vision and leads us to harm our brothers, our friends, our neighbors.  It started in the Garden of Eden when Cain took the life of his brother because he was jealous.  We haven't changed much but then again if we had, I guess Jesus would've been able to stay home.


This post is going to ruffle some feathers but I'm going to let the chips fall where they may and leave you to examine my words in light of God's Word and then examine your own hearts.  I promise to do the same.


We live in a society that is increasingly feeling "entitled."  We think we deserve this and we deserve that.  It doesn't really matter where the "this" and "that" come from as long as we get it and regardless of who gets hurt.  Even our own Declaration of Independence tells us that we deserve "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Watch the news, read the paper, and if you have a lot of spare time on your hands read the budget of the United States.  I won't go into all of the specific "entitlements" but each one necessitates  the receiver receiving and some anonymous person or persons giving (either willingly or unwillingly).  Here is a good example from God's Word:


In Luke Chapter 15 Jesus tells a parable of a young man who asked his father for his share of the inheritance.  What he was saying was "Dad, I kind of wish you were dead now so I could have the money I'm entitled to but since you aren't dead yet, may I have it now?"  WOW!  How painful for the dad who gave so much of himself over so many years and when it came right down to it money trumped relationship.  


Do you know what the bible tells us we're entitled to?  Nothing.  No, I take that back.  The bible does say we deserve something - death.  How unconstitutional.  How revolting.  How true.  The bible says that we've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death.  That is the very reason Jesus did leave home and come to die.  God doesn't owe us a thing. But because of his love he chooses to love us.


Oh yeah, another story just popped into my head.  There was this man named Judas who Jesus chose to be one of his closest followers.  Jesus had come from the perfection and majesty of the throne room of heaven to live, suffer, and die for mankind.  While he was alive he loved Judas and broke bread with him but Judas felt he could do a little better that just the beauty of the relationship.  "How much better?" you ask.  Thirty pieces of silver better.  I'm sure Judas hugged Jesus, told him he loved him, and acted like he cared but when the opportunity came for a little cash, Judas cashed in their relationship.  He kissed Jesus on the cheek about ten seconds before he betrayed him.  He sacrificed the love of Jesus for a little cash and when he finally looked upon his measly gain he was repulsed at what he saw in the proverbial mirror.  He then took his own life.  Sad.  He had love and eternal life and tossed it away for a few coins.


So how are we supposed to live?  I guess the answer is that we need to live a life that brings glory to God with what we have and trust in him for our provision.  We should remember that relationships are an amazing gift and money, sex, material things will come and go.  Make your choices carefully. There are a couple lives that shine and I want you to have the ability to see them first hand. They would appear to have been short changed and unable to function effectively for God or even for there own sustenance but with God all things are possible.


Meet Joni Erickson Tada who was paralyzed from the neck down in a swimming accident.


Watch Video of Joni 


Meet Nick Vujicic who was born without arms or legs


Watch Video of Nick




Examine your heart and I'll examine mine today.  What is most valuable to you?  The things of this world or love, specifically God's love but also the love and relationships of brothers and sisters in Christ?  Do we speak love with our lips when our actions reveal the coldness of our hearts?  Actions speak louder than words.  Families divided, friends divided, and a people separated from their Savior.  What do I deserve and to what am I entitled?  Hmmmm.  I thank God that he didn't give me what I deserve but had mercy on me instead.


peace,


David

Worship - It's a Heart Thing

Worship?

What is worship really?  I think we've contorted its meaning in many ways and I am equally guilty at times, so I'd like to address the idea of worship.

1)  I think it would be good to start with it's definition.

noun

- the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity

2)  I want to focus not on the "feeling" but the "expression" of reverence and adoration for a deity.  Not just any deity but the one true God.  Feelings come and go but expression is a choice.  How do we express our reverence and adoration toward God?

It's interesting that when we speak of worship in the church we often mean the musical portion of the Sunday service.  There is worship, communion, the sermon, prayer time, etc.

"Wow, worship was great today.  I loved that song by Third Day"

Worship may happen during the "praise" or during the delivery of the message but it's also possible that worship doesn't occur at either time because worship is a thing of the heart.

3)  It's also important to see the direction of worship.  It's up.  From us to HIM.  It's not about how a song made us feel, which instruments were played, or even exclusively about music at all.  It's about pouring out our love, appreciation, adoration, and hearts to God.

Let me give an example:

Imagine that your spouse, or child, best friend, or parent has been shipped overseas and you haven't seen or heard from them in 3 years.  Out of the blue a call comes in telling you to head to the airport because there is a surprise waiting.  When you get to the airport you walk to the baggage claim.  Off in the distance an unmistakable smile reaches your eyes.  Your heart pounds and when the person is within your reach you run and wrap your arms around them.  You cry tears of joy and squeeze them, not wanting to let go ever again.  You pour out words of love.

"I love you so much!  I missed you!  Please don't leave again.  You have no idea how much you mean to me!"

You lavish them with your love.  Now worship is that on steroids.

4)  You might ask, "How can it be more than that?"  The answer is in the recognition of position, that God is high and lifted up.  He is holy and awesome.  With your friend or relative the position is theoretically equal.  But worship acknowledges that it is not equal with God.  He is God and we are not.  He does indeed love us but he will not bow down to us.

5)  Worship is also about posture, not our physical posture (although it can certainly lead us to fall prostrate before him or to our knees in prayer).  It is more of a reflection of our heart's posture.  It comes out of a humble heart.  It's impossible to be prideful and boastful before God and truly worship.

Worship is what we do at work, in our kitchens as we prepare to feed our families, in our heads as we fall asleep, in our church gathering as we sing songs of praise.  I know as a member of a praise band that if someone is out of tune, if there is nasty feedback, or if someone forgets which key we are in it can be annoying and distracting but it does not affect true worship.  Satan may try really hard to get our attention and attempt to turn our focus from God to ourselves.  Let's not let him.  I have a friend who loves the Lord.  His voice is mediocre at best from a worldly standpoint but when he pours out his admiration to God in song or praise I know God smiles.  By the way, I usually don't get a microphone during worship but I know God smiles when he hears my voice even if I am flat, sharp, or two beats behind.

As we move into this next week let's remember the definition, the expression, the direction, our position, and our posture before the Lord.

Worship Him friend!!!  

Love you all,

David

Humble Pie

Have you ever had to eat humble pie?  Maybe that phrase is foreign to you so let me say it this way: 


Have you ever been forced to apologize abjectly or admit you faults in humiliating circumstances? 


The old saying is derived from an actual pie that was called "numble" or "umble" pie.  It was a pie that was made from the edible entrails of a deer.  Sure they were mixed with apples and sugar and spices but as far as I can tell it was still deer gut pie.  My guess is that if you wanted your kids to eat a slice there was a fair amount of persuasion or force involved.  


So it is often with humility.  We are a prideful people and we often display humility as willingly as we put down a slice of "umble pie".  Its no wonder the term evolved into "humble pie".  But God's word reminds us that if we carry pride it will eventually destroy us.  It is much better to willingly be humble of heart than to carry pride and be forced to eat "humble pie."  


Proverbs 16:18 puts it this way:


Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.


Haughty is defined as: having or showing great pride in oneself and disdain, contempt, or scorn for others; proud


God warns us that a spirit filled with pride is destined to fall.  Sometimes it is in this life and worse it may be paid for in the afterlife.  I think that pride is the basis for nearly all other sin.  It is was says, "I deserve this!", "I can do what I want!", "I am my own boss!", etc.  Pride is what keeps us from repentance and from receiving the loving grace of God.  "I don't need that!  I'm a good person!  I'm better than the guy next door."  


Psalm 10:4 says, "In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God."  


Pride keeps us from seeking God and from seeking life though his son Jesus Christ.


On the other hand, Jesus said, "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" and Psalm 149 says, "He crowns the humble with victory."


Take advice from a man who was filled with pride and refused to humble himself before God.  Save yourself the pain of a fall and seek God while he may be found.  There is such freedom and forgiveness in humbly coming to the cross.  Jesus said he came to save sinners.  We're all broken and have nothing to be haughty about so look truthfully at yourself, find any speck of pride and ask God to rid you of it.  I still fight with pride but the moments of humility that I find are sweet like honey because that is when I most clearly see the hand of God.


Besides, I don't think I want to eat one lousy slice of deer gut pie!


Peace friend,


David

Christmas - The Rest of the Story

A baby in a manger, a small group of wisemen, and a shepherd boy. . .  decorated trees, presents, and a large bearded man in a strange red suit.  What's it all about?  I've heard people say it's about spending time with people you love and about "holiday cheer." I've heard people say it's about hope and love and counting our blessings.  OK, I can accept that, kind of.

As our worship team gathered at church last week to discuss our Christmas eve. service I had an unsettled feeling.  What if Christmas was just about the baby Jesus.  I mean it's an amazing thing, God coming out of heaven in the form of a poor baby.  This alone is almost beyond comprehension but what does it mean?  I mean how does God being born in the flesh bring us hope?  What if that was the end of the story?  The wisemen pack up their camels and head back East.  The shepherd boy goes back to the hills to tend his sheep.  The bright star fades away.  Mary and Joseph load up the donkey and take their baby boy back to Nazareth. Life goes on as usual.   The first Christmas was a beautiful thing but without the rest of the story it makes little sense.  Why was I unsettled? Why?  Because I think many people and certainly many Christmas celebrations make no connection between the manger and the cross.  As a matter of fact, many Christmas celebrations leave Christ out all together.  But that is a different issue, one that I will likely address before Dec. 25th.

How was this this little baby in the manger hope for the world?  What was the problem with the world anyway?  Famine?  Disease?  Discrimination?  War?  Sure, all these things were going on and people were in need of help.  But what could a baby do?  As the baby grew, he did feed the hungry (5000 at one time with a couple fish and a few loaves of bread), healed the sick (He even brought a few dead people back to life), and brought dignity to the outcast (a prostitute, a tax collector, and a group of lepers) but as far as I can tell we still have the same problems today.  Maybe it was just a short term fix.  Maybe he was just to be just an example.  Was the baby born to show us the right way to live so that we could have a better world?  Maybe.  I think that was part of it but we must have missed it somehow because we're clearly no better off than we we were 2000 years ago.  At least as far as the eyes can see.

There must have been something more.  There must be more to the story.  If the baby was to really bring hope and peace to the world then there must be something that we're missing.  We have to hear the rest of the story.  That was it!  That was why I was unsettled.  I needed to make sure that when we tell the story of the baby in the manger we CAN'T leave out the part about the grown man and the cross.  It was why he came (at least a major part of the reason).  Without the rest of the story, we could lump Jesus in with the rest of the people who brought us hope (Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa, Gandhi, and the like).

Here's my point: Jesus (Emanuel "God with us") came to save us from something WAY worse than famine, WAY worse than disease, WAY worse than war.  He came to save us from ourselves.  He came to save us from the power and the penalty of sin.  He did that not as a baby in a manger but as a man on a cross.  Three days after he was placed in the grave he rose bodily and was seen by hundreds of people then ascended into heaven. This is the rest of the story which makes that amazing day in Bethlehem so amazing, even more amazing (if that is possible) than God being born in human flesh.

Jesus Christ came to save sinners. He came to seek and to save that which was lost.  He came as a sinless man to become sin for us.  He came to give his life as a ransom for many.  He came to conquer the grave and to give us the hope of eternal life.  That's the rest of the story!  When you see Christmas lights, hear carols, buy gifts, and bring cookies to the office party please don't forget the baby Jesus and when you remember him don't forget the rest of the story, Calvary.  If you are a follower of the Savior than don't forget to tell others the rest of the story.  Someone you know just might need to hear some good news!

Peace in Christ (both the Christ child and the risen Savior)

David

Seeing With Your Spiritual Eyes . . . Seeing Past The Problem

I had a pretty cool grandfather who lived in Raleigh, NC.  I only saw him once a year or so and since he passed away when I was young, I have very few memories of him.  But, the one thing I can still see like a well preserved movie clip was him leaning over, showing me his thumb and then with a tug, pulling his thumb in half.  I could see right through it like it had been sawed neatly in two. Then, just like that, he pushed the two parts back together, put up his hand, and wiggled his now one-piece thumb.  He would smile, wink,  then walk away as I sat there with my mouth gapping open.  Cool trick but it wasn't long before I figured it out and the illusion lost its power.


Read these words from Paul's second letter to the Corinthians:


Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)


This truth is HUGE!  What we see is not all there is!  Actually, what we don't see is more real and longer lasting.  It's like the silly thumb trick. Sure it looks scary and unfixable but it's not.  Paul is telling us (those who have trusted Christ) that we are not to lose heart because even though things may seem impossible or hopeless on the outside, we are growing closer and closer to God and to a time when all the troubles will fade away.  He tells us to "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen."  How in the world do we fix our eyes on something that is unseen?


When I understood that my grandfather's finger wasn't really coming apart, when I just knew in my heart and head the truth, it didn't matter how well he pulled off the trick.  I just didn't buy it anymore.  I could see right though the illusion even though my eyes still saw the finger separate and come back together.  My mind's eye took power over my eyeballs! 


When we begin to grab hold of the truth of the Word and the character of God our spiritual eyes begin to see beyond what our eye balls see and what our remaining four senses discern.  When we lose our job and our eyes see our financial statements looking dim we trust in the Lord of all provision to carry us, not because our eyes see a solution but because our spirit knows there is one.  


Today, our worship leader pulled out this verse in Matthew Chapter 7.  In it Jesus told his disciples about the faithfulness of God:


 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."


I've lived long enough in the grace of God to know that even though I sometimes see a stone or a snake as an answer to my prayer, it can't be true because God doesn't lie.  That snake is like the thumb trick. If I am a born again child of God it is certainly a fish.  My temporary suffering will ALWAYS work for the good for me, for someone else, and for the Glory of God.  Always!


Our job is to begin to consciously make the effort to "FIX OUR EYES" on what is unseen so that we can indeed be "renewed day by day" and attain a FOREVER future that is beyond anything we can hope for or imagine.  


Ultimately it's a choice.  Where we fix our eyes is up to us.  Don't be fooled by Satan's lies and tricks.  His tricks are no more truth than my grandfather's thumb trick.  They certainly seem much bigger and scarier but God is ALWAYS in control of the outcome.


As always, please write us a note or comment if you need prayer or have a question.


Peace!


David

Don't Give Up!

Are you tired?  Is your hope dwindling or even gone? Has joy left you or maybe it never seemed to be part of your life?  Please know this:  Your are not alone!! You are loved beyond measure!!  You are valuable in God's sight!!  


I know that these words alone may seem powerless to provide the hope and power to change the way you feel and even more powerless to change your circumstances but they are none-the-less TRUTH and Jesus promised that the truth would set your free.


I want to share with you some things today that you may need to read over and over before they sink in and take root but you have to start somewhere.  As far as I know no one ever got from here to there without moving ahead so please hold on and take a few steps with me.


1) God made you with purpose


     "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." Jeremiah 1:5


     God spoke these words to Jeremiah but understand that you too were created by God and known by him before one cell ever came to be.


2) God loves you


     "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8


     You see, God's love came to you before you cleaned up your act.  Not only did he love you when you were making mistakes he gave up his son for you.  If you have children you can ponder that for a moment to see the magnitude of the gift.


3)  You are not alone in the midst of your trials and temptations nor are they without a greater purpose


     "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10


     "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  James 1:1-4


     You've never learned, grown, or been strengthened without struggle.  Courage doesn't come without danger, compassion doesn't come without people in need, and faith doesn't come without a circumstance for which we see no resolution.  


4)  If you turn to God he will give you hope and that hope will give you strength!


     "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him."  Psalm 62:5


     "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  Isaiah 40:31


     Not only does God provide for you the hope but he also will turn that hope into real power!


5) This life and it's struggles are not the final word for those who trust in Christ.


     "He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4




I have known hopelessness and despair and have seen the power of Christ to restore hope and life.  I know that in the pit of loneliness, addiction, fear, and depression these words may not immediately bring you healing but you will be lifted up if you put your hope in God alone.  You may not feel it today or tomorrow but do not give up!  Our emotions are fickle.  They come and go.  Read and pray over these five truths today, maybe ten times today!  If you need help please talk to someone.  If you have no one to talk to feel free to drop us a note.  If your are contemplating ending your life STOP!  There are people who are there to help.  Click the link below and contact them, your parents, your pastor, or a friend. 


http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/


God loves you and so do we.


Peace,


David and the I-61 Project

Leftovers - Giving God Our Table Scraps

So here is the scene:  You're on the brink of winning a huge contract for your company.  It's potentially the biggest contract the company has ever seen and you're in the running for the raise of a lifetime.  Your boss tells you he'd like you to invite the CEO of the potential customer company to dinner at your home and of course you smile and say, "I'd love to."  


You send the invitation and receive an RSVP for both the CEO and his lovely wife.  You clean the house, set the table, and then you look into the fridge and grab that stuff in the Tupperware at the back corner of the second shelf, the half eaten tuna sandwich wrapped in cellophane, and the left over burrito you couldn't finish last Friday.  Hmmm? Dessert?  Ah ha! Apple Jacks!  I love Apple Jacks!  So you put out a couple cereal bowls and check the date on the milk.  Just a 2 weeks past the "best used by" date so you open the top and take a whiff.  A little stiff but certainly not enough to make anyone sick.  You set the table put out the leftovers and the doorbell rings.  It's going to be a good night!  NOT!


I know the example is a bit over the top but maybe not so far off when we compare it to our relationship with God.  It's interesting how little of our good stuff we really give to God.  Many of us spend our money all week long on frivolous things and then put a few bucks in the collection basket on Sunday.  We talk to our friends, watch TV, chat on Facebook, then give God a 2 minute prayer at bedtime.  We use our talents at work, on the golf course, and in our hobbies but volunteer our time a couple times a year.  Now I know that many of you are giving God your best stuff so keep it up but the rest of us need some help.


Giving God your best stuff has an origin from the very beginning of man.  In Genesis the story of Cain and Able revealed that God wasn't please with the leftovers.  In Malachi God reminds us that everything we have comes from him and when we withhold our best stuff from him we are "robbing" him. There is a concept of "First Fruits" that I'd like to share as well. The first crops that God's people would collect from their fields and give to God were called the first fruits. This was a sign that everything the land produced belong to God (Deuteronomy 26:1-15)


Now this is not a guilt trip but a wake up call.  You see God doesn't need our stuff but he does desire us and our hearts.  He knows what is best for us and when we short change God with our time and our stuff we are really hurting ourselves.  But there is something else that is equally important.  When we give God our "first fruits"others benefit.  People may benefit from our financial giving, our talents, our love, and maybe just our time. I won't belabor the point but take a few minutes and survey a normal week of your life and see how you're spending your money, your time, and your gifts.  How you spend things reveals a lot about your priorities.  If you are desiring an evening with the God of all creation you might want to leave the old tuna sandwich in the fridge.




Peace,  David

Llama feet - What do your spiritual feet look like?

OK, you're probably tired of references to my trip to SW Colorado but I was talking with a friend the other day and something hit us that was fairly germane to the Christian walk so I have to share it today.  He was telling me about an internet piece he had received about how amazingly well designed the camel was and I told him that the llamas we had for our mountain trip were equally well suited for what they do.  So, I want to share with you a little about llamas and then see how you fit into the story.


The Llama is a camelid (same family as the camel) that was raised mainly in the Andes of South America.  They, like the camel, can go for days without drinking water and the eat almost anything.  They can carry 25-30% of their body weight for miles, up and down steep hills.


But here is the part that got us thinking:  They have the weirdest feet! They have two big toes with large thick toenails.  Their feet are soft and not hooved and they walk on rocky terrain without a thought.  As we walked a narrow and often rocky trail at high elevation, the llamas travelled effortlessly and seemed not to be concerned with the occasional dangerous slope.  They would stop and eat the dried grass as if they were walking on flat ground.  Their weird feet were made for this and they llamas were comfortable there.  But, when we got down near the trailhead, the path leveled out and there was little slope.  This part of the trail was in the dark timber and since we had had some recent thunderstorms the path was muddy and a bit slippery.  No big deal.  But when the llamas feet hit the mud they immediately became uneasy.  They slipped and slid and looked like they were afraid of falling over. WHAT?  They weren't afraid of falling nine hundred feet on a narrow rocky trail but are afraid of tipping over on level ground.  The thing is that their feet were made for one terrain and not the other.  Perfect.  We brought them because we were going to hike in the mountains and for the most part, not in the mud.


So, what are your feet made for?  I mean this more globally actually.  What are you made for?  We are the body of Christ and we are all made differently, with different gifts.  Paul tells us in Ephesians Chapter four that,


"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."


Maybe you are an out front person who shares the Gospel with whoever will listen.  Maybe you have the gift of compassion and are more comfortable sharing a quiet hug.  Maybe you are a hands on person who would rather fix a neighbor's roof than talk about your "feelings".  The point is that God made the llama's feet different than he did a cat's, a dog's, or your feet.  But each can do something different.


Here is my challenge for you today.  Reflect on your feet.  No, not your literal feet but your gifts.  How has God built you? What is your role in the Body of Christ?  What is your role in the family, in your workplace, in your church?  Spend some time in prayer and asked God to help you discern your place in his family here during your time on earth.  If your work was done, he'd have called you home!!


Peace,


David

Deserts and Storms - God is Still with You

I was watching "Man vs. Wild" the other day and there was Bear Grylls walking through a seemingly endless desert and salt flat.  The sun was intense and the heat brutal. Bear was tired, dehydrated, and he resorted to drinking his own urine which he  had saved in a snake skin.  His eyes were nearly swollen shut as he made his way toward the coast. Then, just like that, it appeared; the ocean.  He ran and dove in.  It was cold and refreshing and led him to rescue.


I know that this doesn't sound much like the makings of a prim and proper Christian blog but then again Christianity doesn't exist in a world of clean, neat, and perfect.  It exists in a fallen and often brutal world where scenes like I just described pale in comparison to some much worse.  A week ago I was hunkered down in a tent high in the San Juan Mountains of SW Colorado as a nasty thunderstorm battered the landscape, lightening struck close to our camp, and fifty mile per hour winds nearly flattened our tent.  In the morning there was snow on the ground and thick fog limited our vision to about fifty yards.  Then just like that the fog lifted, the clouds moved on, and the bright sun shone in the blue sky.  The storm was over.  It was awesome.


Cancer, bankruptcy, infidelity, depression, fear. . . . I don't know what your desert or storm might be.  Maybe you're in a time of bright blue skies and the storms have already blown by.  Either way we need to see the sovereignty of God in both times.  The Bible is packed with examples of God's presence during the desert times and in the midst of raging storms.  Sometimes it was punitive.  He, like a good parent, was chastising his children to lead them back home.  Sometimes it was to reveal the character of those involved and sometimes his plan was completely hidden from man.  But never was God caught off guard or impudent in the situation.  


Moses lead the Israelites through the desert for forty years on the way to the Promised Land.  Joseph spent time at the bottom of a well, was sold into slavery, and spent time in prison before he became Pharaoh's right hand man.  Jonah took a detour into the depths of the ocean and spent a few days in the belly of a great fish before he found his way to the safety of the beach.  The Apostles trembled in fear as the waves battered their boat before the Lord Jesus commanded the wind and the waves to cease their fury. 


I know that my storms don't come close to storms that others have weathered and your storms my be bigger or smaller than mine.  I think that it doesn't really matter how our storms compare to other's because it never really seems to bring us comfort to know others have had more intense storms.  Like if you just went through a divorce and someone says, "Well, you should be thankful because there are children in Africa who haven't eaten in weeks."  There is little comfort in that.


So here are the two points I want you to take with you today:


1) God is in control as much during your desert times and storms as he is in your Promised Land.  His desire is always to draw you nearer to him because there is no better place to be.  I know it can be intensely difficult to cling to faith but call on him and he will be faithful.  Don't be afraid to reach out to brothers and sisters in Christ as well.  I don't know what I would do without those of you who have lent me a shoulder or and ear (you know who you are).  If you are in Christ, God promises that one day there will be a reward that "no eye has seen and no ear has heard"  In other words, nothing we have experienced here on earth can compare to what the Lord has prepared for those that love him.


2) If you are in the position to comfort someone in a storm, remember the words of Ephesians 4:29, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."  


Love you all,


David