Christmas Chaos Calmed By 4 Words…

In the early six am hour, I stumble from my bed. And my very first priority is to, with eyes half open – and long drawn out yawn, stand before the coffeepot with cup impatiently in hand.

Yesterday still reverberates and echos loudly in my ears, but I must be prepared for the onslaught that is this new day. What can I expect from this new one? Perhaps more hectic phone calls of fires I must put out? Most likely more kettle money to count, as well as a host of other public appearances…the day will eventually join all other days, which slowly blends and bleeds together becoming a cacophony of noise, fast driving, and not enough hours to complete every. single. task. It (my day) can become quite frustrating.

At the end of the day…

It is in the late night hour, when the lights have been extinguished, and the sounds of exhausted snores begin again, that I wonder if THIS is what I have signed up for? The restlessness, the anxiety, the stress, the responsibilities, the burden that they (whoever “they” are) has called the “mantle of leadership”. Is it worth it?

For I am drawn to the unfinished homework down the hall that my child needed my help on. That growing stack of dirty dishes, now elbow-high in the sink. The Mount Everest sized heap of laundry, a mix of colors and whites all blending together in some stained and stinky gym-socked odors that still remain downstairs- largely ignored. “T’is” the season” we say (laughing it off), as we run out the door having not eaten as much as we should and hoping we can spend more time with our children today than we did yesterday…or the day before that.

These are the things that guilt my slumber…but still I sleep (and snore), only to repeat the same maddening schedule all over again the next day, “Dear Lord, please either return today or make Christmas Eve speed up in my direction” I breathlessly, and continuously pray. This has become my mantra, my hope to cling to, my “light at the end of the tunnel” (which happens to sound a lot like the ringing of bells and the clanging of loose change from a crimson bucket).

I keep telling myself that this makes a difference, that what we do in these restless weeks matters, but it offers little comfort when fielding that phone call from an irate store manager, or a raging parent unsatisfied with the toys that we have to offer them (while we always put our best foot forward)…The mantra “We make a difference” is even a cold comfort when having to terminate another ringer for having sticky fingers and blatantly lying about it even when managers and customers have witnessed it a time or two.

Are we making a difference?
Am I making a difference?
Did I sign up for this?
Is this what God has asked us to do?
Better yet, am I really giving my all to God in the places and spaces that matter most?

And that’s when it hits me…
I have been going about this all wrong…
What is “this” you ask?

My attitude…
My motivation…
My determination…
My gifts and abilities…
ALL “MY”s….

But there are days when I must get away and recharge…
there are days when I must reconnect with the family…
there are days when priorities and responsibilities of ‘self’ wins out.

But here…
In this moment-
I feel the Holy Spirit breathe into me four simple words that strike the cord of truth deep within me. It lays to waste all of my hesitations, temptations, guilt and fears. It puts everything back together again. It restores my faith in humanity even after getting burned SO. MANY. TIMES…

He whispers those words into my busy day.
He whispers them into my chaotic heart and mind.
He whispers them and though the bell ringing continues, and the change from crimson buckets still falls, I find some clarity and solitude. (How ironic is that?!)

What are the four words you ask?
Perhaps it is something for all of us and all of our furious paced lives right now…

The words?

Thy Will Be Done…

Are you feeling the Christmas chaos yet?
Have you asked similar questions?
Do you feel the guilt of a crazy paced life right now?
You’re not alone!!

A Prayer We Can All Pray:
Lord, I want to be your servant today.
You know that I feel betrayed at times by those around me.
You know that I feel cheated out of a calmer life sometimes.
You understand the chaotic mess that is my life right now.
I pray your silent strength and shielded hope would surround me.
I pray you would increase as I decrease in all of these efforts today.
Grant me your strength and discernment for the tasks at hand.
Lead me Lord into Thy will.
-Amen.

Something more to ponder today!
By the way….you got this!
God Bless you!

December 8, 2016 3

3 Worship Songs God Hates

We must tread lightly here, for to insinuate that we know the mind of God is dangerous territory. However, what we know of Him and that of human interaction with the Almighty, there are certainly forms of worship God hates. Do you think the term “hate” is too strong? Does God hate?

There are many scriptures that describes the displeasure of God.
One prime example of this is Proverbs 6:16-19

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”

So with that being said, are there things that God hates?
I believe the answer is YES!

Can we then describe moments in worship and in song that could displease God? Absolutely! I should also clarify that the term “Worship Song” could be anything we do as we sing to God. It can contemporary, it can be traditional, or somewhere in the middle. Are there other things in “worship” other than song? Of course, but just for this discussion, we are zeroing in on the topic of “Song”…

Here are 3 Worship Songs God Hates:
Allow me to preface this with the following statement: If you were looking for specific names of songs that God possibly hates, sorry…that’s not what this particular blog post is about. Again, sorry to disappoint you, I won’t be roasting the latest Chris Tomlin song here today.

But here is what I think are 3 Worship Songs God Hates and why…

1 Songs Sung Out Of Obligation
Have you ever gotten up on a Sunday morning to lead worship and the songs you have selected aren’t really resonating with you? Sometimes it could be that we are just out of sync with our walk with the Lord…there are certainly seasons of life, and not everything is going to be peachy. But I believe God hates obligatory worship. Imagine if I were to give flowers to my wife simply because it’s the right thing to do, not that I want to, but rather because it’s expected. How do you think she would feel if, as I gave her the flowers, I said; “Here’s you weekly obligatory flower arrangement dear!”? Do you think she would enjoy them and feel loved in my gift of those flowers? Of course not!

In a way, when we sing songs of worship and adoration to God because we feel obligated, it’s like giving Him flowers that mean nothing to us and are given out of ritual not love and appreciation. God doesn’t want our obligatory worship songs and our meaningless attempts at worship – He wants it to mean something to us, something that aren’t just meaningless utterances of lyric lines and memorized scriptures. God hates obligatory praise!

2. Songs Sung Out Love For The Song
Which do we worship, God or our favorite song?
I’m not saying this happens all of the time, but sometimes those worship songs (or even hymns) we sing can become a false idol of our worship. We just don’t “feel” it when we aren’t singing just the right songs…but if that all time “fav” comes up – we are rockin’ and rollin’ with our hands raised high.

Let me ask a question – is it God that we worship or the song that we sing?
I would hope our answer would be “God”, but there is a danger of placing our favorite song on a place of worship instead of God himself. God hates the worship of idols – He is truly jealous for our worship and that of us. He wants all there is of us, not a portion – but our EVERYTHING! I fear at times, we place the love for a song over the love for God. Our worship cannot simply revolve around our emotions and how WE feel…We are to worship Him REGARDLESS of how we feel. Perhaps that is the toughest thing to do, yet through discipline and perseverance, we can!

3. Songs Sung To Display Talent (The Concert Performance)
Worship leader – beware! Worship was never about how good YOU sing or how Awesome your Guitaring or Piano-ing is… Seriously, if all we do in worship is try to emulate a Hillsong or Jesus culture/David Crowder concert, then we’re going about it all wrong and we need to stop!

Jesus called the Pharisees praying loudly in the streets so that everyone could hear and see them – Hypocrites or Actors. He certainly had a lot of harsh words to say to those kinds of people – people who knew better. He even went so far as to call them a brood of vipers. God abhors actors, fakers and hypocrites. Our worship of God ought not to be a circus displaying our vast array of talents for the world to see. Real worship isn’t about a concert or our aspirations to be the next big thing in the Top Ten CCLI Worship Leaders. All these things are earthly desires – as we strive for human accolades and praise.

Such things do not attempt to elevate the name of Jesus, but rather promote our name to the masses. In the words of U2 “Then they put Jesus in show business, now it’s hard to get in the door…” (God Would Send His Angels, U2)

God hates performances by actors and hypocrites that should have been about who He is, not who the performers are. Where is the depth of worship here? I’ll tell you – it’s about an inch deep and a yard wide. Do our best? Absolutely! But if what we do is called “Worship” but it’s not God we are adoring but rather the music and our abilities on stage, then perhaps it’s time to reassess and realign our motivation and goals once again.

Well, we have strolled lightly here today.
The Bottom line, God doesn’t want any substitutes or consolation prizes – He wants our hearts and our attention. Are there times when we worship with a divided heart or mind? Are our motivators God honoring or human praise seeking?

What do YOU think?
Something more to ponder today.
God Bless You!

November 23, 2016 0

Dear Salvation Army, Why Not Alcohol?

It might seem like an open and shut question to you, but it is certainly more complicated than that.

Scripture does not condemn the consumption of alcohol, many times it calls for the drinking of wine in celebration and as medicine (for Timothy – 1 Timothy 5:23). Of course, there is the warning of drinking too much wine – ^‘Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit…”(Ephesians 5:18). Even the disciples and Jesus drank wine. Some will contest that the wine of Jesus’ day was not very potent when it came to its alcohol content…but it still contained alcohol.

Some might contest that the position statement of The Salvation Army on alcohol is not necessarily based on Scripture, but rather societal experience:

“The Salvation Army encourages an alcohol free lifestyle as a way of enhancing the well being and health of all people. As a witness to this, Salvation Army soldiers choose to live an alcohol free life. The Salvation Army recognises the harm alcohol causes in individuals, families and communities. It advocates for reducing the consumption of alcohol, and it offers its services to support and restore people negatively impacted by alcohol use.” (The Salvation Army International Position Statement: “Alcohol in Society”)

It should also be noted that many other denominations have a similar view on alcohol and their church members.

Some might then ask the question “Why not alcohol?”
What harm could it do?
Perhaps it opens the door…
Perhaps it makes one vulnerable…

Sometimes I wonder why we don’t talk much about the use of Alcohol?

History:
The Booths, upon founding the Christian Mission, and subsequently The Salvation Army, witnessed the effects of alcohol on society, especially the poor. Children were literally stumbling out of bars drunk. It was a blight on the east end of London.
How could one stand by and witness a whole generation of people ruining their lives by drink? Thus, one of the pillars of soup, soap, salvation was teetotaling discipline.

The Present:
I serve in a corps that is surrounded by drunks.
Just across the street is a closed liquor store, and in front of it an even bigger now OPEN liquor store. There is nothing innately wrong with that liquor store. That store owner works hard to support his family. BUT what is wrong is that this store is located in one of the poorest neighborhoods in our community – right across from The Salvation Army. On the other side of our corps, kitty-corner to us, is a Bar…

We witness the habitual effects of alcoholism in our very parking lot, when we have to pick up a drunkard (almost daily) and escort him/her to a detox location. It is disheartening to see the utter waste of human life devoured by the bottle. It is very sad to see families ripped apart because of abuse brought on by intoxication and poverty due to the supporting of a habit.

There is nothing wrong with alcohol, but there IS something broken with people, and there is a genetic disposition to addictions…

Drinking is not a sin, although we as The Salvation Army certainly treat it that way…mainly because we receive many who have lost it all because of the affects of alcoholism. That liquor establishment across the street near my corps, is not illegal or wrong, but the affects it has had upon the poor in our neighborhood certainly does not make it right either. Our city will benefit from those tax revenues, but we unfortunately must meet human need in the streets that are bent and broken by it.

My family, a few generations ago, struggled with alcoholism…
My wife’s family has history of alcoholism in it…

Statistics:

100,000 people die each year from alcohol-related causes: drinking and driving crashes, other accidents, falls, fires, alcohol-related homicides and suicides. (NCAAD)

Of the 3.9 million Americans who received treatment for a substance abuse problem in 2005, 2.5 million of them were treated for alcohol use. (Drug Free World)

Teen alcohol use kills 4,700 people each year – that’s more than all illegal drugs combined. (MADD)
(Source: https://talbottcampus.com/2015-alcoholism-statistics/)

So…
why not alcohol?
You tell me.
Tell us what YOU think as we explore this topic today.

Something more to ponder today.

Additional Links to check out:
Tom Canfield Story

November 19, 2016 17

Elections: When We Mock God’s Sovereignty…

“The LORD sat as King at the flood; Yes, the LORD sits as King forever.” Psalm 29:10

Please do not misunderstand me when I say this – sometimes we make a mockery of God’s Sovereignty in life. Today is a presidential election, we have one every four years…it’s built into the construct of our nation (and other nations also). Admittedly, some elections seem to be more pivotal than others. We ought to, if compelled, exercise our civic duty and right to vote. The problem I have is this: When God’s people, those who would label themselves as Christians – use the term “who ever becomes President, God is still sovereign”…now don’t get me wrong, it’s not that this isn’t true, but I think we sometimes use this flippantly and with very little thought. I will also admit that I have used it, and this is why I write this today.

I have looked around social media today (Election day) and I am amazed in the outpouring and calls for prayer. Not that we don’t need prayer, we absolutely do, but it feels almost like that test in school. You know the one I’m talking about. It’s the test you didn’t study for, and are about to take. You aren’t prepared and so you utilize the last resort prayer…does God work that way? I mean, does he answer prayers for crammed tests and sudden emergencies in our lives? Is that what God has become to His faithful? The God of last resorts?

This is where I feel we make a mockery of God’s Sovereignty sometimes, and as I say this I am not accusing everyone of this, I am asking us to look into our motivations behind the prayers and the declarations of God’s sovereignty. Are we treating God as if he is the emergency cord?

What I mean is, do we include Him in only a portion of our lives, ONLY when we need Him? Or is He invited in daily? Do we only declare Him to be a Sovereign God, who is over all things ONLY during an election, or do we declare this in and through ALL of our every day existences?

What if we prayed to the Almighty like we did during that Presidential election day?
What if we declared His Sovereignty not just when we feel our candidate is the one that should be elected, but in our common, every day kinda life? What would happen then?
I’ll tell you what would happen – we would stop making a mockery of God’s Sovereignty through our consistent declarations.

So which is it?
Do we serve a God who only comes out at election day and ensures the right candidate is placed in the Oval office? Or do we serve a God who is over all and in all things every day of the year – every moment of every day? I must confess that as I point the finger out to every Christian today, that I have three fingers pointing back at me, and that scares me.
I do not want to cheapen God’s power and might! I do not want to make light of His Sovereignty. I must approach this topic with a sober mind knowing that I too have done this. Have you?

Prayer:
Lord, forgive us when we have cheapened your grace and power.
I long to have you walk beside me every moment of every day. Forgive me when I have forgotten to include you in my life, when I have used you as a last resort instead of my constant Father who vows never to leave me or forsake me. I ask that you remind me of what it means to be called a child of You. Show how I must live today, and tomorrow…
Lord, you are Holy and the only One who is Sovereign over all things. Help me declare this every day, through word and deed. -Amen.

November 8, 2016 0

Doctor Strange – Movie Review

This past weekend I went to see Doctor Strange in the movie theater with my family. We are admittedly Marvel movie fans. So we all piled into the car after school on Friday and, with popcorn in hand, found our perfect seats to watch this much anticipated film.

I won’t share any spoilers for you, but I would like to delve into some of the themes of this film. If you know the marvel comics at all, you will know that they are setting the stage for the infinity war. Doctor Strange deals primarily with the metaphysical and dimensional space…thus you will inevitably have a very mind-bending kind of film = I was not disappointed!

The special effects reminded me of Inception on steroids, in that a lot of city scenes are folded as reality is bent and even broken. It’s a very trippy experience that some non-marvel fans who are going to just see a movie might not like.
I loved the humor and the comedic timing of this film, as well as the traditional Stan Lee cameo and teasers (2 of them) at the end of the film.

Underlying Spiritual Themes:
There was a pivotal moment in the film that had me kind of cheering in my seat. There’s a scene (not really a spoiler) where Doctor Strange, who has been injured and has irreparable damage to his hands seeks out a mystical healer in Nepal. As he tries to comprehend how this healer is able to break new ground in medicine, it becomes apparent that it is something so much more. This mystical healer, who is actually “the ancient one” tells Doctor Strange that somethings cannot be explained by medicine and science, and that there is so much more to the universe.

I have to stop right there and say, I loved that spiritual illustration…this man had spent his entire fortune seeking out a scientific breakthrough to help fix his damaged hands and could not find a solution – and what this Ancient One offered could not be explained in the physical realm. As a Pondering Pastor, I have to say that this is how faith works…when reasoning fails and when science cannot explain – there comes a point that we must admit that we do not know all of the mysteries of the universe and all of the infinite possibilities of God.

…and here is where our philosophies diverge.
The cure for Doctor Strange isn’t found in the physical realm, but instead it is found in the metaphysical – and in his own mind. What he had perceived to be impossible is possible in this other realm, and he must call upon Eastern meditation, mysticism and astral projection to get there. If I were only paying attention to this underlying theme of the film, I would have had a hard time accepting it. I don’t necessarily embrace that philosophy of teaching in my life…but as whole film, and action packed as it is, I recognized this to be a movie – fiction and a really good one at that! I hope others see it that way too!

Benedict Cumberbatch does an excellent job, in my opinion, in the role of Dr. Stephen Strange. His character is egotistical at the on set of the movie, but you journey with him to his lowest point. You begin to sympathize with him, and then cheer for him as he discovers his powers.

I look forward to a second installment of Doctor Strange as well as his cameos in other upcoming Marvel films. He is an intriguing character and takes the word “trippy” to a whole new plain.

So, should you see this film? Yes! Go watch it, take some popcorn, and enjoy another great Marvel movie.

I give this film

Something more to Ponder today!

November 7, 2016 0

3 Vitals About This Life…

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14

Life is so fragile and brief.
As we get older it seems that things just seem to speed up like a run away train on a track that isn’t finished yet. We keep plodding along thinking that the line is still hundreds of miles away, yet it’s only a couple of miles down along the bend.

Sometimes life isn’t what we thought it would be…yet we had clung to the notion that it would be awesomely amazing when we grew up…only to discover that life is what you make of it, it takes a lot of work and hard decisions. Life can be pleasantly insulated by friends, family, children – and this makes the journey, because that’s what life truly is, a journey – so much more enjoyable and treasured.

Here’s what I know about this life so far…I’ve been pondering this for some time now…and i know that there are far more wiser people out there than me, but let me try to articulate what I know about life so far, perhaps this will resonate or at least make sense to you.

3 Vitals About This Life…

1. We don’t get to choose how many days of life we have…
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” -Psalm 90:12
This life IS temporal, and we don’t live forever in this body. Does the spirit live forever, that’s what we have been told and what I believe, but this shell will one day give out and stop working…and so will yours. Sounds kinda depressing doesn’t it? I know…but in the grand scheme of things, there is a far better – longer lasting existence waiting for us. A life where there will no longer be this barrier between us and the Almighty. A place where we will no longer suffer from disease and the aches and pains of life. I can’t even begin to imagine that yet, but we must, at some point, come to terms with the limited nature of this life. We don’t get to choose the length of our lives. God does give and take away, He is sovereign over our very breath, and I have to believe without a shadow of a doubt that we deeply matter to Him.

2. This life is like a mist, really it’s not that long – make the most of it.
As James puts it, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4:14) Have you ever seen that fog in the early morning? It’s so mysterious and wispy, just hanging there. It’s dangerous to drive into, but you know that in a little while, as soon as the Sun starts to shine on it, that fog will dissipate and vanish. It’s a great analogy of life isn’t it? This vital understanding of how brief our life really is puts it into perspective. Don’t waste your life. Make memories. Don’t get so caught up in things that don’t really matter much – even (or especially) work can become one of those things. When it is all said and done, will you be known for getting those reports in on time? Will you really want to be remembered for the labored hours you spent in the office, even during family vacations and nights when you should have been home with your kids? NO! I think a lot of people will be living with regret in the late stages of life. Success in business doesn’t always equate to making the most out of your life and what really, truly matters. Are you really living life right now, or are you just plodding? It’s like that fog in the early morning…far too soon it will dissipate and vanish. Don’t take it for granted, don’t waste it on things that don’t really matter. Invest in the right kinds of things and in people who care and love you.

3. Some people with less of a life span live a whole lot more than some with a much longer life span…what you make of it matters…

This directly correlates with the last vital point…I met some who are simply coasting through life. They have no real purpose, they aren’t happy with anything, they are miserable people to be around. These people (not to sound condescending, but rather a warning here) are just hoping the next life will be better, but they really aren’t living the one they have been given right here and now. It’s such a waste…have you live this at some point in your life? Do you know what I mean? Some people have been given such a short life due to illness, disease or accident, and they lived it to the fullest. They were full of vigor and passion and it just seem to pour out of them – it was contagious. I hope we live like that with whatever time we have in this body. I hope we can laugh and love and cry and experience life in all of its glory. I never want to be one who merely looks forward to heaven, yet I miss out on, or waste this gift of life I have been given right here and now.
Some of us bury ourselves in elements of life and distractions of life…and then we look up from our cell phones and our social media accounts and miss the beauty of nature all around us. Don’t miss it. Don’t miss the glory of God, which is evident all around us. Soak it in, notice it, embrace it, spend some of your “mist” time just breathing it in. Life isn’t life unless you’re actually an active participator in it.

I’ve had some peers and friends of mine pass way before their time. Their life seemed like a brief mist…and sadly gone too soon. I’ve even performed a couple of their funerals as the Pastor…it isn’t easy, it breaks the heart and it later causes me to think more deeply as to what I am doing with my life – this mist that I am. Have you been there? Can you relate? What I do know is that our journeys have a destination that extends beyond the veil of life and death…and the next life begins with the glory embrace of Christ. And although I long for that day, I don’t want to ~~mist~~ miss this moment right here and now, where everything and everyone that is important and precious becomes crystal clear. When that happens to you…what and who do you see?

Something more to ponder today.
To God be the glory!

November 2, 2016 0

Sermon Podcast – “Who Am I?”

Exodus 3:11 (NIV)

“But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

Thanks for checking out our sermon, God Bless you!

October 31, 2016 0

Keep It Simple Stupid – An Uncomplicated God Thing…

“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form…” Colossians 2:9

We as humans tend to over-complicate things, our friendships, our beliefs and even our families from time to time. When it comes to Church and our worship, we have to have all of the right elements put into place…the right songs need to be sung, the format – comfortable, and we place our “hallelujahs” and “amens” all in the right places…have we made our worship overly complicated? Are our experiences with God overly complicated? Do we make it something it was never intended to be? What about authenticity and candid moments with the Father? Do these take place in our utterances to Him?

I believe we have this big picture idea about God sometimes that leaves God this great big idea out there…but very seldom do we realize that He comes directly to us in our minuscule lives and wants to just hang out. He longs to connect in ways we have never anticipated or believed to be possible. Why is that? Why do we believe in this mighty God and yet, at times, fall short of believe He desires real, authentic relationship with us?

I will tell you why – because there a moments, even large spans of time where we believe the lie that Satan tells us. What is that lie you ask? – That we aren’t good enough. That we don’t really belong. That no matter what that preacher or friend might say, He would never spend time with me, because of all of the sins and bad things I have done in my life…yet we asked for forgiveness…yet we accepted Christ into our lives…but still…why do we keep buying this lie?

Because we do not feel worthy enough?
Because we do not think a great BIG God would ever come down to our teeny tiny level?
Because we still struggle with temptation…and we still stumble and fall?

So we over complicate it…our relationship with God.
We try to fill in the gaps with complicated worship and ornate speech and follow a strict pattern of obligations…but it’s complicated…

God doesn’t do complicated.
He doesn’t beat around the bush (sorry Moses).
He doesn’t need ritual or motions of worship for us to be accepted as His children.
He simply says to us,”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)

All He wants from us is our fellowship.
He desires to be included.
He longs for connection…for things uncomplicated.

So let’s uncomplicate things…
Let His presence remove the insecurities and the lies.
This great BIG God will be there in our small spaces of life.
And He breathes peace into our lives
Something more to ponder today.

Peace be with you!

October 26, 2016 0

Do You Love Him?

“…And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

We Christians are often very good at quoting scripture, especially verses that bring us comfort and strength in times of need. These verses have a way of making us feel good and bring us relief in knowing that we aren’t alone and that we have One who goes before us on this faith journey. But I wonder how intricately do we know the passages that we cling to? Do we know a scripture’s complete context and the full understanding of the words we utter from memorized verses in whatever translation that we’ve memorized them from?

Do we sometimes pick and choose the passages that most suit us in our times of need? Perhaps our troubles have begun way before the physical worries manifest themselves in our lives because we have failed to include the Almighty into our day and moment by moment. God doesn’t want us simply to check in from time to time with Him, like some teenager would with his or her parents while they are out late with friends. No, instead He desires the fellowship which lasts all day.

For example, the focus verse that I have listed above has been taken out of context many times. We stop short of reading it in its full entirety because we only want the good that comes from God. We only want what we want and we fail to understand that this relationship with God first begins with love and devotion to Him. From this all things flow. Now, don’t misunderstand me. We do not love simply to have good things happen to us. God is not some genie who grants wishes if we are good to Him. We pleaded with by the Holy Spirit to love because He first loved us. We are invited to become partakers of His kingdom and to be called sons and daughters of God. There is no better invitation than that! But you see love isn’t about getting stuff…that’s not love at all. We don’t love God to get things or because it benefits us in a prosperity sort of way. No, instead a right relationship with Him demands of us our full devotion and love.

This is the path least taken in this world.
This is the place where true faith walks in tandem with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus looked into Peter’s eyes, these same eyes that stared blankly at accusers while his lips denied his allegiance to his Teacher. Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Not once, not twice, but three times – the same amount of times Peter had lied and denied Him. Imagine the conviction of that moment. Envision sitting there with the Son of Man and coming face to face with your shortcomings and failures? I am certain that the tears of shame would flow, and my heart would be rent.

Jesus still asks us today, “Do you love me?” He pleads with us “Let me in, allow me access to your daily life…let me be a part of who you are – can I be a part of your very identity?”
What will your answer be?

Something more to ponder today.

October 24, 2016 0

Don’t Lockup The Holy Spirit!!

I was doing homework with one of my sons the other night.
We have four children, all in school and there are some days that my wife and I scramble to help them with their collective homework – which seems to be like our laundry: never ending.

So there we were at the kitchen table, the contents of his backpack emptied and I am pouring through his homework folder trying to make sense of his disorganization (it too is a never ending task it seems). As I am finally wading through the old papers and graded papers at last I come to the homework that needs to be done. We both sit at the table and I begin reading it to him. He has no idea how to fill in the answers – it’s history, one of his favorite subjects (proud Dad moments, History was mine as well). So he doesn’t know the answers, and the questions are very specific…and then I read the very top of the page; “Use your text book from pages 265-282“. I look over at my son, “Where’s your text book?” He goes to his now empty backpack – it isn’t there. “I think I left it in my locker“, he says. “Well then, I really can’t help you with these questions, because without the text book we will probably get every one of these questions wrong.“I said this with frustration in my voice, knowing his homework would be late. School is important and to forget some as pivotal as his text book was very unfortunate.

In that moment, homework was cancelled, or perhaps postponed until the next day…all because without the text book, the homework and its questions were beyond our reach.

It got me thinking…
The Holy Spirit is a lot like that in our lives.
No, He’s not some text book that we stuff into our locker at school and forget about…but then again we kinda do leave him out of our lives from time to time. We do forget about Him. We know the story of Jesus, His love and grace and His gift to us on the cross and in the empty grave. We believe that He is preparing a place for us, but there’s more to the story. When He ascended the Holy Spirit came and never left God’s people. The Holy Spirit is still real within us and can be felt in the still small voice or the gentle prodding in our lives. Jesus even told His disciples: “I have told you this while I’m still with you. However, the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything. He will remind you of everything that I have ever told you.” John 14:25-26

But sometimes, we leave Him in the lockers of our lives. We forget He’s even there, ready and able to help us. We think we have to guess at all of life’s mysteries all by ourselves, and so we begin attempting to take the whole world upon our shoulders…in our own strength…and when we fail (which we will) we wonder where God is, when in fact, He never left us, we forgot or left Him.

My dear fellow ponderers, take God’s holy presence with you into the fray.
Don’t forget what great power He has for you and the hope and peace He will provide you in your day. Don’t lock Him up or compartmentalize your “Church life” from your “Home life”. Remember He can’t be contained, He doesn’t want to share space in your life with false gods and earthly “stuff”. He is certainly jealous for you and me. He longs for fellowship with us, and He desires moment by moment conversations and heart to hearts.
Don’t lock up that potential, because in reality you are only limiting the joy and peace you could experience with Him intricately involved in your life…He has the answers – seek Him out and He will be found.

Something more to ponder today!

October 21, 2016 2

Category: Faith Ponderings