Thanks

"I don't do it for money
There's bills that I can't pay.
I don't do it for the glory,
I just do it anyway."

American Soldier (Toby Keith)

I'm rethinking a promise I made a while back. I made it my mission to shake the hand and "thank" every service personnel in uniform that I meet. That is nearly every day here in Colorado Springs. We have four major bases of operations (to include the Air Force Academy).

When I address them as, "Sir or Mam" I get an immediate response, but differing responses. Some seem truly grateful to be recognized. Some appear to be on their way, I interrupted them. But some seem uncomfortable that I brought it up. All of them may have felt differently than I perceived or were mixed in their responses. My intent is to be genuine, as I know the price of Liberty is vigilence and the price of Freedom is blood.

I didn't serve (I did Law-Enforcement instead) so I am not able to fully grasp what it means to them. For that matter no one "Knows" the mind of another person. I do know sacrifice though, as I donated half of my liver to a man in our church. He had a congenital disease (from birth not from a bad lifestyle) that was progressively killing him and I was a perfect match. When we first met, the doctors were already expecting him to die at any time, even outliving some pronouncements.

Our Church was very supportive. They provided rides, watched over our kids, prayed, visited, and even donated money. It was a big deal and they stepped up in a major way. The recovery had some big bumps and they continued the support. I did eventually recover and am effectively free besides a major abdominal scar. I do have trouble though if we go back to visit. Work moved us to another part of the state so we started attending a different church. From time to time we have visited, but each visit only takes a few seconds before the subject of the surgery comes up. Mostly it is well-wishers asking how I'm doing and I can answer honestly pretty good.

I have other health issues now completely separate from the surgery. I'm coping but it limits me a lot. I would like to focus on the future rather than the past. Visiting that church is always hard because it puts my donation in the spotlight. I'm not comfortable there. If I need help in the immediate situation, OK. Rehearsing the surgery is hard. I saved Steve's life and gave him back to his family. Firemen run INTO burning buildings and may rescue people trapped by the flames. As a cop I ran into buildings after reports of, "shots fired". The only life I saved for sure was Steve. Even that was by the Hand of God. I didn't do much. I was willing and the anesthesiologist put me under. I awoke with the scar, sick as a dog, but I came out.

I pause to wonder if my putting those soldiers in the limelight is equally embarrassing. They may know inside that they are honorably serving. A little bit proud of the good it does but just don't want a lot of attention. I don't think I've shaken a hand twice, but it is possible. I have been blessed by the opportunity and have used it to make a point in my conversation (which includes preaching in church). I would like to think it has made me a better person with more compassion for others who are hurting.

            "I don't do it for money
            There's bills that I can't pay.
            I don't do it for the glory,
            I just do it anyway."

I try to remind myself that without the work of God in my life, there may have been, surely would have been, a different life for Steve and I. I don't know how and to what extent it has moved others but undoubtedly as Scripture says,

            "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 9:28)

I operate on the theory that doing good can still be tiring, boring, and even resentful at times when there seems to be no appreciation for how hard we try to do our work. For that I will continue to shake hands and thank those Uniformed Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, Navy and Guard that for any reason are willing to be a target but take up arms to keep "Old Glory" flying.

Trusting in Horses

-->

Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."

Isaiah 31:1, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord."

I stopped to pray for my brother who had expressed some specific issues. While in prayer, my prayer changed. Instead of asking that God should make certain things happen, I realized that God wants to make it happen His way. I had been thinking in terms of the right people, with right plan, come together in the right way. I was trusting in horses. When things happen according to the laws of this world, it is all that is expected by believers and unbelievers alike. What I needed to ask is for something that is beyond our means. Beyond what is within our natural resources.

 Ephesians 3:20, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,"

God wants the right people, the right plan, in the right time to fail. HE wants it all to fail so that HE can do it when all seems lost. Much of our lives are simply (it seems) for usual things to happen in the usual way. In order for God to show Himself great, everything needs to fall apart. HE isn't needed if the disease just "goes away". HE isn't needed if the trip goes according to plan. HE isn't needed of the supply and/or means just shows up.

HE wants to be the ONLY way that a test is resolved!

I have been working on our "Tiny House" for over a year and a half. There have been times that HE supplied things in a way or time that I could not have arranged with a thousand phone calls asking for a thousand favors. Yet, in the doing of these 18 plus months I have relied on what minimal stamina I had to do the labor. Miriam and I were on an errand the other day, when we were taken by the thought, "Could God send a team that could come in and make substantial or all of the labor required?" We have collected materials for nearly the whole project. All it needs is assembly. Most of the parts are repurposed garnered for free or nearly so.

It's just that I can only labor 2-6 hours a week. My energy issues are random. Some weeks I can get in a couple hours a couple of days or so. Other weeks pass without any work getting done. God has supplied a plumber/electrician for when those aspects arrive, but those are still a ways off. If I finish the job (over the next 2-3 years) I will be able to say God provided stuff, but I slowly got the job done my self.

So as I pray for my brother to see the Hand of God, I (actually Miriam and I) am seeking the Hand of God as well. Pray with us not that it all works out but that God will be glorified, even if the desires fail. God's best may be the journey, not the destination. May our hearts be able to rejoice in all things.

Job 1:21, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

The Hammer and The Pillow

-->

How many of you have heard about the TINY HOUSE movement?

A 1997 Blue Bird school bus is our Tiny House!

God called Abraham, Abraham went out not knowing where he was going. I think that is also the answer when people ask where we will park the bus. We just might not park it. We may find the next decade or more being in motion, living in a "tent" as did the Father of the Faithful. When I started on in the prison, I did not originally see it as a foreign mission field. Now we are peering through the glass darkly trying to see what God has in mind for us as we forsake the American Dream. There are folks who pass us off as fools. We can live with that, we have done it before. It is Jehovah alone that we must ultimately give account. We believe that it is part of letting go of stuff. NOT getting caught up in the American Dream.

God called Noah to build an Ark and I've been called to build a Bus. I ask for help in building our "Ark" because it may be someone's chance to do a good deed. We will need electrical wiring, plumbing, and carpentry. The interior will all be wood that I got for free from craigslist. We bought a 5th wheel camper for appliances. All we need is to assemble the parts.

Words-choose wisely

There are times when we read the Bible or get answers to prayer, and we are puzzled.

I saw a road sign for instance. It clearly offered three choices. The road where it is posted, has two lanes, the sign clearly demands three lanes. How do we reconcile this dilemma? Driving around the bend clears up the issue as it spreads to three lanes. There are messages from God that are not understood until we "get there".

(Luke 12:1-5), ¹Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ² There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ³ What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

⁴ “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

I want to focus on verses 2 and 3. Not only is it in the Bible twice, but it is spoken by Jesus and that as a prophecy. In Matt 10 the parallel passage has the same in verse 2 but verse 3 is made a command.

Words can always be used wrong. Proverbs tell in 18:8 and 26:22 that "The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly." I want to focus on words doing good.

What is our method?

WORDS

The Pillow and the Hammer

The conundrum of the Preacher is how to address his flock. He knows there are two missions before him.

1) The pillow: we use soft words for those present are who have injuries, are hurt, or may be beat-up.

            a. Some of us may feel the hurts and know the cause. Those have wounds that just need cleaning and covering. They need acknowledgement of the hurt so that they can move on with life. Job 4:4 Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees.

            b. The injured will need ongoing care. Injuries may require tactics to avoid more or new cuts/breaks. Isa. 35:3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;.

            c. Then there are the beat-up who may not even be aware of their need. These require a trained assistance by caring professionals. While the Pastor is trained and can offer aide, he might require outside help. Ezekiel talks about a time when some or all will be under great stress in 21:7 And when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear and every hand go limp; every spirit will become faint .’ It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord”. Exekiel is telling us that "every heart" and "every spirit" will need help at some time so those who have experienced trouble will at some point be able to help our fellow man. Step up to support what the Pastor is trying to do. Because like the trick knee that you never know when it will fail, someone else will need your support.

Knees, Knees, Knees

WORDS

2) The hammer: there are times to use words that are hard. They may seem to lack compassion but there are times when the answer is to "Just do it!!!"  Among present are people that have good intention, but are ignoring the truth. The Bible warns about looking at the truth but not doing it.

            a. We as Christians must give directions in love, even when it is a hard thing to do! Prov. 28:23, Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue. It may seem hard but the direct truth gets to the right destination instead of getting lost.

            b. Those who are self deluded think that their way is not known, that their life is not being watched. Clarify the commands that Jesus set down for those who would call themselves Christians! Prov. 27:5, Open rebuke is better than secret love.

            c. In some cases until people are faced with a stark choice of truth, they don't know they are going the wrong way. Correct them with Grace. How many times did Jesus speak to His disciples away from the crowds? There is a right place and a right time. Matt 18:15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. This is the only way to honestly get them back.

(Luke 12:2-3),  ² There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ³ What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

We have looked at methods, now, Who are our targets? (first to His disciples)

WORDS

Jesus spoke first to those closest, His disciples. Who is closest to us? Family, and in most cases our spouse.

-Spouse

FORGING magazine, to the banker, market clerk or Law Enforcement forging sounds like a bad thing. To the blacksmith or machinist forging is a good thing. How we use words can mean all the difference in the world.

Pillow - When using soft supporting words, telling others how great your husband is can make him into superman. He can lift the car and change flat tire with bare hands, not really but it will give him strength to tackle life. For your wife your words can make her into Wonderwoman, where she can clean the house, make great meals, train children to be well rounded and do all the other millions of tasks needed to run the home. Don't tell your wife to be Prov. 31, speak compliments until she is Prov 31. She will never be perfect but she needs to know you are on her side.

Hammer- Stop speaking down to your spouse or anyone for that manner. Your words can make your husband into a fumbling sad sack, your words can make your wife into a cold frustrated woman. Choose to speak life and support into your spouse or other family member. Either way, they will become what you say.

WORDS

-MEN, are you like Adam and blame "that woman YOU gave me" as the reason you don't tithe, or give service, or devote time to prayer?

Eph. 5:25, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

1 Pet. 3:7, “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers..”

Prov 19:14, “House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.

She is a gift from God and the more you repeat that OUT LOUD the more you will treat her right, the more it will change your view of her as something precious. Which of course she is. Be Jesus who sacrificed Himself for His Church. Make your words be her protection! We have allowed ourselves to be indoctrinated by TV, movies, magazines and whatever that we only praise when we see a great behavior. Instead of believing what we see we need to see what we believe (Missouri mule). Actively seek to lift her up. Do not reserve praise for the spectacular. I should have told Miriam 37 years ago that one of my criteria for a wife was someone I trust to manage our home. I was confident she would raise our children keep them in clothes and feed us. I now see that my need of a help mete was filled by her presence. I failed in not telling her or telling the kids that she was/is/ continues to be a virtuous woman. I can pursue my vocation away from home and not fear what I would find when I came home. Women need us men to be actively trying to lead. MEN, do you have a 1 year plan, a 10 year plan, a life plan? Of course God can interrupt or force changes but are you looking at Scripture knowing we are to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God? With that in mind, attempt to be in a place where you model for your family what it looks like to serve our God.

-Ladies, are you struggling because he doesn't do enough respectable things? 1 Peter 3:6, "Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement." It is the same Greek word as used in Lord Jesus Christ. Whether your husband is faithful to the Lord or not, God will hold him to account for the choices he makes. Ladies, God will hold you to account for if you honored him. You still have the role as a Christian to not go directly into sin, but you are to support him in all other things.

  •Girls, do you see Sad Sack or Superman? Treat them as what you want them to be.

  •Guys, do you see Paint, Packaging, and Plastic or a person of value? Treat them as what you want them to be.

It's not a lie, it is speaking in Faith, speak the greatness what you want them to be, "substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen"

How much time have you devoted to praying for your spouse? Even if you have not met them yet. Pray that their Faith does not fail in time of testing. There will be testing, now and until God calls us home. Pray that they will have the character you need. Pray you will have the character they need.

Miriam and I have devoted a lot of time to prayer about moving into a tiny home. A mobile one too. We have tried to be open to YES, NO, and WAIT, so that God can veto. Men, do you count your wife as having come from God? If so then her input is from God. That does not give you the excuse of abdicating making the final decision I've done that. 

Ladies, do you give your input and then wonder how he can be so foolish as to not follow the best plan? When he gets confused do you dig in your heels to keep your future safe?

God made both partners. He designed the roles to work together for GOOD in the roles the Bible lays out. 

-Others

WORDS

The way that we treat others has many of the same essentials as treating your spouse. Others are second to or after your spouse. They are or should be in your plans. Are they in your 1 year, 10 year, or life long plans? Have you targeted a disciple? Is there a person outside of your family into whom you are putting valuable time?

In gun safety courses they remind you that once the bullet is fired it cannot be retrieved. Words spoken out-loud, sent in email or texted are out there and will never be erased.

I had a vision a while back. Not a vision like prophets or Mystics but just a thought, a fear, that we would find ourselves standing with our daughter Bethany and her husband Josh having to say some very hard words. Standing there praying "Not my will but Thine be done" our prayer is over a child's bed. I really hope that that is not a lesson that we need to learn. God will use a hammer at times for what in our human eyes is a trial that is beyond our strength or above our capability. A lesson that cannot be learned any other way. All things working for good is not always evident and certainly not according to our plans. To have something so precious snatched away is not what I wish to comprehend. If it is the way for God to reach His goal or is how we best give Him glory then so it must be.

You know how we hand God the script for our lives and HE so patiently looks at it before shredding it. Becoming like Him is tough enough but lacking verbal support leaves us treading water. As fellow Believers we need the assistance of one another. Luke chapter 12 says that those who would hear Jesus were trampling on each other. Are our words getting in other peoples way? Are our words correcting or just cutting? Are we building or just making a random pile of stuff?

Pillow- The Bible says words fitly spoken are like apples of gold (Prov. 25:11). It was to us and not the Angels, that God commissioned to take THE WORDS to the world. We are to make disciples, Do you have a target Disciple? Some groups of believers hold their mission as giving the Gospel as the mission, but that is only part of it.

Our Mission is to make disciples. That actually includes our own selves, 2 Timothy “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."  As in read the Directions! Follow the instructions! Help another believer become approved.

After I fell ill, I was challenged by my pastor to take on the task of helping some young boys in our church who had absentee fathers. The six years that I had the blessing to mentor half dozen boys in our "Club" was something that might excel beyond everything else I did outside our home. They may have blessed me more than I did them. I've said that, "except that God slowed me down I would not have had the time to get to know them". Because of my energy restraints and their life schedules, we only met for an hour or so once a week or once or twice a month. We had great times learning "man things like sharpening knives, fixing cars, or how to build a campfire. We studied men of character in the Bible, like David and Joseph. Because Miriam and I had to move to the 'Springs, I'm no longer holding "Boys Club" but we still FaceBook. Even before we left Trinidad, other men of our church started to do their own relationships with the boys.

Hammer- Your words often take on a life of their own, even contorting away from your meaning. Take great care to not put out there what can never disappear, haunting you beyond your life in this world. Write down a list of good responses, copy down verses from the Bible as well as commit Scripture to memory.

Ps 17:3, “Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed”. Read your list regularly. Get them recorded on a CD to play in the car, especially for those times when traffic is horrendous. Have Faith instead of road rage.

Prov 16:23 "The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction."

How long has it been since you asked God for the right words? HE will not become weary of those words asked in honesty.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”  Make it your practice to pray quickly when under pressure. Set apart time in your prayer life to address the dilemmas and asking for specific help. Get specific like "keeping your mouth shut when confronted by my boss!"

-God

WORDS

What are the words we use when speaking with God?

(Luke 12:4-5) ⁴ “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him"

Somehow it would seem obvious, but the words in our prayers should not be careless. There are over 300 references to "the words of my mouth" in the Bible. Most of them are God commanding His people to obey, listen and think on those words. He must certainly have an interest in words.

Ps 19:14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer .

Prov 4:5, Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

HE is the WORD. HE is present with us in Spirit but also on the printed page. The Bible is the WORD of God Jesus is the WORD.

Do               you               see               the               connection? Have you ever said or thought, "If Jesus were here I would like to ask Him a question? He is here, His answer to your question is HERE!!! (hold up Bible)

WORDS

Have you ever watched "The Wizard of Oz". God is not the "little man behind the curtain" or the kindly grandfather who can't see or hear too well but hands out candy. When HE spoke, the universe came into existence! In the Book of Revelation, the Sword comes out of His mouth. When HE speaks again, riding the white horse, the armies of the world will be slaughtered! Those who reject God have excuses or change the meaning of words. Some go so far as to deny His very existence and if He exists, human philosophy would make the love of God exceed His righteousness or His justice. Multitudes say a God of love would not throw people into hell!!!

Lam. 3:22-24, 'Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”'

So reading that verse proves God is merciful. BUT He does still throw people in to Hell. Jesus said broad is the may to destruction and many that go that way, but few find the narrow gate that leads to life.

Remember when Elijah called down fire from Heaven? In that moment, the offering was consumed, the water was consumed, the rocks were consumed, and some of the earth was consumed! God also consumed an altar in Leviticus 9 before Moses and all the people. God consumes things but not people, right?

In the book of Numbers the ground opened up and a group of men and their families fell into a fiery realm of the dead and the earth closed up over them. Their sin? They wanted to offer their own sacrifices on the alter instead of going through Aaron or his sons. In Luke 16 the rich man was cast into hell. Hebrews chapter 6 speaks of ETERNAL judgment not the annihilation of souls. At the Great White Throne Judgment, Satan and all who did not believe will be cast into the lake of fire.

The Book of Hebrews, 12:28-29, says, "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire."

BIC lighter - a flame that can do hurt But is NOT a consuming Fire

Oxy Acetylene - torch But is NOT a consuming Fire

High voltage - TIG MIG could kill on contact, stop the heart as well as massive burns But is NOT a consuming Fire

Nuclear Bomb -In a flash rearranged everything within many miles But is NOT a consuming Fire

These fires rearrange elements but the elements still exist. One day after the final judgment, The Bible says that the elements will burn with fervent heat. The entire universe will be dissolved, gone, erased from existence, it will all be consumed!!!

Our God is a consuming fire, Our GOD is a consuming fire, OUR GOD is a Consuming Fire, OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE!!!

As we prepare to pray, to worship or speak in His name, are we keeping in mind that He alone is a consuming fire. ISIS will be on their knees before Him-totally shocked and forced to worship before being cast into Hell.

Matt 10:28, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

We should fall down before THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD, not because we choose to but rather that it is the only choice we have!

We should fall down before THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD, not because we choose to but rather that it is the only choice we have!!

We should fall down before THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD, not because we choose to but rather that it is the only choice we have!!!

WORDS

Pillow - We need to be building a relationship with the one and true living God.. HE will hear your every call or cry. HE knows the need or pain we face.

Hammer- Our thoughts are not HIS thoughts, HIS ways are not our ways. HE will hear your every call or cry. HE knows the intent that we think is hidden from all ears.

OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE!!!

Pillow- HE will destroy our enemies

Hammer - we will face Him ready or not!

(Luke 12:1-5), ¹Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ² There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ³ What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

⁴ “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

WORDS

Application

What truth are you trying to hide? Seek the right words! Use restraint!

What truth are you trying to show? Seek the right words! Have courage!

There is a real hell waiting for all who do not believe! Today is the day of Salvation, now is the time. Seek the peace with God. Tomorrow might never come!

My Dog My Metaphor III

-->

My Dog My Metaphor III

Kiera is our latest dog. She is Australian Shepherd and something (Border Collie?). She is a one person dog. She is very friendly to all that visit us but it is me she runs to the door to meet. Kiera has another trait, she sits to eat. In Chinese folk-lore that means she possesses the spirit of an ancestor, to me she just sits to eat.

I've noticed another odd behavior. When she sits to eat she frequently turns to look at me. When I leave the room where the dog dish is she leaves off eating to come find me. If I don't stay, she won't finish. There have been numerous times when suppertime came part of breakfast is still there. She wants my presence more than food.  

It struck me the other day that this trait is something to emulate. Is God's presence more important than physical sustenance? If God is not in my life, can or will I just keep moving on? In the Book of Exodus, chapter 33, God tells Moses to lead the people into the Promised Land but HE would not go with them. Moses makes his plea that if God does not go, how will anyone know if HE was pleased with them. God promised an angel would go before and root out all the evil nations currently possessing the land but HE Himself would only watch from a distance. Moses continued to plea on behalf of the people, till God said HE would accompany them.

My dogs dedication and love causes me to do some introspection. Is my relationship with God REALLY more important than anything else in my life? I know that there have been days where I only stopped for a small prayer over meals but had little other communication with Him. God desires us to love Him as a wife.  A woman views her whole day in the perspective of her relationship, and can be upset when her "hubby" does not do the same. Flowers and kisses (and chocolate) don't replace a loving heart. Being a man I struggle with the concept of being a bride. We know the Church is the Bride of Christ, and I am part of that. Putting money in the offering, going to church, or following some ritual does not replace a loving relationship.

Kiera loves me, I can see it when she wags her tail at my approach. She is not content to wait in the hall for very long if I am in the bedroom with the door closed. When I come down the stairs, or come in the house after being gone somewhere, her tail wags her body. Her spirit cannot be contained. She jumps, spins, and watches my every movement. I ask how we react when we see God in our life? More importantly, do I notice when HE is not in some activity I choose. How long does it take to notice His absence?

I pray not far!

Hey, Over Here!

In Luke 7, John the Baptist is in prison. His life expectancy is kind of grim. He was suffering for doing the right thing (holding his Jewish leadership to the Law). Sitting there he must have thought that the Messiah would soon establish His Kingdom and make all things right. Instead he just waited.

John was six months older than the son of his mother's cousin. It was not until he was above thirty years of age that he talked about this GREAT relative. Knowing his own miraculous origin, plus the mysterious birth of Jesus, his whole life was geared up for what he surely believed would be the restoration of the throne of David.

Something went wrong, very wrong. John minded all his P's and Q's (Aleph's and Gimmel's?). John lived a life of dedication and self-deprivation. He is recognized by Jesus Himself saying, "Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist". That is a resume' hard for any one to match. So, having done all things the correct way, he should have risen to position near the top, but here he is at the bottom. He must have had visitors, though apparently not from the ONE he wanted.

The book of Matthew also records this perplexing situation. John, in desperation, sends a message. Something like, "hey, over here!" thinking he had escaped the Master's vision. Just checking, "what about your faithful servant?", "did you forget or fail to notice?". John asking if he was backing the wrong guy because the right one surely would be getting the problem rectified. Maybe John goofed and the real one would be along soon.

In our own lives there are times when we might be asking along with John, are you the one or do we need to look for another? Shouldn't the creator of the universe, the Master of the elements, the bright and morning Star be fixing the broken and painful stuff in our lives? What's up with that?

John saw the world in context within his physical lifetime. The Kingdom he was looking for was to rise among the nations of men. He didn't grasp that the Kingdom was above and beyond the walk on this cursed planet. Someday time will cease to exist and this earth will be replaced with one that never knows sin. It will be a kinder home that produces bounty minus thorns and sweat. A Kingdom that is without end or comparison.

For those who name Jesus as their King, like John, have to wait. All things will be made new, be made right, but not while we journey under the sun. Jesus warned that as He was rejected, so will we. As He was afflicted, so will we. As He was hated, so will we. We are not forgotten. We have not escaped His sight. We live by Faith. That Faith anticipates what is not observable or consistent with what presently occurs to mankind. It sees something so much greater.

In Matthew 6, certain ones did some proud boasting during their "prayers". Jesus said, "They have their reward". I want more than that. I want to have the mindset that there is a reward waiting far removed from what I see. The weight of this world makes us cry out to God that this is more than we can take. The One who hears all, sees all, knows. He not only is aware, but might in fact be the cause of our trial. As seen in the book of Job, He initiates testing to bring out a greater purpose.

Knowing that hard things are for our good doesn't make them easier. They just have a glorious purpose beyond our sight, beyond our comprehension. So we wait.

Context

"Scott Francis O'Grady (born October 12, 1965) is a former United States Air Force fighter pilot. On June 2, 1995, he was shot down over Bosnia by an SA-6 mobile SAM launcher and forced to eject from his F-16C into hostile territory. After nearly a week of evading the Serbs he was eventually rescued by Marines. Previously he took part in the Banja Luka incident where he fired upon six enemy aircraft. The 2001 film Behind Enemy Lines is loosely based upon his experiences." (Wikipedia)

He ate bugs, drank water that trickled off tree leaves, and only moved under cover of darkness. Like a typical guy, he did not stop and ask for directions!

Context is everything. If Scott were doing these behaviors in down-town New York, he might well have become a candidate for placement in a medical facility. On the other hand fellow New Yorkers might never notice.

Context is everything. When reading the Bible it is common for the reader to view subject matter within the framework of their own experiences. The term, "wilderness" in the Bible is not the same as the Kentucky home that Daniel Boone called, "Wilderness". Our imagination formulates more than simple geography. Our sense of morality, or honor, or "right and wrong" are defined within the limitations of what we have seen, heard, felt, possibly even told. Not knowing the context of the Biblical writer could have us bewildered over a Jewish Judge offering his daughter as a sacrifice, Jephthah in Judges 11, (OK, that is pretty weird even after a lot of education and study).

The Bible says the secret things belong to the Lord. So some subjects will remain hidden to us in this life and maybe even into the next. There are things though that we human beings can get fairly wrapped around the axle, confused as to their message when we could in fact get better knowledge.

            Colossians 2:16-19, " Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an

             holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but

             the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and

             worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his

             fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having

             nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God."

There is reason to stay under the authority of a local church and it's pastor. These things beyond our selves may well have already been well hashed out or have solid information as to context.

Yes, all men are open to fallibility, even one so revered as the pope. We could be open to error, so never stop reading Scripture and seeking God's "Face" in prayer. Until such day that we stand before our Creator-God, it is our Divine duty to "search the Scriptures to see if these things be so,". (John 5:39, Acts 17:11)

What is "right"?

-->

What is "right"?

I was thinking about the song by the group Linkin Park called, "Castle of Glass" this morning. It was just running through my mind when a phrase got stuck in my head.

"Take me down to the river bend, Take me down to the fighting end, Wash the poison from off my skin, Show me how to be whole again".

I had heard someone asking why we had so many soldiers come back from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan struggling with mental health and suicide? Why were so many coming back with PTSD, and not so much in WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam?

My first thought was this most recent generation is living in an era where EVERYTHING is in the movies, on TV, or certainly on the Internet. Maybe previous generations were not televising all the dark secrets. Maybe families found ways to hide the relative who had, "shell shock" (as it was often called back then).

My second thought was that prior to 1970's, America had a stronger Christian/Religious community. Were soldiers going off to war with stronger Faith convictions and coming home to a stronger Faith support system? We are being told that in the last 20-30 years, children becoming adults leave their faith behind as they leave their homes behind.

Going back to Linkin Park, the question is asked, "show me how to be whole again". To my knowledge, the band makes no profession of faith. Watching the official music video, the seeming central figure goes from being the child that loses his father to war, himself becomes another cog in the, "Castle of Glass". It would appear that despite best of intensions, we are all just pawns in the hands of higher powers.

I felt there was also such a hopeless situation in the movie, "The Kingdom". Here the story line revolves around American Agents trying to get "legal" revenge for some of their own getting killed in Saudi Arabia. Rumor leads to testimony of a bomb builder with three missing fingers that was central to the Americans getting killed. After a lot of gun-fire, car chases, explosions and legal wrangling, the bomber is found and killed. The story closes with a flash back to the beginning where it is revealed what one agent tells another after the first news of the Agents getting killed. The group leader whispers to an underling, something like we will kill them, we will kill them all. The movie then has the grandson of the Saudi bomb maker getting told, we will kill them, we will kill them all.

We live in a world where every man, woman, and child holds a sense of right and wrong, good and bad, even if it is built on false perception. Some say there is not honest truth but all is mere perception. From person to person, neighborhood to neighborhood, all the way up to nation against nation, all is just perception. There is nothing to, (again Linkin Park) "Wash the poison from off my skin, Show me how to be whole again".

Is the whole world just a replay of "The Hatfields and The McCoys"? Each individual convinced that there is a grievance that needs to be avenged. Some people I know believe that all the corporate heads of industry are collectively evil, robbing the working class of our country. Could it not also be possible that these executives themselves believe that some incident their life or ancestral past was justification for getting all the wealth (revenge) they can lay hands on, legal or otherwise.

I believe the Bible tells us otherwise. In it God creates man, Man rejects God's rule, Man makes his own rules. We read that, "They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Psalm 14:3), "They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Romans 3:12). If people are involved (even "good religious folk") they will still have evil clouding their actions.

The hope we have is that God loves us and wants to redeem us. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins," (1 John 4:10).

The problem is twofold. 1) Not every person takes hold of this gift. It is singularly through Jesus, the only name among men, the Bible tells us. 2) Even those who have called upon the name of Jesus, still have to battle with their natural tendency of rejecting the rules of God, and still treat their fellow man in evil ways. It would be nice if Faith changed all our behaviors to kindness and honesty. I can only hold to the Hope that is within the Gospel that in the life after this, all will be washed away and all will be made new, for those who die in Jesus.

For those who are hurting, confused, questioning life, the suggestion that there is hope only in the next life may seem empty. I get that, as I live with Mitochondrial disease, living in constant pain, fatigue and a brain that is foggy. I likely won't be cured in my lifetime. I can only have faith for what will be. It is faith, I can't put it in a test tube, or lay it against a ruler. It is what I hold as the truth.