Strangers in a Strange Land

"Go Bullit Go!"

Rebecca squealed as she wildly flung her little 5 year old body back and forth on the newest member of our family. It was early Christmas morning in 1995- Bullit was a plastic Rocker Horse set up on powerful springs that when rocked hard back and forth the way my daughter was that morning- The rider could actually go airborn. It was Pure Joy- She was in heaven!

Fast forward June 2010-Julie and I were in the car- her driving- me riding and running off at the mouth. There was tension- I don't know where it came from- or at least right now I can not tell you it's source- but it was there-probably something silly- at least in my mind- but tension none the less- it was there- it was real. A far cry from pure Joy. On the radio was the Steven Curtis Chapman Song- "Heaven is the Face". What a great song- a song where he describes Heaven as he reflects on his fairly recent loss of his adopted daughter through a tragic accident. As I listen to the song- a little nonchalantly- there comes a lyric that reaches out and grabs me by the throat, reaches down deep into me and seizes my heart-

Heaven is a place with "No More Enemy"

I do not think we begin to understand or take seriously the devastation our Enemy brings to bear on us every moment of every day.

Right there- in that moment of Tension and Truth- it was like a revelation- an opening of my eyes to the reality of my own sinful nature and my wife's own sinful nature with an enemy standing there pouring gasoline on our smoldering embers.

An effort the divide our hearts-

To steal our peace with one another-

To destroy any joy we might find in one another-

And get this- he never rests.

Matthew 16:15-18 Jesus asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." .............Jesus replied,"on this Rock, I will build My Church and the Gates of Hell will not stand against it."

I so look forward to the day when the last enemy of the Life I long for has fallen- Sin- Death- The Devil himself- all gone- all put away- the onslaught over- finally able to live with Love and Joy and Peace unopposed. In the mean time, I pray-

Lord God Almighty, rise up in me for power to stand against my Enemy, my own sin nature and the corruption of this world's kingdom so that I might be a part of advancing Your Great Kingdom. Thank You for even small glimpses of the Love and Joy You bring into our lives. Amen

The Beauty of Heaven

Three Funerals in 7 days A middle ageish white lady who loved life, Jesus and people- mature and strong in her faith. An African- American older lady who was no nonsense in dealing with people and fought powerfully as a church mother to hold an enemy at bay who wanted to steal the life of her church. A crusty old sailor who served his country, loved his family and came to Jesus late in his life.

Three people who may have never crossed paths and certainly did not run in the same circles- yet are all enjoying the presence of God this very moment- TOGETHER!

It is an amazing and beautiful thing to me that this can be so. Oh, I knew it to be so in an abstract sort of way before.........but this week- the great blessing for me of this week is to see it in such a real and personal way. Galatians 3:26-28 "You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were Baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, Slave nor Free, Male nor Female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus". We spend so much time in this world running around trying to find people like us- people we can be comfortable with- I put up so many walls that keep others out of my life.............

And yet in Heaven- this place I so look forward to- I will know and be known intimately by those I now call strangers.

It will be such beautiful thing to get to that place where truly only one thing matters- our Love for Christ that makes all the walls fall and the lesser things fade into nothingness. So Lynn, Faye and Bill enjoy each other now- say hello to my Daddy- to my Mamma- give them a hug for me- tell them I Love 'em- I have not forgotten them and I will see you all "in a little while". Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit- Welcome these who have come on to be with You. Hold them, heal them, wipe away their tears and bring them into Yourself and one another in such a way that Your Glory is put forth for all Creation to see. Amen

Mixed Emotions

My son Matthew climbed the sheer rock wall ahead of me to the 20 or so foot cliff overlooking a pool of swirling deep black water. It was a beautiful sunny day in the North Carolina mountains and by the time I reached the top Matthew was ready to jump. As I looked down into the blackness and saw the dozens of people spread out on the nearby rocks cheering, "Go for it- You can do it!" I was wondering to myself ,"What the hell am I doing up here?" In the mean time, although I could tell he was a little hesitant, Matthew did it- He jumped! I was proud beyond comprehension- overjoyed even- at my son's courage- but at the same time ashamed of my own cowardice- I froze- I could not do it- I was terrified- so I took the climb of shame right back down the rope along the rock wall the way I had come. Matthew's strength expressed and my weakness exposed all in a matter of moments. There was celebration and shame all at once. I am 50 years old and in all my life I have been to less than 10 funerals- 3 of them will be this week. I suspect there will be more to come. Of course I know people have been dying all along, but right now- at this point in time- Death seems more real to me. It's like God is reminding me of what is really at stake in all this and calling me to take an even stronger grip on the Life He offers. Hebrews 2:14-15 Since we are flesh and blood, Jesus shared in our humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death- that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." 1Corinthians 15:54-57 "Death has beeen swallowed up in victory. Where o' death is your victory? Where o' death is your sting?....... Thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Set free from slavery to the fear of death. Jesus, my Jesus, has conquered death. He has put asunder the plans of my enemy- the Evil One- the one who would see me suffer out of his hatred for the God who created even him. Love- the Love of God has come through- He is risen- the grave could not hold the King- He is risen and has infused His Life- the very Life of God into my lifeless heart. It is such a message of Hope- a message to live for. As Peter declared, "You alone O' Lord have the words of Eternal Life". These things are the reality and yet still there is such deep sadness over our lost loved ones. There is mourning and celebration all at once. I suppose that is the way life is- bitter-sweet. I mourn so for me- for the family and friends of the ones left behind- It is a deep and real mourning for self- for separation from the ones I love. I think I might do better to focus on the one who has gone on to be with the Lord- the one who has been ushered into the very presence of God and is experiencing what I can only get a glimpse of here on this earth. It's alot like that day on a high cliff in the North Carolina Mountains- I will remember my son- his courage- his joy- his beaming face as he looked at me from the swirling black water below- I will remember Matthew and do my best to forget me- that is where my own joy will come. Father in Heaven, Lord Jesus, Friend Jesus, Holy Spirit- Move in me today and in all those who have seen their loved ones go from this life on to be with You- move in us all to remember- to revel in the knowlege that these we have lost for a time are with You now- Living the life we all long for so deeply in our own hearts. Amen