Choices- Living in Conflict

Chocolate or strawberry- This movie or that- Chinese or Mexican- The necklace or the ear rings- The Warm up suit or the Jeans today- To have your cake or to eat it-

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Why does life have to be so complicated? Wouldn't it be better if there were only one clear choice- Only One Right thing to do in every situation?

Easier, Yes-

Better-

I don't know.

What about the choice between Love and Truth- Now there's a tough one! You know what I mean don't you? Think of the classic question of every wife to her husband-

"Honey, tell me-

Do these pants make me look fat?"

Careful fellas!

Now think of the times when friends or family go wrong- Seriously wrong- Confrontation or Tolerance? Preserve Relationship or Stand for Holiness? Tough huh? It's so easy to take a stand for Holiness in the abstract- Or if I am talking about some distant relationship- Or when I am talking about someone else-

But what about when standing for Holiness-

Will jeapodize a close relationship-

Or bring on some persecution?

Is there a way to do both? Can we stand for Truth- Holiness- Yet still preserve relationship?

Can we have our cake and eat it too?

Maybe yes- Maybe no.

(How do you like that for decisiveness?)

Remember- Relationship is always a two party undertaking. I can not control another person's responses- Oh maybe I can try to manipulate to get what I want- But the other person will do what they will do. I wish I could tell you I have it all figured out- I wish I could come up with a magic formula to live by- One that always makes everything come out right- And not only come out right- But with no conflict in the process. I haven't found it. I do have some ideas- Some Maybes. Maybe I can try to speak Truth- In Love Maybe I can Love my enemies- That is- Treat them kindly- Be patient with them- Keep no record of wrongs- Bless them- Pray for them- Be Humble towards them- Maybe, because Jesus is in me I can treat those- Those who trample God's Holiness- As He has treated me- As I trample His Holiness- Maybe I can live out the Holiness of God- By pouring out His Grace- Even when I don't feel particularly Loving.

So what's it gonna be?

Hold to Truth-

People be damned

or

Cling to relationships-

While compromising Truth?

Choices, Choices, Choices- Oh, but wait a minute.......... What if Loving God by Loving people- Is Truth- And Conversely- Loving People by Loving God- Is also Truth. Please make no mistake in all this- My First and Last Loyalty is to God- To my Lord and Saviour Jesus- And the Holy Spirit Who has come to lead us. I am just coming to believe more and more- That Loyalty to Him- To the One and Only Triune God- Looks like loving people-

Matthew 5:44-45 Jesus said,

" Love your enemies-

Pray for them-

That you may be sons of your Father in Heaven.

He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good-

He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

Father, Lord Jesus, Spirit of the Living God-

Be powerful in us today to choose You-

To look to You in all we think, say and do-

So that all may see Your Glory-

Your Great Love and Your Goodness

As You pour Yourself out through our lives-

The lives of those who Love You.

Amen

Today

So............Why did you get up this morning?

My son Matthew loves to sleep in- Me, I 'm a morning guy- So I really don't quite get it- This sleeping in business that is- It feels to me that if I sleep in I might be missing something.

If you think that sounds a bit neurotic- You're probably right.

Anyway-

This past Saturday after his usual semicomatose morning- I couldn't help but half jokingly ask the boy,

"Why did you bother to get up at all this morning?"

Albeit late morning- His response was interesting-

"Because I had to Dad"

I suppose he was referring to the fact that I woke him up. I mean somebody had to get his little butt on up and about the obligations of the day. Particularly, he had a Mixed Martial Arts lesson at 10:30 a.m. he needed to get ready for. Seeing as how his Mom and I pay for said lessons I feel it my obligation to make sure he goes- You know- so I can get my money's worth!

So then........ I ask again- What about you-

Why did you get up this morning?

Was it because.....................

You had to-

You were supposed to-

Someone else expected you to-

Maybe you were afraid of missing something-

Or maybe you had something to do- Some obligation-

Maybe you just got kicked out of bed-

Or maybe........ Just maybe

There was something you were really looking forward to-

Something that you anticipated-

Something Good-

Something Really, Really Good!

Wouldn't it be awesome if everyday could be like that-

I mean every morning-

As good as those nice warm covers feel-

As comfortable as that soft bed is-

As much as you know-

When you step out onto the floor......

It will be cold-

Or when you first crack open your eyelids.........

The bright light that floods in will be harsh-

All of that means nothing-

It simply fades away..........

Because there is one thing-

Something really, really good-

That consumes your thoughts as you rouse into consciousness-

Something you love so much-

Anticipate so much-

That you can hardly wait to get up!

Oh I know you have been there-

Think of Christmas morning as a child-

Think of the morning of your wedding day-

Think of the first day of vacation in some new and exotic venue-

Think of opening day of hunting season-

Think of spending the day with a friend you haven't seen in ages.......

How about thinking of getting up everyday

to spend that day with the God who created the Universe.

How about living in the reality that He-

(Yes this Incredible, Mysterious, Wondrous God)

Has something for you today.

Something He made just for you..........

Life!

1 Corinthians 2:9 "No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

Nor has any mind conceived

What God has prepared for those who love Him."

Today

Father in Heaven, help me to see the reality of even just a small bit of what You have for me each day. Move in me to launch out into every day expecting the best day of my life.

Amen

Vessels

Have you ever been really thirsty?
I mean tongue hanging out-
Parched to the bone...... Dry.
I try not to let myself get thirsty-
The cardinal rule in endurance exercise is-
Eat before you get hungry and Drink before you get thirsty.

I'm not always real good with rules.

Not too long ago I went on a bike ride but forgot to bring my water bottle-
After a ways into the ride I realized my plight-
I reached down to take hold of my water bottle and..............
Oops Nothing there.
No problem I thought-
This will be short ride-
I'll be fine.
Fast forward 30 minutes-
Arriving back at the house-
I was dying..............
Spent-
Dead on my feet.
Straight to the refrigerator I stumbled-
There..........
there it was as I opened the door-
 A tall cool bottle of Propel.
That bottle..............at that moment-
Lable glistening and cool to the touch-
Represented for me then and there-
Satisfaction............
and relief...............
and .......................... Life!

It was sooooooo good!

It's funny though-

As happy as I was to see the bottle-

It's what was in the bottle that really mattered.

I can't help but wonder now-
Wonder what I must look like-
To the tired and thirsty people God brings my way-
Every single day.
People who are hurting and isolated-
People who are in need of a drink-
People who are weary and heavy laden.

Does my life offer even the prospect of relief?

More importantly-
What am I filled with?
What am I carrying around in this vessel-
This vessel of my body and soul-
Is there anything in me that might bring Satisfaction...............
and relief..................
and ................Life.

Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you,

and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions,

for the sake of His body, which is the church.

Truth-

Because Christ is in us-

Because we can live filled with His Spirit-

Not only can our packaging offer the prospect of Life-

But He can be poured out through us to bring Life-

As we share in His suffering-

For the people He brings our way. 

Father, move in me today to be a vessel

for Your Life to be poured out for the sake

of all the people You bring my way.
I pray that my life

become an expression of Your Love and Suffering.
Forgive me in every place I choose my own comfort
 over Your Love and suffering for

Your people.

Amen

Living from Faith

Christmas morning 1994- Or maybe 1995- Anyway- As she came down the stairs my daughter Rebecca was trembling with excitement-

I have never-

Before or since-

Seen such pure anticipation-

It was a beautiful thing...........

Overwhelming me even now as I draw it up from my recollections.

She rounded the corner that opened into our Great Room- The room where Santa had left her Christmas Gifts- Funny thing is, I don't even remember what the gifts were- Maybe some Barbie stuff- But it doesn't really matter- What matters- What I remember- Is Rebecca's wide eyed expression of Joy- Her unabashed proclamation-

"Santa must have thought I was a very good little girl"

A child's belief in Santa is an incredible thing to behold-

Matthew 11:25-26 At that time Jesus said,

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,

because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned,

and revealed them to little children.

Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

It amazes me sometimes how much time I spend trying to figure God out-

Trying to make Him fit into this system or that system of theology.

I have wasted so much time in Academic Pursuit of God-

And the worst of it is-

I have missed it-

I have been jaded-

I have missed what my Daughter at 4 or 5 years old had such grip on.

When will I come 'round that corner again-

All cynicism gone-

All skepticism gone-

When will I ever see the wonders of God again-

Forget about trying to explain it all-

And simply say-

Wow!

Maybe today

Hopefully in even the next moments.

Father in Heaven-

Open the eyes of my heart -

Move in me to live by Faith-

To stand in awe at the wonder of who You are-

The One and Only True God-

Beyond....... Totally beyond........

my capacity.

All Praise, Honor and Glory be to You.

Amen

How Then Shall We Live?

I looked out over the crowd of men and saw some puzzled looks. Not many, but enough to notice. I was speaking to about 50 men and their sons at a Father/ Son Retreat- I had just made the statement,

"If you are doing something-

Anything-

And God is not in it-

If He is not somehow being considered-

Somehow placed at the center-

Then what you are doing is a waste of time."

Have you ever heard the expression,

"Don't become so Heavenly Minded-

That you are no Earthly Good"

I think I know what people mean when they say that- It's the idea that living with my head in the clouds will blind me- Blind me to what is going on around me- Things around me that could use my attention here....... Now...............Today. I suppose maybe there might be people like that- I guess I would label them as "Religious". Oh now there's a word I have a great distaste for- Religious- I won't go there today- Instead, I am wondering what it really means to be Heavenly Minded- Or maybe another way to say it is Eternally Minded.

What would my life look like today

If I were to become consumed with..........

Eternity?

Now I do not mean sitting around dwelling on what is to come. No, what I mean is the notion of living today- Each and every moment- Like it somehow makes a difference for Eternity. I belive God created us to be living expressions of His Glory- Living, breathing, visible expressions of who He Is. And as we live in the reality of who He Is......... In us- As that touches every moment of our lives- We are somehow brought to Life-

All the rest is existence.

So what about it-

How are our lives reflecting Heavenly mindedness- Eternity mindedness- Even the Glory of God?How is it happening in my rising in the mornings? How is it reflected in having my coffee? How am I connecting to my Father as I do what I do-In my interacions with people all around me-In the class room- In my work-In the mundane- Washing dishes or Ironing pants- In my music or television or reading or writing-Are these things and all the rest being done with Eternity in sight?

These things matter...........

Somehow................

Even these things matter...........

As expressions of the Glory of God.

There in the crowd of men and their sons-

I see a nod, then another-

Someone gets it!

Thank You Jesus.

2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen-

but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary-

But what is unseen is Eternal.

Father be in me today so that everything I do becomes somehow an expression of Your Life and Goodness and Love to all those You bring my way. Forgive me for where I have and will forget You- For where I have and will become so earthly minded I become no good for anything.

Amen

Grace- A New Poem

Grace A gentle wind caresses the leaves Rising………. Falling………. Whispering, Somehow……. calling Again…….then again. I see it just now Your breath…….. Your Life...... Filling my beloved Even as she lay sleeping Her breast Rising…….. Then Falling……… Whispering, Somehow…….calling Again……then again The Spirit of the Living God pours over my soul Coming with a rush……. With power Like the laughter of children On some bright and joy filled day Rising…….. Then Falling……… Whispering, Somehow…….calling Again…...then again My heart bursts O’ my God, My Father Oh what have I done Oh what have I done? To witness such beauty- To receive such gifts...... Such gifts meant for a son. The sky lights in the distance...... It pushes the darkness back. My bride lies close to me In restful slumber no lack. Oh the wonder of it all That I……. Even I……. Could know………. Your Grace.

1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God!

And that is what we are!

Amen

I am Exhausted- What's Next?

Do you ever just feel overwhelmed?
You know, like........

No matter what you do-

It just isn't enough.

I get so tired. 

There never seems to be enough of me to go around.
Not that I am really all that in demand-
Or even that I really work that hard.
It's just that the needs all around me are so great-
Yet all my efforts seem so.......... inadequate.
Check that -
All my efforts are so inadequate.

Running to stand still-

And that is on a good day. 

I wrote the above a few days ago-
I was coming to the end of a long stretch of crazy busyness-
Exhausted.
Living on adrenaline-
I think I 'm a junkie.
It's funny to read all that now-
Just a few days later-
As the busyness begins to subside-
You see, even with all the fatigue and stress....

There is still a real part of me that says-

"What's Next?"

I have been living on an adrenaline high for so long-

I feel a little empty without it.

There is a part of me that loves living in the frenzy-
That craves the excitement.
I can't help but feel I am missing something when the pace slows-
When I'm not right on the edge.

Father forgive me for always chasing the next mountain top experience-
For living out of the lie that........
Life = Excitement and Edginess.
There is such a spirit of discontentment about it.
Yes I really want to live Life-
To experience all of it at it's best! I do!
But..........
Father help me to find it Your Way-
Living in You.
Living out real Love for the people You bring my way-
To value all these over all the excitement and drama.
Yes - I love the idea of Life as an adventure-
Even a Battle to take ground for Your Kingdom-
I am energized by these things.
But as I look at Jesus-
He never seemed to be in a hurry-
He never seemed to be caught up in the frenzy.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest. 
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

For I am gentle and humble in heart,

And you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Holy Spirit , lead me deeper into Jesus today.

Amen.