Can I change my heart? (Part 2)

There is this story I have heard as part of a sermon - It goes something like this- Inside of us all there are 2 ravenous dogs- they fight all the time. The one is good and true and pure- full of Love and Mercy and Grace. The other is evil and deceitful and perverse in every way- full of anger, bitterness and pride. These dogs are at constant war inside of me- Sometimes with one winning the battle of the moment and sometimes the other. Oh, but which will win the war and in the end possess my soul? As the story goes- I am the one who decides. I utimately determine which of these 2 beasts will claim me as his own. It all comes down to this- Which one will I feed?- Which one will I nourish moment by moment- day by day? I will be claimed by the one I feed.

Phillipians 4:8 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think (feed) on these things.

John 6:48-58 (Excerpts) Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life- I am the Living Bread that comes down from Heaven- Whoever feeds on this Bread - My Flesh and My Blood- will have Eternal Life- My Flesh and My Blood are Real Food-

So the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.

So then- What will I feed on? Will it bethose things that nourish and strengthen the vile dog or will it be those things that strengthen and nourish me as a Child of the King?

Father in Heaven, I do believe I can change my heart- I do believe I can shape my soul- even lead it to the place of Life- to a place of Contentment and Hope and Love and Goodness. Thank You Lord Jesus that You have made that possible. Thank You for redemption. Thank You for food that is Real Food. Holy Spirit move my spirit today to constantly- moment by moment- take my nourishment from Jesus- to be sustained in Him.

Amen

Can I change my heart?

What have I stored up for myself? What is it that I value- that I chase after? What is it that has hold of my heart- That I spend my energy pursuing? Pleasure- Acclaim- Strength- Admiration? How about Position- Success- Power or Respect? Or is it Possessions- Youth- Money or Popularity? I have to confess I have spent no small amount of time in pursuit of these things- and I have even caught a few of them from time to time. When I did catch them there was a time of pleasure- brief as it was- always followed by,"Okay-What Now?' A good friend recently told me about the first time he took his wife fishing. Now, she wasn't especially excited about the prospect of fishing- Did I mention it was part of one of their early anniversary trips? At any rate, the lovely young bride did catch a few. My buddy went on to tell me that upon their return home his dear sweet wife promptly put a pole in the trunk of her car and began looking for fishing holes. From that point forward, it seems every time she came across a a decent looking spot she would stop the car and proceed to cast a few lines.

The story left me wondering- did she catch some fish or had fishing caught her?

I think it's kind of like that with all of us. If you take a good look at what I spend my time looking for- at what occupies my thoughts, time and energy- you will have a very good chance of knowing what has me hooked- of what has my heart.

Matthew 6:19-23 Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth.........but instead store up for yourself Treasure in Heaven.........

For where your treasure is there will your heart be also........

The eye is the lamp of the body....... if your eyes are good your whole body will be full of light........if not, you will be full of darkness.

I wonder then if maybe I can lead my heart by somehow disciplining my eyes-

I wonder if by intentionally training my eyes to look for some things and turn away from others I can somehow deepen the connection between my own feeble heart and God's Great and Powerful Heart. A Heart bursting forth with Unfathomable Love and Goodness.

Maybe it's not too far fetched to say

Blessed are those who Look for God- For they shall become Pure in Heart and shall see God.

Hebrews 12 (Excerpts) Let us throw off what hinders and the sin that so easily entangles......... Let us fix our eyes on Jesus........so that we do not grow weary and lose heart.

Holy Spirit help me- help me to lead my heart after You. Empower me to fix my gaze upon Jesus. Speak to me- speak words of truth and give me ears to hear and a will to obey. Father Thank You for Your great mercy and patience with me. Thank You the strength and desire You give me to fix my eyes on the Author and Finisher of my salvation. Lord, I will do my best to keep my focus on You.

Amen

What Happened?

It was such a sad and disturbing sight- As I did my weekly ride with my buddies along the Canal Tow Path Saturday Morning we came upon something that has etched itself into my mind- an image that I may never forget. Coming toward us were 2 women- they were pushing a baby stroller- One of those heavy duty strollers that joggers use to push their children in when they go for a run. As we came closer to the women I began to make out what was in the stroller- It was........ well it was just wrong. In this stroller was what must have once been a beautiful regal animal- Full of strength and life and fierceness........ Yes an animal that had once commanded respect as it was approached- Now reduced to a Caricature of it's former self- something laughable. In the stroller being pushed along by 2 well meaning women was a Bulldog. Grand and Powerful at one time- Now the only thing missing was a little bonnett and bow.

What Happened? What happened that reduced this incredible awe- inspiring Beast to being pushed along in a baby stroller?

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image- Male and Female He created them.

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field.....

Genesis 3:23 So the Lord banished man from the Garden.......

What Happened to us- Us who were once declared to be made in the image of God. Reduced to sweating and groveling for whatever scraps of pleasure we can manage. What happened- How did it all go so wrong?

Romans 5:6 You see at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.......

Hope abides- We can yet be what we were made to be!

Romans 5:18 The result of the one trespass was condemnation........the Result of His one act of Righteousness was justification and Life.

Galatians 5 "It is for freedom Christ has set us Free!"

Can we go back? Can we reverse this aberration of the Lives we were meant for?

Oh Yes!

Thanks be to God who through our Lord Jesus Christ redeemed us from the clownishness of being pushed along in a baby carriage. Thanks be to God who has raised His Son from death to Life and who raises us to Life along with Him. Thanks be to God that He is restoring us as Sons and Daughters of a Great King- Fierce and Strong and Beautiful and Meek.

Let us then press forward to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of us.

Let us put aside the Caricatures of Men and Women we have become and rise up to Life!

Father God, Lord Jesus, King Jesus, Holy Spirit- Thank You for Restoration and Redemption. Thank You for not laughing at us- for not casting us aside, but instead reviving us to the Life You made us for. Spirit of the Living God move in me today to live as a son of the Most High King. Move in me to go forward boldly with Love and Grace and Healing that come from You so that Your Great Kingdom become a reality even in this fallen world.

Amen

What you see is what you get-Really!

2003- Family Picture Day at Church- You know- the time when everyone comes in to have pictures taken for the church directory. I look back at that picture now- the smiles- our Sunday best clothes- Our closeness as we huddled together to capture the memory of............... I was running late and driving like a fool. The woman in front of me began to inch forward as the light turned green, but came to a sudden stop when she saw an ambulance out of the corner of her eye. Me- I was in such a hurry- I had jumped right up on her as she pulled away- when she stopped- I couldn't................ Crunch........... I can't believe this I thought to myself- what idiot starts and then stops suddenly as they pull away at a Green light? Julie (my wife) was spitting mad. By the time I got to the church with news of my wreck, we had missed our appointment and had to go to the end of the line. On top of that, she and my then 13 year old Rebecca were at war over how to dress for the Family Church picture. Matthew didn't help matters- As a typical 9 year old he wasn't exactly a paragon of patience as he relentlessly asked over and over and over, "How much longer Mom- how much longer?"

So what was Real?

The idyllic posed family portrait of beautiful people who have it all together

or

The boiling cauldron of anger and frustration underneath the smiles?

I suppose there is a bit of reality- of Truth- in both.

I look back now, I do see 4 broken people and I do know the back story, but even in that brokenness we were-we are- a family.

If nothing else- at least the pose shows a Love for each other.

It is a Love that binds our hearts together even in the boiling cauldron.

1 Peter 4:8 Above all else, Love each other deeply, for Love covers a multitude of sin

In truth, the whole episode pushes me to think about what Love really is.

We certainly had to find our way past the notion of love being a feeling.

None of us felt particularly loving about each other at that point.

Some might say we were just posing for the camera-

Propogating a lie- trying to cover up our ugliness.

Maybe there was a bit of that for the outside world.

Maybe there was a bit of posing going on-

But with each other- No Way!

None of us tried to hide our frustration with each other.

None of us lived in the illusion that we had it all together.

So what about this deep Love that covers a multitude of sin?

In a way I think the picture is a real expression of it.

At it's core, this smiling, happy looking picture is the reality of us-

Our Family- choosing to set aside our brokeness-

Our anger and ill tempers with each other-

Setting all that aside- for just a moment- to say,

"Hey, I know you're screwed up-

I know you're apt to make my life a little difficult-

I know all that- but I am not going anywhere."

"I'm in this picture and I choose to Love you all."

Lord Jesus, Thank You for our family- Our messed up broken family. Thank You that You have empowered us with Love that covers a multitude of sin. Father work out Your Great Heart for us- through us- in all our days together and apart.

Amen

Body Surfing

Summer Time in the South.....
Ninety-nine degrees in the shade.......
With humidity that can be worn as an outer layer of clothing.

Thunder Storms every afternoon and ........
The Beach!
The cool breeze skips up off the ocean......
With the faint whisper that says......
"Nahhhh, you're not getting burned......
You're hardly even pink"

Sand everywhere....
Hot sand to run across like a ballerina on opening night......
Sticky sand that cakes onto sunscreen......
Sand in shoes and Sand in shorts..............
But it's alright......
We're talking Beach Sand!

And then there's the ocean......
You know.....
The warm white foam that feels so good as it swirls up around your ankles......
But somehow turns a little chilly as you get knee deep......
Then gets downright icy as you slide in up to your belly button.....
Before finally gathering the nerve to take the plunge......
The plunge that feels ooooohhh....... sooooo....... good.

I gotta tell you guys.....
For me the very best of it all......
The coup de gras if you will.....
Has to be the waves.

The bigger the better.
I'm talking
Save the women and children.....
Hold on to your hat type waves.
Waves made for one thing only......
Body Surfing.

I can't tell you how much I love body surfing.
The exhilaration of timing and catching a wave just so...........

All that Power......

That rushing white tipped breaker of pure energy.....
Sweeping me away toward the shore.
This must be what Superman feels like.....
When he leaps into the air to fly.

Yes......
I'm Superman!

2Timothy 1:7.......
God has given us a Spirit of Power and of Love.........

Galatians 5:22-25 
But the Fruit of the Spirit is 
Love, Joy, Peace, 
Patience, Kindness, Goodness, , 
Gentleness and Self- Control............
Since we live by the Spirit, 
Let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

There are times in my life
When I catch hold of the Power of the Spirit just so........
Times when I am right in step with the Spirit of God............
Times when that rushing white tipped breaker of pure energy sweeps me along towards.........
Well....... Heaven.
Times when I am fully alive in the Kingdom of God-
Even here in this place.

Father in Heaven, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit- 
Thank You for those moments of Pure Heaven- 
Thank You for even a glimpse of the Life to come. 
Move me more and more into step with You
So that this Life I long for- 
This life that is Life- 
This abiding in You .....
Becomes my daily reality.

Amen

On Enemies, Weapons and War

Facebook Post of a Friend, "The devil chase me every day of my life- I just pray he never catch me". As a hawk circles slowly above- Gliding along the air currents against the backdrop of a pristine blue sky- the ducks below calmly sit atop the sparkling water ............. floating peacefully .................oblivious to the enemy above preparing his onslaught. Another time- Another place- Another hawk- Perched high on a pine limb surveying his domain- in search of prey- When suddenly out of the sky come 2 Mockingbirds on the attack- The Mockingbirds move in and out with no hesitation- Using stealth and superior maneuverability to drive this devil away.

What about us-That old devil is there- Watching for his chance.

Do we run in fear? Do we sit in oblivion?

Lost to the reality of the threat.

Or maybe.......................It's time to fight!

Ephesians 6:10-18 (Excerpts) "Be strong in the Lord and His Mighty Power......Take your stand against the devil's schemes..........When the day of evil comes, stand your ground..... Stand Firm then with Truth, Righteousness, the Gospel of Peace, Faith, Salvation, the Word of God and Prayer.

Colossians 3:12-14 Clothe yourselves then with Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Gentleness and Patience. Bear with each other and forgive as the Lord forgave you- And over all these things put on Love, which binds them together in perfect unity.

Strange weapons aren't they- things like Love -Compassion- Forgiveness and Humility? Yet these are the very weapons our Lord used to defeat our great enemy- to overcome death and bring us to Life.

Hey Guys- Let's go to war today- Let's fight using the weapons of Love and Mercy and Forgiveness. Let's take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of us- Our Freedom and the Freedom of all those God brings our way today. No more running- No more trying to simply stay one step ahead of a scheming enemy- No more sticking our head in the sand- acting as if all the garbage we endure is just part of life.

No- Today let's take our stand- let's do it by intentionally, courageously Loving on every single human being God brings into our radar today. We can do this. We can rise up in Courage to advance the Kingdom of God- Today- One person at a time. We can do this.

Lord God Almighty, give me eyes to see today- to see all those places Love can make a difference. Lord Jesus, give me Courage today to come out of myself and show Your Life and Glory to all You bring my way. Holy Spirit of the Living God, move in me today to bring the Love and Grace of God to bear on every moment of the Life You give me.

Amen

On Cell Phones, Practicality and Pride

Vacation- Beach Time with family- This weekend specifically with my wife's family. Now, I will tell you close quarters for extended periods of time with anyone can be difficult-but there is real potential for fireworks when you're talking about In-Laws. All that being said- honestly- for the most part I really do enjoy these folks. They are a conglomeration of humanity-People who I am not really sure would ever get together other than the fact that they are bound by blood. Actually it's more than that- they are bound by a committment to each other that goes beyond shared interests. Even in the midst of their differences they really do love each other.

Maybe that's the reason God gives us these blood ties to people we might otherwise never have much to do with. It is a great opportunity to come out of ourselves and share life. Maybe family is where we are supposed to learn to do that.

At any rate, I'm not quite sure where this comes from, but there is scarcely a time when I am in the presence my dear, sweet Sister-in-Law (the one from Memphis in case you read this) that she doesn't ask me if I have gotten around to getting a cell phone yet. I truely believe the dear woman is convinced that some dark, moonless night- out on a cold and lonely road- my car is going to breathe it's last- And there I will be- stranded- lost forever in the clutches of- you guessed it- The Psycho Dentist Monster(Check June 18 blog). I can not tell you all how many strange looks I get when my friends or people I meet for the first time ask me for my cell number and I announce- Uh......... sorry- I haven't moved into the 20th (or is it the 21st) century yet.

"Oh no- you poor man- how do you survive?

What will you do if................"

Honestly, these good hearted folks have me wondering- What's wrong with me? Why have I not caved in? Why have I not joined modern civilization with all it's wonderful convenience and marvelous communication capability? I wish I had a good answer................. As I think about it- I suppose the truth is I might just be too cheap. In fact, I think it just might be a combination of the curse of Male Pride and Generational Poverty all wrapped into one. Let me explain- In my upbringing all purchases were examined from one major perspective- Do we really need this thing? You have to understand- We did not have money to spend on things that were not really, I mean really, really, really needed. Now combine that with my Male Ego constantly creeping in to say, "Charles, you can't let them know you need anything- you can't ask for help- that will just expose how weak you truely are". I know, I know- It's incredibly stupid and really messed up, but in those classic words of today's culture..............."It is what it is". I do think I am getting better

1 John 3:1 "How great is the Love the Father has lavished upon us that we should be called Children of God"

It's strange- all of this reminds me of the episode in Mark 14 with Jesus being anointed by the woman at Bethany. You remember- Jesus is having dinner with his disciples and some religious types and in comes this woman- This woman who procedes to break a very expensive bottle of perfume- and in an extravagant display of love and humility she uses the perfume to anoint Jesus- pouring it out on Him to honor Him before the crucifixion. All those around Him are caught up in a tizzy saying things like,"Why do You allow such waste- We could have fed the poor for an entire year with the money that perfume brought". Ah, but this woman- this woman who had no thought of practicality at the time- Her only thought was Love- Love for the Man who had saved her- The One who had lifted her out of hopelessness and judgement- It was pure Love on lavish display with nary a thought of what was practical.

Lord Jesus, Father God, Friend Jesus, Holy Spirit- make me like this woman- So capture and captivate my heart with Love for You and the people you bring my way that I simply forget what is practical- just for a moment- So that I am able to set aside pride- just for a moment- and then another and then another................

Move powerfully in me to pour out the Love that You have poured in-

Help me to pour it out wrecklessly- so that all the world may see Your Life and Your Love.

Amen