Just A Thought . . .

In the Season of Giving . . . Realizing What I Do Not Have (Acts 3:1-10)

2010-11-30T10:41:00.001-06:00

As the cry for alms rang in Peter’s ears, he recognized the situation as a stewardship moment. The need which the man proclaimed, Peter had no power to meet. The gift for which the poor beggar petitioned, Peter could not give. His classic answer, in the beauty of the King James Version was, “Silver and gold, have I none.” It was a stark declaration—a bold affirmation of what he did NOT have.

In the Season of Giving, it is a good thing to recognize what I—and you, too—do not have. God does not expect of us what we do not have to give. Neither should anyone else. But, if the truth be told, our tendency is to concentrate on what we do not have—especially when it comes to time, talent, and treasure—and then point out why not much should be expected of us.

Now for the truth about these three T’s.

Time: Everyone has the same amount. I may not have as much time left on earth as my children—I hope not—but as for every day, we all start with 24 hours (1,440 minutes). It is one of God’s great equalizers. It is ours to give (or not) to what—or who—we want. And we usually do.
Talent: Everyone has some; it’s just not the same. It varies by type, quantity, and quality. This is neither good nor bad. What we do with the talent God has given us determines its moral character. It is ours to give (or not) to what—or who—we want. And we usually do.
Treasure: Everyone has some. How it compares with someone else’s is irrelevant. The measure of its true value is established by how and where we invest it. It is ours to give (or not) to what—or who—we want. And we usually do.

In the Season of Giving, it’s a good thing to recognize the time, talent, and treasure we do NOT have—and let it go. Peter did not waste time lamenting his lack of financial funds. As we shall see, he moved on quickly to the rich resources he did possess.

Lord, help me today, also. May I not so much lament my lack of time, talent, and treasure, as see the abundance of what you have given me that I can use to bless others!

In the Season of Giving . . . Living Where God Can Use Me

2010-11-29T10:47:00.003-06:00

It was a picture of great need in the midst of great affluence. In his tattered clothes the ragamuffin, lame beggar sat where he had sat everyday—for decades (Acts 3:1-10). Positioned at the most ornate, opulent gate to the temple, he was known as a fixture there. For years he had begged for what he wanted—money. He thought it was his greatest need. It is all too easy to be convinced that our wants are our greatest needs.

As two more warm bodies approached him, his voice responded automatically with a cry for alms. Apparently, though, the Galileans did not fit his usual contributor’s profile, for he paid them no mind. Peter had to demand his attention with the words, “Look at us!”

It is easy to focus on the miraculous healing of the lame man in this story. But, for a moment, concentrate on the instrument of this miracle, the disciple Peter. Look at the pilgrimage the impetuous, impulsive big fisherman has made – from denier of Christ to preacher of Pentecost. It was quite a journey.

What I see first is that Peter (and John, too, of course) was attempting to live where God could use him. It was the hour of prayer—time to be in church. There are certainly other ways and places to serve God besides church attendance, but there is a time to be with God’s people in God’s house.

The lame beggar was a diversion from their primary objective. However, there was this sensitivity, an easy flexibility that allowed Peter to see the divine appointment in the interruption.

Lord, help me today to live where you can use me. Give me a sensitivity and flexibility that enables me to see the divine appointments among the usual and customary objectives of my day. May I not be so taken with the affluence around me that I fail to see great need in front of me, calling out for help.

Called to be an Extremist: Be Thankful—In Every Circumstance! (Philippians 4:4-9)

2010-11-26T07:38:00.004-06:00

Across nearly 40 years I have watched and listened, read her letters. She has seen not only the ordinary trials of life, but also the catastrophic. She lost her first husband with a “sudden death” heart attack in his mid-fifties. Her second husband succumbed to cancer—in less than three months after the diagnosis.

In all these and more, Esther Hufford Conkey Blanks, my mother-in-law, has not only maintained, but also triumphed by way of an attitude of gratitude, and not just a spirit, but a lifestyle of thanksgiving. Certainly I don’t mean a thankfulness for bad things that have happened, but a deep, grateful appreciation for the blessings and love of God, family, and friends in the midst of troubles that shatter one’s world.

I could not begin to number the times I have heard “Mom” say, “I am SO thankful,” or seen it written in her letters. She is a living illustration of Paul’s admonition to let your requests be made known to God with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6).

Of all Paul’s admonitions in this passage: Be joyful all the time, be gentle with everybody, worry about nothing, pray about everything, be thankful in every circumstance, and think positive thoughts, I would say that being thankful—in every circumstance, is the key. It is the attitude that unlocks the door to the possibility of practicing the other behaviors. Just try being joyful without being thankful, worrying about nothing without being thankful, praying . . . well, you get the picture.

Of course, just when you have no idea how you’re going to be thankful—in every circumstance, God reminds you of a living illustration, a snapshot of grateful grace that demonstrates the life and shows you the way.

Called to be an Extremist: Pray—About Everything! (Philippians 4:4-9)

2010-11-24T09:34:00.002-06:00

So many years ago now—my future (at the time) brother-in-law, Dan, and I lived with Dan’s grandmother in Copley, Ohio. One Saturday night Dan and I decided to go bowling. It was 1975 and a smoke-free bowling alley was unheard of in those days. When we got home, Dan’s saintly grandmother was still awake and we must have reeked with the smell of cigarette smoke for she asked us where we had been. We confessed and she very curtly responded, “Well, I wouldn’t want to be in place like that when Jesus comes!” Without another word she returned to her bedroom.

One thing I’m sure of, though, Ruth Wager Hufford prayed that night—and so many times afterward—for two young men she thought had gone a little wayward on the path of life. She was a prayer warrior of the first degree—the kind that defines the meaning of the term for you for the rest of your life. There’s no doubt in my mind—she prayed about everything! When she passed away, so many of us in the family could literally feel the loss of her earthly prayers.

It is hard to imagine praying about everything. Yet, God is so gracious, that if we look closely enough, we’ll find He has given us a living dictionary with a picture of real person from our own experience beside the term “Prayer Warrior.” For any who really knew her, Ruth Wager Hufford defined the meaning of the term, demonstrated the life, and shows us the way.

Called to be an Extremist: Be Gentle—With Everybody!

2010-11-22T07:57:00.003-06:00

The boy had hit my little niece with a hammer, and it had been no accident. She was not under my care at the time, but I was fuming and ready to “take care” of that boy by a laying on of hands—in a very non-spiritual way, if you know what I mean.

My brother-in-law, Dan, however, took a different tack. He reacted with a calm demeanor which I did not possess. For sure, he addressed the situation thoroughly and firmly, but with a gentleness that preserved relationships. Today that boy is a young man—and a Christian. God only knows what kind of damage I could have done.

Paul’s admonition in Philippians 4:5 is to let our gentle spirit be known to all. He adds, “The Lord is near,” as if to say, “And the reason is, because Jesus is coming soon.” I believe He also means, “Because Jesus is close by in every situation and relationship.”

Oftentimes, we cannot imagine ourselves with a demeanor and spirit of gentleness that could constructively cope with a difficult situation. Yet, if we look closely enough at our own experience, there are precious people who have painted a picture of gentleness, demonstrated the actions, and shown us the way.

Called to be an Extremist: Be Joyful—Always!

2010-11-21T07:44:00.003-06:00

Most of us would not claim to be joyful all the time. Yet Paul’s command in Philippians 4:4 is to rejoice—always. He qualifies it by adding that our rejoicing is to be “in the Lord,” but provides the double emphasis with, “And again I say, rejoice!”

Though the state of continual rejoicing may seem personally unfamiliar, there are those people in our experience who have appeared to be joyful all the time. She was to me, a children’s evangelist, a youth worker, and later, a dear friend and mentor. I can still hear her voice, her words, and the melody with which she would proclaim, “Oh Lord, You’ve been so good to me!”

Edith Gallagher rejoiced in the goodness of the Lord to her. The truth is, God’s been good to all of us. Part of that goodness is the people He has given to us as examples of His grace. They are models we can emulate. And though being joyful all the time may seem a distant possibility, if we look closely, God has given us pictures in people that demonstrate how and show us the way.

Oh the Places You'll Go!

2009-08-25T09:05:00.011-05:00

In his wonderful little book, Oh the Places You’ll Go!, Dr. Seuss writes:

You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

Life is a long lesson in personal leadership. Many have said it, and life affirms it: the first person you must learn to lead is yourself. This is difficult. It is not a position most of us are eager to take on, and besides, there are so many others who want the job! Furthermore, if I make my own choices and decisions, everything that happens will be my responsibility—all my fault! In today’s world that is a novel concept.

One of the greatest heroes of the Old Testament had many failures in personal leadership. Hebrews 11:8 indicates that Abraham, by faith, obeyed when he was called. However, a deeper study of his story discloses that he did not come to this obedience easily or quickly. The fact that Abraham struggled with his life direction, faced difficult family issues, and more than once made poor personal decisions makes him a lot more like you and me than we would first think. This should be an inspiration to us. After all, he was called the “man of faith,” and the “friend of God.” Nevertheless he stumbled, fell, and sometimes failed miserably, yet, he persevered with God. The lesson here is that we, too, can learn from our mistakes and failures, become “experts” in personal leadership (finally), and gain the ultimate declaration that “when we were called, by faith, we obeyed.”

Stephen, in his last and greatest sermon, reveals that God spoke to Abraham in Mesopotamia before he lived in Haran. When Abraham left Mesopotamia (Ur of the Chaldeans, Genesis 11:31), his father, Terah, and Lot, his nephew, went with him. This appears to be in contradiction to God’s command, which was to leave your country, relatives, and father’s house (Genesis 12:1; Acts 7:3). Rather than going on to Canaan—their original destination according to Genesis 11:31—the little group settled in Haran for a number of years.

There were some notable happenings in Haran. Terah died there (Genesis 11:32), and apparently, one portion of Terah’s legacy for Abraham was Lot. He assumed the responsibility and his love for his wayward family member was unfailing. Was Lot one of the “relatives” Abraham was supposed to leave behind when he was first called? No matter now, decisions had been made. He would live with the consequences AND follow this God who kept calling.

Abraham also amassed significant wealth in Haran. Genesis 12:5 indicates that they had “accumulated possessions” and “acquired persons” in Haran. The wealth and possessions led to Lot and Abraham’s separation (Genesis 13:6). Later, Abraham would muster 318 men from his own household (Genesis 14:14) to rescue his hapless nephew. His wealth was a bane and a blessing.

All along his journey Abraham was called upon to make decisions. “Steering” himself and “deciding where to go” did not come easily. More mistakes and recoveries were made. Life is a long lesson in personal leadership.

God called Abraham in Ur—right where he was. God was not waiting for Terah to die, for Abraham to get to Haran, or to accumulate wealth. God is calling you and me right where we are, too. He is not waiting for us to get through college, find the right job, get the kids raised, retire, or anything else.

What is he calling us to? In broad categories, He calls us to salvation, the personal realization of our sinful state and our need for a Savior. Secondly, He calls us to surrender, the submission of every aspect of our lives to His divine will. Finally, He calls us to service, the use of all the gifts He has given us to serve Him and the people He brings into our lives.

It seems rather simple. However, life is not, and very few of us are born as “experts” in personal leadership. We are susceptible to missteps, wrong turns, and failure. The key, nonetheless, is to do what was also said of Abraham in Hebrews 11:8—keep going out even though we don’t know where we’re going. Like Abraham, we, too, may accumulate possessions, persons, responsibilities, and other miscellaneous baggage along the way that, perhaps, were not part of God’s perfect plan in the beginning. So what should we do with all this stuff when God calls again to salvation, surrender, and service? Well, we should continue to be like Abraham—shoulder the consequences of our decisions and go anyway.

To “go anyway” is the only way to prove to ourselves we have learned something from life’s lessons in personal leadership. In truth, it is the only way we can respond to God’s calls to salvation, surrender, and service. And even though, like Abraham, you don’t know where you are going, when you go with God you can be assured of the wonder of which Dr. Seuss wrote: Oh the Places You’ll Go!

This Is It!

2009-08-07T10:24:00.002-05:00

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased" (Mark 1:9-11).

The “up there” God has come down. The “outside” God has come inside. The “boxed up” God has been unwrapped.

David Alexander Johnston was born on the flatlands of the Midwest near Chicago. At an early age, however, he developed a fascination with volcanoes. That fascination led him to a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Washington in 1978. Later that year he joined the United States Geological Survey.

In March of 1980, he was assigned to a little place in the Cascades range of southern Washington known as Coldwater Ridge. From there he would observe and collect data on the newly active volcano, Mt. St. Helens, about six miles away. The official USGS prediction was that Mt. St. Helens would experience a conventional vertical column eruption. Johnston was the only geologist to correctly predict that the blast would be lateral and originate from the bulge he had observed developing on the north side of the mountain.

On Sunday morning, May 18, 1980, David was reluctantly standing in for fellow geologist Harry Glicken. At 8:32 AM (PDT), an earthquake collapsed the north face of the mountain. Just as he had predicted, the molten rock within the volcano exploded laterally, out rather than up, and straight at him. His fellow geologists at the Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver heard Johnston’s excited and final words over the radio transmitter: “Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!”

Like the mountain opened up, on the day Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened. As the molted rock descended, so the Spirit descended. As David Johnston could not contain his excitement with death rushing toward him, it seems as though God could not contain His, so He said, “This is it! This is my beloved Son. I love this Boy, and I love you! In Him, I have come down. Through Him, I can come in. With Him, the gift of God can be unwrapped in your life!

Done With Decreasing

2009-04-29T10:58:00.002-05:00

I have become a real fan of John the Baptist of late. After the Christmas story, he is the only person who “gets it” about Jesus for quite awhile. He lives his whole life to talk about someone else and he is the first to point his finger and say, “Now there you go, that’s the Lamb of God, and He’s going to change the whole world!” (My paraphrase, of course).

John is also the first to surrender his own front and center stature to the rising predominance of Jesus—“He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). I don’t believe this was difficult for John. The literal presence and popularity of Jesus made it rather simple for the forerunner to fade into the background.

I have tried this “decreasing” thing. I have come to the conclusion that it just might be part of my problem. Every time I determine to decrease, I decide I must do more—more church, more Bible reading and study, more prayer, more love for people, just more! So my “decreasing” for the sake of Jesus “increasing” becomes all about ME doing more! There is something wrong with this picture.

I think it is matter of where you concentrate your attention. The Baptist did not focus on his own “decreasing;” he focused on Jesus’ “increasing.” He let Jesus have center stage; he acquiesced; he got out of the way. In some sense, John did not “decrease” much at all. He kept preaching—hard preaching in fact. He literally lost his head for the sake of his convictions.

Acquiescing to Jesus and getting out of His way moment by moment is hard—and harder to measure. It is why I am so tempted by the trap of decreasing—doing more.

Lord Jesus, today, help me acquiesce; help me get out of the way. Today, Lord, take center stage in my life, and give me grace to follow Your lead!

There will still be plenty to do!

Dismissing the Devil

2009-03-16T10:34:00.002-05:00

The last temptation of Jesus as Matthew records it (4:8-10) is a presentation by Satan to Jesus of all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. They are offered as a gift to Jesus if he will simply fall down and worship Satan. What we discover is that Satan cannot command Christ’s worship, but Jesus can command the devil’s dismissal. Jesus tells him to go, with the explanation that worship and service are for God only, and he leaves (4:11).

Lord, is ANYTHING getting in front of my worship and service to You? Help me to realize Your “first-ness” in all things, and that, through the power of Your Spirit in me, I can command the devil’s dismissal.

So Jesus shows us in his temptation experience how we can deal with temptation. To recap: 1) Rely on the Word of God; 2) Stay on mission; 3) Remember, your worship and service belong to God only.

Stay On Mission

2009-03-09T09:45:00.003-05:00

The second temptation of Jesus, as Matthew records it (Luke reverses the order of the second and third temptation), is fascinating. In regard to the first temptation, Jesus has quoted Scripture to Satan to refute his reasoning—Scripture that emphasizes Scripture in fact: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Satan then quotes Psalm 91:11, 12 as the basis for his next temptation, urging Jesus to throw Himself off the highest point of the temple, for surely the angels will not let him be harmed.

We would certainly do well to heed the warning here. A temptation may come to us clothed in Scripture and seemingly justified by God’s word.

Jesus replies with “Not so fast” (my paraphrase). “On the other hand, it is written, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” I believe Jesus was saying, “That’s not what I am here for, and I am not going to play your little game. You are not going to move Me off My mission.

How easy it is to play games with God’s word! And with our brothers and sisters—Christian and not so Christian! How easy it is to stray from the purpose for which we are here! How easy it is to move away from the particular mission God has given me!

Lord, help me today to stay on mission, doing what You have called me to do, and being who You have called me to be!

Temporal vs. Timeless

2009-03-02T08:58:00.002-06:00

Matthew indicates that Satan’s first temptation for Jesus came after 40 days of fasting in the wilderness (4:2-3). It was a temptation for immediate gratification, and for self-display—a demonstrative proof of who He was: “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Translate: You’re pretty hungry; you need to eat. You can take care of that and prove who you are at the same time.

Jesus responds to this temporal enticement with timeless truth. “It is written . . . .” Satan’s apparent theory is counteracted with God’s absolute truth. “It is not bread, or your words that I live by, Satan, but the Bread of life, the word(s) of God, is my sustenance, and the demonstration of Who I Am.

Today, Lord, whatever my immediate needs may be, and whatever temptations I may face, remind me that You have the words of life, and they will not pass away. Give me the good sense not to exchange the timeless for the temporal, and may the yearning of my heart be not for a sensational demonstration of Your power or even an acknowledgement of my own identity and worth, but for an attentive sensitivity to the still, small Voice that speaks truth in all my circumstances.

Detours

2009-02-23T11:09:00.002-06:00

Like Jesus, the journey of life may take us on what seems like a detour into the wilderness. There are a number of circumstances that can precipitate this seeming diversion. It could be personal sin or a mistake in judgment. The actions, inactions, or decisions of others may appear to be the cause of our circuitous route to peace of mind. Maybe, like Jesus, the Spirit has led (Matthew 4:1) or impelled us into wilderness (Mark 1:12). Or, perhaps, the Holy Spirit is at work in all these things.

The word “wilderness” is used to describe a solitary, lonely, desolate, or uninhabited place. It is the same word used to describe the “secluded” place to which Jesus went early in the morning for prayer (Mark 1:35).

What is interesting are the things that can happen in such a place. Obviously Jesus had fellowship with the Holy Spirit there, and angels ministered to Him (Mark 1:13). It’s where John the Baptist started the revival of repentance that would prepare the way for the coming King. The Israelites woke up one morning to manna in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:16), and the prophet declared that waters and streams can break forth in the desert (Isaiah 35:6). Gladness can be found there (Isaiah 35:1), and so can the guidance of God (Psalm 78:52), to name a few.

The fact that the Holy Spirit was with Jesus in the wilderness is our guarantee that He will be with us when we find ourselves in solitary, lonely, desolate places.

It may be in the valley, where countless dangers hide;
It may be in the sunshine that I in peace abide.
But this one thing I know—if it be dark or fair,
If Jesus is with me, I’ll go anywhere!

In the Power of the Spirit

2009-02-16T08:57:00.001-06:00

Jesus’ encounter with Satan in the wilderness, in actuality, is overshadowed by His experience with the Holy Spirit. A quick recap of the scripture texts makes this plain:

- At His baptism, the Holy Spirit descends upon Him (Mark 1:10)
- The Spirit impels Him to go out into the wilderness (Mark 1:12)
- The Spirit led Him up into the wilderness (Matthew 4:1)
- He was full of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1)
- He was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness (Luke 4:1)

Though He must have related His temptations by Satan to His followers (How else would we know about them?), the thrust of scripture is on His experience and deepening relationship with the Holy Spirit. Luke indicates that Jesus returns from the wilderness to Galilee “in the power of the Spirit” (4:14). He was not weakened by the temptations of Satan, but rather, was strengthened by His time with the Spirit.

Going some place for the first time is not really the norm of our lives. Most of the places we will go today and this week are a return. We have been there before. Will you and I return “in the power of the Spirit?” Or, will our conversation be dominated by the latest traumas, trials, and temptations?

Lord, today, may my return to Galilee be overshadowed, not by my battles with Satan, but by my bond with the Holy Spirit!

He's Got Your Back

2009-02-09T08:25:00.002-06:00

Mark’s description of Jesus’ excursion after His baptism stands in sharp distinction beside Matthew’s (“led up” by the Spirit into the wilderness) and Luke’s (“led around” by the Spirit in the wilderness). Mark states that Jesus was immediately “impelled” by the Spirit to go out into the wilderness.

The word translated “impelled” means “to command or cause one to depart in haste.” It is often used to describe the casting out of demons in the New Testament. Mark also describes this clearly past event in the present tense, or what is known as an “historical present.” The passage literally reads, “Immediately the Spirit impels Him to go out into the wilderness.” The purpose of this grammatical device is to dramatize the event as if the reader is actually there watching it occur.

What a stark contrast this intense directing is to Matthew and Luke’s gentle leading by the Spirit! I like to think it provides a more comprehensive picture of how the Holy Spirit can and does work in our lives. At times He is out in front, gently leading us along. Other times, He stands at our back, gently (maybe not always gently) pushing us in the right direction.

Perhaps in eternity we will be able to catch the replay of the conversation between Jesus and the Holy Spirit in this episode. Maybe it went something like this:

Holy Spirit: “Okay, Jesus, let’s get going. Next stop, fasting in the wilderness and temptation."
Jesus: “This looks like it will be quite an ordeal.”
Holy Spirit: “Well, that’s true; but I’ll lead you up out of the valley, and I’ll lead you around while you’re there. Oh, and by the way, I’ve got your back, too!”

By the Hand

2009-02-02T08:39:00.002-06:00

After His baptism, Luke offers our earthly eyes yet another angle on the aspects of Jesus’ association with the Holy Spirit.

Luke (4:1) states that Jesus was “led around” by the Spirit in the wilderness (NASB). “Led around” is one word in the Greek. Primarily, it means “to lead by laying hold of.” In this passage, it is in the imperfect tense, which indicates repeated or continual action. So Jesus wasn’t just “led up” to the wilderness, as Matthew says, (and dropped off there); or “impelled” to go into the wilderness, as Mark expresses it (and dropped off there). The Holy Spirit was with Him the whole time, leading Him, at least figuratively, by the hand. In His dark hour, His hunger, His temptation, HE WAS NOT ALONE!

It is unfortunate that we lose the memory of the companionship and security of being “led around” by the hand of a loving parent. Perhaps if it were more vivid in our mind’s eye, we would be more likely to acknowledge and accept the offered help of the One who lovingly desires to take us by the hand in our adult wanderings—and wonderings.

Lord, remind me that even if I find myself in the wilderness, I am not alone. By Your Spirit, take my hand, precious Lord!

Higher Ground

2009-01-24T08:35:00.002-06:00

After His baptism, Jesus’ relationship with the Holy Spirit appears, to earthly eyes, to ratchet up a notch. Each of the synoptic gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) expresses a different aspect of this dynamic association.

Matthew (4:1) tells us that Jesus was “led up” by the Spirit into the wilderness (NASB). In the Greek, “led up” is one word. It has two primary meanings in the New Testament: 1) to be led or brought to a higher place, as in this passage; and 2) to launch a ship, or to set sail (i.e., Acts 20:3). Topographically, it is easy to imagine that Jesus came up, or climbed, to higher ground out of the Jordan River valley.

The entire context, however, suggests to me that Jesus was “led up” to higher ground spiritually as well, at least as the story is an example and guide for us. After his wilderness temptation experience, Luke indicates that “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit” (4:14).

Lord, am I willing to be “led up” by the Spirit to higher ground? Am I willing to make the hard climb to new spiritual heights that offer a greater, wider, more expansive perspective of what my relationship with You can be?

A few months ago I climbed the one mile trail to the top of Multnomah Falls in Oregon. It was a tough hike for someone not in as good a shape as he should be, but all the views and vistas of the Columbia River Gorge at the top, and along the way, were worth it!

Lord, I want to be willing to be “led up” by Your Spirit to higher ground!

The Climb

A View from Higher Ground

The Fading Forerunner

2009-01-17T15:27:00.002-06:00

After the baptism of Jesus, John’s disciples came to him, commenting that Jesus now seemed to be the center of attention, drawing the big crowds (John 3:26). John’s response is matter-of-fact: This has been the plan all along, and I’m quite happy with it. His next statement has rung across the centuries as a catchphrase for growing in Christ. “He must increase, but I must decrease” (3:30). It was easier for John. The forerunner could literally and physically fade into the background. For us, it is a spiritual pilgrimage.

My observation is that the older we get, the more we become like ourselves – who we really are. In other words, any trait of our personality, positive or negative, becomes more pronounced as we journey through life. Only a heart (spiritual) transformation alters this date with destiny. I can become more “me-like” or more “Christ-like.” In my personal experience, more Christ-like has always been the better option.

Jesus, my efforts at “decreasing,” have been poor substitutes for your “increasing.” As light dispels darkness, increase the presence and power of Your Spirit in my life, and my understanding that only your increasing enables my decreasing!

The Story is Bigger Than I Can Imagine

2009-01-04T17:12:00.003-06:00

It was more a private dilemma than a public one. The ministry of the Baptist had become very public. From Jerusalem and all the surrounding countryside they had come to hear him vociferously preaching what Mark calls a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (1:4). And the populace lined up in droves to confess and be baptized.

He also spoke of One who would come after him, much mightier than himself, and that he, John, was not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. Then one day, there in the long line of sinners awaiting baptism was the sinless One. He for whom repentance was unnecessary stood among the ranks of the repentant. He who had nothing to confess was commiserating with the confessors. He who could truly forgive sins had joined the procession of those seeking forgiveness.

The irony was not lost on John. Matthew explains their extraordinary exchange (3:13-15). John immediately insisted on his own need for baptism by Jesus. With an astonishing spirit of humility and submission, Jesus asks John to “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteous” (NASB). Perhaps Jesus meant, “John, this is bigger than both of us. This is the Father’s plan; what the Scriptures have promised. You may not understand, but trust the Scriptures and trust Me.”

Lord, remind me that the story in which I find myself is bigger than I can imagine, and that whatever my dilemma, public or private, the answer is found in the truth of your Word and trust in You.

Finishing Strong

2008-12-16T07:48:00.002-06:00

His name was Mark, John Mark, to be exact. Like most of us, he started well. Due to the mentoring and sponsorship of his cousin, Barnabas, he found himself a team member in the first great missionary enterprise. But he didn’t last long. Be it homesickness, an undertaking that was much more than he bargained for, or something else, Mark quit almost before he had begun, and was soon on the way back to Jerusalem.

Whatever happened convinced Paul that Mark should not be part of the cast for a second run. Barnabas, ever the Son of Encouragement, lobbied for his inclusion, but the disagreement was deep, and the dynamic missionary duo parted ways. Barnabas and Mark made for Cyprus.

Thank God for those who will encourage and support us, perhaps even when others do not perceive our potential. The mentoring manner of Barnabas produced in Mark a tenacity and resilience that would later elicit from Paul a request for his presence as one helpful to him in ministry, and Peter would make note of Mark as “my son.” Then, the protégé would pen the first gospel account, having received his facts from Peter, and his theology from Paul.

Don’t you think somewhere, Barnabas is saying, “See, I told you so!” Thank you, Lord, for sending “Sons of Encouragement” along the way. Help me to be one, too!