Looking beyond

"while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." II Cor 4:18

I was recently reading and came across a statement that went something like this, "The greatest tragedy is not being blind or deaf, but having eyes that look, but fail to see and ears that hear, yet fail to listen" I was immediately draw to evaluate that statement at a higher level. God's Spirit was using this simple statement to press me to do several things.

First, humble myself and ask God to open my eyes once again to his purposes in this world. It wasn't that I had shut my eyes completely, I had simply allowed them to lose focus. It's a really easy process to allow our eyes to focus on "things which are seen", trust me.

Secondly, I had to tune in again! In order to do this, I needed to revisit an earlier time in my life when surrender came easier. A time when distractions and comforts were minimized and welcomed, Christ was all to me.

This was all in preparation for God to do something else in my heart. What? To experience something so grand and wonderful that it it is still hard to talk about without tears. See, God is always wanting for us to see(not just look) beyond ourselves and see what He wants us to see and see it as if He were looking through our eyes.

He himself was "moved" by what he saw. "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd." (Matt 9: 36)

What was it that I had to see? I had to see the life of Christ wonderfully manifesting itself in the lives of people who only had HIM. Pilgrims and strangers (refugees) that were hungry, not just for food and shelter, but Christ! He was their hope and life. Many of them had walked thousands of miles to find freedom from oppression and persecution and they found HIM. Like water to a thirsty soul they drank in truth and honestly I felt like a pigmy among giants. I have had the wonders of grace operating in my life now for 30 years, and where was my hunger for Christ?

I had settled for a settled for life. Trapped by western life and comfort. My expectations for this life were way out of context.

My only prayer for myself now is that I not "shrink" back from Him ever again; that I follow His call fully. That I my know Him...



Love Dad

Being a "Has Been"

1 Corinthians 6:11 "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

Previous to the above scripture, Paul listed a long list of grievous actions (sins) that the people of Corinth had at one time been enslaved to prior to belief in Christ. The major notable factor is that they WERE captive,not that they ARE captive. As I roll around to my 30th year as a believer I am reminded through various means of what I was and what I am. Being a "has been" is not bad as it relates to the burden and shame of sin. I was once defined by many grievous and degrading sins. My actions reflected completely the condition of my heart. I can not tell you the joy and freedom that was mine when those shackles fell to the ground that day. Life was all new. My "want to" had been radically renovated. My desires were pointed in a completely different direction.

I could fill pages with stories of how God moved to renew my mind, to set my feet on a stable path and to establish my call deep in my heart. I had fallen in love with The Lord. He used the most unusual means to touch my life and to guide my ways. Some were miraculous,and others were very painful. I learned quickly what discipleship meant and the cost associated with following the Lord fully. He had to draw out of me the dregs of sin, and unhealthy relationships and give me a touch of grace through a community of imperfect people. "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.." was a hinge pin verse for my life in those days. I had to renounce the "hidden" and dark things in order to draw close to Him who has the keys of life.

To be honest, I yearn for fellowship like I enjoyed in those early days after coming to Christ. It was honest and uplifting. I hadn't learned to be leery of others intentions yet. I was rough hewn and those who God used to chip away my old man, were people who had walked the same path years earlier. I trusted them. They gave me honest feedback... told me to repent at times and to be gentle at others. They reigned in my pride at times, and encouraged sincere boldness and commitment. As the years have past, I have developed a guarded stance and an independence that is very unhealthy. If you fall victim to peoples arrogance and prideful judgment your natural reflex is to back up, push back and to stand alone. It is at those times, if you fail to run to the Lord, you fall prey to the enemy.

Kids, I do not wish for you to be the kind of "has been" your ole man is. I yearn for the news that Christ has become your "all and all" and that your brokeness is His bridge to your new life. I love you and pray for you.


Dad

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.(Ps 139:23-24)

Trusting Spell Check and Word Completion

This morning about 4:30 while reading Romans 1, I came to a sudden revelation as I came across these two words: "creator" and "creature". My revelation involved yesterdays blog where I totally missed the fact that I used "creator" several times when I needed to use "creature". It has been corrected and I am sitting here wishing that some programming genius would develop a idiotic check program. I text too much and I trust(way to often) word completion while texting and I even spell checked it twice, but even at that I destroyed what I wanted to share.

If you actually read it... I do apologize for such a goofy mistake... if you haven't yet... maybe you can get a laugh from this whole thing. Those of you who know me... well you simply know this kind of thing comes natural for me

Bound by a String

I remember reading some years ago about how in India Elephants are used for some very rigorous jobs. These giants, who possess enormous power and will, move and work with the greatest of precision. Yet, at night when their work is complete these wild, but tame creatures are tethered to a pole by a small rope. You would think that the “call of the wild” would at some time kick in and they would simply make a run for the hills and freedom. But, they don’t! Why?

First, they are not captured as adults and made to do what seems to be totally unnatural for them. This kind of training begins when they are very small. When they are small they are removed from their mother and taken to a place where they are secured to a very large tree with a huge chain. As they yearn for their mother the chain holds them in place, often causing great pain and bleeding as the chain wears through the skin. At some point the pain and futility of the struggle impacts the will of those giants and they yield their will to the Trainer. This process often takes some years, but the result is worth the effort from the Trainers point of view.

Although, these massive creatures are not out roaming the land in freedom, they are engaged to work; work that impacts an enormous group of people. We see this and our hearts feel torn. Our sympathy for the elephants causes us to ask, is there not another way? Our understanding of that culture causes us to think of it differently as well.

For me, the image of that small elephant bound by a huge chain is unnerving. As he struggles for closeness, to be near his greatest love and lover he learns that he can’t break the chain that has him bound. Then I think about that same elephant as a huge adult bound, simply by comparison, a string. And that string might as well be a chain, an unbreakable chain. For, in his mind it is just that! Yes, if he so desired, he could easily exert the effort and the rope would snap. But, the will to do so is not present. It has been tamed.

The spiritual parallels abound for us in this unique cultural tale. First, I would say that the enemy of our souls will do all he can to keep us from our greatest lover. He measures each of us from the moment we enter this world, looking for just the right moment and manner to secure us with a chain that hurts and binds. As that chain does it masterful work we become slaves to it and him.

On a more positive note: As much as we desire to be free doing what is natural. God, in his mercy, desires to make our lives useful and full of purpose. In order to do this He must separate us from our strongest ties, by calling us to himself. We cannot serve two masters. We will love one and hate the other; it can’t be both. To be his disciple He must become ALL to us. In doing this God shows us that first, we must learn to allow pain to shape our will, and our desire to be obedient. Disobedience will bring great agony, and allowing that agony to shape our will, to mold our hearts desires toward obedience is where our lives either take on glorious shape or ruin.

Secondly, God shows us that through yielding and obedience we not only find the greatest of freedom, but that the passions of our heart and life come into full bloom. We are actually freer than we could have ever dreamed.

Yes, the desire to “run” for the hills may be present. The “call of the wild” rings in our ears. But we come to recognize that the harshness of God, is kinder that the gentleness of our own brand of freedom.

Go Beyond the Call

I have noted of late how backward we western believers are to what Jesus would expect from us. But, I would guess that as I read Luke 17: I see that not much has changed from the first century til now. People are still people and God is still God. Read along with me the following and catch on to what I am saying.

Luke 17:5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8 But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.[c] 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”

Jesus is making a serious point here not to be taken lightly, then or NOW.

Let me see if I can simplify what is being said.

First, Jesus is saying: HUMBLY OBEY WITH A HEART OF GRATITUDE.

Secondly, Jesus is saying: BEWARE!!!!

Beware of:

1. Looking for reward for everything little thing you do.
2. A ungrateful spirit
3. Half-hearted service
4. Seeking praise (that may be your only reward)
5. Thinking too highly of yourself. (You are not all that you think you are)
6. Expecting God to bend to your expectations.

Love,

Dad

Giving and Receiving Criticism

Criticism is the easiest thing to give and toughest thing to receive. Agreed? I teach a session in one of my leadership classes on "giving feedback". Feedback is a slick word for telling others what needs to change in order for things to get better. Criticism is what I consider selfish and ego-centric. Criticism comes from someone who is more concerned with how they feel, or their perception of an event than with the welfare of the person who they are digging their heals into at the moment.

Admittedly, there are times when "feedback" has to be tough and determined, but at the heart of it has be a foundation of a sound relationship and respect. On the other hand, there are also times that "feedback" is incredibly valuable even though it may be packaged and presented wrongly.

So, here is some free advise: See all criticism and feedback as useful. Keep in mind that personal attacks are not criticism, but ego out of control. In those cases consider the source. In other events, Hear the words of Solomon, "to the hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet". Be hungry for improvement, be hungry for others feedback; recognizing that there is something valuable in all things.

W. I. I. F. M.?

I recently had a conversation with someone about their getting a divorce. After quite a few years she had determined that she was better off going through life without her husband. She had come a point where she thought that she was giving more than she was getting in the relationship. She came to the point where she was tired of giving and asked: What’s In It For Me? Granted, it is a valid question; especially after so many years. After she told me her story of how she was the only one who took care of things, kids, house, etc… I asked her this question: Isn’t that was love does anyway? She got a blank stare on her face and agreed with me.

Every relationship expects some kind of reciprocity of love, kindness, care and accountability. But here is the point I want to make with you. If you go through life and the baseline of your life is primarily asking “What’s In It For Me”?, then you are setting yourself up not only for great disappointment, but you will essentially view people from a user friendly status. The moment they become unable to meet your needs or wants then they become disposable. In every relationship there are times where one individual in that relationship gives more than the other and there could be a thousand reasons for that. Also, in every relationship there are people who give in ways that may go undetected to the selfish eye and yes, there are some people who are downright selfish and those people you need to avoid so you will not get hurt.

Here’s my point: Be sure that at the center of your heart, your motivation in life isn’t what can I get? but what can I give?

Nothing will ever be enough for the selfish person. Giving will bring satisfaction to the selfless person.

You have to determine what your life is going to be about GETTING or GIVING.

Love,

Dad