My Prayer

As we wake each morning we never really know what the day has in store for us.  We may have plans or activities we have scheduled but each day is uncertain as we may run into some unexpected events.  Most believers begin the day with some type of devotional or prayer activity seeking God’s guidance, grace and strength for the day ahead.  Several years ago God seemed to point me to three scriptures that formed a guide for a prayer asking for His Spirit and guidance as I would go through the day. 

The first is found in 1 Kings 3:9.  Solomon has become King of Israel and is overwhelmed with the responsibility of the weighty decisions he must make.  Verse 5 tells us that God said to him in a dream, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”  Solomon asked God, “Therefore, give thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil.” This struck me as a powerful and effective prayer request for all of us as we begin each day.  While we may not have the responsibility of the King but each of us will be called on to make judgements about the people we encounter each day.  Is this a person I should befriend or avoid? Is this a person who needs help?  Is this a person I should let others help? Often we encounter people that others are better equipped to help.  Sometimes the best help we can give is to leave others to their own resources or give them just enough help so they can do it themselves.  Is this a person I want to hire or work for?  Is this a person I want to date or marry?  One certainly needs understanding and discernment with these questions.  An understanding heart has a balance of discernment, compassion and wisdom.  So I would begin each day (and repeat this prayer often during the day) asking God for an understanding heart to make wise decisions and judgments with everyone I would encounter during the day.

The second part to the prayer is based on Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.”  Our words and thoughts are so important and powerful.  Our thoughts are the foundation and origin of our words.  Before the words come from our mouth the thoughts have been formed, often from beliefs we have held for some time.  It is vital to keep our thoughts founded on a pure heart.  Words can spill out quickly and once they are out of our mouth, we can’t take them back.  In the lengthy but wonderful poem, The First Settler's Story, about the power of words by Will Carleton we are told; “Boys flying kites haul in their white-winged birds: You can't do that way when you're flying words.’ Careful with fire,’ is good advice we know: ‘Careful with words, ‘is ten times doubly so. Thoughts unexpressed may sometimes fall back dead, But God himself can't kill them when they're said!  Any thought that is not pleasing or acceptable to God should be confessed as sin and wiped from the mind immediately before they have time to take root.  Any word that will not be pleasing to God should never be uttered.  Words and thoughts that are acceptable and pleasing to God will be primarily encouraging and uplifting.  They will never be harmful, even if they are a rebuke.  A rebuke, based on a pure heart and words pleasing and acceptable to God will be one that is necessary and expressed as an act of love.  Therefore it is vital to begin each day with a prayer to keep one’s thoughts and words as those which will be acceptable and pleasing to God.    

The third and final portion of the prayer is based on the words of Jesus from Luke 22:42. Just hours before Jesus went to the cross to willingly suffer the agonizing death that would pay our penalty for sin he prayed.  Boy did he pray!  The scripture tells us that he was so tormented that his perspiration was as drops of blood.  Jesus came to seek and save the lost.  He was willingly submitting to do whatever it took to pay the price for our sin.  However, we must remember that while Jesus was God incarnate.  He WAS flesh and blood.  No human in their right mind would wish to suffer the horrors of the cross.  Jesus grew up when Romans were the best in history at executing people in a public and horrible manner.  All his life Jesus had seen people die a slow and horrifying death on the cross.  He knew that was waiting for him in a few hours.  He revealed his human nature as he prayed for any way to avoid such torture.  His prayer shows us that there is nothing wrong with praying for God to keep us from harm and evil that abounds in this sin-scarred world.  We all would like to avoid suffering and pain.  However, there are some difficulties that cannot be avoided but are best endured if we realize that this difficulty is the only path to greater blessing.  Jesus asked the Father if there was another way to provide a path for salvation.  However, the only price that was worthy of the atonement for our sin was the cross.  Jesus began by asking for an alternative route but completed the sentence putting Himself aside and asking that God’s will be done;  “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  Our spirit, personal wishes and desire must be put aside as we trust the will of our Heavenly Father knowing His wisdom and plan is better.  He sees a tomorrow that we cannot know until we put ourselves aside seeking and following His will…even when it is difficult to understand.  So who knows what the day has before us but I have found this prayer to be helpful. 

I pray for the understanding and wisdom of Solomon:

I Kings 3:9,

“Therefore, give thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil.”

I pray for words and thoughts of David:

Psalm 19:14,

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.”

I pray for the submissive spirit of Jesus:

Luke 22:42

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

My Father Used To Say...

Today is my Father’s birthday.  He would have been 92.  He has been gone nearly 8 years.  It doesn’t seem that long ago that Cathy and I took him out to eat as we celebrated his 84^th birthday.  Little did we know that would be his last birthday dinner in this life.  A month later I was seated at his bedside as he took his last breath. 

One cannot choose the family into which one is born.  I was lucky.  I was born into a home of loving parents who let me know that I was loved.  I grew up in a home with no alcohol, profanity or fighting.   I actually do not remember my parents having an argument.  I know that my mom and dad must have had some difficult times of disagreement.  We moved Dad into our home toward the end of his days and I remember telling my wife, “I loved my mother but I appreciate her more than ever after moving dad into our home.”  I loved him but he could be difficult at times as he could have his own strong viewpoint on certain matters.  Dad had his faults.  His childhood was scarred by a broken home primary due to alcohol.  However, he did not dwell on difficulty but moved forward and made certain that his children did not grow up in the same environment.  The ‘addiction gene’ seemed to run strong in his side of the family.  But, I always appreciated how he didn’t allow it to be given root in our home. 

Dad certainly was not perfect but much of the man that I am today was learned from him.  Some time ago, as preachers are always looking for ways to illustrate points in a sermon, I ran across; ‘Three stages in a young man’s life’.  It was three simple sentences that illustrated how a young man related to his father as he grew up.  The first sentence was from an adolescent who valued having the toughest dad on the block, “My dad can beat up your dad!”  The next was from a teenager who thought he knew more than his previous generation, “My old man don’t know nothing!”  The third sentence is from a more mature young man who realizes that as he grew older his father seemed to grow wiser, “My father used to say…”  He is now quoting and passing along his father’s advice to his children. 

My dad left me with a few memorable quotes.  He had a habit of saying things that would make you say, “Huh?”  For instance, he would often say, “I feel better all over than I do anywhere else!”  or “Are you going somewhere or just traveling?”   I often found myself having to translate his sayings to my wife.  On one occasion, as he was living with us late in his life, he was having several medical tests.  Dad survived several serious surgeries, radiation, two types of cancer, a heart attack and a stroke before finally succumbing to a major stroke.  As we were looking at yet another medical test result Cathy asked, “Pop, what are you going to do if they doctor recommends more radiation or surgery?”  He looked at her, smiled and said; “Well, I think I am going to let the low end drag.”  She looked at me wondering what in the world that meant.  I told her that he grew up in an era where it was not uncommon to see poor folks going through town in a dilapidated mule driven wagon with wobbly wheels.  If a back wheel fell off they would often not worry about stopping to fix it at that time they would just let the mule pull the wagon on home while letting the ‘low end drag’,  in other words, “I am not having any more surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.  I am going to ‘drag’ on toward the final destination as I am.”   

There were some other things my father said that I kept to heart and guided me to be the man I am today.  He taught me to work hard and humbly at whatever you do as you provide for your family with this quote; “Never be ashamed to take any job that will allow you to provide for your family.”  He and my mother were not wealthy but they taught me to live within my means as they sacrificed and saved to send my sister and me father in school than they had opportunity to attend wanting us to give us the  opportunity a greater education provides for a better life(without going into debt to do so).  Dad advised me to, “Never let your major monthly payment (usually your house payment) be more than one week’s pay.”  He lived by basic simple rules and a theology that believed, “If you do what is right and trust God, He will take care of you.”

Again Dad was not perfect ( I think I have already made that point).  He grew up in Mississippi when segregation was preached (although incorrectly) from the pulpits.  As a young boy growing up in the racially turbulent 60’s in Mississippi, God gave me the wisdom and spiritual insight to see the evils of racism.  Dad and I had several serious discussions as we clearly had differences on the matter of race.  I wanted to remain respectful of my father but I also wanted to show him the evils of racism.   On one occasion I pushed my Bible across the table and said, “Show me one place anywhere in scripture where God desires segregation or wants you to hate your fellowman because of his race!”  After a brief moment of silence, he pushed Bible back and said, “I guess you know more about that than me.”

He also had his worst days after mother died suddenly and unexpectedly with a massive cerebral hemorrhage at age 68.  Mother was the love of his life and after she was gone we realized how much his life was out of balance without her.  He told me, “When she died my life ended also…but I wake up each morning.”  We were all blessed with her but that is another story for another day. 

My point in sharing these thoughts and memories are simple while I remember Dad on his birthday.  We all leave a legacy.  We cannot choose the family or life we are born into.  My dad did not choose to have a father who drank, and became mean when he drank.  However, he chose to make the best of his opportunities without becoming bitter.  He chose to trust a simple belief in God that led him to a good woman who helped him build the happy and stable home that allowed my sister and me to grow up in a harmonious and loving home.  I learned that although none of us are perfect and we cannot always choose the situation around us, we can choose to make the best of every situation and in doing so we have a chance to make a positive influence on those around us. 

I leave you with this.  Dad didn’t say this but he had a plaque on his desk that said, “For every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness.” That plaque and the way Dad taught me to move past the anger and sadness as quickly as possible while moving toward happiness at every opportunity will always be with me.  I hope it will help you as well. 

March 23

Today is March 23, 2018.  It is Friday.  38 years ago March 23 was on Sunday.  I have two important reasons to remember that fact.  First, I baptized Sam Hatcher that Sunday morning.  Sam was the first person I baptized.  I was serving as an intern minister at a church in Euless, TX.  That meant I didn’t earn a salary.  I was offered the job in my last year as a seminary student by a friend who was the pastor.  He told me that as an intern I would not receive a salary but the experience would be invaluable.  Don’t you love the way that they make working for free sound good?  Anyway, I had never performed a baptism and he let me baptize Sam during the morning service.   

Since this was a special event I asked my girlfriend to attend.  I had to be there early so she came later in her own car.  Afterward I took her to the most expensive Italian restaurant that I could afford, Pizza Hut.  Don’t forget, I was an ‘intern minister’ with no salary.  Even Pizza Hut stretched my budget.   She and I had been dating a few months.  I knew I liked her and thought she liked me, at least she kept agreeing to go out with me so that was a rare and good sign.  The day was special as I had made it through my first baptism but something seemed to be different for me as we had lunch.  She was at the salad bar and I remember looking at her, smiling as I was overcome by a sensation that seemed to come out of nowhere realizing, “this girl could be a great wife and mother for my children”…I did not have any children at the time but this was God’s way of telling me she was the one for me.  Cathy must have seen the crazy smile on my face as she returned to the table, saying: “What is it?”  I brushed it off saying, “Oh, nothing” but I kept thinking, “If this feeling does not go away, I’m going to ask her to marry me.”

As a word of explanation, this wasn’t like me.  I’m not a spontaneous person by nature.  In fact, I’m quite the opposite.  Rarely do I say or do anything that has not been well thought out.  In fact, I usually think things to death.  That is what OCD people do.  We obsess with our thoughts seeking to make certain we make the right decision.  Then we obsess wondering, “Was that the right decision?”   OCD becomes a crippling disorder when the person gets so obsessed with making the ‘right’ decision that they cannot make a decision at all.  And here I was about to make the most important decision in my life, other than my decision to follow Jesus, without obsessing or thinking about the ‘right’ decision at all.  Maybe it just seemed so right that there was no need to obsess.  This was also early in my theological studies but I’ve now become very much aware that God rarely does things that fit perfectly into our logic and reasoning. 

I knew I liked Cathy; I liked her a lot…more than anyone I had ever met.  But, I had not yet thought of marriage.  I was too practical for that.  Remember I was only an ‘intern minister’ with no salary.  I was one semester from graduating from seminary with no real idea where or what kind of ministerial position I would have after graduation…or even if I would be hired by any church.  How could I think of marriage when I could barely take care of myself?  However, the feeling did not leave as we finished our lunch and I drove her back to the church parking where she had left her car.  I parked next to her car, turned off the ignition, turned to face her and said, “I want to ask you something before you get out of the car.  Will you marry me?”  She punched me in the arm and said, “Stop fooling around!” She could tell by the serious look on my face that I was not fooling around and then she got the same serious look on her face and said yes.   She still has to occasionally punch me in the arm and tell me to stop fooling around but on August 23 we will celebrate 38 years (in a row) of marriage to one another. 

I still shake my head on occasion and think how I made that most important and life changing decision in a manner that is so out of character for me.  It took me weeks to make a decision about buying our first sofa.  Even in my cautious, OCD careful ways of making decisions God seemed to get through and give me to comfort to trust Him as this was His plan for us.  Sometimes we need to step out of our normal routine or character or we will never experience the wonderful adventure that God has right in front of us.  We can get too locked down in our safe pattern of thinking and comfortable routine.  We do not need to explain or have complete understanding for every decision or action.  Faith often defies explanation or understanding.  I once had a poster in my office with two pictures and two captions.  The first picture is a person cautiously looking over a cliff with the caption, “What if I fall?”  The next picture on the poster is one of one of those ‘base jumper wingsuit flyers’ who leap off the cliff to soar along the mountainside like a bird.  That caption reads, “Oh, but what if I fly?”  

There are times when we need to follow our heart and trust God in faith as we leap. Now, we are not to jump foolishly off the cliff but we are also not to hang back in fear when we feel God calling us to trust His hand by faith.   Jesus said, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”  Those who raise their sail to catch and follow the ‘wind of the Holy Spirit’ find joy, peace and life beyond expectation.  Those who lower the sail waiting in the harbor of life for everything to be safe and perfectly fitting into their logic before making a decision may miss the God’s plan and the adventure of a lifetime.

Our logic and reasoning can and should be be helpful but they should never take the place of or get in the way of following God by faith.  Again, I have noticed in nearly a half century of careful Bible study that God rarely does things that fit perfectly into human logic and reasoning.   Isaiah 40:31 says, “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles.”  We may not have complete understanding of every issue and it may not fit our comfort zone or plans but if we live in a trusting relationship with God we can depend on His hand to guide to soaring heights us as we follow where the Holy Spirit leads.  I am reminded of that truth each day, and especially on March 23. 

What is Truth?

What is truth?  As a person who made my living by studying and seeking to understand and reveal the correct meaning and relevance of words, I have long realized the importance of the way properly we use and understand words.  Words are significant because words have meaning.  Changing the meaning of words can have a significant result. 

We have seen recent changes in the meaning of certain words and the elimination of some words.  There are indeed words that are vulgar offensive and should not be used.   I always said that using profane, vulgar and offensive language was a sure sign of ignorance and a poor vocabulary.  However, changing the meaning of words can cause major changes in our culture.  ‘The Gay Divorcee’, a 1934 American musical film starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers would probably be quite a different movie with that title today.  Hallmark's ornaments for the holiday season caused some controversy when the replacement of the word "gay" while quoting "Deck the Halls” on their red "Holiday Sweater" ornament was decorated with the lyric, "Don we now our fun apparel."  Well that is the original meaning of the word, ‘gay’.  I raise eyebrows when I tell people that I have always been in favor of gay marriage.  I think every marriage should be fun. 

Back to a more serious discussion on the matter I believe we live in a precarious time where words are intentionally and cleverly used incorrectly to advance an agenda, be a weapon or provide a diversion from truth.  Several years ago I noticed a phrase that began to creep into our language.  It seemed innocent and even positive as people spoke of and were encouraged to follow ‘their truth’.  It was a way of giving permission to do whatever anyone wanted, as long as it seemed ‘true’ for them.   Now we are seeing people appear on TV and are “appreciative of this opportunity to speak “my truth”.  By the way, when my children were very young I told them to remember that “everything you see on TV is there for one primary purpose, to create a large audience and make money for their sponsors.”  In this day of ‘fake news’ and playing fast and loose with the language, I think we should remember that we need to listen and watch everything with a very careful filter.  The problem with such declarations as “following or speaking my truth” is the misguided belief that ‘truth’ is a malleable concept to be individually defined (and changed) according to how one feels at the moment. 

2000 years ago a Roman governor stood before a man on trial for his life and asked him the simple yet profound question, “What is truth?”  Little did Pontius Pilate know that he was looking at the truth as he asked the question.  Before Jesus could respond Pilate turned away.  Too often that mirrors our encounter with truth today.  We turn and walk away before seeing the real “way, truth and life.”  Our cultural march toward relativism and the desire for tolerance for those following ‘their truth’ has not created more agreement for other opinions or lifestyles but just the opposite.  We seem to find ourselves more easily offended than ever.  Offended people often become very angry people.  Unless that anger is properly handled it can be destructive.  Mature people understand that while they are entitled to their own opinions, they are not entitled to their own facts.  Facts (truth) should never be changed to validate one’s desired conclusion.  If I could have changed truth/facts to authenticate my desired outcome, I probably would have remained an accounting major in college.  I always had trouble getting my outcome to match the teacher’s math. 

Let me offer a few suggestions to keep from being a growing population of people who are so easily offended, then I will close with a way to find and follow real unchanging truth.  First, of all the real difficulties in life, things don’t get much smaller than an offense.  An offense taken only produces a feeling, a moment of emotional confusion.  Through the course of your life there will be many more serious matters to deal with than a brief hurt feeling.  Also, you can do more about being offended than most anything else you will encounter.  You do not need to see a specialist, take medicine, or have a medical procedure.  You can simply choose how you will respond, act or feel.  You can choose to be offended, upset or angry or you can choose not to allow the negative actions of someone else dictate negative results in your life.  If you are looking to be easily offended, upset or angry; you will not have to look far.  Likewise, if you are looking to overlook, love and forgive; you will usually find ample opportunities all around.  Which outlook and lifestyle would you rather choose?  It’s your choice!

That brings me to the way to find and follow real unchanging truth.  Let’s go back to the question of Pilate in John 18:38.  He did not know he was looking truth square in the face when he asked Jesus that question.  He was not in the room earlier (John 14:6) when Jesus told his disciples (and now us), “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  So if you are wondering about how to know what is right and wrong, how to keep from being confused, led astray or how to live the best life in confusing times.  Look at unchangeable truth; Jesus!  He is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).  He is the truth you need to live a stable and fulfilled life, free from petty feelings and life on an emotional roller-coaster.  Don’t let the words or actions of others hurt your feelings so easily.  However, if your feelings do get hurt before you respond in a negative fashion take a look at the truth.  Take a close look at the scarred hands of the Truth.  He had far worse done to him than will ever be done to you.  None of us will ever be beaten and nailed to a cross yet he loved them and asked for their forgiveness as hung there dying.

Real, unchanging and eternal truth is a life loving God with all your passion, heart, and intelligence and loving others as well as you love yourself while you treat them the way you want to be treated.  That’s the Bill Drees translation of the Greatest Commandment and Golden Rule but it is still true!

God, Billy Graham and me!

It was May 16, 1975 and I was miserable.  I was 23 years old with no idea what to do with my life.  I had a horrible job and lived alone in a large city where I knew very few people except those I worked with and they could not be considered friends.  I was rarely home long enough to make friends.  I was a traveling field representative for a company in Jackson, MS.  I left the office each Monday morning heading to different parts of the state with my travel agenda for the week and usually did not get home until Friday evening.  I had a company car, expense account and traveled all over the state.  I would usually be in a different city and motel each night.  That may have sounded exciting initially for a 23 year old but it got old in a hurry.  Once I would finish work in the town I was in there was usually nothing for me to do.  Each evening I was a stranger in a strange town.  I soon learned why some traveling businessmen wind up in a bar at the end of each day.  I didn’t drink so I usually sat in my room channel surfing.  Once I was so bored I ate dinner twice.  Hey, I was young and could eat more in those days and the company paid for it.  I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life but I knew that this was not it. 

Most Friday’s I had no reason or excitement to rush home after work was done.  There was usually no one to meet and nothing to do.  However, this Friday was different.  After work I was going home to see Billy Graham.  No, he was not at my apartment waiting for me.  He was holding a crusade in Jackson.  As a believer I had long been praying and seeking God’s plan for my life however, I kept coming up empty.  Somehow I had a notion that God was going to speak to me and give my life the direction I needed through Billy Graham.  I was eager to finish my work and head home.  I was working a few accounts in Memphis.  It was about a three hour drive home to Jackson.  I knew I might miss the opening music but I had grown up in church and knew most of the hymns anyway.  Billy was the one I was going to hear. 

As I drove down I-55 from Memphis to Jackson it started raining.  “No, it can’t rain.  God, don’t you know I’m going to Billy’s crusade to have a special encounter with you?”  He must have heard my frantic prayer uttered while I was driving because the rain let up and the crusade would go on.  The stadium was wet but packed.  I made my way down front.  I wanted to be close to the field so I could be one of the first to ‘come forward’ as the choir began to sing, ‘Just As I Am’ after the invitation was given.  All of my excitement was drowned in the damp evening as Billy Graham approached the pulpit and announced his topic for the evening; this was going to be a special message on marriage and family.  It would be especially for those who are married, soon to marry or seeking to marry.  I did not fit any of those categories.  I was single with no girlfriend.  I didn’t even have the prospect of a date in the near future.  I wanted to leave.  If I had not been sitting so close to the front I would have but it would have been quite embarrassing to be the only person in recorded history to get up and walk out before Billy Graham even started his message.  So I stayed.

To this day I cannot tell you anything about the sermon but I can tell you what happened.  As I write and recall that evening 43 years later I still get goosebumps.  Somewhere in the message I felt a strange sensation.  To this day I have a hard time explaining or even understanding it but I knew God had reached down and touched my life.  I was already saved but this was a touch that began my journey to follow a call into ministry.  That journey led me to my wife and family with all the blessings God has given me in the years since that night.  No, I did not hear a voice, see a burning bush or have a vision.   But I knew God had touched my life and had given me new direction and meaning.  I wanted to run out share my experience but Billy was still preaching.   I sat there and waited for the invitation and as ‘hundreds moved forward to profess Christ’ one person ran in the opposite direction to call someone, a family member or anyone to share the feeling I was experiencing. 

God taught me two important truths that night that shaped my life and ministry to this day.  First, I learned the significance of a spirit of expectation.  God can touch anyone at any time no matter their attitude, but a spirit of expectation creates a door that God likes to use.  Expectation and faith are blood brothers.  Notice how many times people were healed by Jesus because they believed He could heal them.  See how often he said, “Your faith has healed you.”  When you wake each day do you wake with a spirit of expectation seeking what God has in store for you?  Do you go to church expecting to have an encounter with the living God or do you go because it is Sunday’s habit?  Try living with a spirit of faith expecting Godly encounters on a daily basis and see what a difference it will make.

Secondly, God taught me that it is not always important to understand Him and how He works.  After years of theological study on a Masters and Doctoral level, I have yet to sufficiently understand or explain how God moved in my life that night.  God is greater than my understanding and comprehension.  He also knows each one of us individually and how best to speak in our lives.  Duh! He created us.  So, He deals with each of us according to His best way to connect with us.  Don’t waste too much time trying to figure how things happened.  That is what Jesus scolded Nicodemus for in John 3.  I like the example of Vance Havner, the country preacher who said, “I do not understand all about electricity, but I don't intend to sit in the dark until I do.”  As long as your experience does not contradict scripture trust God by faith and follow where He leads. 

Don’t compare the experience, ‘wisdom’ or ‘helpful advice’ of others above what you know God did or is doing in your life.  Jesus healed several blind people.  Once he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes and told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam”.  Another time He spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him.  He simply told Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, “Go; your faith has made you well.” There’s that phrase again.  Jesus dealt with each as needed.  Each person was blind and given the miracle of sight but in a different fashion.  One was not better or ‘more spiritual’ than the other.  The result was the same in all.  Jesus gave them all the same miracle of sight.  Your experience with God may not be as dramatic or easy to explain as someone else.  Don’t be troubled.  If you have an experience with the living God that does not contradict scripture, it may not be something you can fully understand or explain but don’t let that stop you or discourage you from following God by faith through your unique life. 

Forty three years ago, on a cool damp night at a Billy Graham crusade, God touched me in a way I have yet to fully understand or explain however each day I rise and follow His direction by faith.  That’s what Paul is saying in Philippians 3:13-15; “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have laid hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.  All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view.” Like Paul, I have not ‘laid hold’ on understanding all God has done and is doing but by faith, I will continue to ‘press on’ by faith until I encounter Billy Graham again…in Heaven!  

Or...

For the past few months I have been on a medical odyssey that, as sportscasters are fond of saying, seems like “Déjà vu all over again”. Let me explain.  At the end of February, 2001 I began a journey that started with a kidney stone and led to the discovery of three aneurysms outside both kidneys and a rare renal artery disease.  My mother died at age 68 with an aneurysm so this got my attention.  I wound up having to go to a major medical facility in another state where a specialist performed two major abdominal surgeries (one in June and the other in November) to remove the aneurysms and a complete renal artery bypass.  Where young male fitness models have a set of six-pack abs I now have a softball sized space with no feeling.  I have a medical excuse for not being able to suck in my gut.  But, each morning I look at the 25 inch scar as a reminder that I could have died 18 years ago. 

I had never had a kidney stone before, but I have always been thankful for that stone as it led to lifesaving discoveries.  Now 18 years later I was diagnosed with my second stone in August.  Since that time I have had a similar journey of one test leading to another.  Hopefully it will all result in a positive result.  I get to meet a lot of new doctors as a result.  Earlier this week a nurse called to let me know my doctor wants to do another test Monday as the last lab report showed something he wanted to check with my liver.  I asked what “we” would be looking with my liver in this latest procedure.  She replied that it could be a couple of minor things or a tumor.  I guess being blunt is the new sensitivity. 

That answer got me thinking for several reasons.  First, harking back to my previously mentioned situation in 2001, I was reminded that while most of the time these tests don’t show any serious or alarming results but, there can always be the times when you get a result that is not the news you want to hear.  Tumor is one of those results you usually prefer not to hear.  However, I was really taken more by one brief word in her answer and believe it or not it was much shorter than the word ‘tumor’.  That was the word ‘OR’.  “It could be a couple of minor things OR a tumor”, the little two letter word ‘OR’ can make a big difference. 

OR, used in a sentence, usually separates two options/choices.  One being better than the other OR they could be two polar opposites such as, “This could be a great experience OR it could kill me.”  It also could separate two similar options with one being slightly better OR slightly worse than the other; “Would you like ice cream, pie OR both?” (That’s a no-brainer), “Would you prefer a spanking OR being grounded for three weeks?” (Wonder why that came to mind so quickly?).  Anyway I think you get the point I am trying to make that the word ‘OR’ can be a very important and very powerful word. 

The way you look at the ‘OR’s’ in your life can determine whether you have a positive uplifting experience OR suffer a negative pessimistic life.  Let me show you what I mean.  No matter what happens with medical tests or any other event in life, you have a choice with how you react and respond to the ‘OR’.  While we may not have much control to be able to change a situation, we have total control of which ‘OR’ we choose to follow.  That realization can make a profound change.  I can let this situation get the best of me OR I can make the best of this situation!  You see how the ‘OR’ can make all the difference?  When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.  People who live discouraged and disappointed lives usually make a habit of going with the worst option/decision separated by the ‘OR’.  People who live abundant joyful fulfilled lives that encourage others make a practice of going with the best option/decision separated by the ‘OR’.  What we do with the OR can make all the difference in life. 

I could go on and try to wax eloquently trying to make a simple point OR I could cut to the chase and make the point.  I choose the latter.  I know it is a simple message but look at it this way; you can take this brief message as inspiration to continually seek the better and more positive choice that will lead to an abundant joyful fulfilled life OR…

Is This About Me?

I hope you are sitting down because I am going to tell you to do something that will dramatically show you the cause of 99% of your problems.  OK, now that you are sitting down I want you to get up and go into the nearest bathroom.  Stand in front of the sink and look straight ahead at the mirror.  You are now standing face to face with your biggest problem.  That’s Right, no matter how much you want to make excuses, you are usually the one to blame.  The greatest hindrance for your spiritual growth can also be found by looking in the mirror.  We get in our own way more often than we wish to admit or realize.  We are born with a nature that causes us to love ourselves.  Look at a 2 year old.  They aren’t taught that they are the center of the universe.  They just know it!  It is not only 2 year olds who suffer with this overblown sense of self-importance.  Try this experiment at any age; get a group picture that includes you.  It doesn’t have to be a large group.  It could be three or thirty in the picture.  Now look at the picture.  Who did you look for first?  Go on, it’s just me and you…it’s ok to admit we usually look for ourselves first.  We can’t help it. 

This self-love/narcissism is vital in developing our self-image.  It is important and healthy that we first develop a healthy self-love.  But it is equally important and healthy that we learn to consider others rather than exclusively dwell on ourselves.  Jesus sums all scriptural teaching ‘Greatest Commandment’, “love our neighbor as we love ourselves” (Matt. 22:39).  He was quoting the Old Testament teaching from Leviticus 19:18.  Both Old & New Testaments both teach and command a healthily balance of self-love combined with love for others.

However, many hang on to narcissism too long, miss the full life God intended for emotional and spiritual maturity.  If we stay “the center of the universe” in our mind & emotion we’re in for a long difficult time, not to mention those around us.  It’s so sad to see people well past their 2nd birthday still behaving as if they believed the world existed for them. Many go to church faithfully, many become leaders in the church and community.  Some even stand behind pulpits or rise to the highest political offices. They become experts in advancing through charm, bullying, deception, manipulation or whatever it takes to advance their ego.  And there it is…the identity of the real culprit: EGO.  Ego is defined by Webster as “a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance”.  I found a more telling definition as EGO means to Edge God Out! 

You see the more we are concerning about our self-esteem or self-importance the more we push God out of our lives.  You cannot follow Jesus and follow your own desires!  You cannot follow Jesus and follow the desires of others (pleasing them)!  To follow Jesus, you must deny self (die to self)!  The way may not be easy but it is worthwhile.  The more we proceed in diminishing our narcissism, our self-centeredness & sense of self-importance, the more we find ourselves not only less fearful of death but also less fearful of the worries of life.   This is the mysterious and wonderful paradox in real life!  The more we release the more we gain!  It is only when we take our mind/eye off of self that we can truly see/think of others & love others.  Only when we do not think of ourselves or our feelings can we really serve & love unconditionally.  Only when we no longer fear loss of life can we be free to live life.  Satan can no longer manipulate us with fear.  Dead people aren’t scared of anything.  Satan can no longer worry or burden us.  Dead people aren’t worried about anything.  Satan can no longer embarrass us. Dead people aren’t embarrassed about anything.  Next time you are at a funeral look inside the casket and say, “I can’t believe they are wearing that outfit.  It looks awful.”  It’s OK you won’t hurt their feelings or embarrass them.  Excuse me for sounding harsh but I think you get my point. 

It is amazing how much of our life is affected by what others say or think of us or what we want them to say or think of us.  Look at how often events, large or small, boil down to advancing or soothing a person’s ego.  It may be the ego of one who has advanced themselves to be a head of state, leader of a religious movement, neighborhood group or head of a family.  Whatever the level may be, the egotist will do whatever it takes for their own cause, belief or feelings.  So much of their whole existence is controlled by what others think or say about them.  This is the complete opposite of true spiritual maturity.  The spiritually mature person is only concerned with one opinion, what does God think?

The first step in true spiritual maturity is realizing and admitting that it is not about me!  Jesus tried to drill that point home continually.  Luke 9:23, Matthew 16:24. Mark 8:24 all teach the essential truth that following Jesus means death to our own ego.  It no longer matters what we want, think or feel; all is put aside to follow Jesus so we think, feel and want as He does.  There is a great freedom when we do not have to worry about what others do, think or say about us because the important thing is that they see Jesus in us.  That is the key that gave Enoch freedom from the difficulties of life and death.  The fifth chapter of Genesis tells us Enoch walked with God for most of his life.  What happens when we walk with someone? Imagine that you and a close friend are enjoying a walk down a country lane. You are in close proximity. You talk, laugh, listen, and share your hearts. Your attention is focused on this person to the exclusion of almost everything else. You notice the beauty around you or an occasional distraction, but only to point it out to your companion. You share it together. You are in harmony, and you both enjoy the peaceful camaraderie.  Walking with God is like that.

Finally Enoch came to the place where “he was no more”.  That may mean that God took him from this world in a way that avoided the fate of death that we all will experience. Or could it mean that Enoch was so surrendered to walk with or follow God with his entire being that people no longer saw Enoch but looked upon him and saw God?  In other words for all practical purposes Enoch no longer lived but God lived completely through Enoch.  Isn’t Paul saying the same thing in Philippians 1:21 where he states; “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”?

So, as Ross Perot was fond of saying, “Here’s the deal”.  No matter how long or short our life may be, the best use of the day(s) we have is to put our feelings, desires, thoughts and agenda aside and walk with God putting His desires, thoughts and agenda first.  The more we practice sacrificial love for God and our fellowman the more we realize the wonderful freedom of no longer worrying about what others think or say about us.  We no longer have to be anxious about what is happening in the world around us or the future because we know that God is accomplishing His purpose in, with and through us and He will take us in His time as he did Enoch.  I like the way a young girl expressed her understanding of Enoch as she described it this way; “God and Enoch enjoyed walking, talking and being together so much that they lost track of time and one day as the sun was going down God said; “Enoch, we are closer to my house than yours so just come and stay there.”  

The path to freedom from hurt feelings, fear, and anxiety is the path of surrendering your ego to completely follow God every day.  Life then becomes a journey of loving others as you walk with God until one day He says, “Hey, we are closer to my home than yours so just stay with me!”