Red Letter Believers

I have enough

2009-12-16T14:03:00.011-07:00

This day – and every day – you and I will be faced with an onslaught of an estimated 200 commercial advertisements.

I opened the pages of the newspaper today and a dozen ads fell out of the center. Rich in color, brash in their claims and inviting with their products I opened each one. I found many things that were enticing. Electronics, clothes, and housewares.

But then I was struck with this thought.
I have enough.

A tour through my closet will reveal a little bit of everything. I have clothes I haven’t work for years. I have shirts in pastels and solids, knits and cottons. I have pleated pants, flat front pants, and even a pair of bell bottoms. I have socks in five different colors.
I have enough.

I have devices that ring and buzz to keep me on time. I have an automatic coffee maker, a microwave that heats anything in a minute. I have every creature comfort.

I have enough.

Photo Courtesy Ms. Abitibi

I have a pantry full of food. Just look. Crackers in four varieties. Sliced meat from the deli. Frozen steaks waiting for the grill. Fruits and vegetables with perfect skins despite outdoor temperatures that are subfreezing. I recently had to buy a bigger belt to accommodate my growing girth.

This Christmas, let the message be loud and clear.

I have enough.

What do you think? Comment here.

Like what you are reading?
Won't you consider forwarding this to your friends?
And we would be most honored if you would subscribe to this blog by clicking here.

Related:
Buynothingchristmas.org
Merry Consumerism

Changing perceptions

2009-12-14T14:56:00.006-07:00

How does the outside world view Christianity?

Do they view evangelicals as a loving, compassionate embracing people?

The answer might shock you. The latest Barna group survey reveals some unsettling things about how we have

91 percent of the world sees evangelicals as “Anti-homosexual.
87 percent calls us “judgemental”
85 percent call us “hypocritcaal”
78 percent say we are “old fashioned”
75 percent think we are “too involved in politics”
72 percent as “out of touch with reality

I don't think these numbers are fair, but perception is often reality. In our desire to be salt and light, as the cities on a hill for a world to see, this doesn’t bode well. We are missing the chance to make a difference.

I lay some of this at the feet of those who thought we could change the world through political majority, which I supported at first, but now regret. We aligned ourselves with politics, sleeping with a friend that later would betray us. We rose up with a voice, hoping that politics would do our bidding. Instead of rolling up our sleeves with the hard work of faith in action, we let government take over our jobs.

And in the end, we sullied our Saviors name, ruined our reputation, and perhaps lost an entire generation to the Evil One.

But maybe I am wrong. Some may think that these ‘low ratings’ are actually good things. “Rejoice when the world mocks you for My names sake,” our Savior said.

How can we change perceptions? Or should we? What do you think?

The Invisible Man

2009-12-11T10:47:00.004-07:00

They shuffle through their lives, lost in a world that has done them wrong.
They’re invisible.

They don’t speak up. They don’t speak out. Their opinions aren’t heard, because they are never expressed.
They’re invisible.

They have pains so deep that they hurt. Loves spurned. Relationships torn apart. Promises broken.
They’re invisible.

Their eyes never meet yours – looking down or away to avoid any questions. Can’t get personal or up close because they might get hurt again.
They’re invisible.

They live next door, or down the street, or in the apartment below you. You don’t know their name or their story.
They’re invisible.

They work in your department or on your tour or in the next office. They put their head down and do their duty. You never hear a thing about what goes on at home or in the heart or in the head.
They’re invisible.

What can you do to make the invisible visible? Comment here

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19)

The storm

2009-12-07T20:08:00.001-07:00

We gathered on the shore and watched the angry clouds gather on the horizon. Trouble was brewing. You could see it. You could feel it. You could smell it in the air.

But many others ignored the dark chaos. They hoped the howling winds would pass us by. They believed that the signs were for other times.

The storm is now upon us.

The fury that started last year really hasn't improved. Trillions of dollars have vanished -- homes repossessed, retirement dreams gone, jobs lost.

Following our march into the darkness, the entire world is engulfed in a vortex of chaos. Soon, we may see political upheaval, anger spilling out into the streets and trouble all around us.

But there is hope to be found.

Is it found on Wall Street?

Some may put their trust in the financial world, but I trust the Lord.

Is it found in Washington D.C.?
Some may put their trust in the government, but I trust the Lord.

It is found in a political leader?
Some may put their trust in leaders, but I trust the Lord.

Do you trust an economy, a way of life, or a political system? How's that working out for you?

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses,but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
--- Psalm 20:7

Where is your trust? Comment here.

Want to subscribe to this blog? Click here.

Did you miss out on that promotion?

2009-12-03T16:48:00.000-07:00

We've all been there. We worked hard, putting in extra effort, staying late, doing everything that's asked of us...and more.

And when the name is revealed, it's not us. It's the other guy who got the promotion. Then the emotions start. And then the accusations.

"The boss was playing favorites"
"They promote their problems"
"He has something on the supervisor"
and so on.

It's tough to be overlooked. It's even tougher when everyone around you thought you were a shoo-in -- and you weren't. Some have even foolishly planned for the money, purchasing cars or gifts, planning on paying for them with the added money.

Prov. 22:29 tells us, "Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings;he will not serve before obscure men."

I have to believe that in good time, all things will come. I've been overlooked for jobs, only to find out later that they would have been big blunders for me to take. I have been passed over, only to get something much, much better.

What's your experience? Comment here .

Going the extra mile: Would you give up a kidney for your boss?

2009-12-01T06:37:00.002-07:00

(We are honored that the High Calling Blogs published the following in the Dec. 1 edition. Read it here.)

An amazing – and perhaps unprecedented – story occurred in Philadelphia. Rob Fensermaker, a liquor store worker, said his boss gave him the “ultimate gift” when he decided to give him one of his kidneys.

The boss, Brian DeAngelis, stands alone in the world of supervision, where most of his peers can barely peep a hello or a thank you. Many struggle to give a word of encouragement or grant a day off. It’s the rare boss who is genuinely concerned about a personal condition. And I’ve never heard of such a sacrifice.

But it seems that someone has actually one upped DeAngelis.

Joshua Phipps, an employee at the Houston, TX, Methodist Hospital Methodist Hospital gave his boss a kidney.

He wasn’t looking for kudos, despite called the “ultimate suck-up.”

His boss, Charlie Ward, was “stunned” by the offer, which shortened the normal multi-year wait to work his way to the top of the list. The donation saved four hours a day of dialysis.

"I told him several times, 'You don't have to do this,' " said Ward. Indeed, he didn’t.

What would I do if my boss needed my kidney and I was a match? How would I base my decision? Would the Red Letters of Jesus break through my selfishness?

"Give to the person who asks you for something, and do not turn away from the person who wants to borrow something from you."

Would I justify my indecision because I was overlooked, underappreciated, and underpaid?
"And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two."
What about that slight? That nasty thing he said to me? The way he embarrassed me.
“Whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.”

What would you do? Comment here.

"Happy Holidays?" How sensitive should we be?

2009-11-29T17:44:00.011-07:00

Are you a "Happy Holiday's" kind of person? After all, why offend? But consider this fact. The total number of "non-Christians" in America add up to less than 10 million people, which is around three percent of the population, according to Dinesh D'Souza.

We know that many in the raw numbers of self-professing "Christians" are those those who really don't have a clue. But those who truly are "offended" at the Christian message are a very small minority.

In terms of religious background, America is no more diverse today than it was in the 19^th century. So is it really necessary to cow tail to secularists? To keep things nice for those who don't share our way of faith?

During Christmas, we are extra careful with our "Happy Holidays” and winter wonderlands. We are ultra sensitive to those that don't believe, changing our messages and our actions to be kind to those who don't believe. And how about work? Most of us are especially cautious here, making sure our words don't constitute "harassment" of any sort.

Here's the question. Should the true Christian, the walking, talking Red Letter Believer, be more concerned about speaking the truth, or more concerned about speaking it in love? What's your opinion? Or is Christmas so commercialized that none of this matters?

Comment here.

Find your passion in work

2009-11-26T15:50:00.001-07:00

"Our society has developed a knack for portraying work as a curse and the need to work as a misfortune."

So begins a wonderful letter to the editor in the Nov. 25 USA Today from Patricia Romeo of Cincinnati, OH.

"The 'take this job and shove it' attitude has been around for a long time. Today, the unemployment rate is more than 10 percent. Now that jobs are scare, I am very thankful to have one."

"Whether you are a plumber, a waitress or a business professional, workign with passion provides great satisfaction. I am often moved by people who find passion in their jobs.

She continues:
"This year, I am going to give my work the passion it deserves. i am going to exude pride as I manage my daily tasks like labors of love. Work is a privilege, and to acheive satisfaction when finishing a task completes me as a person."

"My hope is that , some day, every American will have the opportunity to share in the joys that work provides."

All I can say, is "Amen."

Comment here.

Thanksgiving prayer: "Thanks for the robbery"

2009-11-25T15:41:00.001-07:00

Matthew Henry wrote a prayer of thanks on the night he was robbed.

If it were me, I would have asked for divine intervention, rapid aphrension, a swift trial and a no-nonsense judge.

But Henry's prayer was one of thanksgiving.

"I thank Thee. First, because I was never robbed before

Second, because altho' they took my belongings, they did not take my life.

Third, altho' they took everything I had, it was not much.

And fourth, becuase it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed."

In other words, Thanks for the robbery!

Kurt Warner: Red Letter Athlete

2009-11-24T05:29:00.000-07:00

The world of professional sports is no doubt one that would be extremely difficult for a Christian. The fame and adulation that we, as fans, heap on these mere humans would take a great deal of god's-mainintain-and-sustaining humility to prevent the fall.

The money. The fans. The road. The temptations are many.

Kurt Warner's road to faith has been a welcome story in the normal world of NFL thuggery. The Arizona Cardinals quarterback is known for on-field prowess, and his off-field giving and sharing in the name of Christ. USA Weekend honored him as the "2009 Most Caring Athlete."

The story tells of his unlikely rise to fame, starting as grocery stock boy before getting a shot with the St. Louis Rams. He hung in there. He met his wife, Brenda at a country western bar, and even though she had two special needs kids, he continued to pursue her.

His conversion occured in 1996. "We simply put our lives in God's hands. Since then, we have sought to share ourselves and our faith and to touch other people's lives."

Touch he does. The article lists all of his efforts through his First Things First Foundation and says that he makes "no apologies for using his fame to reach more people with the Christian message."

Is Warner the real deal, or are we just hero worshipping?

What do you think?
Click here.

“What does God expect of me?”

2009-11-21T17:29:00.007-07:00

Cover via Amazon

What does God want from me? You might be surprised, but whatever you think it is, it's really not enough.

"Belief is not enough
Worship is not enough
Personal morality is not enough.
Christian community is not enough
God has always demanded more”
n Rich Stearns
The Hole in Our Gospel

You say you follow Him, but do you really?

What does God expect of those who say they are his followers? We have created a whole list of things, many forged by the modern concept of Christianity. Some of our expectations we have include a moment of personal salvation, regular church attendance, moral living and right thinking, among other things.

But the real test is not in what we think He expects. The test is in what He tells to do.

He wants everything.
"Take up your cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24)

He wants our faith to not be a separate experience from our work, school home or community. He wants our faith to be lived out in real life. He wants it to infuse our thoughts, our motives, and our actions. He wants it to spice our language and thoughts. He wants it visible, lived out in those around us.

He wants faith that goes beyond mere words, simple faith or easy talk.

He wants all of you

Comment here.

You got questions? Here's a place to ask them

2009-11-19T13:04:00.000-07:00

The WTFDIB portal is a place where anyone can ask any question about Christianity or the Bible. Other Christians can then reply to the question with helpful responses, links and bible verses.

Here's a summary of WTFDIB's features:

Anonymous posting option
Up/down voting on questions and answers
Full keyword text searching
Ability to post Bible verse snippets from eight different translations
Response ranking tool to categorize question responses
Daily human moderation to keep things clean
Favorites list to bookmark questions you're interested in
Customizable auto-responder to alert you when a question response is posted
Links on each question to help you share the question on popular sites and with your friends

I don't know how good the answers will be, but it's a worthy effort at bringing answers to the questions we all have. Check it out here.

Don't be a nuisance

2009-11-19T08:16:00.000-07:00

"A human being must have occupation if he or she is not to become a nuisance to the world."

-- Dorothy L. Sayers

Your conscience or your job

2009-11-17T11:17:00.004-07:00

What would you do if you were required to do something that violated your beliefs, your principles, or your faith? And to say ‘no’ meant unemployment?

Such dilemmas, thankfully, are few in this great nation. Generally, we have a toleration of beliefs that allow those who hold strongly held beliefs to find a workaround.

During the Revolutionary War, Quakers who refused to bear arms assisted in other ways, such as raising money and working in field hospitals. Seventh-Day Adventists who cannot work on Saturday’s are allowed to fill shifts on other days. Muslim checkers in grocery stores in Minneapolis aren’t required to scan pork.

We find ways to make it work.

But it’s becoming increasingly difficult, with employers strapped for resources. They are stepping in and ignoring even the most basic of accommodations. So now, many groups are looking for legislative relief. The Oregon legislature recently passed Workplace Religious Freedom Act, which obligates employers to reasonably attempts to accommodate sincerely-held religious beliefs and practices of employees. There are other state and national efforts.

What is the obligation of the Christ follower? I believe we shouldn’t specifically choose professions that might cause a conflict. Don’t go to Bartending School if you have an issue with alchohol. Don’t work at social services if you have a problem with promoting slothfulness. Don’t work as a stripper if you want to keep your clothes on. Don’t take a job that requires you to work weekends if you believe in keeping the Sabbath holy.

I knew a letter carrier who refused to deliver Victoria’s Secret catalogues. I knew another guy who worked at a convenience store who tried to get out of selling cigarettes. And yet another friend who took a job at a video store who complained about the kinds of movies he had to process.

But it isn’t always so black and white. A contentious issue involves the abortion hot button. A number of Christian pharmacists were concerned that they would have to provide The Morning After abortion pill.

They, and other health care providers, were protected by the Provider Conscience Regulation, which shielded health care professionals who are morally opposed to certain procedures to opt out. But that regulation is opposed by the current administration and may be overturned.

What do you think? Is the employer’s responsibility to accommodate? Or is it the employee’s responsibility to either suck it up, or get another job? Leave your comment here.

Is God on my team?

2009-11-14T20:27:00.006-07:00

It’s a common thing in sports for well-meaning players to give God praise in post-game interviews.

There are many athletes who offer prayer in tough situations. Cornerback Deon Sanders said this “When it's fourth down, I pray. I'm seeking God's help. I also pray that opposing quarterbacks will throw me the ball.” The quandary comes in when the quarterback is praying for a completion, not an interception.

We are glad that people are vocal about their faith. It’s a genuine attempt to connect their ability with sovereignty, but it can send the wrong message. Does God really determine who wins? Is it right to pray for victory, for success in our vocation?

And this question filters to our own lives. If we believe that God cares about our workplace, then Red Letter Believers naturally shouldpray for business success, for sales to come through, for our endeavors to be blessed.

Athletes – and people in the marketplace – should not be afraid to ask for God’s blessing. But we should realize that his blessing can be found even in failure, in brokenness. He is far more concerned about our character, our development as his children than the success of the world.

What do you think? Do you pray for blessing? Do you pray for your ‘team’ to win? Comment here.

When work leaves you empty

2009-11-10T07:00:00.013-07:00

We are honored that The High Calling published the following article.

##

I have observed that there is an underlying narcissism in much of today’s workforce. A certain degree of vanity and self-absorption has corrupted our employment view. We go to work, not to contribute, but to find our own self-importance and worth. We punch in, only to wonder why the focus isn't on us.

High Calling Blogger Every Square Inch has a great post on those jobs that are less than personally satisfying, and how God’s hand may very well be part of that.

Increasingly, the expectations of the workplace have been elevated. Many people think that work is meant to cater to personal lifestyles with ample free time, invigorating creative stimulation, and opportunity for self-expression.

Many dot.coms feed this trend with play days, catered meals, and scheduled Frisbee breaks.

And then there’s the general desire to not “work for the man,” avoiding corporate culture in lieu of non-profits or small start-ups.

But the economic realities mean that these happy workplaces are increasingly rare. The drive for profits and bettering the bottom line are insatiable, taking many well-meaning Christ following employees into worlds they never thought they would be.

In “Why God May Will an Unsatisfying Job,” Every Square Inch concludes that this kind of work may produce one of three things:

It can lead us to center our joy in Christ instead of work
It can sanctify us, teaching us character
It can remind us that this world is no our home, that indeed, we have another kingdom that we can anticipate.

"God will redeem us and bring us to a place of rich, fulfilling labor. We can cast our eyes heavenward and trust that His work in the past and currently will bring this to pass. We can be truly optimistic and hopeful when we consider the future."

Read the entire post here, and don’t forget to leave a comment.

Recommended by David Rupert of Red Letter Believers

Photo by Life magazine, used with permission

Read the whole post here.

Excuse me? Respect in the workplace

2009-11-08T16:44:00.003-07:00

I remember the day when I called my boss, “Mr.” And I’m not that old. But it was a sign of respect. Now, such formality is dismissed, “Mr. Williams is my dad, just call me ‘Roy.’”

So, he becomes Roy and I lose a little piece of the wall of respect that a boss should receive.

When he gives me direction, I say, “yes, sir.” It’s polite. It’s respectful. Roy doesn’t like that either. “This isn’t the military.”

So the work atmosphere is downright chummy. We are no longer a boss and a subordinate. We are two equal cogs in the machine. We are two guys who roll up their sleeves to get it done. We are two soldiers in the same foxhole. The only difference between us is that he gets paid more than I do because he's responsible for the operation. Roy's good for that.

Is this a good thing?

This lack of a wall of respect between the manager and the worker has fallen in many other ways as well. Let's look at outside common interests. Called fraternization in the military, it has actually morphed in to team building and comraderie in today's world. But I don't think it's healthy for a boss shouldn’t socialize with his employees. It sets a bad precedent. It encourages wagging tongues. It feeds gossip. It suggests the boss is playing favorites. It supposed to build teamwork. But it can build resentment.

What do you think about respect in the workplace? Are you old school? Or are you a modern, casual worker. Why? Leave your comment here.

More than a J.O.B.

2009-11-05T16:53:00.002-07:00

The venerable and wise Chuck Colson has a great column, called "More than a Job." He says this:

"These days, when many jobs are becoming iffy or non-existent, Americans are very sensitive to the importance of having and keeping a job, no matter what. But if all we see in our job is a way of making a living, and perhaps finding a small measure of satisfaction, we’ve missed the main point of how our job fits into the total scheme of the work we’ve been given to do. Jobs are important – more than we may at first recognize.

Because where do those skills come from? And the resources to bend those skills toward goods and services, and the wherewithal to pay for those skills thus applied? Where does the fluid and flow of the economy come from, but from the hand of God?

Every job is a gift of God."

Colson's take is that a job is just more than something we should enjoy. A job is more than just a means to put a roof over our head.

But calling your work a "Gift" might be a stretch. Or is it? Comment here.

Read the whole article here.

Thanks to Judy for the suggestion for this post.

He didn't want to go to work, so he stabbed himself

2009-11-04T15:00:00.002-07:00

A 27-year-old Denver man employed at a Blockbuster video store, was skateboarding off- duty in his uniform when he ripped the issued khaki pants.

Rather than explain to the boss what had happened, he hatched a bizzare scheme. He took a knife, stabbed himself in the leg and showed up at work claiming to have just been attacked by three Hispanic males. He had a deep stab wound in one leg and several other minor cuts on his face and stomache

The police were called and the man perpetuated the lie. He showed his wounds and provided descriptions. A five-county alert was issued and cops began to hunt for the assailants.

But the surveillance video from where the attack supposedly occured show the man alone without any attackers, ambling along without a limp or other injuries.

The gig was up.

I once had an employee call in because he couldnt get to work, due to snow. I had some company business that morning and I knew where he lived. Boldly, I drove right up to his front door through the massive accumulations of two or three inches of snow. I knocked on his door and asked if he needed a ride in.
Surprised.
Sheepish.
Caught.

Have you ever had a lie get out of hand? Have you ever told a story, and then had to tell another to get your way out of the first one? Have you ever deceived your boss?

Comment here.

How the sausage gets made

2009-11-02T18:30:00.008-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Every company tries to put it's best face forward. The counters are clean. The floors gleam with reflective wax. The lights are positioned to reflect the bright surfaces.
The people at the front are schooled and trained in customer service. "Yes, no, please and thank you, sir. Did you find everything you need and may I help you buy something else."

A light bulb burned out on the front sign is a call for immediate maintenance, but a broken employee toilet takes days.

As consumers, we buy goods, products and services based on their value and often, their presentation. The nicely packaged, and more expensive items, are at eye level. The cheap brand made from the same ingredient hugs the floor.

Rarely do we ask how the sausage gets made. We don't know how the product got to the store. We cannot imagine what happens behind the scenes, in the corporate office, in the sweat shop, in the employee breakroom. We don't know.

Our world runs on image. But scratch the surface and you'll find reality - you'll find human emotion and pain. You'll find struggling men and women. You'll find how the sausage is made.

As Red Letter Believers, we have an obligation to value what God values. And he values honesty and integrity. He values hard work. He values us.

You know how your product or service is made -- and it's your responsiblity to live up to your High Calling -- for the Glory of God.

Ephesians 6:7-9 Says this, "Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free. " (Courtesy, The Message)

Care to comment? Click here.

We would be most honored if you would consider subscribing to all future posts, just click here. You can always opt out later.

If you can't live your faith, don't talk about it

2009-10-29T20:12:00.002-06:00

A reader recently wrote this:
"I recently served a client that was very vocal with his Christian faith. For business reasons not related to my performance, he abruptly terminated my contract outside the terms of our written agreement. He did not have the courage or courtesy to notify me directly--even by voice mail or
E-Mail. Instead, he told a rival co-worker who leveraged this information to undermine and damage my reputation with my consulting firm.

"Normally, I could write this off as 'just business,' but his 'red letter' words set higher expectations of his behavior and deepened the injury inflicted. Although the experience gave me a deeper understanding , I
would have preferred not to know he was a fellow believer. If you cannot
act ethically or treat people with dignity, please just
blend-in!"

Like you, I have been around "Christians" who were very vocal about their faith, but whose actions didn't back up their proclamation. I would cringe and duck and hope that the God-talk doesnt occur around me. I didn't want to be guilty by association.

Do you go to school or work with proclaiming Christians who you just wish would keep quiet?

Final Harvest

2009-10-27T20:53:00.000-06:00

Thanks to High Calling Blogs, who published "The Final Harvest," from a previous Red Letter Believers post.

Here's an excerpt:

"I’ve been at this Christian walk for years — no, decades. And like these green tomatoes, I droop in immaturity. I’m not ready for Christ to come. I’m not ready to go home. I still need a few more days — or weeks — or years....will I be ready?"

Read the rest of the post here....

Lost in the pile of leaves

2009-10-23T09:37:00.007-06:00

"We spend most of our time and energy in a kind of horizontal thinking. We move along the surface of things, but there are times when we stop. We sit still. We lose ourselves in a pile of leaves or its memory. We listen and breezes from a whole other world begin to whisper."
-- James Carroll

Fall is an emotional time of year.

Walk along a familiar path and it's transformed by the sight and smell of change.

There is the sweet aroma of fallen leaves in those desperate days between green and brown. Adorned in a hue of orange and red and gold, the trees reluctantly drop and in their nakedness they sadly stare down at the ground.

Drifting in slow-motion, the leaves, one-by-one, cascade to the ground. They gather together, stacked in the unity of their fate, swept by the midnight breezes.

In my yard, I am forever raking the leaves into piles. I ponder the question of what to do. To bag? To recycle? To let the wind blow them away?

My very life is often lost in the pile of leaves.

I was once full of life, green and fluttering in the wind. I soaked up the rains and basked in the sun. I was part of something beautiful and good and alive. And here I am, a sad reminder of things that were. My only accomplishment is yesterday. My only destiny a dark bag sitting on the curb.

The allegories of the Creator in Spring are abundant -- new life, new hope, new direction. But God in the Fall seems distant.

Then I hear a voice in the high winds

"You are not alone. I will never leave you, nor forsake you. You are my beloved. Abide in me and I'll abide in you."

And suddenly I am inexplicably driven. An urge comes from the deepest passion of my soul. I see the pile of leaves and with four quick steps I leap into the air, all my good sense abandoned.

I am lost to the Savior.

And on this day, I am found.

Comment here.

We would be most honored if you would consider subscribing to all future posts, just click here. You can always opt out later.

Bury Your Past, part 2. "Can't get to the other side."

2009-10-21T16:21:00.003-06:00

There was an experiment done with the Great Northern Pike where the fish was placed into a tank with its favorite food, minnows. However, a glass divider was inserted into the tank between the Pike and the minnows. Every time the Pike went for the minnows, he bumped his nose into this glass divider.

Convinced that the minnows were forever beyond reach, he gave up. When the divider was finally removed, the Great Northern Pike never even ventured into the minnow’s territory.

Image via Wikipedia

Sometimes, we are like that Pike. We’ve been convinced that we could never break free from the patterns of defeat and failure that have bound us. Our noses are out of joint, our heads are banged and our hearts are broken. Yet somehow, God gives us the reserve to press on for yet one more try. He gives us resolve and confidence.

Ephesians 2:1-4 talks about living a new life: “You were dead in your transgressions and sins in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy made us alive in Christ.”

What do you think about "the past"? Comment here.

Bury your past, Part 1

2009-10-19T16:05:00.000-06:00

Image by h.koppdelaney via Flickr

Technology blazes forward in many fashions, but none as remarkable as the computer chip. These chips perform faster and more accurately than ever. Yet, they pale in comparison to the human memory. Like a recurring movie, I can recall many things. Both the good times and the bad times receive equal play in the microprocessor of my brain..

Sadly, for many of us, the most poignant memories are of the slights we have received. We remember the snubs of friends, the insults of enemies, the slights by family. I still recall public humiliations from events on the school bus 30 years ago. Things that should have been erased from my memory bank long ago still crop up in my weakest moment.

I feel like a dog, who continually returns to the soft spot in the back yard and furtively digs up a bone buried long ago. Like an old friend, I return to hurts from yesterday.

Instead of living in the Past, I need to bury the past.