We took a trip down Memory Lane on Saturday. We began the day reconnecting with friends from our Minnesota years. They presently live in New Hampshire and were on their way to Connecticut for the weekend; we met up at the Cracker Barrel in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Yes, there are Cracker Barrels in New England!
After breakfast we drove down to the Connecticut shoreline where we once lived, wondering what might have changed in the twenty years since we lived there. As it turns out, not much has changed. There are a few differences, with some different merchants occupying shop buildings and different restaurants in the buildings where we once ate, but overall, things looked much as we remembered. We did notice one very significant difference. The house where we once lived looks quite different than when we lived there.
When we lived on Pheasant Run Drive in Gales Ferry, our house was avocado green with brown shutters. It was an awful color for a house! Thankfully, in recent years that avocado green has been replaced with a cream-colored vinyl siding. Definitely an improvement!
We have made many wonderful new memories on our journey around the country. And we have had numerous opportunities to call other memories to mind as we have been to places where we once lived or traveled, and as we have had opportunities to spend time with some friends from days gone by.
Memories are precious treasures, not only for the joy that comes as we recall people and places and event, but because they remind us of the faithfulness of God.
Whether you are traveling around the country or not, memories - of good times and bad - are opportunities to remember not only people and places and events, but to remember circumstances and lessons learned. To remember that through it all, God has been faithful. That He does not leave us or forsake us. And to be confident that because He has always been faithful, and He has always been there, and He has always been trustworthy, and He always keeps His word, He will continue to do and to be all those things.
And that's something worth remembering!
"Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying 'Thus far the LORD has helped us.'" (1 Samuel 7:12 NASB)
"This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:21-23 NASB)
Monday, August 31, 2015
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Paying the Price
On Monday I had a grand adventure exploring some of the Ohio Amish country. That adventure included a buggy ride. I copied this photo from the Yoder Amish Home web site to show where we rode.
The area where we rode was surrounded by ragweed. Lots of ragweed. And being highly allergic to ragweed, I paid a price for that buggy ride. Drippy nose. Swollen eyes. Lots of tissues. Feeling - and looking - pretty miserable.
That's the price of a buggy ride.
For nine years we lived in the mountains of western North Carolina. We lived in the log home at the top of a mountain, and we had amazing views.
We enjoyed some spectacular sunsets when we lived there.
There was a downside to all that beauty. The only access to our mountain home was a very steep gravel road, and going up and down that road in winter could be treacherous.
That was the price we had to pay for those beautiful views.
We all understand the concept of paying the price, at least in theory. When we go to the supermarket or the department store, and find an item we want, we check the price of the item, and then must decide if we are willing to pay that price. Whether it's bananas or steak or coffee or shoes, we check the price and determine if we are willing to pay that price. In every case, there's a price that must be paid.
On our drive to Massachusetts this week, we stopped at a service area on the New York Thruway and treated ourselves to some apple fritter TimBits at a Tim Horton's. (TimBits are like donut holes.) Those TimBits were delicious! And because I was hungry and because they were delicious, I could have eaten my weight in apple fritter TimBits! If I had done such a thing, there would have been a price to pay, and that price would show up the next time I step on the scale!
There is a price to pay for everything. There are always consequences.
That is true for beautiful mountain views and for buggy rides in fields of ragweed. It is true for the choices we make about how to spend our money and the choices we make concerning food.
As we enter the presidential election season, every candidate who choses to run for that office must also face the same reality. Every candidate for President of the United States must be willing to pay the price. The price to be paid for being a candidate is that everything you say or do, and everything you have ever said or done, is open to scrutiny by the press and the public. And whichever of the candidates succeeds in being elected to office will continue to face that kind of scrutiny, whether fairly or unfairly. It's the price of presidential politics in our culture.
Jesus had something to say about counting the cost. He said, "Which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost?" (Luke 14:28 ESV). In this passage in Luke 14, Jesus was talking about the cost of discipleship. The cost of being a follower of Jesus Christ. Yes, salvation is a free gift. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)
Salvation is a free gift, but there is a cost to discipleship. A cost to following Jesus. And we must consider the cost, Jesus said.
Jesus said, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:28-29 ESV)
Jesus said, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." (John 15:18 ESV)
Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 ESV)
Being a follower of Jesus Christ, especially in our culture, comes with a price tag. There may be ridicule. You may lose your friends. Or your job. Or, as it is in many parts of the world, you might lose more than that. You might even lose your life.
Jesus paid it all for you.
Are you willing to pay the price of being His disciple?
The area where we rode was surrounded by ragweed. Lots of ragweed. And being highly allergic to ragweed, I paid a price for that buggy ride. Drippy nose. Swollen eyes. Lots of tissues. Feeling - and looking - pretty miserable.
That's the price of a buggy ride.
For nine years we lived in the mountains of western North Carolina. We lived in the log home at the top of a mountain, and we had amazing views.
We enjoyed some spectacular sunsets when we lived there.
There was a downside to all that beauty. The only access to our mountain home was a very steep gravel road, and going up and down that road in winter could be treacherous.
That was the price we had to pay for those beautiful views.
We all understand the concept of paying the price, at least in theory. When we go to the supermarket or the department store, and find an item we want, we check the price of the item, and then must decide if we are willing to pay that price. Whether it's bananas or steak or coffee or shoes, we check the price and determine if we are willing to pay that price. In every case, there's a price that must be paid.
On our drive to Massachusetts this week, we stopped at a service area on the New York Thruway and treated ourselves to some apple fritter TimBits at a Tim Horton's. (TimBits are like donut holes.) Those TimBits were delicious! And because I was hungry and because they were delicious, I could have eaten my weight in apple fritter TimBits! If I had done such a thing, there would have been a price to pay, and that price would show up the next time I step on the scale!
There is a price to pay for everything. There are always consequences.
That is true for beautiful mountain views and for buggy rides in fields of ragweed. It is true for the choices we make about how to spend our money and the choices we make concerning food.
As we enter the presidential election season, every candidate who choses to run for that office must also face the same reality. Every candidate for President of the United States must be willing to pay the price. The price to be paid for being a candidate is that everything you say or do, and everything you have ever said or done, is open to scrutiny by the press and the public. And whichever of the candidates succeeds in being elected to office will continue to face that kind of scrutiny, whether fairly or unfairly. It's the price of presidential politics in our culture.
Jesus had something to say about counting the cost. He said, "Which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost?" (Luke 14:28 ESV). In this passage in Luke 14, Jesus was talking about the cost of discipleship. The cost of being a follower of Jesus Christ. Yes, salvation is a free gift. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)
Salvation is a free gift, but there is a cost to discipleship. A cost to following Jesus. And we must consider the cost, Jesus said.
Jesus said, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:28-29 ESV)
Jesus said, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." (John 15:18 ESV)
Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 ESV)
Being a follower of Jesus Christ, especially in our culture, comes with a price tag. There may be ridicule. You may lose your friends. Or your job. Or, as it is in many parts of the world, you might lose more than that. You might even lose your life.
Jesus paid it all for you.
Are you willing to pay the price of being His disciple?
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Remember
A few days ago I saw something on Facebook that reminded me of the Hunger Games. That's a little odd, since I may be one of the few people on the planet who has never seen a Hunger Games movie. Nor have I read any of the Hunger Games books. Even so, I am aware, because someone shared it with me, of a line from one of the movies. And I haven't been able to stop thinking about that line.
"Remember who the real enemy is."
I haven't seen the movies or read the books, yet I recognize that as a powerful line. Powerful because it has an application far beyond the scope of a book or a movie.
I have no idea how that line relates to the plot of the book/film. Even so, it's good advice, isn't it? Especially for those of us who call ourselves Christian.
"Remember who the real enemy is."
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12 ESV)
"Remember who the real enemy is."
It isn't your spouse or your children. It isn't your employer.
It isn't your fellow church members. Or the members from the church down the street.
It isn't politicians, even though there may be many of them with whom you have very strong disagreements.
It isn't the stock market.
It isn't your neighbor.
Or your coworker.
Or the person whose skin color is different from yours.
Or the bully down the street.
Or the one next door.
Or the one in the news.
"Remember who the real enemy is."
"Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8 ESV)
How do we win the battle?
By remembering who the real enemy is.
By resisting him.
"Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7 ESV
By being dressed and ready for battle.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil......Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:10-13 ESV)
"Remember who the real enemy is."
Remember.
And stand firm.
"Remember who the real enemy is."
I haven't seen the movies or read the books, yet I recognize that as a powerful line. Powerful because it has an application far beyond the scope of a book or a movie.
I have no idea how that line relates to the plot of the book/film. Even so, it's good advice, isn't it? Especially for those of us who call ourselves Christian.
"Remember who the real enemy is."
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12 ESV)
"Remember who the real enemy is."
It isn't your spouse or your children. It isn't your employer.
It isn't your fellow church members. Or the members from the church down the street.
It isn't politicians, even though there may be many of them with whom you have very strong disagreements.
It isn't the stock market.
It isn't your neighbor.
Or your coworker.
Or the person whose skin color is different from yours.
Or the bully down the street.
Or the one next door.
Or the one in the news.
"Remember who the real enemy is."
"Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8 ESV)
How do we win the battle?
By remembering who the real enemy is.
By resisting him.
"Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7 ESV
By being dressed and ready for battle.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil......Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (Ephesians 6:10-13 ESV)
"Remember who the real enemy is."
Remember.
And stand firm.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Life on the Road: A Buggy, A Brownie, and a Basket
My younger grandson started back to school today. The older grandson went back to school last week. It's the back-to-school season. Normally I look forward to this time of year, even though I no longer have children living at home, because it's a season of getting back into regular routines. And, as I have mentioned often before, I'm a person who likes her routines.
Even on the road, we have settled into a routine. On class days, we operate on a certain schedule. On travel days, we have a different schedule. Even on the in between days, we have settled into a regular routine.
Yesterday that schedule was altered. Al stayed here at the hotel, doing paperwork and getting set up for today's classes, while I went on an adventure with his cousin Pat and Pat's wife Claudia. We spent the day exploring some of Ohio's Amish country. One of my favorite things about the day was a visit to Yoder's Amish Home near Millersburg, where we had a buggy ride and a tour, learning some of the customs and history of the Amish.
It was a delightful day. We toured a typical Amish school room, as well as the barn and two houses on the property. In one of the houses, the kitchen was filled with tantalizing smells, as they had been canning vegetable soup and were also doing some baking.
I didn't get a picture of the buggy we rode in, but I did purchase a freshly baked brownie in the kitchen and managed to get a picture before I ate it!
That was a delicious brownie!
We had a delightful lunch at a little restaurant in town where I had a tasty salad of lettuce, fresh peaches, fresh blueberries, feta cheese, and bacon bits. Yum!
There was buggy parking outside, where this impatient horse stood stamping his feet as he waited. I assume he was impatient; perhaps he was just bored!
As we made our way back toward Columbus, we drove through Newark and saw this no longer used office building, once occupied by part of the Longaberger basket company.
It was a beautiful day and a grand adventure. Time with family. Good food. Good times.
And now today, the journey continues. I'm back to my routines. Classes resume, and I'm taking pictures and taking attendance and doing all the other things that are part of my regular routine here on the road.
Later today, I'll repack the suitcases, and tomorrow after the morning class, we'll begin our journey toward Massachusetts. It's all part of life on the road.
As we have made this journey around the country, it has been such a privilege to see so many places and people and things. Majestic mountains. Gentle rolling hills. Rivers and streams. Blue skies and gray. Sunshine and rain.
And along the way it has been a real blessing to see many family and friends. We have traveled near to where many other friends are, but time or schedules didn't permit a visit. Even so, as we have driven down a highway or passed through a state where those special people live, they have been near in thought.
I have said before, and will continue to say, that this is a grand adventure. Yes, we are tired. No, we haven't been home since July. And if you were to ask me today if I would want to do it again, my answer likely would be no. At least, not any time soon. But I remain so very grateful for this opportunity. So thankful to have experienced so much of what this beautiful country has to offer. To have had time with family and friends that I would not have had otherwise. To have seen so much. Learned so much.
It has truly been a great blessing.
Yes, I am tired. And a little homesick.
But grateful. So very grateful for this adventure.
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name."
(Psalm 103:1 NASB)
Even on the road, we have settled into a routine. On class days, we operate on a certain schedule. On travel days, we have a different schedule. Even on the in between days, we have settled into a regular routine.
Yesterday that schedule was altered. Al stayed here at the hotel, doing paperwork and getting set up for today's classes, while I went on an adventure with his cousin Pat and Pat's wife Claudia. We spent the day exploring some of Ohio's Amish country. One of my favorite things about the day was a visit to Yoder's Amish Home near Millersburg, where we had a buggy ride and a tour, learning some of the customs and history of the Amish.
It was a delightful day. We toured a typical Amish school room, as well as the barn and two houses on the property. In one of the houses, the kitchen was filled with tantalizing smells, as they had been canning vegetable soup and were also doing some baking.
I didn't get a picture of the buggy we rode in, but I did purchase a freshly baked brownie in the kitchen and managed to get a picture before I ate it!
That was a delicious brownie!
We had a delightful lunch at a little restaurant in town where I had a tasty salad of lettuce, fresh peaches, fresh blueberries, feta cheese, and bacon bits. Yum!
There was buggy parking outside, where this impatient horse stood stamping his feet as he waited. I assume he was impatient; perhaps he was just bored!
As we made our way back toward Columbus, we drove through Newark and saw this no longer used office building, once occupied by part of the Longaberger basket company.
It was a beautiful day and a grand adventure. Time with family. Good food. Good times.
And now today, the journey continues. I'm back to my routines. Classes resume, and I'm taking pictures and taking attendance and doing all the other things that are part of my regular routine here on the road.
Later today, I'll repack the suitcases, and tomorrow after the morning class, we'll begin our journey toward Massachusetts. It's all part of life on the road.
As we have made this journey around the country, it has been such a privilege to see so many places and people and things. Majestic mountains. Gentle rolling hills. Rivers and streams. Blue skies and gray. Sunshine and rain.
And along the way it has been a real blessing to see many family and friends. We have traveled near to where many other friends are, but time or schedules didn't permit a visit. Even so, as we have driven down a highway or passed through a state where those special people live, they have been near in thought.
I have said before, and will continue to say, that this is a grand adventure. Yes, we are tired. No, we haven't been home since July. And if you were to ask me today if I would want to do it again, my answer likely would be no. At least, not any time soon. But I remain so very grateful for this opportunity. So thankful to have experienced so much of what this beautiful country has to offer. To have had time with family and friends that I would not have had otherwise. To have seen so much. Learned so much.
It has truly been a great blessing.
Yes, I am tired. And a little homesick.
But grateful. So very grateful for this adventure.
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name."
(Psalm 103:1 NASB)
Monday, August 24, 2015
Life on the Road: Refreshed
Seven weeks. Twenty states. Twenty-four different hotels. More than six thousand miles.
We have been asked the same question more times than I can count over the last several weeks. Are you tired?
Do you even need to ask?
We were asked another question last week. One I wanted to laugh at, but I tried to keep a straight face. Do you fly home every weekend?
Seriously. Would we be driving around in this monstrous van with all this stuff if we were going to be flying back and forth every weekend? And how would the van get to the next city if we were flying home every weekend? Oh. My. Word.
As I have said before, this has been a grand adventure. But traveling from city to city, living out of suitcases, and being on the road for seven weeks is also tiring. So, since we had a couple of free days between Chicago and Columbus, we decided to take a little break. To take a pause and get refreshed.
We spent a few days at the end of last week semi-unplugged in the Amish country of northern Indiana. No particular schedule. Just roaming the back roads and small towns of this part of the country. Eating [too much] really good food. Exploring antique shops and quilt shops and gift shops. Enjoying a slower pace.
Over the weekend we spent a little time with one of Al's cousins and his wife who live here in this part of Ohio. Yesterday we worshiped by means of the internet with our church family at home, then we enjoyed a quiet afternoon just relaxing.
We all need that from time to time, don't we? A slower pace. Time to set the schedule aside. Time to relax. Our bodies need it. Our minds need it. Our spirits need it.
Time to rest. Time to be still. Time to be renewed. Time to be refreshed. That's what the last few days have been for us. Times of refreshing.
And now we are rested. Refreshed. Ready for the final four weeks of this journey.
It was good to have a few days of R and R.
And it's good to be back in "our" time zone again!
"You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest." (Exodus 34:21 NASB)
We have been asked the same question more times than I can count over the last several weeks. Are you tired?
Do you even need to ask?
We were asked another question last week. One I wanted to laugh at, but I tried to keep a straight face. Do you fly home every weekend?
Seriously. Would we be driving around in this monstrous van with all this stuff if we were going to be flying back and forth every weekend? And how would the van get to the next city if we were flying home every weekend? Oh. My. Word.
As I have said before, this has been a grand adventure. But traveling from city to city, living out of suitcases, and being on the road for seven weeks is also tiring. So, since we had a couple of free days between Chicago and Columbus, we decided to take a little break. To take a pause and get refreshed.
We spent a few days at the end of last week semi-unplugged in the Amish country of northern Indiana. No particular schedule. Just roaming the back roads and small towns of this part of the country. Eating [too much] really good food. Exploring antique shops and quilt shops and gift shops. Enjoying a slower pace.
Over the weekend we spent a little time with one of Al's cousins and his wife who live here in this part of Ohio. Yesterday we worshiped by means of the internet with our church family at home, then we enjoyed a quiet afternoon just relaxing.
We all need that from time to time, don't we? A slower pace. Time to set the schedule aside. Time to relax. Our bodies need it. Our minds need it. Our spirits need it.
Time to rest. Time to be still. Time to be renewed. Time to be refreshed. That's what the last few days have been for us. Times of refreshing.
And now we are rested. Refreshed. Ready for the final four weeks of this journey.
It was good to have a few days of R and R.
And it's good to be back in "our" time zone again!
"You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest." (Exodus 34:21 NASB)
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Not Just Hearing, But Doing
I spent some time yesterday reviewing the journal I use for sermon-note-taking. The one I carry with me when I go to church and use to make notes as I listen to the pastor's sermon.
In reviewing that journal, I made an interesting discovery.
Sometimes I take very neat, orderly, methodical notes. Those pages look something like this one:
Not all the pages are quite so tidy. More of them look like this:
The pages on the right hand side are the points the pastor is making in the sermon, or a listing of Scriptures he refers to, or perhaps writing down a particular quote from something he said.
The pages on the left side, those less tidy ones, are the thoughts triggered by what the pastor is saying. Perhaps other Scriptures to refer to later. Or perhaps an application to my own life of what he is teaching. Often it's something I need to do, based on what I am learning from what he is saying. So I suppose it could be said that the left hand pages are the "doing" pages, based on what I am "hearing".
Put another way, the right hand side is about what the Scripture says and what it means, and the left hand side is how I am going to apply it.
I'm not sure I had even realized I was doing that until I sat down yesterday afternoon to review my journal. Of course, I knew I was taking neat notes on one side of the page and scribbling on the other, but I had not given conscious voice to the thought that what I was doing actually made a division between hearing and doing. Between teaching and application. But as I reviewed my notes, that's exactly what I found.
On the "scribbled" side are lists of Scriptures to look up. Lists of ways I can put the teaching into practice. Things I need to ponder as I seek to apply what I have learned. Questions about what I've heard and how I can live it out. Even potential topics for writing projects.
All those are ways to apply what I learn. All are ways to be "doing" and not just "hearing".
Isn't that what the apostle James had in mind when he wrote these words:
"But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers." (James 1:22 NASB)
In reviewing that journal, I made an interesting discovery.
Sometimes I take very neat, orderly, methodical notes. Those pages look something like this one:
Not all the pages are quite so tidy. More of them look like this:
The pages on the right hand side are the points the pastor is making in the sermon, or a listing of Scriptures he refers to, or perhaps writing down a particular quote from something he said.
The pages on the left side, those less tidy ones, are the thoughts triggered by what the pastor is saying. Perhaps other Scriptures to refer to later. Or perhaps an application to my own life of what he is teaching. Often it's something I need to do, based on what I am learning from what he is saying. So I suppose it could be said that the left hand pages are the "doing" pages, based on what I am "hearing".
Put another way, the right hand side is about what the Scripture says and what it means, and the left hand side is how I am going to apply it.
I'm not sure I had even realized I was doing that until I sat down yesterday afternoon to review my journal. Of course, I knew I was taking neat notes on one side of the page and scribbling on the other, but I had not given conscious voice to the thought that what I was doing actually made a division between hearing and doing. Between teaching and application. But as I reviewed my notes, that's exactly what I found.
On the "scribbled" side are lists of Scriptures to look up. Lists of ways I can put the teaching into practice. Things I need to ponder as I seek to apply what I have learned. Questions about what I've heard and how I can live it out. Even potential topics for writing projects.
All those are ways to apply what I learn. All are ways to be "doing" and not just "hearing".
Isn't that what the apostle James had in mind when he wrote these words:
"But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers." (James 1:22 NASB)
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Sound the Alarm
Two weeks ago, we were sleeping very soundly until we rudely awakened from our sleep by the blaring of the fire alarm.
Yesterday was the day for routine testing of all the smoke detectors and the alarm system in the hotel where we are now staying. As a result, all morning long, alarms were sounding.
Last evening, Al and I were both startled by the sound of an alarm coming from our phones. It was a severe weather alert, warning of the possibility of flash flooding due to severe storms here in the Chicago area.
If you live in an area prone to tornadoes or other storms, you likely are familiar with the sound of the storm alarm as well, particularly at this time of year.
Alarms are important. An alarm is defined as any sound, outcry, or information intended to warn of approaching danger.
Paul Revere sounded an alarm to warn that the British were coming. The fire alarm warns of impending danger from fire. The storm alarm alerts us to danger from a coming hurricane or tornado or severe thunderstorm.
The Old Testament prophet Joel had something to say about alarms.
"The day of the LORD is near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty. Blow a trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on My holy mountain! For the day of the LORD is coming; surely it is near." (Joel 1:15; 2:1 NASB)
Blow a trumpet. Sound an alarm. The day of the Lord is near.
If it was near in the prophet Joel's day, how much nearer is it now!
It is time for us to be sounding the alarm. It is time for us to wake up and pay attention. It is time that we who name the Name of Jesus are about the business of sharing Him with others. It is time for us to wake up! It is time for us to be sounding the alarm!
The day of the Lord is near, much nearer than ever before. And we live in a world where we are surrounded by people who need to know Jesus!
People need the Lord. People need to know Jesus in a personal way, not just to know about Him. And people need to know that Jesus is coming again, that the day of the Lord is near.
It's time to sound the alarm!
Yesterday was the day for routine testing of all the smoke detectors and the alarm system in the hotel where we are now staying. As a result, all morning long, alarms were sounding.
Last evening, Al and I were both startled by the sound of an alarm coming from our phones. It was a severe weather alert, warning of the possibility of flash flooding due to severe storms here in the Chicago area.
If you live in an area prone to tornadoes or other storms, you likely are familiar with the sound of the storm alarm as well, particularly at this time of year.
Alarms are important. An alarm is defined as any sound, outcry, or information intended to warn of approaching danger.
Paul Revere sounded an alarm to warn that the British were coming. The fire alarm warns of impending danger from fire. The storm alarm alerts us to danger from a coming hurricane or tornado or severe thunderstorm.
The Old Testament prophet Joel had something to say about alarms.
"The day of the LORD is near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty. Blow a trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on My holy mountain! For the day of the LORD is coming; surely it is near." (Joel 1:15; 2:1 NASB)
Blow a trumpet. Sound an alarm. The day of the Lord is near.
If it was near in the prophet Joel's day, how much nearer is it now!
It is time for us to be sounding the alarm. It is time for us to wake up and pay attention. It is time that we who name the Name of Jesus are about the business of sharing Him with others. It is time for us to wake up! It is time for us to be sounding the alarm!
The day of the Lord is near, much nearer than ever before. And we live in a world where we are surrounded by people who need to know Jesus!
People need the Lord. People need to know Jesus in a personal way, not just to know about Him. And people need to know that Jesus is coming again, that the day of the Lord is near.
It's time to sound the alarm!
"People, get ready. Jesus is coming." (lyrics by Crystal Lewis)
"Knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed." (Romans 13:11 NASB)Monday, August 17, 2015
Life on the Road: Thinking about Goldilocks
You remember Goldilocks. She visited some bears. She sat in their chairs and she ate their porridge and she slept in their beds. And what she discovered as she did all that was that this one is too hard, and this one is too soft, and this one is just right.
What does that have to do with life on the road?
Last week was our middle week. It was week number six on the road. Five weeks preceded it, and there are now five weeks left in this adventure. Throughout our adventure, some things have been great and some things not so much. Particularly last week, in our middle week, that was true.
Last week, some things were good. And some things were great. And then there were the not-so-much things. Among the not-so-good things, all the beds we slept in last week were, to quote Goldilocks, too soft.
We began the week in Kansas City. I enjoyed the time there, and would really have loved to see more of the city. But, when we arrived on Sunday it was pouring rain, and Monday brought extreme heat warnings. Monday was not a good day to be out and about, and then we left on Tuesday. That's the bad news about Kansas City. The good news is that we ate some of the best food of the trip while we were in Kansas City.
After Kansas City, we headed to St. Louis. We had a great hotel there with a very friendly and helpful staff. I celebrated a birthday while we were there. We had a delicious meal, shared with friends, and which included chocolate cake! Good times!
The down side of our time in St. Louis was a really bad hair cut. I haven't had hair this short since I've had hair! Except for the very top of my head which looks pretty much like a bad toupee! The good news of this horror story is that my hair will grow, and that it usually grows pretty fast. And I won't have to pay for a haircut any time soon!
We left St. Louis on Saturday morning and headed up toward central Illinois. We had a good dinner and good conversation on Saturday night with our friends Myra and Dave. And on Sunday we worshiped with Rich and Linda, friends from our Connecticut days. Rich is now pastoring in Urbana, Illinois, and we very much enjoyed worshiping there on Sunday morning. After church, we had a great visit with Rich and Linda on Sunday afternoon. We had nearly twenty years of catching up to do! Good times!
All in all, the "Goldilocks week" was more good than bad, particularly if you ignore the haircut. (And I wish I could! But it stares back at me every time I look in a mirror!)
Six weeks on the road, living out of suitcases, has been a grand adventure. But also quite a challenge. The longer we are away from home, the less patient we become, particularly when things don't go quite according to plan. I'm glad we thought to bring our own pillows; that particularly helps when the beds are less than comfortable. The challenge now is to eat well (meaning, making good, healthy choices), to get enough rest, and to be deliberate about building some relaxation and recreation into our schedule.
And as we finish out this adventure, we need to keep our focus on the positives, rather than on the negatives. That's good advice, isn't it, whether on the road or not. Focus matters. And we all get along in life better when our focus is on the good things, rather than on the less-than-we-would-like-them-to-be things. When we look at life with a glass-half-full, rather than a glass-half-empty, attitude.
But a right focus is much more than just putting on a happy face. It's much more than just maintaining a positive attitude. A right focus is a focus on Jesus. That's what the writer to the Hebrews tells us.
He tells us to lay aside the things that way us down. After six weeks of dealing with luggage and tote bags and back packs, and taking them in and out of hotel rooms, I well understand this word picture. Weighted down with stuff.
The writer to the Hebrews tells us to run the race that is set before us. Not the race that is set before someone else, but the race set before us. And he tells us not to try to run that race while we are carrying all the stuff that weights us down. And all the sin that we hold on to. We are to let that go. Lay it aside. All of it. Confess that sin and get rid of it.
Lay aside the sin. Run the race set before us. And run it with focus. Run the race with eyes fixed on Jesus.
That's an important truth to remember on a Monday morning. As you're going back to school. Or you're on a long road trip. Or you are doing the laundry and household chores. Or you're heading to the office.
Whatever is going on in your life or mine, it's an important truth to remember. When things are going well. And when they are not. In all the circumstances of life. Fix your eyes on Jesus.
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB, emphasis mine)
What does that have to do with life on the road?
Last week was our middle week. It was week number six on the road. Five weeks preceded it, and there are now five weeks left in this adventure. Throughout our adventure, some things have been great and some things not so much. Particularly last week, in our middle week, that was true.
Last week, some things were good. And some things were great. And then there were the not-so-much things. Among the not-so-good things, all the beds we slept in last week were, to quote Goldilocks, too soft.
We began the week in Kansas City. I enjoyed the time there, and would really have loved to see more of the city. But, when we arrived on Sunday it was pouring rain, and Monday brought extreme heat warnings. Monday was not a good day to be out and about, and then we left on Tuesday. That's the bad news about Kansas City. The good news is that we ate some of the best food of the trip while we were in Kansas City.
After Kansas City, we headed to St. Louis. We had a great hotel there with a very friendly and helpful staff. I celebrated a birthday while we were there. We had a delicious meal, shared with friends, and which included chocolate cake! Good times!
The down side of our time in St. Louis was a really bad hair cut. I haven't had hair this short since I've had hair! Except for the very top of my head which looks pretty much like a bad toupee! The good news of this horror story is that my hair will grow, and that it usually grows pretty fast. And I won't have to pay for a haircut any time soon!
We left St. Louis on Saturday morning and headed up toward central Illinois. We had a good dinner and good conversation on Saturday night with our friends Myra and Dave. And on Sunday we worshiped with Rich and Linda, friends from our Connecticut days. Rich is now pastoring in Urbana, Illinois, and we very much enjoyed worshiping there on Sunday morning. After church, we had a great visit with Rich and Linda on Sunday afternoon. We had nearly twenty years of catching up to do! Good times!
All in all, the "Goldilocks week" was more good than bad, particularly if you ignore the haircut. (And I wish I could! But it stares back at me every time I look in a mirror!)
Six weeks on the road, living out of suitcases, has been a grand adventure. But also quite a challenge. The longer we are away from home, the less patient we become, particularly when things don't go quite according to plan. I'm glad we thought to bring our own pillows; that particularly helps when the beds are less than comfortable. The challenge now is to eat well (meaning, making good, healthy choices), to get enough rest, and to be deliberate about building some relaxation and recreation into our schedule.
And as we finish out this adventure, we need to keep our focus on the positives, rather than on the negatives. That's good advice, isn't it, whether on the road or not. Focus matters. And we all get along in life better when our focus is on the good things, rather than on the less-than-we-would-like-them-to-be things. When we look at life with a glass-half-full, rather than a glass-half-empty, attitude.
But a right focus is much more than just putting on a happy face. It's much more than just maintaining a positive attitude. A right focus is a focus on Jesus. That's what the writer to the Hebrews tells us.
He tells us to lay aside the things that way us down. After six weeks of dealing with luggage and tote bags and back packs, and taking them in and out of hotel rooms, I well understand this word picture. Weighted down with stuff.
The writer to the Hebrews tells us to run the race that is set before us. Not the race that is set before someone else, but the race set before us. And he tells us not to try to run that race while we are carrying all the stuff that weights us down. And all the sin that we hold on to. We are to let that go. Lay it aside. All of it. Confess that sin and get rid of it.
Lay aside the sin. Run the race set before us. And run it with focus. Run the race with eyes fixed on Jesus.
That's an important truth to remember on a Monday morning. As you're going back to school. Or you're on a long road trip. Or you are doing the laundry and household chores. Or you're heading to the office.
Whatever is going on in your life or mine, it's an important truth to remember. When things are going well. And when they are not. In all the circumstances of life. Fix your eyes on Jesus.
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB, emphasis mine)
Friday, August 14, 2015
More Than a Sound Bite
With last week's Republican presidential debates, the election cycle for the next President of the United States has officially begun. We have now entered the season of endless commercials and tweets and sound bites, all designed to convince us to vote for a particular candidate. For the next sixteen months, we will be subjected to a steady stream of chatter from these candidates, as well as from pundits and supporters. Blah, blah, blah. And so it begins.
On the Democrat side, it is generally assumed that Hillary Clinton is the nominee. I would, however, remind you that the same thing was assumed back in 2008. And we all know how that turned out.
On the Republican side, there is quite a large field of candidates. Some are getting more attention than others. Some did well in the debate, while others had a less impressive showing. As I listened to and read responses to last week's debate, I often wondered if I had watched the same debate that others were commenting on! Generally, it seems that many people are reacting to that debate based on who their preference was before the debate, rather than responding to actual debate performance. For example, if Donald Trump was your candidate of choice, you likely think he did well and "won" the debate. If you supported Rand Paul, or Scott Walker, or Marco Rubio, or Ben Carson, or any of the other candidates, prior to last week's debate, then you think your candidate came out on top. And on and on it goes.
Generally, I try to steer clear of politics in this blog. It is not my intention to use this as a platform to persuade you to a particular candidate, nor will I use this as a platform to sing the praises of my chosen candidate. If you want to have a personal conversation about politics outside this blog, I'll be happy to have a discussion with you. This is not the place for that.
However, as we begin this long, arduous journey toward November, 2016, there is one caution I would like to bring before you. We need more than a sound bite President. The current occupant of the Oval Office was elected, at least in part, because he was (is) good at sound bites. If you disagree with me about that, please read on anyway!
We need more than sound bites. We need leadership. These are difficult times in our country. And regardless of your political persuasion, surely we can agree on that. We have big challenges before us in areas of national security and the economy, and other
areas as well. Because these are challenging times, we need to think carefully about how we are going to cast our vote. We need to listen carefully to everything the candidates are saying. We need to go beyond the sound bites, and beyond the opinions of political pundits. We need to be a thinking people. We need not only to listen to the candidates, but then to think carefully and analyze for ourselves what is being said. We need to understand the principles by which each of these candidates can be expected to govern.
As we are listening, and as we are thinking, we need also to be praying. Praying for God's blessing on our nation. Praying for wisdom as we make our choices. Praying for this nation to turn back to God. And praying for discernment.
We need to hear more than just the sound bites. We need to hear and understand the principles that guide these candidates in their decisions and their positions.
We need wisdom. We need understanding. We need discernment.
Don't be deceived by rhetoric and hyperbole and sound bites.
We need more than that.
"Furthermore, you select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place them as leaders......"
(Exodus 18:21 NASB)
"You will know them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:16a NASB)
On the Democrat side, it is generally assumed that Hillary Clinton is the nominee. I would, however, remind you that the same thing was assumed back in 2008. And we all know how that turned out.
On the Republican side, there is quite a large field of candidates. Some are getting more attention than others. Some did well in the debate, while others had a less impressive showing. As I listened to and read responses to last week's debate, I often wondered if I had watched the same debate that others were commenting on! Generally, it seems that many people are reacting to that debate based on who their preference was before the debate, rather than responding to actual debate performance. For example, if Donald Trump was your candidate of choice, you likely think he did well and "won" the debate. If you supported Rand Paul, or Scott Walker, or Marco Rubio, or Ben Carson, or any of the other candidates, prior to last week's debate, then you think your candidate came out on top. And on and on it goes.
Generally, I try to steer clear of politics in this blog. It is not my intention to use this as a platform to persuade you to a particular candidate, nor will I use this as a platform to sing the praises of my chosen candidate. If you want to have a personal conversation about politics outside this blog, I'll be happy to have a discussion with you. This is not the place for that.
However, as we begin this long, arduous journey toward November, 2016, there is one caution I would like to bring before you. We need more than a sound bite President. The current occupant of the Oval Office was elected, at least in part, because he was (is) good at sound bites. If you disagree with me about that, please read on anyway!
We need more than sound bites. We need leadership. These are difficult times in our country. And regardless of your political persuasion, surely we can agree on that. We have big challenges before us in areas of national security and the economy, and other
areas as well. Because these are challenging times, we need to think carefully about how we are going to cast our vote. We need to listen carefully to everything the candidates are saying. We need to go beyond the sound bites, and beyond the opinions of political pundits. We need to be a thinking people. We need not only to listen to the candidates, but then to think carefully and analyze for ourselves what is being said. We need to understand the principles by which each of these candidates can be expected to govern.
As we are listening, and as we are thinking, we need also to be praying. Praying for God's blessing on our nation. Praying for wisdom as we make our choices. Praying for this nation to turn back to God. And praying for discernment.
We need to hear more than just the sound bites. We need to hear and understand the principles that guide these candidates in their decisions and their positions.
We need wisdom. We need understanding. We need discernment.
Don't be deceived by rhetoric and hyperbole and sound bites.
We need more than that.
"Furthermore, you select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place them as leaders......"
(Exodus 18:21 NASB)
"You will know them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:16a NASB)
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Getting Older
Today is my birthday. Which brings inevitable thoughts about getting older. I can remember when, once upon a time, I thought anyone who had passed their 60th birthday was really old. Having passed that milestone several years ago, I no longer think of it in quite the same way. Because the truth is, I really don't think of myself as old. I don't feel old. At least, not on most days. Other days, well, that's a different story......
I have read that Jonathan Edwards, that great American preacher of days gone by, had seventy resolutions for his life, all of which he wrote while in his early twenties, and which he read every week for the rest of his life. His Resolution 52 is one we would all do well to take to heart.
"I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again. Resolved, that I will live as I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age."
Today, on the occasion of my 65th birthday, that is my resolution, for the coming year and for all the years ahead: to live as I shall wish I had done.
I have read that Jonathan Edwards, that great American preacher of days gone by, had seventy resolutions for his life, all of which he wrote while in his early twenties, and which he read every week for the rest of his life. His Resolution 52 is one we would all do well to take to heart.
"I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again. Resolved, that I will live as I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age."
Today, on the occasion of my 65th birthday, that is my resolution, for the coming year and for all the years ahead: to live as I shall wish I had done.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Life on the Road: Halfway
Today marks the middle day of the middle week of our around-the-country adventure! We're halfway home!
While we're here in St. Louis, once these classes are done, we will be taking a little time to reorganize things in the van. As class supplies have been used up along the way, it's time to rearrange a bit. And, frankly, all this in and out, loading and unloading, also means we need to tidy up a bit!
Meanwhile, at this midpoint, I'm doing a little reminiscing. Thinking about favorites. And remembering the not-so-much, as well.
This Courtyard where we are now staying will go down as one of the favorites for sure. If you're ever in this area, I highly recommend the Courtyard-St. Louis Earth City. Very friendly and helpful staff, and the hotel has been renovated and updated. Of course, that update did include these ridiculous round chairs. Even so, it gets high marks.
I've mentioned some favorite foods before. The favorite foods list now includes two meals from Kansas City. The barbecue at Jack Stack was outstanding! Beyond that, Al and I both agree that our meal at Garozzo's, a small Italian restaurant in the middle of a neighborhood, was one of the best meals we have eaten on this trip. If you ever go there, eat the chicken spedini. And have a cannoli for dessert!
But back to the tidying up and reorganizing. That happens from time to time, whether you're on the road or not. We all have closets and drawers and garages that get a bit cluttered up. Right now, my clutter is confined to suitcases and a very large van. But clutter there is. And it must dealt with.
Even more important, the clutter in our hearts and minds needs to be dealt with. We are bombarded on a daily basis with more information than we know what to do with. Not only the information, but our emotions and reactions to all that information, along with the general stress that is life in the 21st century, leads to cluttered up hearts and minds.
The clutter in the closet, or in the van, or in the luggage, won't go away without deliberate effort. The clutter in our hearts and minds can only be dealt with through deliberate, conscious effort as well.
The way to deal with our cluttered up hearts and minds is to be still. To cease striving.
To set aside all the "stuff" of life and listen carefully for that still, small voice.
"Cease striving and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10 NASB)
Cease striving. Be still. Listen to what God is saying to you. Then act on what He says. Get rid of the clutter.
"Put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth." (Colossians 3:8 NASB)
Whatever emotions or information or habits cluttering your heart and mind, whatever emotion or information or habit in your life that is not God-honoring, needs to go. It needs to be put aside.
It needs to be replaced.
"As those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other.....and beyond all these things, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." (Colossians 3:12-14 NASB)
I need to do some cleaning and reorganizing in my luggage, and in the van. It seems a good time to do some cleaning and reorganizing in my heart and mind as well.
How about you?
While we're here in St. Louis, once these classes are done, we will be taking a little time to reorganize things in the van. As class supplies have been used up along the way, it's time to rearrange a bit. And, frankly, all this in and out, loading and unloading, also means we need to tidy up a bit!
Meanwhile, at this midpoint, I'm doing a little reminiscing. Thinking about favorites. And remembering the not-so-much, as well.
This Courtyard where we are now staying will go down as one of the favorites for sure. If you're ever in this area, I highly recommend the Courtyard-St. Louis Earth City. Very friendly and helpful staff, and the hotel has been renovated and updated. Of course, that update did include these ridiculous round chairs. Even so, it gets high marks.
I've mentioned some favorite foods before. The favorite foods list now includes two meals from Kansas City. The barbecue at Jack Stack was outstanding! Beyond that, Al and I both agree that our meal at Garozzo's, a small Italian restaurant in the middle of a neighborhood, was one of the best meals we have eaten on this trip. If you ever go there, eat the chicken spedini. And have a cannoli for dessert!
But back to the tidying up and reorganizing. That happens from time to time, whether you're on the road or not. We all have closets and drawers and garages that get a bit cluttered up. Right now, my clutter is confined to suitcases and a very large van. But clutter there is. And it must dealt with.
Even more important, the clutter in our hearts and minds needs to be dealt with. We are bombarded on a daily basis with more information than we know what to do with. Not only the information, but our emotions and reactions to all that information, along with the general stress that is life in the 21st century, leads to cluttered up hearts and minds.
The clutter in the closet, or in the van, or in the luggage, won't go away without deliberate effort. The clutter in our hearts and minds can only be dealt with through deliberate, conscious effort as well.
The way to deal with our cluttered up hearts and minds is to be still. To cease striving.
To set aside all the "stuff" of life and listen carefully for that still, small voice.
"Cease striving and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10 NASB)
Cease striving. Be still. Listen to what God is saying to you. Then act on what He says. Get rid of the clutter.
"Put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth." (Colossians 3:8 NASB)
Whatever emotions or information or habits cluttering your heart and mind, whatever emotion or information or habit in your life that is not God-honoring, needs to go. It needs to be put aside.
It needs to be replaced.
"As those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other.....and beyond all these things, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." (Colossians 3:12-14 NASB)
I need to do some cleaning and reorganizing in my luggage, and in the van. It seems a good time to do some cleaning and reorganizing in my heart and mind as well.
How about you?
Monday, August 10, 2015
Life on the Road: In the Middle of the Map
Over the last five weeks we have crossed the United States, traveling from South Carolina to California. We made our way up the west coast, from Southern California all the way to Seattle. This past week we traveled from Washington State, through the Idaho panhandle, across parts of Montana, and down through Wyoming and Colorado. On Saturday we began our drive across Kansas, and finished that up on Sunday afternoon. Week Six on the road begins with us in Kansas City, Missouri, pretty much in the middle of the map.
Over this last week we had some great experiences. Crossing the Rocky Mountains. Seeing the wide open spaces of Montana and Wyoming. Visiting Yellowstone National Park and seeing the majestic Tetons. We spent some time in Denver, where we once lived, and drove through our old neighborhood, doing some reminiscing. Then we began the drive across the plains, where the land seems to stretch endlessly in all directions.
We had some really good food during this last week. "Montana Meatloaf" in Bozeman was definitely one of my favorites, a combination of bison, beef, and pork, all locally sourced. I rarely order meatloaf in restaurants, because I don't usually like restaurant meatloaf. This was a pleasant surprise, and one of the most delicious things I have eaten on this adventure. My other favorite meal this week was a bison rib-eye steak in Wyoming. If you could have tasted it, you would agree! When we arrived in Kansas City, we had to have some barbecue, and the meal we had did not disappoint. We shared a combination platter of prime beef rib, pork baby backs, and an assortment of burnt ends. I had never heard of burnt ends until I arrived in Kansas City yesterday! I'm glad we decided to share, so we could try several things on one platter. Even so, it was a lot of food, all of it was very good, and we weren't able to eat it all!
Over the last several weeks, we have met a number of people, had some interesting conversations with random strangers, and done quite a bit of people-watching. People in the northwestern part of our country - Washington State, Montana, Wyoming - are particularly friendly and helpful. Californians, especially those in the Bay Area, seem glued to their electronic devices. Everywhere we have been, people are really pretty much the same. Some are pleasant; some, not so much. Some people seem particularly stressed or unhappy. Some are friendly and outgoing; some, not so much.
All that seems to have nothing to do with skin color or lifestyle or economic condition. It all seems to come from somewhere within.
Certainly the root of a joy-filled life is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Having that relationship at the center of your life is the basis for what is evident on the outside.
Good mood or bad. Cranky or pleasant. Calm or stressed. It all comes from the inside. No one would dispute that external circumstances can sometimes be difficult or stressful. And often we have no control over the externals. What we can control is our response. How we choose to react. That reaction is one of the choices we get to make in life.
We get to choose. That's a truth, no matter which part of the map you may find yourself in today. And no matter what the circumstances of your life.
Sadly, it is often true that even Christians get bogged down in circumstances and put their focus there, rather than on the One who is at the center of their lives. The One who controls all circumstances. The One who has a plan and purpose for everything He allows into our lives. There's a choice to be made. And each of us must make it. It's an act of the will, rather than an emotional response. We choose.
I choose to be happy. I choose to trust God to work all things together for my good and His glory (Romans 8:28-29). I choose not to let circumstances control my life. I choose joy.
What choice will you make today?
"The joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10 NASB)
Over this last week we had some great experiences. Crossing the Rocky Mountains. Seeing the wide open spaces of Montana and Wyoming. Visiting Yellowstone National Park and seeing the majestic Tetons. We spent some time in Denver, where we once lived, and drove through our old neighborhood, doing some reminiscing. Then we began the drive across the plains, where the land seems to stretch endlessly in all directions.
We had some really good food during this last week. "Montana Meatloaf" in Bozeman was definitely one of my favorites, a combination of bison, beef, and pork, all locally sourced. I rarely order meatloaf in restaurants, because I don't usually like restaurant meatloaf. This was a pleasant surprise, and one of the most delicious things I have eaten on this adventure. My other favorite meal this week was a bison rib-eye steak in Wyoming. If you could have tasted it, you would agree! When we arrived in Kansas City, we had to have some barbecue, and the meal we had did not disappoint. We shared a combination platter of prime beef rib, pork baby backs, and an assortment of burnt ends. I had never heard of burnt ends until I arrived in Kansas City yesterday! I'm glad we decided to share, so we could try several things on one platter. Even so, it was a lot of food, all of it was very good, and we weren't able to eat it all!
Over the last several weeks, we have met a number of people, had some interesting conversations with random strangers, and done quite a bit of people-watching. People in the northwestern part of our country - Washington State, Montana, Wyoming - are particularly friendly and helpful. Californians, especially those in the Bay Area, seem glued to their electronic devices. Everywhere we have been, people are really pretty much the same. Some are pleasant; some, not so much. Some people seem particularly stressed or unhappy. Some are friendly and outgoing; some, not so much.
All that seems to have nothing to do with skin color or lifestyle or economic condition. It all seems to come from somewhere within.
Certainly the root of a joy-filled life is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Having that relationship at the center of your life is the basis for what is evident on the outside.
Good mood or bad. Cranky or pleasant. Calm or stressed. It all comes from the inside. No one would dispute that external circumstances can sometimes be difficult or stressful. And often we have no control over the externals. What we can control is our response. How we choose to react. That reaction is one of the choices we get to make in life.
We get to choose. That's a truth, no matter which part of the map you may find yourself in today. And no matter what the circumstances of your life.
Sadly, it is often true that even Christians get bogged down in circumstances and put their focus there, rather than on the One who is at the center of their lives. The One who controls all circumstances. The One who has a plan and purpose for everything He allows into our lives. There's a choice to be made. And each of us must make it. It's an act of the will, rather than an emotional response. We choose.
I choose to be happy. I choose to trust God to work all things together for my good and His glory (Romans 8:28-29). I choose not to let circumstances control my life. I choose joy.
What choice will you make today?
"The joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10 NASB)
Friday, August 7, 2015
Done Any Editing Lately?
Every writer understands the pain of editing. Whether writing a newspaper article or a blog or a novel, there comes a time when each word and phrase must be analyzed. Spelling and punctuation must be checked. Corrections must be made. Words or phrases are added or deleted. Then the process is repeated, often many times, before the finished product is ready for publication.
I have taken hundreds of photos since we left home a month ago. Some of them are pretty good, and some are pretty bad, and most are somewhere in between. I've posted many of them to Facebook for friends and family to see as they are following our journey. None of those photos has yet been edited. When I get back home, the editing process will begin, and the result will be that many of those not-so-great photos will actually turn out to be pretty good.
We're familiar with editing our photos or editing our written work. We're perhaps less familiar with applying editing principles to our lives.
Editing means that things are cleaned up. It means that things are corrected. It means that some things are deleted.
It's true for written work. It's true for photos. And it's true for our lives as well.
Editing some things out of my life is an area where the Lord has been really dealing with me. As in, what things in my life need some correction. What additions need to be made? What things in my life need some fine-tuning. What things in my life need to be deleted.
As a result I have been asking a lot of questions.
What foods need to be deleted from my life? What foods need to be added?
What habits need to be deleted from my life? What habits need to be added?
What corrections need to be made in my speech?
What needs to be deleted? In my activities. In my recreation. In my reading. In my TV watching. In the way I spend my money.
What needs to be added? In my activities. In my recreation. In my reading. In my TV watching. In the way I spend my money.
Writing is a process. Photography is a process. Life is a process. And all those processes need some editing from time to time.
What about you? Have you done any editing lately?
Something to think about.
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." (Philippians 3:7 NASB)
I have taken hundreds of photos since we left home a month ago. Some of them are pretty good, and some are pretty bad, and most are somewhere in between. I've posted many of them to Facebook for friends and family to see as they are following our journey. None of those photos has yet been edited. When I get back home, the editing process will begin, and the result will be that many of those not-so-great photos will actually turn out to be pretty good.
We're familiar with editing our photos or editing our written work. We're perhaps less familiar with applying editing principles to our lives.
Editing means that things are cleaned up. It means that things are corrected. It means that some things are deleted.
It's true for written work. It's true for photos. And it's true for our lives as well.
Editing some things out of my life is an area where the Lord has been really dealing with me. As in, what things in my life need some correction. What additions need to be made? What things in my life need some fine-tuning. What things in my life need to be deleted.
As a result I have been asking a lot of questions.
What foods need to be deleted from my life? What foods need to be added?
What habits need to be deleted from my life? What habits need to be added?
What corrections need to be made in my speech?
What needs to be deleted? In my activities. In my recreation. In my reading. In my TV watching. In the way I spend my money.
What needs to be added? In my activities. In my recreation. In my reading. In my TV watching. In the way I spend my money.
Writing is a process. Photography is a process. Life is a process. And all those processes need some editing from time to time.
What about you? Have you done any editing lately?
Something to think about.
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." (Philippians 3:7 NASB)
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Life on the Road: After One Month
Today marks one month of our life on the road. One month ago, July 6, we left home and began our journey around the country.
So far we have traveled about 4500 miles, been in 16 states, and slept in 18 different hotels. Along the way we have seen some spectacular scenery and eaten some amazing food. And we've had some that wasn't so great!
This really is quite an adventure, and one I'm grateful to experience.
This journey is also filled with life lessons, among them, an appreciation for all that is part of our life back home.
This morning, as we dropped off several bags full of dirty clothes at the hotel front desk, I really found myself thinking about, and missing, my washing machine! Washing machines are among the things in life we tend to take for granted. But life on the road gives a new appreciation for things like washing machines.
I miss my own desk and my own chair and my own bed. This journey has brought great variety in all those areas. We've had very large rooms, and very small ones. We've had suites, some large and some small. In all those accommodations, sometimes the furniture is comfortable and sometimes not. Sometimes there's plenty of room for all our "stuff", and sometimes not. Sometimes there's a great internet connection, and sometimes not. We are currently experiencing the worst internet access of our entire trip. It took most of the afternoon yesterday for the hotel to get it to work at all!
So, life on the road has challenges and frustrations.
Life on the road also brings with it new experiences, like "Montana Meatloaf" (which was amazing) and bison ribeye. It brings the opportunity to see new places, like Oklahoma and Arizona, and to revisit places like Yellowstone National Park, where we enjoyed some of the beauty of God's creation. As we mapped out our route from Seattle to Denver, we had two options. We chose the northern route which took us across the panhandle of Idaho, through parts of Montana, and down through Yellowstone into Wyoming. That route featured some spectacular scenery (you can follow me on Facebook to see the photos), including sights like these:
And life on the road means waking up and looking out the window to see this, as we can do here in Denver:
Life on the road means getting my clothes out of a suitcase instead of out of a closet. It means I don't have my own comfy chair or my own washing machine. It means my food is ordered off a menu and cooked by someone else, rather than being prepared in my own kitchen.
Otherwise, life on the road is pretty much like life at home. There are good days and some days that are more challenging. There are days when I feel great, and days that are not so great. There are days when everything goes according to plan, and there are days when nothing seems to go quite right.
It's all part of life. Life is a journey. Good days and bad days. Smooth roads and potholes. Uphill and down hill.
In the good times and in the bad, whether at home or on the road, this journey we call life is a gift! A treasure! A race to be run all the way to the finish line. A marathon, not a sprint.
And through it all, in the good times and the challenging times, God is present, blessing us with grace gifts along the way, and He is at work in our lives, for our good and for His glory.
"The LORD's lovingkindnesses never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB)
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him." (Philippians 2:13 NLT)
So far we have traveled about 4500 miles, been in 16 states, and slept in 18 different hotels. Along the way we have seen some spectacular scenery and eaten some amazing food. And we've had some that wasn't so great!
This really is quite an adventure, and one I'm grateful to experience.
This journey is also filled with life lessons, among them, an appreciation for all that is part of our life back home.
This morning, as we dropped off several bags full of dirty clothes at the hotel front desk, I really found myself thinking about, and missing, my washing machine! Washing machines are among the things in life we tend to take for granted. But life on the road gives a new appreciation for things like washing machines.
I miss my own desk and my own chair and my own bed. This journey has brought great variety in all those areas. We've had very large rooms, and very small ones. We've had suites, some large and some small. In all those accommodations, sometimes the furniture is comfortable and sometimes not. Sometimes there's plenty of room for all our "stuff", and sometimes not. Sometimes there's a great internet connection, and sometimes not. We are currently experiencing the worst internet access of our entire trip. It took most of the afternoon yesterday for the hotel to get it to work at all!
So, life on the road has challenges and frustrations.
Life on the road also brings with it new experiences, like "Montana Meatloaf" (which was amazing) and bison ribeye. It brings the opportunity to see new places, like Oklahoma and Arizona, and to revisit places like Yellowstone National Park, where we enjoyed some of the beauty of God's creation. As we mapped out our route from Seattle to Denver, we had two options. We chose the northern route which took us across the panhandle of Idaho, through parts of Montana, and down through Yellowstone into Wyoming. That route featured some spectacular scenery (you can follow me on Facebook to see the photos), including sights like these:
And life on the road means waking up and looking out the window to see this, as we can do here in Denver:
Life on the road means getting my clothes out of a suitcase instead of out of a closet. It means I don't have my own comfy chair or my own washing machine. It means my food is ordered off a menu and cooked by someone else, rather than being prepared in my own kitchen.
Otherwise, life on the road is pretty much like life at home. There are good days and some days that are more challenging. There are days when I feel great, and days that are not so great. There are days when everything goes according to plan, and there are days when nothing seems to go quite right.
It's all part of life. Life is a journey. Good days and bad days. Smooth roads and potholes. Uphill and down hill.
In the good times and in the bad, whether at home or on the road, this journey we call life is a gift! A treasure! A race to be run all the way to the finish line. A marathon, not a sprint.
And through it all, in the good times and the challenging times, God is present, blessing us with grace gifts along the way, and He is at work in our lives, for our good and for His glory.
"The LORD's lovingkindnesses never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB)
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him." (Philippians 2:13 NLT)
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
What's Your Excuse?
We were both sleeping soundly on Sunday night when we were rudely awakened by the blaring of the fire alarm. Along with the other hotel guests, we made our way out to the parking lot and waited [somewhat] patiently until we were given the all-clear.
Al eventually fell asleep again, but I was not so fortunate. I only fell asleep about forty-five minutes before it was time to get up. Bleary-eyed, I showered and dressed, we had our breakfast, and were on the road again, making our way to Yellowstone National Park. After a lovely day in Yellowstone, we exited via the south entrance, and about an hour later stopped for the night in Dubois, Wyoming, population 491.
We had booked a room at The Trail's End Motel. Like all the other lodgings in Dubois, this was a small mom-and-pop establishment. It was a log structure with a tin roof, very western in its décor. I'm sure I would have appreciated its quaintness much more if I hadn't been so tired. We slept with the windows open, since there was no air conditioning. It was a cool night, so temperature wasn't a problem. However, this little motel sits right next to the main highway through Dubois, so there was road noise to contend with. In addition, some sort of siren went off in the night, several times. I'm not sure if it was a fire alarm or if it was weather-related (it was pouring rain), but after the alarm of the previous night, we were both a little alarm-sensitive. The worst problem with the open window, however, was that the occupant of the next room went out sometime after dark to smoke, and his smoke wafted through our window. Yuck!
In any event, two nights of interrupted sleep left me a little out of sorts this morning. A little grumpy. A little snarkier than usual. And I'm really bothered by that. Not bothered about losing sleep (although that does bother me), but bothered by how I allowed the lack of sleep to affect me. How I used my tiredness as an excuse to be cranky.
What about you? Have you ever had that experience? Being tired, or not feeling well, or stressed, or whatever, and then letting it affect the way you treat others? I have the feeling that I may not be the only one.
When you are rude, what's your excuse?
When you are irritable, what's your excuse?
When you are short-tempered, what's your excuse?
When you are less than pleasant, less than your best self, what's your excuse?
I'm tired.
I'm stressed.
I'm in pain.
I just don't feel so good.
On and on we go with the lists of excuses.
Aren't you glad God doesn't treat us the way we sometimes treat others?
Aren't you thankful He doesn't get impatient with us when we whine?
Aren't you thankful that He doesn't snap at us when we ask Him a question?
Aren't you thankful that God isn't like us?
And wouldn't it be wonderful if our behavior were more a reflection of His Spirit at work within us!
Jesus said, "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you." (Matthew 7:12 NASB, emphasis mine)
In everything. At all times. No excuses.
Something to think about.
Al eventually fell asleep again, but I was not so fortunate. I only fell asleep about forty-five minutes before it was time to get up. Bleary-eyed, I showered and dressed, we had our breakfast, and were on the road again, making our way to Yellowstone National Park. After a lovely day in Yellowstone, we exited via the south entrance, and about an hour later stopped for the night in Dubois, Wyoming, population 491.
We had booked a room at The Trail's End Motel. Like all the other lodgings in Dubois, this was a small mom-and-pop establishment. It was a log structure with a tin roof, very western in its décor. I'm sure I would have appreciated its quaintness much more if I hadn't been so tired. We slept with the windows open, since there was no air conditioning. It was a cool night, so temperature wasn't a problem. However, this little motel sits right next to the main highway through Dubois, so there was road noise to contend with. In addition, some sort of siren went off in the night, several times. I'm not sure if it was a fire alarm or if it was weather-related (it was pouring rain), but after the alarm of the previous night, we were both a little alarm-sensitive. The worst problem with the open window, however, was that the occupant of the next room went out sometime after dark to smoke, and his smoke wafted through our window. Yuck!
In any event, two nights of interrupted sleep left me a little out of sorts this morning. A little grumpy. A little snarkier than usual. And I'm really bothered by that. Not bothered about losing sleep (although that does bother me), but bothered by how I allowed the lack of sleep to affect me. How I used my tiredness as an excuse to be cranky.
What about you? Have you ever had that experience? Being tired, or not feeling well, or stressed, or whatever, and then letting it affect the way you treat others? I have the feeling that I may not be the only one.
When you are rude, what's your excuse?
When you are irritable, what's your excuse?
When you are short-tempered, what's your excuse?
When you are less than pleasant, less than your best self, what's your excuse?
I'm tired.
I'm stressed.
I'm in pain.
I just don't feel so good.
On and on we go with the lists of excuses.
Aren't you glad God doesn't treat us the way we sometimes treat others?
Aren't you thankful He doesn't get impatient with us when we whine?
Aren't you thankful that He doesn't snap at us when we ask Him a question?
Aren't you thankful that God isn't like us?
And wouldn't it be wonderful if our behavior were more a reflection of His Spirit at work within us!
Jesus said, "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you." (Matthew 7:12 NASB, emphasis mine)
In everything. At all times. No excuses.
Something to think about.
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