Saturday, December 06, 2014

Remembering Dad H 1931 - 2014

My father-in-law passed away this week.

As his family and friends know, Dad H was never one to boast or brag about anything he'd done - let alone reflect on the accomplishments of his life. But as one of the children to have married into the family, I want to share what he meant to me.

First of all, his acceptance and support of family members was unconditional and absolute. On the occasion of marrying his first-born child, I gained my first insight into Dad H's definition of family. As he and I bumped into each other at church on the morning of the wedding, he turned to me and asked, "Where's your mother?" Since we both knew my biological mother was miles away at her hotel, it only took a second to realize that he was referring to my soon to be mother-in-law. And from that moment, I truly believe that is how he considered me - and anyone else who was fortunate to marry one of his most beloved treasures - we were invited to become another one of his kids. And like them, to be worried over and appreciated, and supported - no matter what.

And despite raising a family of nine kids, I've heard them say over and over again how Dad H was able to make each of the nine feel special and for the time he shared with them, his "favorite."

Dad H served his country in the Korean war, managing to get married somewhere in between and return from military duty to provide for his young bride and baby daughter (my future bride!). And provide he did...

Its amazing to think of in today's day and age, but Dad H managed to progress in the very challenging computer and technology development field for over 30 years. He truly worked on computers before computers were cool. From Cincinnati to Massachusetts, Kentucky and Glasgow, Scotland, he was a trusted problem solver for one of the largest companies on the face of the planet. Right up to the day he retired, Dad H was equally at ease chatting about Cray Supercomputers as he was choosing the right flowers for the annual Mother's Day planting expedition.

Along the way, Dad H pitched in to raise nine very unique and spirited kids. They say his culinary skills were legendary, including Hishy-Hashy Hell Fire Stew. Dad H made sure everybody had their food before claiming his. And with determined follow-through, he could finish the pan to make sure there wouldn't be a pittance of leftovers to deal with in the refrigerator. Then long after everyone else had trailed off for homework or bed you would see him washing and drying dishes in preparation for the next day.

When the opportunity came to get a cabin in the woods, Dad H began the family ritual of days spent on the river. There was hot chocolate delivered to the kids' bunks and then he kept careful vigil - coffee mug in hand - while they happily explored the nearby trails and river bends. My wife fondly remembers those times as some of the happiest with her dad.

There were also woodworking projects. Intricately carved necklaces, book shelves, bunk beds, and school projects. If you followed him around the workshop long enough, Dad H was sure to locate exactly the right piece of hardware that you needed. Then, with a twinkle in his eye, he'd peer up between his glasses and ball cap to say dryly, "I knew I'd find it there somewhere." He was the family handyman at large and many a plumbing problem or furnace failure was brought to short order with a call to Dad H.

When he wasn't working, cooking, shopping with Mom or raising kids and grandkids, Dad H had a keen interest to read and learn. He could easily flow from topic to topic as it interested you. Politics, world affairs, history, etc. Dad H always enjoyed bantering about the literary works of Asimov and Heinlein, or a favorite classical music piece. He was also one of the most generous men I ever knew.  He made sacrifices to personally support some of his own family members in measures that were much greater than his "fair share," and without a contrary word about payback.

There is so much more to say, and I am inadequate to the task. But to me personally, Dad H was a bright, insightful and kind man.  A good citizen, faithful son, generous sibling, dedicated husband, warmly loving father and of course his favorite role - proud Grandpa.

I'll share my last memory as a bit of Good News.
In January of 1998, I had been troubled by Dad H's health as we all were. I took a moment during conversation in his workshop to tell Dad how much I appreciated him, and in fact that I loved him. I asked his indulgence to further say that because of my fondness for him, and knowing that we don't live forever, I had often wondered about his spiritual well-being. I shared with him that I believe our ultimate redemption will be through personal belief in Jesus as the Son of God.

I'm not sure I can tell you why I was surprised at what happened next, but without hesitation, Dad H stopped what he was doing, straightened up from the workbench and looked me straight in the eye. He said, "I've always believed that Tom. I've got no question about that - I may have some problems with organized religion - but not that."

"But not that," he said. No questions about his personal belief in Jesus as the Son of God. So from that day on, I lost my fear for the day we would eventually lose Dad H from this life.
We shook hands for the last time in October. He once again looked me straight in the eye and gave me that strong carpenter's grip. I'll remember that moment, and listening as his oldest daughter told him she loved him and hearing him say that he loved her.

And now I look forward to seeing him again in heaven.

What do you believe?



Monday, September 15, 2014

My Missed Conversation with John the Drummer

I was as shocked as anybody in our parish to learn that John passed away last month.
I don't know his last name. Early 40-ish, thick beard, soft spoken and always smelling of cigarette smoke.

John played conga drums at our 7:30 am Sunday church service.
If conga's seems a little out of place for the "early" service, you're right.
But our music director rarely has volunteers for that time slot and John was willing, so he became a regular.

As the parish guitar player, I rotate services and only play a handful of the 7:30's each year.
John was always very friendly towards me. Greeted me and offered to engage me in conversation despite the unseemly hour (7:00 am rehearsal...ugh).
But I wasn't very friendly back. I don't know why.
I usually enjoy the camaraderie of another musician. Whether it's the music director on piano, the flute and violin players who sometimes visit, they add so much and its more fun for me.
And I am almost always curious to learn more about my fellow musicians and the singer soloists as well.
What other types of music do you enjoy? How long have you been playing? Have any plans for the coming week?

But I never did ask John those questions, even though he asked me a few. That's why I know so little about him.
Maybe the conga drums were a little jarring for me, despite the gentle and capable way John played them. And I was admittedly put off by the heavy pall of cigarette smoke that encircled him.
Even when John would say to me after the service, "Nice job today, I really like the way you play."
I never accepted the opening to say more.

So I was as shocked as anyone to learn that the poor man had passed away at such a young age.
I'm equally troubled by how my own behavior cannot be reconciled with John in this lifetime.
I can't make an effort to be kinder to him next time. Can't apologize for treating him so indifferently.
There is no next time with John.

I won't make that mistake again...or will I?
I've asked God to help me do better and to please forgive me for not treating others as I would like to be treated. There is always more to learn, and I'm once again humbled by the stark reminder.

James Chapter 2:
"My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers."

What do you believe?





Sunday, September 14, 2014

My Daughter and the Trip West

I just had one of those most-gratifying parent moments.
My adult daughter explained details of her upcoming road trip to Yellowstone with her husband of four years.
Without a map in hand, she described the daily itinerary and various options they could take depending on weather and driving conditions. She had a rough estimate of time at key attractions like Mt. Rushmore and knew road conditions in Yellowstone (a mountain pass is closed for the season).
She's prepared for the weather (snow on the ground, but it could quickly warm up) and they are deciding on hiking distances and trailheads they may tackle in the nearby Tetons.
Its a solid, safe and well thought out plan, with a few twists and goals that I would not have included. And that's a good thing. She and our son-in-law are making it their own, building on what she and he have learned from their early family travels.

I never sat my daughter down to say, "this is how you plan a family road trip."
She's learned that you need goals and guidelines for a successfull trip. How many miles can you travel - and enjoy - in a day?   How do you plan for as many options and possible pitfalls as possible, still knowing that you'l have to call a few "audibles."  Rain days, road closures, mis-calculations.
Its all part of the fun.
She learned all this by being part of the family. And simply living it.
She traveled the 50 states with us and gradually absorbed that there was method to our madness.
I can remember apologizing to her on a long drive through Utah when I had underestimated the hours to our next destination. We had to pound through the miles into the late evening because we were whitewater rafting on the Colorado the next day. My teen daughter said, "that's ok Dad, the hike at Zion today was worth it!"

Our kids also learn their spiritual planning insights from us.
Years of attending church on Sunday help them to learn that its a priority. You work your schedule around it.
Praying out loud together - not just saying grace at meals - provides a familiar and natural setting to have conversations with God.
Highlighting your favorite bible verses and talking about their application in daily life.
And simply saying, "I love you, no matter what," helping to exemplify what God's Grace of unconditional love means in practice.

I hear parents say, "I didn't want to force them to believe what I believe, but I'll answer their spiritual questions when they're old enough to make their own decisions."
They don't always grow up to ask those questions, and they don't necessarily ask their parents.
But they do learn as they go - if there is an example to follow, and if its combined with positive participation and outcomes.

That's why I smiled to hear my daughter describe her travel plans.
She's got it.
One of my wife and my joys in life - the family road trip - its been passed on to another generation,  fully intact and breathing a life of its own.
We didn't force that on her, she took it and ran with it - recalling how much she enjoyed learning it together with us at her side. And with Jesus, her savior.
Spiritual travel plans, for this generation, and generations to come until He returns.

"Train up a child in the way they should go, and when they grow old they will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6

What do you believe?

Sunday, July 13, 2014

5 Memories of My Mom

Its been 5 years since my mom passed away in the summer of 2009, and I miss her.

Its almost surreal to accept that our individual lives have progressed as they have in her absence.
Yet there's no doubt our collective interactions would have been different in many ways, simply because she has not been here as the heart of our family.

I had originally thought to write about the 5 things I miss most about her on this fifth anniversary, but that seems morose - and mom would prefer something more cheerful.
So instead, I'm sharing 5 of my favorite memories. And as long as I'm still around and able to remember, I hope to add another each year in the future.
  • Riding in the wagon to the grocery store - many of my memories start about the time my two older sisters were off to school and I spent lots of quality 1:1 time with my mom as she tended to our home. Riding two blocks to the grocery store in the wagon was great fun, and I could tell she enjoyed our excursions on those warm, breezy summer days.
  • Ice skating and "cracking the whip" - when I was old enough to ice skate we went to the local park and its frozen pond. I remember our family holding hands and me being the last in the line, holding fiercely to my mom's gloved hand as we all turned in a large circle, with my dad at the center as we "cracked the whip." It was a sharply cold, moonless dark night and it seemed extra special because my mom was so enthused with the adventure.
  • Saturday night movies and popcorn - My mom had a gift for making world class popcorn. She had a certain way of tossing the popped corn in a bowl to get just the right amount of salt distributed. Any extra went into special metal tins that the family could enjoy for and extra day or two.  Part of the fun was knowing just how much mom enjoyed eating the popcorn herself! 
  • The Summer 10:30 PM Chats - I was a serious distance runner and I liked to take a nightly run during the summers when it was cooler. There was always a 10:30 pm TV rerun that mom like to watch after the news - Alfred Hitchcock, The Untouchables, PerryMason or the like. By those high school years I wasn't around the house quite as much, but we had an unspoken appointment to chat over the day either before or after I went for my run. Many was the night I dragged my feet until after the 10:30 show, just to see if we'd correctly figured out 'who dunnit.'  And she never failed to ask, 'do you really have to run every day?"
  • Seeing her play dress-up with my daughter - From the moment she held my daughter in the hospital, there was always a special bond between the two. You couldn't help but laugh to hear them play dress-up and make elaborate pretend stories as they cooked and cleaned with all the toy utensils. My daughter still speaks of those fabulous trips of imagination and its a joy to know that she will have some of these memories to hold on to long after I'm gone.
I'll share more next year.

What do you believe?

Saturday, June 07, 2014

Counterfeit 5 Dollar Bill

My daughter works in the banking industry.

This week someone included a counterfeit 5 dollar bill mixed in with their other cash.
My daughter spotted it.
She later snapped a photo of the counterfeit and a regular 5 dollar bill and asked us to determine which was which.
I could not.

"How did you do it?" I asked, genuinely impressed.

"It didn't look right to me," she said, " and when you held it up to the light you could easily see that the 5 didn't show through in the proper manner."

My daughter has seen literally thousands and thousands of bills over the years.
She's become accustomed to the true look and feel of the real thing.

My daughter is smart, thoughtful and perceptive. She has also seen many forms of spirituality over the years amongst friends, students, acquaintances and family.
She has held them up to the Light and recognizes the Truth when she sees it.

From her very youngest years we would talk about God in a very objective manner.
"Yes, there really is a God, and He loves you very, very much."
"Yes, Jesus really did exist, and he had a specific mission when he died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins."
"Yes, you can absolutely believe in the bible as your reference point."

She went on to do her own studies and make her own decisions.
And now I hear her incisive interactions with people who wonder about, or try to introduce, counterfeit spirituality.
She holds them up to the Light. And she is not mislead.

What do you believe?


We Need More Light Around Here

I've had the same cubicle at work for two years now.

My desk is located in a sort of dead spot beneath the overhead fluorescent lights.
The direct light is over to the left and right of where my cube is.
No big deal for the most part - I've adjusted to it - but there have been times when I simply wanted  more light.

Then I went on a series of business trips.
On the days in between, when I returned to the office, I saw a lot of cube-moving activity all around my area. It seems that they are doing some renovation in one part of the building, so they had to temporarily move an entire section of people over into the vacant cubes dotted throughout my area.
Even for adults, there is a certain camaraderie to temporarily 'setting up camp' in a different area, and I noticed that this group stayed cheerful and positive about the added distraction to their daily work.

This week I returned to my cube after another travel week away.
Something was different.  The atmosphere around my work area was noticeably different.
Pleasantly different.
There was more light!

These new folks had swept into the area and determined that many of the overhead fixtures had aged tubes or ballasts. They had immediately brought it to the attention of the facilities team and literally brought new light into our midst.

I'm surprised at how much this one change seemed to please me.
I had no idea what a difference it would make. And I had no idea why I had simply gone along with the dull shadows for two years!  I had simply adjusted and "settled."

I immediately paid more attention to this traveling group of positive people who had brought the change. I looked at name tags. Asked about their work. And I thought more and more about why they had thought to bring change, and I had assumed change was not possible. That I had simply forgot and put up with it.

Isn't that what missionaries have been trying to do for centuries - and to great success?
I have a friend from work who sold her home two years ago, took a leave of absence, and moved to southeast Africa. In the pictures she shares, I see her joy and light in the midst of the children she now helps. Somehow she believed that those children did not have to simply endure the shadows of that region's poverty and physical assaults. I would never have imagined someone could go in and make such a difference in such a short period of time.

But then, I didn't think to help bring light to the 8x8 area of my own work cube.
We can't assume that people want to live in the darkness of this world's spiritual doldrums.
And we have to realize that many people simply assume there is nothing better.
How would they know - unless energized, positive people come in and help with tangible actions?
You don't have to go to southeast Africa to bring Light to where you live and work.

John 8:12
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

What do you believe?







Saturday, April 26, 2014

What I Learned This Easter


This Easter I realized there have been 6 major milestones in my  spiritual life.
They seem to span about a decade each - I must be a slow learner.
Here is what I learned (am learning) as part of my relationship with God:
  1. The bible is the revealed and inspired Word of God - this changed everything. Reading the bible turned my life upside down. Without a reference point, you can rationalize anything...and I had been rationalizing many things wrongly for the first 25+ years of my life! 
  2. Jesus is God - I had dinner with a kind business associate who was visiting from Oregon. I told him it would help me to know that the bible affirmed Jesus' as truly God and not just a 'good man.'  He pulled out a pocket new testament and showed me John 10:30, and Colossians 2:9. I was 29.
  3. Grace is God's unconditional gift of forgiveness - given freely to and received by those who believe in Jesus.  I had believed in various forms of 'works,' only to learn that no one 'earns' their way to heaven. Our multi-denominational bible study broke through to me on Grace in my 30's.  It builds on #s 1 and 2. If they are not true, then Grace is meaningless.
  4. Following Jesus is not just a salvation experience - throughout my 40's I asked God to grow His ways more naturally from within me, rather than me 'acting the part' of a Christian. Left to myself for forty years, I was not naturally (or otherwise) humble, compassionate, forgiving, merciful, generous or moderated. Some people probably are. I needed God to transform me, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. With Grace, and kind mercy. If ever a Godly attribute is evident in my life, it comes from God - I was never able to 'will' them into place on my own. 40 years proved it.
  5. People will leave this life having chosen not to believe in Jesus. Where they are is less important than where they are not.  Jesus and the bible make it clear that eternal life in God's presence is through the name of Jesus. I choose Jesus and eternal life in God's presence. God does not delight in the death of unbelievers - nor do I.  I pray all people will know that eternal  presence (Ezekiel 33:11,  1Thes 5:9)  Now in my 50's, I volunteer and counsel people on this eternal decision for their lives. There is great need and many people seeking this Truth.
  6. Jesus' Last Supper did not complete the passover...yet.  This Easter, a dear friend of our family from Hungary shared a thoughtful podcast about Jesus, the Lamb of God. I'll leave you to do your own homework on this one, I'm still studying it! You'll read in the Gospel's that after Jesus and the disciples broke bread and drank wine as part of the passover, they departed after singing a hymn. As I now understand it, that left the 4th cup of the traditional Jewish passover unspoken for. It was not complete. The next day in Jerusalem was the day that lambs were sacrificed for the traditional passover meal. Note that Exodus 12 talks about the sacrifice being fully consumed by all participants. On the cross that day, Jesus took a sip of wine extended on a branch of hyssop. He declared, 'it is finished.'  And in the Holy Communion of the Lord's Supper, we now partake in what Jesus asked, in remembrance of him, as at the Passover. As Paul said in 1Corinthians 5:8, 'therefore, let us keep the feast.'   That is to say, complete the remembrance that Jesus requested in its fullness, by consuming the sacrificed lamb, which in biblical times was prepared whole, body and blood. Bread and wine.  Its a difficult teaching of the new testament, but makes more sense to me now, and the link to the old testament is now clearer.  I encourage you to also read the Gospel of John, Chapter 6.
I wonder what I'll learn next!

And as always...what do you believe?

Kindest, Most Gentle Soul I've Ever Known

I met up with an old college friend recently.
We traded news and updates of our families.
He asked me how my wife was. I gave him the quick summary of her work and hobbies and time spent with our kids.
Then he asked me a question that doesn't usually come up with casual acquaintances. It's more a question for  good friends, people that have no boundaries in what they know about you, perfect and imperfect.
"How are you two doing together after all these years?"
It's a question I would have summarized in the past with a simple, "we're doing fine as usual."
But that wasn't what he meant.
College is a long way behind us now. We've all been through the blurred years of raising our kids.
Now we've had parents and loved ones pass away. Weddings. Job changes.  A changed world around us.
"How are you two doing after all these years?"
Being married to my best friend means immeasurably more to me now than when my friends used to ponder such things at the student union.
I understand in my core being that she loves me more than anybody else ever has, or could. And that is how I love her. We've been through a lot - as most people - but its now that I see how the steadfastness and commitment to always go forward another day has galvanized us with unshakable trust. And affection. And a singular, deep rooted gladness that I really can't put into words - although I know she understands it too.
Time to me now is measured in portions I am able to spend with her, near her, or while doing other things until we are back together again.

Inscribed in our wedding rings are the words, "We are One."
At the time, we meant it to signify the joining of our individual lives, together with God.
Then it was aspirational. Now it is true.

I said to my friend,
"She is the kindest, most gentle soul I have ever known."

And we are one.


Friday, April 18, 2014

Phone A Friend - Got anything about Jesus ?

I had questions about an allergy medicine a few weeks ago and I called a friend with experience using  over the counter products. I kidded her on the call that she was my allergy phone-a-friend.
I get calls on various topics from friends and family and hear the same line. Its fun to be considered knowledgable on some topics, even in everyday life.

Then last weekend we attended a very unique symphony concert. Our very renowned local orchestra played the musical score in sync with the "Wizard of Oz" movie as it played on a large screen in our beautiful performing arts center.
On the way home my daughter and son-in-law busily uncovered delicious trivia items about the original 1939 movie, its cast and the production details.  In just a few minutes of smart phone sleuthing they came up with  fascinating and fairly comprehensive insights to the beloved movie.

Two very nice 24/7 options are available to us these days - call an expert or search the net - either way, we have answers at our fingertips, eyes and ears, within seconds of a question popping into our consciousness.

It's Holy Week, 2014.

This is an annual Christian remembrance of Jesus, the Christ, and his final days before dying on the cross and then rising from the dead. He did this for the redemption of sin, for all who repent and believe on his name.

Somebody might have questions after hearing about Jesus, Easter, Good Friday, the Passion, Resurrection, Redemption, the Cross, Scourging, Tomb, Pilot, Sanhedrin, Passover, Upper Room, Last Supper...

If they decide to phone a friend...will they call you?

If not - could we envision four people driving in the car and enthusiastically sharing fascinating trivia and insights about all those Holy Week topics - as my own family did because of a 1939 movie?
There is far more information available for internet searches on Jesus topics than there is for Wizard of Oz topics.

I still have conversations with Christian friends and acquaintances who will say, "I'm sure it's in the bible somewhere, I just wouldn't know where to look."
In today's day and age - that's really not a reason, so much as an...well, it's not a reason at all.
And if we're not willing to look, why would we expect a non-believer or seeker to do so?

He's risen.  That is the Good News of Easter, 2014.
I'm ready if anyone decides to phone this friend.

What do you believe?




Sunday, April 06, 2014

Noah - Genesis - Book and Movie

I did go to see the new Noah movie, starting Russell Crowe.

Like most people, I quickly recognized the most obvious fictional component - the three-armed  rock monsters.
My guess is that the screenwriters and producers thought no one would believe that human beings could build such a big ark on their own.  But they would believe three-armed rock monsters.

For the rest of the movie there's an ad-hoc mix of biblical references and Hollywood movie plot creativity.
On balance, it's a pretty entertaining action movie that will mostly disappoint viewers who really like the original book.

Here's an excerpt from a review from worldmag.com by  Sophia Lee

" [Noah movie] reflects a rough understanding of sin as moral wickedness evidenced through rape, murder, pillage, and bad stewardship of the earth, all of which are dominant in Noah’s mankind. But the film fails to capture the more dangerous sins: nuanced, hidden, deceivingly beautiful, flesh-and-ego-pleasing sins that first tempted Eve in the Garden. When Noah finally starts recognizing his own inner wickedness, he descends into a lunatic and irrational state that victimizes his terrified family—revealing a rather biblical truth of what happens to a man who becomes “enlightened” without the promised hope and grace of the gospel."

It did prompt me to go back and flip my bible open to the 6th chapter of Genesis...there's was quite a bit I had not thought of in quite awhile...its worth the read.

What do you believe?


Thursday, April 03, 2014

Career Advice - God is my #1 Referral Source

One of my young business friends was talking to me about looking ahead for his next career move.
How best to narrow down options and choose the best job direction - at least when the economy and circumstances allow for choices!

I looked back on how my own work life has progressed across 3+ decades - for which I am very grateful and aware of God's blessings.
I started to write a few notes about the intentional prayers I had offered to God - and then realized that there has been quite an extensive running dialog with Him on this topic. God has blessed and never failed, including times when I was sadly out of work.
Here is what I recalled for my young friend:

Lord, I pray...

  • That you grant me a humble heart that is open to your perfect will.
  • That you cultivate spiritual depth and growth in my relationship with you, that I might recognize your Holy Spirit of insight as it transcends my own.
  • That you lead me to the best possible future, for our entire family, not only this generation, but all generations to come until you return...for eternal purposes that are beyond what I can know.
  • For divine appointments, every day, in every situation, to be met with wisdom and discernment, that I might not hinder or block what you make possible. For restraint when my impulses or reactions could disrupt what is the better path. For a straight path to your ways...without detours that I create. For Holy Spirit course corrections when I have done so.
  • For divine patience and a Spirit of peace to wait as you lead and align, but also a Holy Spirit of appropriate action and sense of urgency when you have provided the opportunity.
  • For forgiveness when I put myself first, or willingly ignore what I know to be Godly influence or guidance.
  • For Godly confidence and assurance to keep career in its proper perspective, never to be daunted or in doubt about what You can accomplish without the help of men.
  • For a lifetime of Godly people and circumstances in my path offering help, accountability, encouragement, example, protection, nurturing.
  • For specific, tangible insights that help with decisions and choices. Especially those that diverge from what I believed most evident or assured. For a recognizable, Holy Spirit sense of affirmation in all matters that transcends the ‘milestone’ situational needs.
  • For a Holy Spirit continuum of what is our marriage, our family, our work, our outreach, our friendships...that they are Spiritually one with you and your purpose in our lives - to the point that we more readily see and understand what directions or choices are of you, and of what we are with you.
  • Philippians 2:3 - That I do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
All this I ask in Jesus' name, Amen.


What do you believe?

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Where's That Bible Verse?

I started reading the bible for real when I was in my late 20's.
Up until then it was too overwhelming for me in its entirety. Too many books, too many words, too unwieldy.
I couldn't make sense of it.
Ironically, I had written and recorded over 30 contemporary Christian songs by then - matching verses to themes that fit my melodies, and vice versa. It was solid, God-inspired work that has stood the test of time. But I was no bible scholar, just a capable, creative, verse browser.

When curiosity and the Holy Spirit finally got hold of me, I was on fire to learn more of the details.
I took notes, highlighted verses, made flash cards, and attended studies with heartfelt enthusiasm. It was a spectacular surge of spiritual growth and insight that surprises me to this day for its intensity.

Some of that motivation came from growing awareness of the competing spiritualities and non-spiritual philosophies surrounding our young family. My wife and I had experienced an eye-opening, and unsettling, tour of the mormon church's HQ in Utah. I had also been frustrated and embarrassed by my inability to converse intelligently with Jehovah Witnesses and even Christian evangelists who knocked on our six-paneled front door. I didn't know exactly what I believed, or "should" believe about Jesus. I was woefully unchurched, having attended church regularly for over 25 years.

But God made up for lost ground, with a flourish. And it all started with reading His inspired and revealed words in the bible. It turned my life upside down and nothing has ever been the same - for which I will be eternally grateful. Quite literally.

After all these years spent with my favorite book, I can recite quite a few of the most commonly referenced verses by memory. Others are starting to fade a bit, but I can triangulate the book or chapter and track them down. "Its somewhere in Matthew 24, I think."
For all the rest, there are word searches with my iPad app or....with Google!
That's right, you can no longer say, "I wish I knew my bible better," and let somebody do the heavy lifting. Just type it into your computer or tablet browser. Or download a bible app like Tecarta.
http://www.biblegateway.com
http://biblehub.com

As easy as it is now to find a bible - a Gideon pocket bible, a hotel version, or online browser -  there are still two camps of people who make the "I don't know where the particular bible verse is," statement.
One group is sincere, despite being without plausible reasons. It would be more accurate to say, "I'm really not motivated enough to actually track down where the verse and context might be."  Or, "I'm content enough to know some reference is there without having to see it."  Fair enough.  True enough.

The other group is less genuine - with a side agenda to let general bible references serve their own purpose, but without actually seeking the truth.  These are people who point out that the "bible says not to judge anyone," or "plenty of people have used the bible to say that slavery is acceptable." But will quickly change the subject if you offer to crack open a bible and discuss the details.

I spent many years listening to - and offering up - countless versions of both conversations.
Then I simply read the bible for myself. And everything changed.

2Tim 3:16
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.

What do you believe?

 




Saturday, January 11, 2014

Call Your Own Fouls

When you play a game of pick-up basketball, or playground hoops, as we say here - you call your own fouls.
Its basically an honor system.
If the player shooting the basketball is fouled (illegally blocked or grabbed on the body or arms), that player can say, "you fouled me," and either get the ball back again, or shoot a free throw. And its bad form for the defensive player to deny it or argue. The offense gets to "call your own foul," and it balances out when the other team gets the ball and they then call their own fouls.
You play this style when there are no referees to be had - hence with playground ball. Its usually for a casual game, or your league is simply saving the cost and hassle of referees.

Its surprising how well it works.
Overall, when you're in a one-on-one situation and the other player slaps your wrist as you shoot, you both know it. They don't disagree when you call the foul, because they know its true, and so do you.

It's different in a formal game with official referee's. Now the crowd is watching. You are cheering for your team to win and you don't want the referee "hurting" your team by calling fouls.
And, if the referee seems to be harsher with the other team, and even calls a mistaken foul, that's ok with you. Because you want your team to win.

It's hard to deny your sins one-on-one with God.
You lied about oversleeping for church.  Foul.
You secretly enjoyed seeing a politician fall from grace after an embarrassing  extra-marital affair. Foul.
We know when we've sinned. And its an easy thing to read through the New Testament to learn what God considers to be the rulebook.

On the other hand, when we assemble as groups with referee's around, we lose sight of the ball.
More and more, people are finding judges, parties or politicians who will declare a certain morality or activity to be acceptable in legal terms. The spectators cheering for that point of view are delighted. And to some degree - at least in the comfort of their group, they may even have some vague sense that they are "in the right."
But one-on-one with God, the Holy Spirit helps to make very clear what is true, and what is right.
Most of the widely debated "conflicted and complex" issues of our time are neither.
We recognize a foul when we see it.  Granted, its harder sometimes to admit it when you're sitting in the stands with the rest of your cheering section - when they desperately want their team to win.
But a foul is a foul.  

Romans 1:19-20
"...because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse."

Playground basketball wasn't always pretty. It could get rough around the edges. We ran hard and it was a gritty, sweaty battle from one hoop to the next.
But we called our own fouls. And win or lose, we each knew there was truth in that. 

It may be now, that we've got too many referees making calls on the essential spiritual matters of our day - and too many of us cheering from a distance. 

What do you believe?