Side Roads

A few weeks ago I had the wonderful opportunity to spend 4 hours driving with a dear saint in her mid 80's. She and her husband were precious saints in my church for several years and he just recently passed away. I was honored to be able to do the home going celebration for him as he was one of my very favorite people in the world! At the age of 90 his wit and humor always kept me laughing and his playful jabs always kept me humble!

On this particular occasion I was taking her to central California for her brother's funeral. On the road she began to open up about how wonderful her precious Richard had been and how thankful she was to God for granting them 10 wonderful years together. After both she and Richard's first spouses had passed on the Lord brought the two of them together and what a beautiful couple they were! As she opened up to me about their life together she shared with me about Richard's love of traveling. He wanted to go for a ride in the car nearly every day. They drove all over California and several times across the country!

She shared with me how they didn't like taking the quickest or the most direct routes on their trips. Often they would find a side road off the freeway that led to a small town or an attraction of some kind. Over the years many of the small towns across the country had by bypassed by freeways and highways and most people just raced past them now. She shared with me how very often they would find some of the most amazing little towns and places off the beaten path. Little stores with treasures almost forgotten by the outside world, or cottages almost unknown to travelers racing by on the freeway. She said they had discovered little ponds and parks and other little secluded places of beauty that would not be detectable from the main road.

This reminded me of a passage in the scripture that speaks of the hidden treasures stored up for those who trust the Lord. Psalm 25:14 declares that God reveals His mysteries to those who fear Him. He also goes on to declare through the prophet Isaiah:

"And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—
secret riches.
I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name."   -- Isaiah 45:3

God delights to reveal His wonderful treasures and mysteries to those who are willing to press into Him deeper than a surface or cursory glance. He has unspoken and untold riches stored up for each of us if we are willing to take some of the side roads or the roads less traveled. Many are they who travel on the highways and freeways of life. It's faster, wider, and more convenient. But, as my dear friend conveyed to me, we often miss those small miracles and treasures of life when we are in such a hurry. God has promised to reward those who press in more diligently and deeply into Him with a greater understanding of who He is. (Hebrews 11:6) He IS the treasure!

The majority of those in the world travel the wide road. But Jesus challenges us to take the narrow road and the road less traveled. It will be harder...and it will take considerably more time, but it is worth it! Don't be afraid to take some side roads...you just might discover a wonderful treasure around the next bend!

Blessings!

Ryan

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

The camera pans from left to right down a busy city street and settles upon an inviting first-story establishment on a corner. The windows and stairway leading to the front door are adorned with orange and white awnings and the sidewalk is lined with classy lampposts and a large American flag hangs fluttering in the breeze from the second story. The modern scene then morphs to a late 19th century era where the cars turn to horse-drawn carriages and the men that line the streets are dressed in classy suits with top hats and canes. A piano plays simple notes in a familiar tune: "Making your way in the world today, takes everything you got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away?" The music then builds and everybody joins in: "Sometimes you want go, where everybody knows your name. And they're always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same, You wanna be where everybody knows your name."

This is, of course, the opening jingle for the hugely popular sitcom "Cheers" which ran for 11 season from 1982 to 1993. The show was hugely popular earning some 28 Emmy Awards and a then-record 117 nominations. The show was successfully syndicated world-wide and in 2002 TV Guide name the show 18th on its list of the 50 greatest TV shows of all time.

So what's all the hype? Why is this show about a bunch of regulars at a Boston Bar such a hit? The opening jingle melodically draws one into the show with an almost "Leave It to Beaver," home-cookin' and apple pie tagline. What is it about this show that grabbed America for so many years? Could it be the bucket loads of huge stars that came through the doors like Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson, and Kirstie Alley? Was it the amazing acting? Or was it something a little more visceral? Did it grab at something deep down in each of us?

The answer to this came in a most unusual way for me. I recently returned from a grand two-week tour of three states with some of the most breath-taking and picturesque beauty anyone has ever seen. Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration. It was actually Eastern Pennsylvania, Western South Dakota, and North Eastern Wyoming...in January! Not exactly to most picturesque time of the year in any of those states! Not to mention the temperatures were in the minus 150 degrees range with light breezes gusting to 50mph! It is what folks in Wyoming call "a bit chilly." I remind you that I hail from this frozen wonderland that is somewhere between the frozen peas and frostbitten Neapolitan ice cream in the deep freeze! But, I digress.

As I was saying before my journey down adjective lane, the answer to the question regarding the draw of Cheers came in an unusual way. I visited my Grandparents on the Krause side of the family first, in Allentown, Pa. My Gramps, now 82, can barely get around because of several hip replacements, knee and back troubles, and a nasty case of congestive heart failure. His aluminum walker now accompanies him everywhere. My first day there he and my dad took me down the street a mile or so to a local diner called the "Top Diner." There was nothing really too remarkable about this place other than its uncanny resemblance to "Mel's Diner," complete with a red-haired waitress with a bee-hive hairdo that I was sure was going to be named "Flo!" Certainly, nothing that I could see gave me a reason for the diner's lofty name: "Top Diner."

We sat down in the moderately clean, overly busy eating establishment and this is when I began to experience what it meant to go to a place "where everybody knows your name...," literally! As we ate our omelets and breakfast potatoes there came one by one past our table the Top Diner's version of Norm and Cliff... From the waitress who called my Gramps "Bunky" to the dozen or so people standing in the isle next to our table waiting to pay who one by one said "How ya doing Bunky?" It seemed as though everyone in the place with the possible exception of the bus boy knew my grandpa like he was their grandfather! Then, as we got up to pay...you guessed it, the bus boy came by and he too was a baptized, card-carrying member of the "Bunky" fan club!

This was not a scene I was used to seeing...ever seeing, at any time in my life! I am used to ordering a fat burger from Applebee’s and being lucky if I can get the people sitting around me to make eye contact much less come by my booth and greet me with a special nick name. Most people who make eye contact with you causes you to wonder if they might later stand up to reveal a short sleeved white dress shirt and tie with a name tag that says: Latter Day Saints: Elder Zedekia. Then the secret came out. No doubt as my dad saw the look of amazement on my face at what I was witnessing. My Gramps has come to this same diner in his neighborhood for 50 or 60 years. Apparently, after 50 years you start counting in decades rather than years. He has outlasted 4 owners and certainly the current decor. The waitress, who I was sure carried the name "Flo," had been there 26 years! Now that was simply amazing to me!

I was literally experiencing firsthand what the cheers jingle made us all believe was possible. I was watching literally everyone who passed by my gramps call him by his nickname "Bunky." A week later I found something almost as amazing when I popped into Rapid City, South Dakota to visit with my grandparents on mom's side, the Wipfs. They are regulars in a restaurant called the "Millstone" and the waitresses and manager greet them by name when they come in and have my grandma's favorite slice of pie ready for her. Amazing!

This phenomenon so captured me that it has been percolating in my spirit since coming home three weeks ago. This "cheers" phenomenon is no mystery really. It is a need that is built into each of us for acceptance and love. We were created to be social and interactive with others. We were born with a deep need for connection and to be fulfilled by closeness with others. This is most clearly seen in marriage relationships. There is a deep sense of longing for companionship that we are "hard-wired" for from the time we were born. The scriptures speak of this very early on when God created Adam and then said: "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." Genesis 2:18

Over and over again in the New Testament we find a term that describes this deep need in each of us to be with other people and to love and feel loved. The phrase is "one another." The bible gives gobs of examples of what it means to "one another":

• Wash one another’s feet—John 13:14.
• Love one another—John 13:3; 15:12, 17; Romans 13:8; I Peter 1:22; I John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11.
• In honor preferring one another—Romans 12:10.
• Don’t judge one another—Romans 14:13.
• Receive one another—Romans 15:7.
• Greet one another—I Cor. 16:20, II Cor. 13:12, I Peter 5:14.
• Serve one another—Gal. 5:13.
• Don’t provoke one another or envy one another—Gal. 5:26.
• Bear one another’s burdens—Gal. 6:2.
• Forgive one another—Eph. 4:32, Col. 3:13.
• Teach and admonish one another with song—Col. 3:16.
• Comfort one another—I Thess. 4:18.
• Edify one another—I Thess. 5:11.
• Exhort one another— Heb. 3:13; 10:25.
• Consider one another—Heb. 10:24

Apparently, there are a whole lot of reason to be with others. The world has the deep need for love and acceptance that plays out in all the wrong ways. The deep need for acceptance and love drives people to harmful relationships, dangerous habits, and destructive behavior. Cheers very clearly illustrates the human need for acceptance that we all have inside. Sadly, the Norms and Cliff's of the world will search for a lifetime and never fully find what they're looking for until they settle of Christ. Augustine once said: "Thou hast created us for Thyself, and our heart is not quiet until it rests in Thee." 

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name...Perhaps we should run to the only One who truly knows our name and every detail of our lives. Jesus is the only one who can truly satisfy the deep longing we have inside us. Jesus said the woman at the well: "Whoever drinks this water will thirst again. But whoever drinks the water that I give will never thirst again." John 4:13-14

God's best!

Ryan Krause

Rebuilding the Ruins

Rebuilding the Ruins!

God brings beauty from the ashes of our life

“And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.”

Isaiah 61:4

When our world falls apart around us, how can we experience peace? How do we pick up the pieces when our world seems to have fallen apart? Today I want to probe this all too common question with you; How can we have peace in the storm?

I recently came across a book from a Pastor and his wife and their horrific experience of losing 3 of their 5 children in a catastrophic flood that took place in Rapid City, SD on June 9^th, 1972. The book is entitled “Some through the Flood” by Pastor Ron and Lavonne Masters was published in 1992.

In an interview LaVonne Masters stated: "The thesis is, there is recovery, there is hope after all hope is gone."

The flooding in and around Rapid City on the edge of the rugged Black Hills killed 238 people and injured more than 3,000. It destroyed more than 1,300 dwellings and 5,000 vehicles.

Among the victims were the Masters' three sons: Stephen, 12; Jonathan, 8; and Timothy, 2. Daughters Karen, then 14, and JoAnn, 10, survived.

The night of the flood, water began rising around their house near Rapid Creek and they fled in their four-wheel-drive vehicle. Upstream, Canyon Lake Dam had ruptured.

"The first wall of water caught us," Masters recalled.

The car floated and was caught in cottonwood trees in about 10 feet of water. "Quicker than I can tell it, another wall of water came," Masters said. "In a matter of seconds, the water was up to our necks in this vehicle."

"My oldest boy, Steve, said 'Dad, this is all in God's hands.' That was the last words we ever heard from Steve."

Masters kicked out a side window, squeezed out and reached back inside to pull out his wife.

Next, he grabbed Karen, who was holding 2-year-old Timothy. When she came through the opening, the water tore the baby from her arms and he was swept away.

Before Masters could extract the other three children, another wall of water roared through, submerging the vehicle in the blackness. The Masterses and Karen spent the next five hours or so clinging to the trees.

"If a man never believed in hell, he would believe in it after that night," Masters said. A girl trapped in a nearby tree screamed all night. Lightning provided glimpses of bodies, trees, cars, parts of houses and other debris floating past.

Just before daybreak, the water started to drop. "Suddenly, from beneath our feet, I heard the sound of a voice. I couldn't believe it," Masters said.

JoAnn had survived the night in an air pocket at the back of the vehicle. She said her brothers had shared the air pocket, but Stephen eventually stopped talking and then Jonathan was gone. Masters said he'll never forget the look of terror in his daughter's eyes. "It just pierced your soul."

National Guard troops soon rescued them.

This story has a particularly personal meaning to me. You see, on that fateful day in June, Peggy Lee Wipf was 8 months pregnant with her first child. For some scary moments she was in danger from the horrible waters that night that swept through Rapid City killing nearly 250 people and injuring more than 3000.

Peggy is my mother and in those horrible hours and days following that disaster, she and my dad helped several people with food, water, and a place to stay. My Father was in the Air Force and was part of the teams that were conducting search and rescue, and eventually recovery operations.

This devastating flood claimed the lives of Pastor Ron and LaVonne Masters’ three sons, and, had circumstances been different, could possibly have taken my mother’s life just before I was born. I was born 40 days later on July 20^th, 1972 in the Baken Park Hospital that stood directly in the flood path some 6 weeks previous.

How did Pastor Masters and his wife LaVonne find peace in the storm of devastation? How did they go on to encourage so many in the community and around the nation after such a tragic loss? Had they allowed their dreams to wash down stream with their three precious boys and everything they owned, they may have missed the miracles God was still to perform through their lives.

What happens when the setbacks in our lives seem too catastrophic to recover from like what happened with Pastor Masters and his family or Pastor Greg Laurie and His family, or Kellee and I? What do we do when it seems that everything is done? How do we regain our footing and find the courage to go on?

The setting is Israel nearly 2000 years ago. The situation for the Jew was a nearly impossible and hopeless one of tyranny, corruption, and religious hypocrisy so deep that the common man could not break through. Those who you thought could help looked at you like a second class citizen.

But then, something happens. You begin to hear about a man who does miraculous things all around the nation. You hear stories of the sick, and the blind, and the lame being healed. You hear that this man’s preaching is putting the corrupt religious leaders in their place. You hear that massive crowds are following Him wherever He goes.

You hear that he sits and shows mercy to those who are rejects of society like prostitutes, lepers, and beggars. You see that He even goes to the home of Tax Collectors and changes their lives. He even speaks powerful words to the enemy, the Romans!

There is even talk by some that this man could be the Messiah, the Son of David! He could be the hope of all Israel! The long awaited King! You finally make it to hear Him speak and your heart is amazed at the truth of His words and the power of His teaching. Even the soldiers and leaders of the nation are amazed by the authority with which He speaks.

The whole nation seems to be in an uproar about this man. He is radical and powerful in all He does. Every chance you get you hear Him speak and you follow Him. You even begin to believe that you could give up everything and follow Him. It gets to the point where everything in you longs to be near Him and to take in each word like a breath of air and a drink of cool water.

One day He comes riding into Jerusalem and he is hailed by all as a King! You even find yourself shouting “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” You are now convinced with everything in you that He is the One who will deliver the nation and your family. Finally, the Messiah, the Redeemer and Restorer of Israel is here!

Then, suddenly, it all changes. In one horrible moment, your hopes, your dreams, your whole life seems to stop as you see Him die as a criminal on a cross. How can this be? How can the hope we have all had be dashed to pieces when everything was racing toward a glorious victory? How can it all be dead now? You are shattered. You whole life seems to be devastated.

Now, to make matters worse, his body was now missing from the tomb and there were rumors flying everywhere. This is where we pick up the story on a certain road leading to a town called Emmaus, some 7 miles from Jerusalem.

Read Luke 24:13-36

In the story we see that Cleopas and his companion were so distressed by the recent events that they could not even discern that it was Jesus Himself who was walking with them and who, in fact, by His very presence confirmed the reality of the rumors they were hearing. Their grief became a blindfold to the reality of God’s work in and around them.

We find a similar thing taking place at the tomb when Mary Magdalene, full of grief, does not recognize Jesus as He speaks to her. Her grief was a sort of blindfold and she nearly missed the miracle!

“But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. ¹² And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” ¹⁴ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic,“Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).”  John 20:11-16

Many times in our grief we unknowingly take a blind fold and place it over our spiritual eyes to where we can’t see the reality of what God wants to do in our situation. Many times it is because of intense pain or sorrow, or sometime even anger at what has happened to us. Our circumstances are many times so overwhelming that we can’t see the forest through all the trees. We see bark everywhere, but the beauty of the creation of God around us is lost in the mire of our despair.

As we look at our passage in Luke 24 we find a number of truths about how God relates to us in our times of great need and when we find ourselves in a spiritual state of blindness due to our circumstances.

The first things we notice is in verse 15 where it says that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. Jesus knows our pain and our hurt. He knows the confusion that we feel and the questions that we have and it is He who takes the initiative to come to us in our time of great need. He hears our cries and our prayers and He comes as a result of our deep hurt. He knows our hurts and has been there too!

a.  “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16

The second thing we find is that He stays close to our pain. Not only did he walk with them but he came to them on the third day, perhaps only hours after His resurrection. He never leaves us alone in our grief but walks with us. He is always near and has given us this promise throughout the Word of God.

b.   “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ^So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6

c. “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deut. 31:6

d.   “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.”  Joshua 1:5

e. "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” Genesis 28:15

The third thing we find is that in our times of trouble, Jesus takes us back to those altars of remembrance in our lives. You know, all the times He has been faithful and true in our past to remind us that He will continue to be faithful and true in our today and our tomorrow.

f.    He lets Cleopas testify of all that was in his heart and then Jesus explains things in detail from the scriptures. In our times of trouble, we must find that anchor, that foundation that is true and stable to help us gain perspective.

                                                  i.     Hebrews 6:19 says that the hope of Jesus is the Anchor of our souls. It keeps us tethered to that which does not drift.

Lastly, Jesus uses our pain and hurts to reveal His greater purpose and to open our eyes to what He is going to do in our situation. He removes our spiritual blinders if we are willing and allow Him to work in our lives, so the we do not miss the miracle! If we will allow Him, He is more than willing and more than able to bring us through our circumstances to a new glorious future. It will be different, it will be new, but it will be better than we could have ever imagined.

Remember, these two who walked with Jesus were not bystanders. They were two disciples that had been with Jesus and walked with Him in His ministry. They were among those who had not turned back from following Jesus when many other did. These were seasoned, mature, and committed disciples of Jesus and in their grief and confusion they had failed to discern the voice of God Who walked with them for 7 miles!

We can be strong and mature believers and still get derailed by devastating circumstances. We can easily take our eyes off Jesus if we’re not careful. It is imperative that when times are good that we send our roots deep that when the trials of life come we are not blown over and toppled in our faith.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes;   But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.  Jeremiah 17:7-8

Remember, Jesus’ main mission when He came to this earth was rebuilding and restoring the heaping piles of devastation in our lives. When Jesus started His public ministry in the Synagogue in His home town, He quoted from Isaiah 61 which says:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,

    Because the Lord has anointed Me

    To preach good tidings to the poor;

    He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

    To proclaim liberty to the captives,

    And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

²  To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

He leaves off here in the Gospels…but the remaining years of His ministry tell the rest of the story…

    And the day of vengeance of our God;

    To comfort all who mourn,

³  To console those who mourn in Zion,

    To give them beauty for ashes,

    The oil of joy for mourning,

    The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

    That they may be called trees of righteousness,

    The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

⁴  And they shall rebuild the old ruins,

    They shall raise up the former desolations,

    And they shall repair the ruined cities,

    The desolations of many generations."

Jesus came to rebuild the ruins and devastation in our lives. He has taken the old burnt stones from our lives and rebuilt us better than ever!

It is my prayer that today that as you hear the voice of God speaking to your heart that you will not harden your heart, but that you will take warning and push the roots of your faith deep into the soil of God and allow Him to establish you strong and mighty. For there are coming times that are going to be difficult for all of us that call Jesus Lord. We must be ready to endure hard times and to prevail. Allow the Word of God to burn in your heart and yearn for Him more than anything in life. Do not cling to the things of this world but cling to Him.

Love You More Than Life!

Have you ever heard someone say: "I love you more than life itself?" There is a whole host of songs, hallmark cards, and lines from movies that include this or some variation. Think of the Jerry McGuire line so popular: "You complete me." Or how about Romeo and Juliet's “But soft; what light through yonder window breaks? It is my lady! O, it is my love. O that she knew she were.” And then, of course, there is the ultimate "Chick-flick" quote that is not for man who is faint of heart, Pride and Prejudice: “…If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love … I love … I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.” I know many of you ladies reading this are dramatically re-living these moments in your mind's eye perhaps with theme music and all! Perhaps you are thinking of other sappy love stories like "Sleepless in Seattle," "Steel Magnolias," "The Notebook," or "Gone with the Wind."

But then there are us guys. Men who are surging with testosterone and macho ego who conveniently avoid these moments in movies and in life like the plague! My wife Kellee makes it nearly an annual event to watch "Brigadoon," a musical starring Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse. It tells the story of a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years, though to the villagers, the passing of each century seems no longer than one night. The enchantment is viewed by them as a blessing rather than a curse, for it saved the village from destruction. According to their covenant with God, no one from Brigadoon may ever leave, or the enchantment will be broken and the site and all its inhabitants will disappear into the mist forever. Two American tourists, lost in the Scottish Highlands, stumble upon the village just as a wedding is about to be celebrated, and their arrival has serious implications for the village's inhabitants.

This story makes my wife break out in her own theme music, dancing and twirling about like a love sick teenager and causes a strange sense of anxiety in me! It took me years to finally agree to watch the movie with her and several more years for me to stay awake through the whole thing. But, once I got through it I did have to admit that it wasn't as painful as I though. Notice what I said, it wasn't as painful as I thought. It was still painful, just not as painful as I thought! It is a story of love like many of our modern love stories that sweeps people off their feet into a land where love is perfect and breath-taking and powerful. In short, it takes us to a place where love never fails.

As humans we have this longing for a love that is overwhelming and true. We have a huge hole in us that needs to be filled. We try filling that hole with all kinds of earthly things only to find that nothing seems to fully satisfy that emptiness. Blaise Pascal said once: "Only an infinite God can fill an infinite emptiness in us." The other day I was reading through the scriptures in my devotional time and came across a passage that stopped me dead in my tracks. Psalm 63:3 says: "Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you." I thought to myself, there it is! There is a love that is better than life! It is the love of God which then enables us to love others without fear or holding back.

All these songs and movies and greeting cards describing a deep love that is almost too good to be true have failed to hit the real target. The English Standard Version says: "Because your steadfast love is better than life..."  The deepest longing of every person is to find a love that does not fail and is faithful to the end. This is a love that can only be found in Christ. His steadfast love (a unfailing love that is based upon a prior relationship or intimacy) according to the verse, is better than life! Now that is something to celebrate in song or capture in a movie quote! That is something for my Kellee to actually dance and twirl around the house singing her own theme music to! His steadfast, unchanging, unyielding love...is better than life!

Don't continue going through life without experiencing the infinite and un-ending love of Jesus. His love is truly the only one that could ever fill those empty places in you. His love is indeed, better than life!

 

Lessons from Curley...A Father's Day Reminder!

The other day I was visiting one of my very favorite people in the world. She is not famous or rich, or anything that the rest of the world would consider special. She is, by her own telling, a rather feisty and strong willed woman with an ornery streak. So, what is it about this woman that I love so much? Well, to begin with, her greatest talent and spiritual gift is the gift of hugging...that's right, hugging! From the time I first met her greeting people at the door of a local church she has hugged me every single time I've seen her, without fail. Lately, this has been 1 to 2 times a week. You see, she is dying, and with each passing day I see more and more of her body wither away, and more and more of her spiritual self visible. Even when she is weak and can barely hold her head up, she insists on a hug when I come in. The hugs seem to get a bit longer lately, and each time, we both seem to get a bit choked up. God communicates something so deeply to me each time I am hugged by this beautiful woman. He speaks vividly to me through her divine love language: simplicity and humility.

During my visit on this particular day, she shared something with me, that perhaps on another day would not have meant a whole lot to me. But, on this day, the lesson of Curley deeply impacted me. Yes, I said Curley. Who is Curley? Well, Curley is her 10 year old white Poodle who does not often leave her side. He goes out exploring on occasion, but ultimately, he ends up back at her side after only a short time. She began to share with me something about her Curley that she loved. Each night, as she is tucked into her hospital bed, with all her comfy quilts and blankets piled up on her, Curley jumps up on the bed and lies down with her. At the beginning of this process, my sweet friend is in the middle of the bed, and Curley is on her right side nudged up against her tightly. After a while, she gets a bit warm with this perfectly groomed pile of white fur attached to her like an appendage. So, she shifts a bit and pulls away from the now snoring Curley. A moment later, the perfectly manicured pooch is pressed against her again like he's bungee corded to her hip. This happens several more times throughout the sleeping experience, and each time Curley is back against her in a matter of seconds. By this time she is on the very edge of the bed, against the rail, and Curley is the new reigning champion of the "middle of the bed."

My friend told me this trying to act a bit annoyed, and yet her love for Curley could not be hidden through her little smiles. I'm not sure she understood the significance of what she was telling me as God spoke a simple truth to me through her light-hearted story. You see, I believe Curley is a great picture of how we are to be in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. No, not perfectly manicured and trimmed with a nice bow in our hair. Rather, no matter what kind of movement we find from our Father, our first response and greatest desire should be to immediately draw closer to Him. Anytime we discover a bit of space between us and Jesus, it should be our sole purpose to immediately find Him and bump up against Him! I have heard from several people, including a veterinarian, that small dogs push up against you because it helps them feel safe and secure. What a lesson for us! Like my happy little friend Curley, we should find our peace and security in Christ and stay pushed up against Him at all times. Just like John, the beloved disciple, who leaned upon the Lord during the Last Supper, we too should lean back against Jesus and draw near. Scripture reminds us to "draw near to Him and He will draw near to us." (James 4:8)

So, can we learn a spiritual truth from a small white Poodle named Curley? I believe that our Heavenly Father is waiting to show us His truth in nearly every area of life...if we are willing to see!

The Symphony

This past Saturday evening Kellee and I attended the San Diego Symphony for their performance of Gustov Mahler's 9th Symphony written from 1909-1910. It was our first symphony and our experience was rather memorable. Kellee sat first chair in high school band as a clarinetist and was thoroughly engaged in the production, knowing each instrument, each movement, and each distinct sound. It was amazing for me to watch her as she was seemingly taken to another place in the music. I enjoyed the evening for many reasons, but primarily because of her complete rapture!

One thing I was not prepared for was the way God would speak to me through the experience. About half-way through the intermissionless, ninety-minute performance, I began to receive a download from the Holy Spirit about what I was experiencing that night in Copley Hall, and how it was a metaphor for the church.

The first thing capturing my attention was that each of the 103 members of the production were dressed all the same and yet each was unique. While each wore the standard white shirt and black suit with dress tails, each had their own unique hair color, facial hair (mostly men!), eye wear, and body structure. Each of these precision musicians had a unique way in which they "felt" the music and swayed and moved to the sound. Each of the 44 violinist played the same notes and engaged the strings with the bow at precisely the same time, and yet they were all perfectly unique. Each of the violins and the cellos were a unique color and texture and yet made the perfect, unified sound.

The conductor was masterful in his command of the production and each musician, each of them in turn responding succinctly to the dabs and swirls of his right hand. Each section of instruments, from the 9 upright basses, to the 12 cellos; the 6 clarinets and the 2 trombones instinctively responded as this man turned toward them and passed his baton through the air in their direction.

The conductor, as brilliant as he was, would be nothing without the members of the symphony to conduct. The musicians, as gifted as they were, without the direction of the conductor are only able to strum or sound out a small part of Mahler's beautiful 9th. As solo acts they may sound good, but nothing can compare to the combined sound of all 103 musicians playing in perfect unity as they are guided and directed by the master conductor.

In the Body of Christ, none of us are a soloist. God intentionally designed the church to be a unified team of unique individuals who depend on the others. We are each fearfully and wonderfully made in His image to reflect His glory, but we are not to do it alone. Together we make beautiful music for the King, but if we are out of tune or playing our own notes it can throw the entire balance off. As a Master Conductor, God has called us to join His beautiful symphony in the world. The piece we are together performing is the wondrous work called the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and our audience: A lost and dying world.

Will you play in unison with the Master?

The Road to Cesarea

In recent years I have been fascinated by Peter's great confession of faith at Ceasarea Philippi in Northern Israel. Peter always struck me as kind of an outcast among the disciples because of his big mouth and awkwardness. I imagined him as a bull in the china-shop sort of guy who would speak first then think! But somewhere deep inside I always sensed a deep love for Jesus even through all the clumsy words and actions. Somewhere deep down there is a soft heart that would eventually come out later in the gospel accounts and in the book of Acts. He is a man who wrestled deeply with himself and his own flesh but he was also a man whom Jesus loved deeply. In fact, Jesus loved him so much that He used Peter to preach the inaugural sermon on the day the church was born...the Day of Pentecost. Because I see so many similarities in the life of Peter to myself, I have often thought and meditated on the life of Peter. Some years ago I began to write a fictional account of what I believe may have taken place on the road to Ceasarea Philippi as Peter and the other Disciples followed Jesus. I hope you enjoy it!

BUT WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?

“This man is different than anyone I’ve ever known. The way the people respond to him is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. He speaks with such authority, such passion. Could He be the One we’ve been waiting for? Do I dare allow myself to believe that such a thing could happen in my lifetime? Not only that, but if He is the One, what in the world am I doing here? I am a sinful man, a simple fisherman.

As I set my nets on the great Sea, I often dreamed of meeting the Anointed One, but those were scarcely more than daydreams. I saw God’s handiwork in the gentle roll of the waves and in the beauty of the fish that we pulled from our nets. The clouds as they breezed by and the rays of sun as they hit my face; the wind as it passed gently by my face hinted of his whisper to me. I’ve always felt he was with me but nothing like this.

Who is this man? Why does my heart burn in my chest every time He speaks? Why does the insanity of dropping all I’ve known and following after this man not seem to bother me at all? And what about these others? What in the world am I doing with a tax collector? I hated this guy Levi. It didn’t matter if the catch was good or not, there he was with his hand out insisting on taking my hard earned money for those tyrants the Romans. If I could have got my hands on him back then, I would have…yeah, would not have been good. And yet, here he is next to me, walking this dusty road with me. Well, all I can say is God must really have a sense of humor putting the two of us together!”

The large man ran his fingers through his beard as he scanned the unlikely band of twelve following closely behind the Teacher.

“And John, he seems to always be right at the Master’s side with that brother of his. I can’t believe he took what I said about leaving everything to follow after Jesus and tried to get the two best seats in the kingdom. Still, he is a likable enough fellow. It just seems like he’s always trying to make himself look good to the Teacher. In my heart I long to be that close too. I’m always afraid my mouth will get me in trouble. Just a few weeks ago when the Teacher was speaking to the crowds about what comes out of a man being that which defiles a man I looked pretty dumb when I had to ask Jesus to explain it to me. Even though I asked the question I know the others were thinking the same thing! I just happen to be the one who usually speaks my mind. And before that, who could forget my great success walking out to meet Jesus in the storm. I really thought it was my time to show Him I really do believe. Then…splash! That sure didn’t win me any points. Just the same I didn’t see any of these guys getting out of the boat.

At least I have that! If only for a few moments I did walk on the water! Even though I was embarrassed and humiliated, I didn’t stay that way. I seemed like the Master knew what I was thinking and although he said I had little faith, he said it in such a way that I felt the warmth of his voice calming not only the storm outside, but the storm in me. His words not only rebuked me, they seemed to restore me and give me even greater confidence! John doesn’t seem to hold back at all. He just seems to walk close to the Master and hang on His every word. James is not far off from John. Although, they are not without their big mouth blunders. “Call down fire and consume them? We tried to forbid them from casting out demons.” I guess none of us is without fault. The Teacher just seems to go beyond our flaws and bring a truth that seems to go beyond our mistakes. I’ve never really been close to any man, but with each passing day my heart yearns to be close to Him and to walk the way He walks, talk the way He talks, live as He lives. Could He be the Christ? Could He be the One? Everything inside me says He is the One. My better judgment says wait and see. Seems like this walk will never end. We’ve got to be getting close now. No one seems to be talking much. I guess we all have a lot on our minds with all we’ve seen. The Master seems to have purpose in all that He does and says. There never seems to be a wasted word or opportunity. Everything He says has weight. It usually takes me a few days to chew on what He says. Maybe that’s what everyone else is doing on this journey, contemplating what He has said to us. Nathanael seems to be no stranger to thinking about deep things and considering God. I still remember the look on his face when the Teacher first met him and He said, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” I thought he would jump out of his skin! Obviously he was doing some heavy thinking under that tree. I wonder what his thoughts were. I wonder if that was where he went to pray and consider the Messiah. When would He come? What would He look like? What would He do? I know I wondered while on the Sea, but not like Nathanael I suppose. Sometimes I feel like some of these men are much better suited to follow the Master than I. What would I say if asked the great questions of life? What if the Teacher asks me something deep and difficult? Will I know what to say? Will I mess up again? Or will I be able to say as Nathanael did with all my heart: “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel!” Sometimes I think I could not. Lord I believe, but please help my unbelief. Help me to know that I know that you are the Messiah. What is this place? The water seems to come right out of the face of the rock. All these images and statues, and that huge temple. It’s like it hangs watchfully over the whole place. There are so many people. What are they all doing? They all seem to be practicing what is forbidden by Moses. Dancing over the fire and shouting and whirling around like they have a demon. What is this place? It’s like all the idols of the world are here in one place! What a wicked and evil place. The Teacher must be here to destroy this place. How could He let it stand? I did not realize Cesarea Philipi would be so abominable. Wait, the Master is going to speak. “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” Wow, that was unexpected! I wonder where He is going with this? Wait, the others are beginning to answer: “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” The others are wrong! The Teacher is not just some prophet or great man! He is so much more than that! Wait…its like boldness is swelling up in me. I feel like I have to speak up. I must say what is in me! “But who do you say that I am?” Is He looking at me? Is He asking me? I know Who You are Lord! “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” There it is! I said it! With everything that is in me I know that I know that He is the Messiah, God’s Holy One! “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” I feel like my mind is swimming. Could I really have got it right on? I feel like I know for sure inside but to have Him say such a thing out in the open in front of these others…I am overwhelmed! What rock does He mean? Does He mean me? No way. He must mean the truth of Him being the Christ. Now that is truly the only sure foundation to build upon; doubtless the only one that the gates of Hell couldn’t overcome. Still, it feels like we are at the very gates of Hell in this wicked place. I wonder what will happen now. I wonder what will become of us? Will we rule with Him? Now I’m starting to sound like John! Still I can’t help but wonder. Anyway, one thing is absolutely certain to me right now even if many other things are not: He is the Christ, the Son of the living God!