Maps

We live in a world of GPS (Global Position Satellite) that can track where we are and take us to where we want to go - most of the time.  One of the problems I've found with GPS is that you don't necessarily know where you're actually going or where you actually are because you tend to rely on the little voice in the box to direct you one turn after the other, which works great - when it works.

I asked Siri on my iPhone, the other day, to take me to an address on a street named Black Jack.  Siri promptly took me to a street named Blackjack in an entirely different town, in the opposite direction from the place I actually wanted to go.  My driving experience was doubled on a day when my time was already compressed.

As cumbersome as maps can be, the thing that makes them more dependable is that you can actually see where you are, where you're going and everything in between; as well as everything all around.  You get to see, from the start to the finish, the totality of you journey.  The problem with that, as comforting as it may be to be sure of where you are going and what lies in between is that the mapping out of a journey depends on your skill, which may not be adequate for the journey.

In the journey of life, most would prefer a map over a GPS so we can see what's up ahead at every turn, what we can expect, how things are going and how they we'll be developing along the way.  Unfortunately, life doesn't come with such a map.  We are not privy to everything that's up ahead: "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow..." (Js 4:14).

We know death is up ahead somewhere for "...people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Heb 9:27), but we don't know what's in between and it's only in Christ we know what comes up afterward as the apostle assures, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 Jn 5:13).

We can have eternal security, we can know where we are going in Christ, but even in Christ, we are not privy to what may be along the road for he does not lay out a map to detail the journey.  Jesus simply says, "Come, follow me" (Mt 4:19).  We know heaven is at the journey's end but not what may be in between - for that, we must trust in Him.

I use GPS because, as imperfect as it may be, it is measurably better than my mapping skills.  It gets me there faster and easier and more accurately than I would with a map spread out on the car seat beside me.  In life, I follow Jesus because he is always faithful, always true, always dependable.  I know that I can trust him to get me to my final destination regardless of the road conditions or the challenges of the journey.

I don't need a map to plot out a course when I can simply follow the Master.  Jus' Say'n.

Milk or Meat

When I hear of safe spaces, free speech zones (as opposed to free speech period), mid-terms being postponed because election results weren't favorable, counsellors being made available for the same reason, and a general sense of mollycoddling of college students who are preparing to enter into the adult world as leaders and captains of industry, I want to send them a blankie, a bottle of milk and a ticket back to their parents' home for a little more incubation time.

Comparing these young adults to the young men and women of our armed forces, who live in the harshest of conditions, face bullets and IEDs, return to the States with wounds and injuries that have altered their lives forever, is like comparing rising stars and Moon Pies - there is no comparison, only contrast.

Something very wrong happened on their way to growing up to face a world of challenges and disappointments.  In the real world of winning and losing, acceptance and rejection, first and last, top and bottom - they have been conditioned to believe that effort equals outcome, that showing up equals measuring up, that participation equals performance, that everyone is a winner regardless of the numbers on the scoreboard.

For them, to face the fact that their voice wasn't heard over everyone else's is shocking.  For these "not ready for prime time," not quite grown up adults, chewing on the gristle of defeat or rejection or loss or disagreement or challenges to their world view - anything that doesn't result in stroking of their fragile self-images is simply too much.

The simple fact is that at a time in life when they should be sharpening the sword of readiness to enter into a world of in-you-face competition and demands that can be daunting, these young people are being held over in a nursery, suckling on bottles of milk instead.  Their state of being reminds me of the words found in the Book of Hebrews:

"In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!  Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil" (vss. 12-14).

At some point, we have to grow up and accept the fact that things won't always go our way, that we really don't get a trophy just for participation, that we won't always be treated fairly, that others will say and do things we find objectionable, that our ideas will sometime be shot down, that being offended is a part of having sensibilities not a reason to seek out counseling or court action.  At some point, everyone needs to retire the milk bottles and reach for a piece of meat with the bone and chew on the realities of adulthood along with the challenges of life.

Being an adult does come with some heartaches and disappointment, but it also comes with a sene of accomplishment and the development of the mind, body and soul as you face the challenges.  And, the really Good News is that regardless of the battles we may face in this world, Jesus has already overcome this world (cf. Jn 16:33) and offers each one of us the victory over life and death.  Jus' Say'n.

Good News, Bad News

We've all heard some good news, bad news jokes like the one where the doctor who called his patient to tell him that he had some good news and bad news so which did he want to hear first.  The patient said, "Well, tell me the good new first."  The doctor replied, "Our tests show that you only have 24 hours to live."  The patient shockingly replies, "That's the good news?  What then can the bad news be?"  The doctor then says, "I meant to call you yesterday."

Well, bad jokes aside, good news and bad news is a real part of our lives.  The good news may be that you've just got a raise but the bad news is that it throws you into a higher tax bracket.  For young adults the good news of graduating college is met with the bad news of student debt becoming real.  Perhaps you remember Senator Pelosi's good news of many having more time to be with family now that they were cut from full time to part time due to the burden of health care reform on small businesses.

Even the Bible warns of the reality of good and bad news coming together except that with Jesus, the bad news is over-weighted with the good news.  Sooo, what do I mean by that?  Well, listen to the words of the Master:

“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:32-33)

Jesus warns his disciples that the time was near when he would be arrested and they would all run like rats fleeing a sinking ship - not very good news.  The reality of the cross and somber fact of their lack of faith and courage would soon become evident.  But, there was no need to lose heart because, despite their human frailty, he would carry the day for them, he would snatch victory out of the jaws of their defeat in their behalf - as they were being overcome by the evil of men, he was overcoming that world of evil.

Yes, sadly they could not and would not measure up when push came to shove, but happily Jesus was pushing back against the Evil One with a power that Satan could not resist, and the disciples (including us today) would not become statistics of a fallen world, rather they/we would become, as Paul proclaimed, "hupernikomen" ("more than conquerors" Rom 8:37).  If you sound out the Greek word "hupernikomen," by the way, it sounds like a bit like "Supermen," which is precisely what it means to say.  We are, by the power of the Spirit of Christ, Supermen!

We are supreme overcomers of everything the world has to throw at us - not by our own power but by  our grit but by His Grace.  What we may be called to face in this life may be more than difficult but what Jesus calls us to is more than can be described.  So, don't be dismayed, don't be defeated, don't be downcast - instead, knowing the victory you have in Christ, "Rejoice always and again I will say, rejoice!" (Phil 4:4).  Jus' Say'n.

Grace on The Run

Do you remember when you first accepted God's grace, when you professed your faith in Him and were buried with Christ in baptism?  Do you remember that feeling of God's amazing grace pouring over you as you received it's chain-breaking, way-making freedom from sin and death?  Where is that feeling of grace now?

Do you sense that the grace of God is pursuing you daily or are you running after it, trying to recapture that moment of being set free; free from sin, free from worry, free from condemnation, free from the striving to do and be what is beyond your ability?  Are you looking back to that day, longing for that moment to return or are you looking forward to another grace-filled day?

What I mean to say is, do you live free knowing grace is always running toward you or are you fearfully chasing after a grace on the run?  Are you resting in God's grace or wresting with a self-constructed grace, which causes you to be constantly on the run, pursuing what is always just out of reach?  Am I making any sense here?

In the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), he was determined to return to the Father, confess his sins and then work to repay and continue paying for them so that his Father would be able to forgive him and continue to accept him as a repentant, sin-paying worker.

His Father, however, filled with love for his son that "was dead and now is alive," was not interested in him working off his debt or continually working to earn his favor.  His father ran to him and covered him with grace.  He gave him a new cloak, a new ring and a welcome home party.  There was no discussion of earning what the Father wished to give freely.

Did you know that He feels the same way about you?  Did you know that His grace is on the run, running toward you not away from you.  He is not waiting for you to become perfect so that you can receive His grace, he is wanting you to receive His grace so that you can be made perfect.

So, if you want to catch to with this grace on the run, stop running and it will catch up to you. You need to "be still and know that [He is] God (Psa 46:10) instead of trying to do what only God can do. Only God can save.

Jesus' disciples, hearing about the camel going through the eye of a needle statement asked, "Who then can be saved" (Matt 19:25) to which Jesus replied, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (v. 26).  Stop running.  Your effort will never be enough.  And, you can't catch what is chasing you.  You have to allow it to catch you.  Jus' Say'n.

Through The Roof

Most everyone has had a "through the roof" moment.   Sometimes our emotions are through the roof, sometimes our workload is through the roof, sometimes it's our expenses, our taxes, our....  Whatever it is, it is generally heading up through the roof not the other way.

However there was one time recorded in the Bible when coming through the roof meant coming down, literally down through the roof of someone's house because the possibility of one someone's physical healing was barred by the crowd at the door.  It has been said that when the door is shut, go through the window - these folks took it a bit farther:

Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on" (Mk 2:3-4).

To say they got radical is an understatement.  They pulled out the stops of conventionality and did what normal folks would deed unthinkable.  But this was not a time for normal, it was a time for through the roof action.  Their friend had one chance of being healed and they were willing to take one very big chance to get him to the Healer, Jesus Christ.

While the ran the risk of being criticized by all, by being charged with destruction of property, being dismissed by the Healer and thrown out by the crowd, they were determined to do whatever they could for this man.  It tells me two things: 1) They loved this guy and 2) they had great faith in Jesus.

Their act of faith, driven by their love, was received and rewarded by the Lord: "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, 'Son, your sins are forgiven'" (Mk 2:5).  If there are two things that warm the heart of God, they are love and faith - especially when they are through the roof.

So, go ahead and be extravagant in your display of love and faith.  Give the shirt off your back and turn the other cheek (cf. Luke 6:27-31), do what only great love and faith will compel you to do.  You may appear a little out there, others may say you are off your rocker but you will know that you are only going through the roof and straight into the heart of God.  Jus' Say'n.

Certain in Uncertain Times

Although I believe partially fueled by an agenda-driven media, partially by special interest groups and partially by progressive ideology that believes anything but it's way is dangerous and evil; to say that we live in uncertain times is to state the obvious.

We don't know "what on earth" is going to happen in our world.  In particular, we don't know what a President Donald Trump will actually do, we don't know what ISIS' next moves will be and we don't know how different the climate may become (of course, since climate has always been in flux; i.e. Ice Ages, we shouldn't be surprised or think we can stop it).  Basically, we can't see around the corner into the future.  Uhmm, is that actually a change in status quo?

The fact that we live in uncertain times is not exactly new.  The Great Depression wasn't exactly a planned even, WWII did to have a certain outcome, Viet Nam did not tun out at all the way we thought and the first African American Presidency did not bring the races together nor could Americans keep their doctor and their insurance plans while enjoying lower premiums.  When have we been able to predict the future with certainty?

This, by the way, is not unique to America or to this era.  When has any civilization been able to live with certainty.  Even during the era of Pax Romona (Peace of Rome), there were uprisings and challenges not planned on and eventual demise that wasn't part of their plan.  This world has always and always will be marked by uncertainty.  As the Bible puts it, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow?" (Js 4:14).  This is Monday, I'm not at all certain where today may take me.

But, I am certain of one thing in the world of uncertainty: God, who is good, is in control of my future and therefore I can rest easy moving forward regardless.  There is nothing in my future that God has not already seen and nothing for which he is not prepared a way for me.  It may not be the way I would have chosen, it may even be more than a little challenging, but I will not be left alone and good will win the day.

Listen to God's promise as recorded by the apostle Paul, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28).  God has always been and always will be faithful to keep his promises - on that you can be certain for "Not one of all the Lord's good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled." (Josh 21:45).  And, we can be certain that He "will never leave us as orphans" (Jn 14:18).

Yes, the world in which we live is uncertain but we can be certain of God who promises, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jer 29:11).  Jus' Say'n.

The Center

Levi, our little Carin Terrier, was at my bedside at 3am this morning, ready for the day to begin - I was not and made him lie back down.  When I got up at 4am, he was ready for playtime and promptly jumped up on my chair and attacked my left hand, trying to draw me into a faux battle.  I wasn't biting and he gave up biting shortly.

At least, it appeared he had given up.  He walked across the room and exited through his doggie door, but he was not through, he was selecting a weapon for battle.  He found his plastic bottle, came racing back into the house and flying up on the chair dropping it in my lap so I could throw it.  I still wasn't biting as I was reading from my Bible, preparing to write this blog and trying to enjoy some quiet time with God.

Unphased by my unwillingness to toss the bottle, he dropped the bottle off the edge of the chair and jumped down on it, pushing it with his nose, grabbing it in his teeth and flinging it into the air to continue the chase.  Levi was not accepting the notion that it was not playtime because, in Levi's world, the axis of the universe travels through him.  His time, his way, his wants - those are the things that matter.  My being asleep or being tired or being busy was not the point and was no excuse.

He has a clear understanding of life, however misguided and often ignored by my wife and myself: What he wants, when he wants it is what must happen for the world to be right.  He simply has not grasped the reality that the world his lives in belongs to my wife and me, that what he gets is what we give or allow, that while we may provide what he wants, when he wants it, we have plans and purposes that will override his desires, however strongly he may feel about them.

He asks for things in various ways including a nip on the hand, a whimper, a scratch on the leg or a long, silent stare as he sits directly in front of us, waiting for us to attend to his wishes.  In a somewhat similar fashion as we come before God, expressing our wishes in prayer, Levi comes before us, fully expecting to receive what he is asking for as his desires are paramount, at least, in his mind they are.

Sadly, as Christians, we act too much like this 7 month old pup.  We too think the axis of the universe is us and our wants, desires and needs are of utmost importance, that not to get what we ask for signifies a need for a realignment of the galaxy.  We pray, God is to listen and then we are to get what we want - that is the proper world order to ore than a few.

The televangelist are there, backing up this world-view with their "name it and claim it" teaching in which we get what we ask for if we just have enough faith (often requiring some monetary faith-seed giving on our part to their ministry).  They quote the Scripture "ask and you will receive" (Matt 7. ) but fail to apply the larger context, which clarifies saying, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us---whatever we ask---we know that we have what we asked of him." (1 Jn 5:14-15).

Did you notice the "according to his will" part?  That clarifies where the center of the universe actually is, not in us but in Him.  We are not the reason, our purpose is not what it's all about, our life is not the center - God's purpose is.  In his purpose, he has room and desire for us.  He wants our best, he wants to give but according to his purpose not ours.  God's Sovereignty, not our desires, is The Center. Jus' Say'n.