Month: November 2015

Living in the world today is very stressful. There are crazy and distressing events happening all over the globe and the future feels precarious. It seems that we are being confronted with our own fragility and the helpless feelings we may experience can be frightening. The world feels very unsafe.

Some historians tell us that in the last 3,400 years the world has been at peace (whatever that means) for only eight percent of the time. That is a pretty dismal figure, and may actually be more optimistic than the reality. This, of course, means humans have been at each other’s throats for 92 percent of the time. And this despite all of the peace talks, negotiations, and bumper stickers that read “War is not the Answer” or “Arms for hugging.” Unfortunately those are idealistic, though poetic, words for deaf ears.

Some people will tell you that humans are better off today than ever before, which sounds extraordinarily naïve. Of course, I’m a pessimist by nature. Perhaps, though it is true that our medical know-how or wealth (though that is absolutely not true for most of the world) has improved throughout world history. But, starving people are still without consistent sources of food, babies are still killed daily, the sex trade is thriving, and other major problems like racism are still tumbling out of control. Our nation alone has become one of the most self-centered cultures in the world. We thrive on letting people know what we’re doing every moment of the day through our Facebook status, we watch inane reality shows that expose the underbelly of selfishness and stupidity, we take selfies (we even have a stick to make them better), and we’ve becoming a nation of drug addicts. I’m afraid that we are not better off. My point is that if you keep up with the news and the culture then you know we don’t seem to be better off, and that can be frightening. Even Christians struggle to maintain hope in a violent and unpredictable world.

But take heart Church. Despair not!

When Jesus was nearing the end of his life he spoke comforting words to the disciples. Things were looking grim and he had just told Peter about his impending denial of Christ. But the next words we hear him speak are remarkable. He said, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms, If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” These important words speak directly to Christians. These words give us hope and they reassure us that the suffering we experience is not senseless and void of purpose. Let’s draw some conclusions.

1. Jesus encourages us to not be troubled. That means that we can live in this fragile world with a hope. It will not always be dangerous and scary. No, quite the opposite. We can experience peace in the midst of the chaos.
2. God is at the helm. Jesus was not plan “B.” He was plan “A.” By his very nature God is redemptive and wastes nothing. Our bandwidth of understanding is very small while His is unlimited. It is that kind of strength that reassures us. He is the source of all wisdom and goodness. Although He is also perfectly, Christians don’t have fear his wrath. Which brings me to point three.
3. Jesus is preparing heaven for us, and promises to return for us. Remarkable! Do you know that he never failed to keep a single promise! His track record is perfect, so we can eagerly expect his return. In the meantime, he gave us his Spirit to comfort us, guide us, convict us, and to serve as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (Ephesians 1:3-15). If you want a little preview of heaven then turn to Revelation 22. Now we see things only partially, but the time for perfect rest and peace is rapidly approaching.

Take heart Church! Let’s recall two things in closing. In Psalm 23 we read of the valley of the shadow of death. Note that it is a frightening place and also note that God never promises to remove us from it. He promises instead to be with us during that dark time! Secondly in the next verse God promises to prepare a table in the presence of our enemies. Sounds weird at first, but it means that we can have a safe, intimate dinner with him even when our enemies surround us! That is a God we can take comfort in. Let not your hearts be troubled.

 

 

I’d like to direct your attention to Paul Tripp’s article on Thankfulness. Click on this link:

http://www.paultripp.com/articles/posts/how-thankful-are-you

 

“What things does the awe of God produce in the heart of a pastor that are vital for an effective, God-honoring, and productive ministry?”

When was the last time you saw something or experienced something that truly amazed you or actually took your breath away? Perhaps it was standing on a beach and seeing the curvature of the earth. Or maybe it was witnessing the Northern Lights in person. Maybe you are drawn to art and stood before a masterpiece that created amazement in you. Or you might be more compelled by the left side of the brain where your mind ponders the utter complexity of the universe, which may cause the proverbial jaw to drop. To be awed is quite special and often provides a renewal of our perspective in ways that can protect us from arrogance, boredom, or both.

Paul Tripp writes in Dangerous Calling that pastors can often lose sight of the magnificence of God because of familiarity and boredom. This is possible when one has lost a sense of awe with the utter magnificence of God. He says, “The spiritual danger here is that when awe of God is absent, it is quickly replaced by our awe of ourselves.” Tripp shares several qualities that help one regain an awe of God.

First on the list is humility. Arrogance can take many forms. On the more familiar side we think of arrogance as an undesirable quality where a person believes they are above others. They have an unfounded and inflated view of themselves. Those types of people are very challenging to be around because they are not teachable and are typically dismissive of constructive criticism. This person can be dismissive and cynical. It’s possible they have experienced great success, which is part of their problem. But it doesn’t require success to cause one to be arrogant. It is mostly a loss of perspective and they have forgotten about humility.

The other lesser known arrogant person can be a self-deprecating person. They may be described as having an “Eyore” personality and tend to see the glass as half empty. Henry Cloud describes a perspective that can be true of this person. They have a “one down” tendency. In other words, everyone else is seen as more significant or important. They can display a low view of themselves.

Both of these people could be described as arrogant. Why? They are arrogant because each person is preoccupied with himself or herself: one to an inflated level and the other to a dismissive level. Both seem disconnect to what Scripture says about our position in Christ and each person is placing too much importance upon their situation and not on the unchanging God we serve. Both profiles are dangerous for a pastor or Christian leader to fall into.

Humility can preserve the pastor. Humility will protect the pastor, his family and the congregation. Arrogance will create a blind spot that most always leads toward disaster for everyone. But humility will restore the awe of God in a pastor.

As one recognizes his own limitations and concurrently observes the infinitude of the God he loves, this person can appropriately maintain healthy and life giving perspective. A humble pastor can stand by the Grand Canyon and realize his smallness but at the same time have a deep appreciation for the immensity of God. The pastor who is in awe of God helps his congregation remain in awe of God. Tripp says, “…it is only in light of the awesome glory and holiness of God that you come to a have an accurate view of yourself and the depth of your need for the rescue that only a God of glorious grace can provide.” (p. 121).

Humility is one vital quality that will help produce in the heart of the pastor the awe of God. We’ll discuss others in the next blog on this series. For now, consider how humility has been absent in your view of God. Pray that the Lord will help you see this.

I have a sound machine right outside the door of my office. The purpose of it is to create white noise so that private conversations won’t tempt any ears. It works really well, too. When I walk into my office and close the door the difference in sound is remarkable. For me it suddenly becomes an oasis of quiet where I can think, listen, and relax. It creates a healthy boundary and silences the anxiety of the world.

Going for a run provides a similar experience. This may sound odd, but when I get really anxious, or if I have a headache, I’ll often go for a good run. As I ease into the rhythm my thoughts slow down and something remarkable happens. First, I am able to direct my thoughts to the Lord without all the frenetic activity around me. I don’t take my cell phone with me. It is me, the Lord, and the sounds of creation. I’ve had some great conversations with Him while running. The other thing that happens is the release of all those good endorphins that God created as a part of our physical make up. To me, it’s an incredible show of his creativity and his kindness. Those endorphins create a healthy “high” that I have come to appreciate. When I return from my run my angst and usually my headache are gone.

In either case I have come to value the emotional, spiritual, and physical benefits of quiet. It’s hard to underestimate its benefit. Most of us seem to run at unsustainable rates trying to keep all the plates spinning. That pace will usually wear us down. When we expend high amounts of emotional energy just to maintain it will be challenging to keep healthy conversations and relationships with others and with God. Sitting quietly often feels unnatural and for some it feels impossible, but it is essential to have moments of rest and solitude. I believe the Lord created this need, too. He understands our finitude.

The Psalmist writes in Psalm 46 that God is our refuge and strength and he is our very present help in trouble. He goes on to encourage the reader to be still and know that he is God. Being quiet before the Lord provides refuge, protection and comfort. Finding this sort of peace is challenging, though.

Our lives are full of noise. It seems most people have become addicted to sound and background noise. Many households have the television on all the time. Different stages of life also take us through very busy times. There seems to always be an errand or task that has to get done. Our cell phones own us. Most of us feel lost without them. They’re always alerting us to emails, tweets, texts, or new Facebook statuses. It’s hard to escape the craziness of the world. So finding time to get away can feel almost impossible. But we must. Let me offer five ways to find time for quiet.

1. Go for a walk around the block (and leave your cell phone at home). It doesn’t take a lot of time and doesn’t need to, but choose to carve out 15 minutes to walk and take that time to pray and worship God. You’ll be getting exercise and you’ll have some quiet.
2. Get up 30 minutes early only three times a week. Use that time to read your Bible, but also use it to just listen to the Lord. You might keep a pad of paper nearby to write down those things that may steal your quiet. Like tasks, or things you need at the grocery store. Write it and forget it.
3. Head to a park and spend your time there thanking God for all that you see.
4. Meet a friend and pray together. Try to spend as much time listening to her as you do sharing your own thoughts. Share your thoughts and then pray together.
5. Use this time to write out your thoughts in the form of prayer. Consider this a living conversation with the Lord. Every now and then stop and listen.
6. (I know I said five). Turn off the television for 30 minutes. Read a book.

The important thing in all of this is the discipline of carving time out of your week to have quiet. You will be surprised at how refreshing it is. Some of you will have to make extra efforts to do this because you have small children in the house or your work is more demanding of you and you are exhausted when you come home. I understand but do this anyway. Be realistic with your expectations, but by all means, do something.

Ultimately we find our rest in Christ. He is the Lord of the Sabbath (rest) and when we are in Christ we are no longer in contention with God. Use quiet to help you get to know this amazing God better. He encourages us to come boldly into his throne room. Take him up on that invitation. Take a moment to read Psalm 145 and consider it’s amazing message.

I will extol you, my God and King,  and bless your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.

On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.

They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you!

They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power,

to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

[The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]

The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.

You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Come back in the future for some useful resources!

One of the risks you take when you spend time outdoors is running into wildlife. Most of the time it’s no big deal because the wildlife you run into is likely more afraid of you than you are of them. Deer, turkey, usually skunks, racoons, or other such creatures. One exception would be wild boar. Those critters are just plain mean and are best avoided. I’ve only run into them once. Fortunately our encounter was from a distance where, although they saw us, we were too far away to be interesting.

Other wildlife is a bit more problematic. I recall being in a lake in Colorado with my son Philip when an elk came up behind us. I think we were standing in his favorite drinking spot and we had nowhere to go. Further into the lake there was a deep ledge and although we both wore waders we decided not to risk it. The way back to shore was blocked by the huge monstrosity of an animal, so, we raised our arms and got loud (don’t know if that’s what your supposed to do). The elk wasn’t intimidated and went nowhere, so we decided to  pretend like we didn’t care if he was there or not. We were trapped so, what else could we do? We just kept fishing (caught 250 greylings that day). Fortunately I think he got bored watching us and found himself a new drinking spot. He was a intimidating, to say the least.

Bears, however, are in a totally different category when it comes to wildlife. I’ve run into them on several occasions, but usually from a safe vantage point. While backpacking in the Smokies one time I stayed in a lean-to that had a fence for bear protection. About 2 o’clock in the morning I was awakened by a hungry bear looking for snacks. She was four feet from us and was able to reach her paw in to try for my backpack but the fence kept her out. On another occasion I was on the Cache la Poudre river in Northern Colorado when I looked downstream and saw what looked like a rather big dog. I decided to put my glasses on after which I discovered it was a bear, not a dog. But he wasn’t interested in me and just moved on up the mountain, stopping now and then to look at me. I suppose he was debating about how I might taste, but, alas, he kept moving.

The most frightened I’ve been, though, was on a smaller stream in that same area a few years later. I was down an embankment looking upstream when I heard some noise. I looked across the stream to see a black bear running toward me full steam. And I responded just like you shouldn’t respond to a bear. I turned and ran yelling to my friend as I took off. The only bright thing I did was to keep my expensive rod in my hand instead of throwing it down. I figured that all I had to do was to out run my friend. But he very calmly asked where I saw the bear and when I turned to point to the beast, I discovered that Yogi never even knew I was there.  When he heard me yell “bear!” he stopped in his tracks to discover the source of the commotion. He decided we weren’t worth the effort and ran away.

The stories I have accumulated over the years all add to my love for the outdoors. Sometimes being outside can be scary. It is an untamed world out there and life can be quite quite unpredictable. Nevertheless I am always comforted to remember that God is in complete control. He, too isn’t predictable and certainly can’t be contained, but Scripture describes how, though he is dangerous, he is good. We have to be careful not to allow what happens in the world to dictate our opinion of Him. Sometimes circumstances tempt us to think God is unfair or harsh or the opposite, like a sweet old grandfather. He is neither. He is to be feared like you would a raging waterfall. The waterfall is amazing and beautiful, but you would never just jump into it. You would respect it while you admire it’s beauty. Proverbs tell us the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

So, as we live in this unpredictable world, it is wise to live in it wisely, but always looking up to the God who created it. There is none like him. In the words of Mrs. Beaver in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, he isn’t safe, but he’s good.

I am a husband, father, counselor, lover of art and an avid outdoorsman. What you see is what you get. I have served in ministry since 1984 and my role as evolved into one of counseling. I am the guy who swore he’d never go to seminary, but in his last 40’s started a masters and then a doctorate in his 50’s. Go figure. My greatest desire is to help point people to our amazing God who is full of mercy and grace in his Son.

Most anyone who knows me is aware of where I’d rather be than just about anywhere. In a river out in the wild casting a dry fly upstream. I love the thought of being outside in one of the greatest canvasses in the world. Nonstop flow of crystal clear water with magical sounds and life underneath the surface. It always helps when I’m surrounded by majestic mountains and crisp cool air at high altitudes. This is one activity that gives me life.

I love the adventure of what I see. I love the remarkable creativity in the setting. I love the endlessness of marvel it brings to my heart. There’s something sacred and very replenishing to my soul. I think that’s why I love fly fishing so much.

It makes me think about what David wrote in Psalm 19 where he said, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Perhaps it’s that truth that makes being in the outdoors so enriching to my soul. That is where I worship God most naturally. It is beautiful, awe inspiring, and untamed. That’s why it gives me life. It is experiencing God in his majestic creation.

But we all are refreshed somewhere. Some of us find life in things like art or activities like running. Others find it in areas that you wouldn’t expect. I have a friend who worships God when he working on an Excel spreadsheet. He puts some praise music on, puts his ear buds in, and he marvels at the God of the universe who created math! Finding where you find life and refreshment is important. It gives you a moment of rest and places you in a good position to worship God.

I have to be honest. I sometimes struggle to worship during church. It isn’t because it’s not a great time or that the people who lead us are not good at what they do because we have an amazing worship team. It’s more because I sometimes struggle to keep focused. I think about my job or I get distracted by people watching or I am drawn to my cell phone. Not always, but more often than not. I’m working on that and growing in my ability to sing and worship at church, but when I am outdoors, especially in a river, I cannot help but worship. There is something about being outside and standing in a river fishing. I guess I think about the Living Water Jesus spoke about to the woman at the well.

He told her that if she drank from the well she was drawing from she would be thirsty by noon, but he then said to her that if she drank of his living water that she would never thirst. I like that and as I grow in my relationship with God and get older myself I understand more what he is talking about. The wells we can drink from can be anything from wealth to work or from security to sex. They might provide some immediate satisfaction but they always leave you wanting more. Jesus, however, fully satisfies with what the world can never provide. With him we actually find satisfaction. But that flowing water that I stand in while observing the majestic mountains reminds me of this living water that Jesus provides.

Whether you are refreshed in the outdoors, doing finances or lifting your voice in song during worship service at your church, it is important to find our ultimate rest in Jesus who is the Lord of the Sabbath (rest). He is the Living Water. Rest in him, for in him there is life.