In a few days my youngest child and only daughter is getting married so I have decided to dedicate this week’s blog to some reflective thought regarding this major milestone in my life. She is one of three children by which we were blessed with about a ten year span between the first two and her arrival. I started thinking about this upcoming event the day she was born and in my mind’s eye I pictured myself much older than I now find myself. It’s amazing how fast she has grown but yet I have aged at a much slower pace.  (OK, I still welcome your comments but tread lightly.) During those many years, I gave little thought to who the groom might be. I was pretty sure that no acceptable candidate would be found. Once again time has crushed my delusions as she managed to find someone who I actually like and respect.

          As I pondered how life keeps changing, considering how God fits in all of this I came to recognize something that I believe I knew all along. The true blessings in life can only be enjoyed by allowing them to be free. If we hold too tightly the things in life that mean the most to us they will smother and wilt. True joy is found in the simplicity of freedom. Freedom to be who God designed each of us to be, freedom to let loose the stranglehold with which we manage to grip life and allow God to flow freely through us at His will. With this thought in mind I dedicate this poetic attempt to my lovely daughter, Becky!

          To all Dads who may be reading this blog I challenge you to think in “3D”. Too often we are guilty of flat line thinking. 3D thinking includes not only ourselves and others but also takes into consideration God’s part and His plan. For those of you who have daughters yet to be married I offer this simple advice. Enjoy the fleeting moments of parenthood as best you can. When the time comes and the wedding plans begin find a good book, get out of the way and let nature (and other forces beyond your control) take its course. You’ll always be Dad, you have accomplished much. Let your blessing go forth and watch in amazement as God reveals His wonderful plan.

        Norman Vincent Peale said “Change your thoughts and you change the world.” The truth is that most people change very little therefore according to the philosophy of Peale neither does their world. I believe true change only comes when are hearts and minds are given to God and only He can change our thoughts and desires when we surrender our self-will to Him.

       There is actually a physiological component of our brain that has a direct impact on what we perceive as truth. It is called the reticular activating system (RAS), located at the core of the brain stem. This grouping of nerves actually functions as a selective mechanism allowing only those items through to our consciousness that we deem valuable. For example, if you are focusing on an intense conversation in a crowded place this mechanism will screen out other conversations and noises. People who live near the airport will not be as aware of the overhead airplane noise as someone who is visiting. If you purchase a Toyota, you will notice the other cars like yours while driving down the road but will be oblivious to the other makes and models. As we place value on thoughts and ideas our mind will call our attention to those things while screening out tons of other items that might otherwise get our attention. What a living torture it would be if everything that came our way penetrated our conscious thoughts. We truly are fearfully and wonderfully made.

          Peale was certainly on to something when he realized the power of changing one’s thoughts. The brain is really the world’s first personal computer and the old computer programming adage “garbage in, garbage out” still rings true. Early in my career I studied a great deal of the positive thinking material. They all stressed the power behind a positive mental attitude. As a Christian I have discovered that the real secret to life lies in having a positive spiritual attitude. Spiritual things are supernatural. Mental assent in and of itself relies only on the natural realm and will never lead anyone to true satisfaction. However, if we place value on the things of God, such as His word, and we turn our hearts and minds toward Him He will bless us with His presence and provide for us all that we need to be contented followers. As we feed our value system with what God values we will be aware of the truth that surrounds us everywhere we go. His word will prove itself to be true.

          Truly what the world needs is change. It’s not a change based upon political views or opinions of mankind but the transforming knowledge  that can only come by knowing the Creator of the universe. It’s a supernatural change that results in loving God with all our heart, mind and strength and loving our neighbors as ourselves. What a wonderful change it is! Change your thoughts toward God and change the world.

          I believe it was Oswald Chambers who said, the greatest crisis we will ever face is to overcome our self will (paraphrase). After giving much thought to what constitutes self will I’ve come to respect what an enormous problem it is for all of us. In this problem we can discover the immense importance of spiritual growth. Romans 6:6 states “knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin;”

          Questions:If our old self was crucified, then why do we still struggle? If the body of sin might be done away with, then why do we still feel oppressed by sin? Why does fear occasionally grip us? Where is the peace that passes all understanding?

          I would like to take a stab at helping us all to better understand these things but first we need to realize that much effort is required of us.  It’s not an effort to overcome these obstacles to faith by some strength of our own but an effort to pursue God, regularly and constantly. An essential clue is given to us in the first two words of the scripture verse, “knowing this”.  Spiritual health tip number one; do we know that our old self was crucified? How can we know? Well first we know because God’s word says so and we need to believe it. Secondly, we need to remember those points of God’s grace in our lives when He has evidenced the fact of overcoming sin to us. When we aren’t spiritually present before Him these things become distant and we cannot see clearly. (More proof of our need to remain or return quickly to His presence). 

          As I stated before this  is an on-going task of pursuing God to remain in His presence. Matt.6:33 tells us to “…seek first His kingdom”. This advice comes in the midst of reminding us not to have anxiety over issues of life. Romans 6:13 encourages us “…present yourselves as those alive from the dead”. All of these verses connected together add up to training or discipline for each of us. We must have God’s formula for facing life so ingrained in our minds that we instantly recognize sin for what it is and the fact that it has no power over us other than what  we give it. Sometimes it is sin while other times it is temptation or attack that when handled incorrectly will lead to sin.

          If we “…consider ourselves dead to sin…” (Romans 6:11), because we know we were crucified (vs.6) and we present ourselves to Him (vs.13), then we have the escape route or detour from sin that God has given us and no longer do we need to be anxious over anything (Matt.6:34). We must implore self examination as every circumstance arises. Maybe it is the little irritants that make you think it’s just because you’re having a bad hair day when in actuality you just might be under the attack of the flesh or the enemy. It’s our self will that keeps us plowing straight ahead when we should be taking note of the spiritual detour sign just ahead. If the storm is approaching and our windshield is fogged up we can barely see how to navigate.

Scripture passages taken from the NASB version.        Oswald Chambers source: “My Utmost for His Highest”

          Recently I viewed some tapes of the “Great Depression” and found some staggering differences between then and now.  Imagine looking for work all day and then coming home to find no food for dinner. Times were tough, unemployment reached 25% in some areas and for the first time in the history of our country the government was faced with having to provide for the masses. The average person did not blame the government for their circumstances but took personal responsibility. The challenges of life were physical but people had a spirit of hope. As for the immigrants, they so respected freedom that life in America even under trying times was superior to life elsewhere under oppression. They faced the physical dangers of poverty but managed to keep faith.

          In sharp contrast to the Great Depression Americans today are more fearful about losing their lifestyle than their life. We have lost the sense of the precious nature of freedom and cannot relate to living under oppression. I know that there are those among us that are in severe circumstances and I in no way want to diminsh the reality of their suffering, however the majority of the country is either suffering as a result of bad decisions or more likely to be worried about losing their toys rather than their evening meal. Unlike the the woes of 1929 the government does have programs in place to help those who are out of work and destitute. (I am not advocating the expertise of the current government but rather that which was put into place as a result of the previous depression, such as  medicare, social security, unemployment insurance, FDIC insurance and so on).

          Those who weathered the Great Depression did so with the belief that America promised an abundant life of material wealth and the freedom to enjoy their success. “The American Dream” was alive and well in the minds of the people and it was a healthy time for our country.  A new age of industrial strength was born and the United States became the most formidable power ever known in the history of the world. Prosperity abounded interrupted only by slight economic recessions until we came to the longest economic upswing in our history. The baby boomer generation ushered in a level of prosperity un-precedented by any other time. Perhaps too much of a good thing wasn’t in our best interest.

          You know what happens when a child eats too much candy, they get sick. During the good times our appetite for self-gratification grew exponentially. We filled our lives with so much clutter there was little time left for contemplation. Our insatiable desire for pleasure coupled with the fast pace of the electronic information age has caused Americans to trade depth for breadth. If there is a silver lining in going through such times it lies in the opportunity we have to live differently. We can re-evaluate what is really important and make adjustments to live simpler and more meaningful lives. Those who fail to see the needed adjustments are doomed to repeat the same failures and are in danger of never really having eternal security. “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself”? (Luke 9:25) NASB

          If our values change as a society then some of the inequities might change as well. If we stop paying ball players millions of dollars maybe we can afford to pay policeman, fireman, teachers and pastors an amount above the poverty scale. If we stop the insane selfish lawsuits that plague our society then the price of an aspirin in our hospitals might be far less than the fifty dollar price tag we now have to pay. If we value each other higher than we do a tree we might have more cooperation for saving the environment. Our society increasingly becomes more impersonal. It’s time to take the words of Jesus to heart, “…Love your neighbors as yourself.” (Matt.19:19) NASB  The looming danger of the “Great Depression” was the loss of physical life, the impending danger of our current time is the loss of our souls.

          “In the Bible clouds are always associated with God.” Oswald Chambers, July 29

          Almost everyone has at one time or another laid on the ground and stared at the clouds trying to figure out what they might represent. Clouds come in all sizes and shapes. Some fly at high altitudes, some hang low to the earth. Some are cheerful and some are dark. I have always been amazed when flying on an overcast gloomy day as the plane ascends to greater heights, then suddenly you rise above the dark cloud formations and bright sunshine and blue skies appear. There is always a nice day up there somewhere.

          Clouds give warning of a change in the weather. (Luke 12:54) Jesus ascended on a cloud (Acts 1:9) God guided Israel through the wilderness during the day by a cloud. (Ex. 13.21) Moses approached God who was in the thick cloud on the mountain. (Ex. 20:21)  The Son of Man will come again on the clouds. (Matt. 24:30) All the saints will meet the Lord in the clouds. (1Thes.4:17)  Clouds are used by God for His purposes in our lives.  They are signs of His providence and He uses them to guide us, to warn us and to earmark His movements.

          God provided a cloud for Peter, James and John during the “Transfiguration”. (Luke 9:34) They were afraid as they entered the cloud but God spoke to them and told them to listen to His Son (v.35). As the low lying clouds form in our lives and we see the storm approaching  are we looking for Jesus in the cloud or is there someone else? That someone else might be self or it might be the enemy. Either one can only have a place in the cloud if we invite them otherwise Jesus is always in the cloud. He promised that He would never leave us. There is always a brighter day when we rise above the dark clouds and let His light shine in. It’s always after the storm that God places His rainbow in the sky as a reminder that He is the original promise keeper.

          One of the most popular ways of describing the trinity is that of the example of H20. It can be water, ice or vapor. These are the same elements that clouds are made of. Perhaps we have the opportunity to meet Jesus in the clouds everyday. Truth be told, most of us probably spent more time staring at the clouds when we were children. When once again we  “become like children” (Matt.18:3), the next cloud God sends us  just might be a Teddy Bear.

Oswald Chambers quotestaken from “My Utmost For His Highest – July 29, Biblical quotes taken from NASB version

          There is a presumption about leadership that is seldom discussed today. Leadership has no meaning without having someone who is willing to follow. I’ll admit right upfront that this seems a little like the chicken/egg scenario in determining which comes first, leadership or followership? (OK, I just invented a new word but it seemed to fit.) As a culture we seem to only follow when we agree with our leaders. Prior to the Vietnam war it would have been unthinkable to run to another country rather than serve but during the sixties many decided to reside in Canada and abandon the good old USA. Then they were pardoned and all came home without performing service in the armed forces. What message were we sending to our citizens about commitment? Follow only when you agree?

          Deciding whether or not we should follow someone or something is really a value judgement we place upon the related authority. If the speed limit for driving is 55 mph and we decide to drive 65 we make a value judgement that this is OK. (At least until the police officer persuades us to think differently). It all began when we were children. I might have decided to disobey if I thought I could get away with it. The value was in doing what I wanted to do, hoping to escape the consequences. So there seems to always be an element of risk involved. I suppose there is always a risk in following as well. We might be taken where we would rather not go. The question then becomes one of authority and whose or what authority do we place ourselves under.

          What an oddity we are as a nation. We elect leaders who are supposed to represent what we think. I guess that might make us the alleged leaders and the elected officials the followers. Oh if it were only that simple. I’m starting to get confused and I’m doing the writing. I believe the original premise was that we would elect or appoint people with experience and an expertise to fill each position. That notion seemed to vanish when we started electing wrestlers and actors to run our state governments. Now we appoint czars without experience to oversee government owned corporations that are already in trouble. Perhaps an important ingredient for the leader/follower equation is that the leader should be believable and we as followers begin by giving them an even chance to prove themselves. In a society that possesses a micro-wave mentality we seem free to change with every new politically correct wind that blows our way.

          In order not to be driven by every wind suggests that we need to be grounded by something. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (4:14) he states “…we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; (vs.15) but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the Head, even Christ,”…  I left the first three words of vs. 14 off in order to come back to them. “As a result…” For us not to be subject to every wind of political correctness or the trickery and scheming of men we must arrive at a point where we are a “result”. A result of what? For that we need to consider the previous verses that tell us about His ascension and the gifts freely given to us in order that we may be equipped to be saints in His service. Verse 13 describes  the “unity of faith”, maturity and stature “which belongs to the fulness of Christ;”  We can only stand against the trickery and schemes of our times by being committed followers of Jesus Christ. We cannot gloss over the committed part. This process implies sacrifice and cost but promises freedom and deliverance. Before any of us can be a respected leader we must first become a committed follower.

          In summary it would seem that each of us must choose what authority we come under and make a conscience decision to commit to that authority, taking the risk that there is something of greater importance than self interest alone. This may be the first giant step in learning to be a follower and subsequently learning to become an even better leader.

          Biblical quotes taken from the NASB version.

          I can think of no other sport that emulates Christianity as does the game of golf. It seems the harder you try to improve your game the more difficult it is to achieve the desired outcome. Anyone who has played the game for any length of time will confirm the necessity of relaxation. When you try to force a shot with all your strength the ball seems to have a mind of it’s own. When you relax and let the club do the work it seems so easy and you become self assured. Sometimes when you are tired and not doing well it seems that you cannot summon any ability whatsoever. It’s difficult to achieve consistency and when the ball finds a sand trap, water or lands out of bounds temptation may set in to behave badly in a total fleshly moment. It would seem that the man who invented the game understood the struggles of the Christian life quite well.

          Between the sport and the desire to live a spiritual life I have discovered how desparetly I want to be in control. The secret in each case is submissiveness not control. When you think about it, there is very little we can control. We are at the mercy of our environment. For example the weather will be what it will be no matter how hard I try to change it. We age and there is nothing we can do about it. The need to accept the external pressures of life and trust in divine intervention is crucial for all of us.

          With that said let me make it clear that life isn’t a journry of mindless acceptance. Whether you are playing golf or trying to improve your walk there is an effort required. We must apply ourselves to certain disciplines that will develop  the characteristics  needed to perform at a higher level. A devotional comittment is required in any area of life that will serve to enhance the results we would like to achieve. In golf it may be require regular trips to the driving range or lesson from a pro. It takes constant practice. As far as spiritual development goes, devotional time, time in the Word, time for rest (Sabbath type rest), prayer and a close one on one relationship with an other believer or mentor can be of great value.

          Great golfers struggle less. They don’t swing the club as many times. They don’t miss the mark quite as much as the rest of us. Great disciples can find that same consistency in addressing the issues of life that we all struggle with. In both cases we must apply our efforts to devotion and discipline . We must stop trying so hard and surrender to a new set of abilities that aren’t so natural to us.

I fear that the word “sin” has all but lost it’s meaning in America today. The concept of sin seems foreign in a “do what feels good society”, but as diminished and disguised as it may be, rest assured it is alive and well. Sometimes I hear the refrain that things, historically speaking, have been this bad before but I have a hard time believing that the fast paced excesses we’ve experienced at the beginning of the 21st century are anything but unprecedented.

“Greed” has driven Wall Street and corporate America to the brink of economic chaos. Can any one person truly be worth a $40 million dollar bonus? Does any one person really deserve $40 million dollars for running a corporation into the ground while bankrupting the workers pension funds. This tale has become all to common today. The average guy like myself wonders how any board of directors could approve such behavior. Well it is ashamedly simple. Strong CEO’s often control who gets appointed to the board. These positions often carry large six-figure salaries for working only a handful of days a year accompanied by many corporate  perks such as new cars, access to company jets, expense accounts, etc., etc. You get the picture. From the stockholders perspective it’s like having a “family of foxes” watching the hen house.

It’s time for a priority change in the good old USA. We need to stop naming TV shows after the seven deadly sins (ex: Greed), stop paying sports figures millions to play a game (maybe we could afford to go back to the stadium), raise the salary of our police officers, fireman and teachers and who knows maybe each corporation could find someone talented enough to do the CEO job for a meager salary of oh say a million dollars or so.

1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and have pireced themselves with many griefs.” Bernard Maadoff is probably the 21st century poster child for this prophetic verse. I’m unsure if he wandered away from the faith but it is apparent that he lived fast and furious. It all came crashing down, probably all too soon and now what is there to show for it (besides a 150 year prison sentence). Perhaps he will find faith through his upcoming ordeal. At least we can hope and pray that God in His mercy will show Bernie the redeeming value of the Cross. While considering the excessive greed exhibited by Wall Street fat cats it might serve all of us well to take stock of our own lives and guard against allowing greedy appetites to determine the direction of our own integrity. We must recognize that the allure of sin can be a powerful trap if we aren’t careful to avoid its call. It isn’t the about how large or small our appetite for sin is. Sin is still sin.

We Christians are great at latching on to the latest cliches such as “It’s not about you”. What often starts out as a well meaning point gets strechted out of shape until it begins to send the wrong message or become the latest crutch. Hopefully we do realize that God has a plan and each of us are only a small part of the big picture. I guess we are all guilty sometimes of wanting God to re-arrange the universe to fit our picture of what life should be like and in that instance the saying makes a valid point. However when taken to extreme we can be left with such an insignificant view of ourselves that we end up expecting nothing from God. I’ve been wanting to begin a message by asking people if God is living up to their expectations? Some might easily say “yes” as they have no expectations to begin with. Others might say “no” because God isn’t coming through the way they wish and in that case they need to be reminded that it isn’t all about them. A better query might be to ask if we are living up to God’s expectations? (This a point for another writing because there are many misconceptions about what this means). But wait a minute! Isn’t it ever about me? Do I ever matter? We know that God has a plan for our lives, so in some sense it must be about me. Aren’t we fearfully and wonderfully made in His image in order that we may fellowship with our Father? Don’t we belong to to a royal priesthood? Aren’t we part of the body of Christ, the pure spotless bride. Somewhere in all of this I believe we need to develop a little bit of Christian self-esteem in light of “whose” we are. It’s all right to boast in the things that God has done for us. I want to have great expectations of a victorious life in Christ. I must believe that when life’s road twists and turns in directions that were not my choosing God has a blessing in store because I trust His judgment more than I prize my own. I’m thankful that it was enough about me that He included me in His atonement on the cross. In that sense I fail to see how it could be any more about me.