Redirection

We all have made bad choices in life. It's part of growing up - the "learning experience" that life hands to us whether we want it or not. But what happens when we make the wrong choices in a world that doesn't offer many "do-overs"?

What is supposed to happen is that we learn from our mistakes and move on - learning d strengthening ourselves as we go. But often we don't do that. We don't learn. We just keep making one wrong choice after the other.

"Those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it." - Gorge Santayana.

One way to make good decisions is to look at all of the possibilities and ask, "What could go wrong?" If something CAN go wrong, it probably will. That's called Murphy's law. Weigh the negatives against the positive things that could come out of it.

But the best way to make good decisions is to pray about them and then wait patiently on The Lord. The main problem with "waiting patiently" is that we usually don't want to wait and the patience is not in our DNA.

I made a decision recently that I thought was God-honoring. I thought I had waited an appropriate amount of time. I was sure I had made the right choice but when I took a step in that direction I soon found out that God wanted me to take another course of action.

What do we do then? We could doubt our decision making ability or we could simply move ahead, acknowledging that God has redirected us for His glory. Are we willing to follow God's leading? Or will we stand by our original decision, not wanting to admit that we were wrong.

And not necessarily "wrong" but just not what God wants us to do right now.

God wants us to be obedient. He also wants us to move. We should not be paralyzed by our lack of confidence. Instead we should swallow hard, take a deep breath and move ahead. If God wants us to do something it will most likely succeed. But we have to be the ones willing to move. We must allow ourselves to be redirected.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

Hope Found In Death

This has been a weird week. If I was to pick a word to describe the week it would have to be “death” - either “death” or “hope.” One or the other. Like I said, it was a weird week. Maybe “weird” should be my word of the week. Instead I choose "hope."

Last weekend was Easter, or Resurrection Sunday if you prefer. It revolved around the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Death followed by hope. The day before Easter was a young friend’s funeral. More death. But where is the hope in death alone? What hope can be found in the death of someone? Well, it all depends on how you deal with it. And where you place your hope.

We can just accept someone’s death and go on feeling sad about it or we can actually do something about it. We can deal with a death in a positive way, rather than a negative one.

On my way back from visiting my friends in Minnesota I had lots of time to think. And I came up with a plan. Well, that’s not quite true. I prayed and my mind just kind of filled with ideas – positive things to do to remember my friend who had died.

Today I participated in a suicide prevention walk. Most people there were remembering someone who had taken his or her own life. So where is the hope to be found in suicide? I think it is found in groups like the Waupaca County Suicide Prevention Coalition. It is also found in Christ.

The hope of the resurrection is huge! The fact that Jesus rose from the dead is a source of incredible hope! And His promise that we too shall live after our earthly death provides us with that much needed hope.

Having that hope, that confidence, that we will see our loved ones again is massive in its ability to cope. Coping with ANY death, without Christ, is much more difficult. Why? Because there is no hope apart from Christ.

"12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ." - Ephesians 2:12-13

In Christ Alone - Owl City

The Parable of The Wedding Ring

I heard a story yesterday that made me smile so I asked if I could share here. It's a wonderful story of love and joy, sadness and frustration. It may even make you cry a bit but it will for sure make you smile. Ready?

I have been blessed with many wonderful friends. A lot of them are located at the place I used to work. So, I like to visit as often as I can. They're like family.

One of my friends there is named Myshelle. She was the teller of this story that I heard. I have known Myshelle for 20+ years. When I first started working at this company I was placed in between her and another drafter Named Juergen. I didn't know it at the time but they would soon be married to one another.

Sadly, several years later, Juergen was diagnosed with cancer and eventually lost the battle in 2009. Myshelle raised their two kids. One is currently in high school, the other is in college. Great kids. Their mom and dad did well.

This past weekend the oldest was home for Easter and was enjoying sleeping in Saturday morning. So was her brother. My friend Myshelle decided to clean her closet - doing something quiet while the kids slept. She started off low in the closet my removing all the shoes. Then, still tucked in the corner of the closet was a pair of her husband's shoes and his slippers.

My friend pulled out the shoes, then the slip . . . Wait a minute. What's that? Under the slippers. It's Juergen's missing wedding ring!!!

Before Juergen had died he lost his wedding ring. All the weight loss from the chemo treatments and the cancer had made his fingers thin and, one day, it was just gone. They looked everywhere in the house, in the car, even the yard. Nothing. It was gone. Until this past weekend when it was found.

I don't have to tell you, my friend Myshelle was beside herself with joy! Juergen had been so upset that he had lost something he treasured so dearly.

Another interesting point of interest, Saturday was also her son's birthday. When he finally woke up his mom told him the story and gave him the ring saying, "I think your dad wanted you to have this. Today."

Now HE was crying.

What an amazing story! Have you ever lost something valuable to you and then found it when you were least expecting it? My friend's story reminded me of several stories in the Bible about things being lost and then found. Lost sheep, lost coins, and the Lost Son (all in Luke 15).

Why did Jesus tell so many stories about things that were lost? I think it's because of the joy that is felt when they are found.

As I listened to my friend tell her story yesterday I felt incredible joy for her. To have found something so valuable after years of it being missing. What an incredible feeling that must have been. That is the very same feeling God has when just one sinner repents. Amazing!

But hearing my friend tell her story was far better than my trying to replicate it here in mere words.When she told the story to me I could see the expression on her face and the joy in her eyes.

I knew the events she related to me were true because I could see how much it effected her and changed her. Do YOU have a story like that? A story of something that changed YOUR life? I do. His name is Jesus.

"There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” - Luke 15:7

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." - Matthew 16:25

One Day

Well, this certainly has been a rough week. Although others had it worse than me I guess so I can't complain. Still, I don't really remember feeling this bad for quite some time.

When I try to remember the low points I have gone through in my life I am grateful there haven't been too many. ANY is one too many if it comes with the loss of a family member or a friend.

This past week seemed to be marked by death. There was good Friday, when we remember our Lord and Savior, Jesus who was betrayed and crucified. And then on Tuesday a young acquaintance of mine was murdered in northern Minnesota. Her name was Chere and she was 20 years old.

I guess it really doesn't matter what age someone is when they get ripped from our lives and our hearts. Jesus was 33. Chere was 20. Both way to young from my vantage point at age 66. Still, each one touched the lives of others in a positive way and for that we should be grateful.

The thing that makes Jesus stand out above all others is that three days after Jesus was murdered He rose from the dead. He lives still at the right hand of God The Father. Jesus has been called The Blessed Hope, and that He is!

Jesus promised us that a simple belief in Him would grant us eternal life.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16

There is great hope to be found in that promise that Jesus made. The question is, is that hope actually in OUR hearts? Do WE truly believe in Jesus? Did Chere believe in Jesus? I cling tightly to a hope that she did. I did not know Chere well enough or long enough to know what she believed, but I DO have hope in my heart. I will have that hope until I find out for sure one fine day.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13

I have placed my faith in Jesus. My hope is in Him and Him alone. And my love for Jesus runs deep. I also love Chere. Many did. We hope that we will see her one day when we too pass over to the other side. Until that day we should continue in faith, hope and love. And we pray for those who are hurting from Chere's death in the name of Jesus. He is our first and greatest hope. Let us love one another. And may we never give up hope. One day we will see . . . face to face.

"There is no other name under heaven given among men in which we can be saved." - Acts 4:12

Me and Chere - 2010

I Have Decided To Follow Jesus

The Fall

Did you see the news report last week of the woman who fell off a cliff while repositioning herself for a photo? Tragic. A 100-foot drop to the forest floor below. Could her death have been prevented? Yes. But that would have required thinking.

The picture to the left is the cliff the woman was on. Would YOU go out there without a rope?

There is a trend in Internet photos to take the most daring images possible. People do really dangerous things and then post pictures of them on-line so their friends will think they're cool. The problem with that is two-fold. First, it's just plain stupid. And second, it encourages others to do the same thing. Also stupid. Yet, it happens.

The woman who fell to her death was 20 years old. My dealings with youth and young adults has taught me that there is a general feeling amongst them that they are invincible. They will try all kinds of stupid things in the hope that their friends will think they are cool. Fast forward to the funerals of these same young ones and you will find all of their friends thinking, "That was dumb. What was he/she thinking?!?"

The woman who died while taking a picture could have worn a harness and tied herself off to a tree or rock but that wouldn't have made for a "cool" picture. It seems we are always trying to cheat death and please others.

When you and I walk through this world without Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we too are "cheating death." We think we can make it through another day without committing to God. After all, we want to look cool amongst our friends. "Jesus is for losers," they say.

"21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:21-23

Have you ever seen people climbing a very tall mountain? What do you notice about them? Well, the smart ones rarely ever climb alone. That would be dumb. They also use a lot of ropes and anchors. Why? Because they don't want to fall to their deaths!  Not using anchors would also be dumb. Don't be dumb. Use your head.

If you don't know Jesus, don't walk through this world without a rope or something to anchor yourself to. This place will kill you! Please, don't be dumb. Tie yourself to Jesus before you take another step.

"9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

The Parable of The Burning Cross

This is a picture of the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. At least this is how it used to look. Before The Fire. The roof is gone now. Burned for the whole world and for God to see. But what did He see?

If you were to look straight down at the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral the first thing you would notice is that it is in the shape of a cross. Most big cathedrals are shaped that way. Intentionally.

Here's a question. What would God have seen if He looked down at His house in Paris during the fire. He would have seen a burning cross. Think about that image for a minute.

And what is left of God's Church in Paris today? A shell. The fire consumed everything on the inside of the church. And here's the wake up call. We were watching with great sadness on the news what has actually been happening to The Church for years.

Did you see the Pope's Tweet yesterday? Here it is.

"Today we unite in prayer with the people of France, as we wait for the sorrow inflicted by the serious damage to be transformed into hope with reconstruction. Holy Mary, Our Lady, pray for us. #NotreDame"

That's actually of the problem with God's Church right there. What are we doing praying to someone other than God? Doesn't that contradict the first commandment? I am The Lord, thy God. Thou shall have no other God's before me.

From what I read in the Bible we are to pray to God The Father in the name of His Son Jesus Christ.

More and more these days The Church s opening itself up to "the world" and allowing pagan practices into its very heart. Many churches have allowed homosexual members and pastors despite God telling us that homosexuality is an abomination in His eyes.

The Catholic church is trying to rid itself of a slew of lawsuits against priests molesting young boys. Hundreds of priests! This too is an abomination. It is "The World" invading God's church.

And it's not just the Catholic church. Many churches follow this "earthly" pattern. Globalism, Climate Change, and the beginnings of a one-world church are all present in today's church.

4“Do not worship the LORD your God in the way these pagan peoples worship their gods. 5Rather, you must seek the LORD your God at the place of worship he himself will choose from among all the tribes - the place where his name will be honored." - Deuteronomy 12:4-5

Satan loves to torment God. He is infiltrating the very people and places that God holds dear. God calls us to be holy - to be "set apart", which is what "holy" means. We should look different than "the world" . . . but we don't.

The Apostle Paul writes this:

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:1-2

As the flames burned high into the night sky over Paris I wondered, was someone yelling "Burn! Burn!"?? And if so, what it Satan? Or was it God?

God's church, the holy ones who are to be "not of this world", must be different from the world. It is God's command! Shall we then not obey it? God is a patient and merciful God, but He is also not tolerant and He WILL pour out His wrath one day. Will we be recipients of that wrath? Or will we be exempt from it? That is up to us.

The Doctrine of The Wrath of God - Desiring God

Palms

There were thousands of Palm Sunday messages offered at churches around the globe yesterday. Each one probably spoke about Jesus and His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Our church's pastor even spoke about the significance of the palm tree in Greek culture and the "victory" they proclaimed. This morning, I thought of one more "Palm Sunday" connection that most likely didn't get made.

If you Google the words "Jesus" and "Palm" in a search for images you will see picture after picture of Jesus, most likely riding on a donkey, surrounded by lots of people waving palm branches. The search results are expected.

Now add one word to that search. Search Google for images using the words "Jesus" and "Palm" only add the word "Nails." You will get an entirely different result. That's because there are two meanings to the word palm. Yes, a palm is a tree. But it is also the inside of a human hand. It is where Jesus was nailed to the cross.

Our pastor told us on Palm Sunday that palm branches were used to sweep the temple after the Maccabean revolt which ended in 160 BC. I just thought it was interesting that palms were used to clean a dirty temple and Jesus' palms were used to clean OUR dirty temple - our souls.

This Friday we will celebrate Good Friday. It could easily have been called Palm Friday in my opinion. Either way, it is a time to reflect on the cleaning of our hearts by recalling what Jesus did for us on that cross.

"26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    From the house of the Lord we bless you.
27 The Lord is God,
    and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
    up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you;
    you are my God, and I will exalt you." - Psalms 118:26-28

Fear of The Unknown

We humans are an irrational lot. We live in fear of things we have no control over. We become afraid when we don't understand something or someone. We fear change. We fear death so we invent ways to live longer. Ironically, we also fear life as we kill our unborn and now just-born, babies. What are we so afraid of?

Just about every time an angel appears in the Bible, the first words out of their mouths are, "Don't be afraid", "Fear not", or "Be not afraid". What are they trying to tell us. And what are we so afraid of?

We fear what we do not know. One would think then that our quest should be for knowledge, to eliminate that fear. Proverbs 1:7 tells us that ""The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." - Proverbs 1:7. That says is all. Most of us don't want to know God, we don't want to be instructed. Therefore we live in fear and just try to cope. Foolishness.

"Fear of The Lord" is not really a fear. It's more of a respect, submission and honor type of thing. It means that I will surrender my life to God and in so doing God will provide me with wisdom and knowledge. And to accomplish that God has provided us with His Word, the Bible, and with The Word, His Son, Jesus.

Jesus told us, "Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - John 14:27. That is a command, not a request. Yet we disobey that command daily, as well as many others commands from The One True God.

Our biggest problem as humans is our lack of knowledge about God. We flock to pastors in churches who tell us what we want to hear, not what we NEED to hear. We watch the History Channel for our theology instead of reading the Bible ourselves. Too much work for us.

There is a way out of all this fear that has filled our lives. We simply need to turn to God rather than other human beings. GOD will make our paths straight.

"5Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-5

The Parable of The Puzzle

I have been retired for a year now. There are a lot of things I have discovered about this retirement lifestyle change. The first is, I really like it. As I tell all who ask how retirement is going, "I love it. I can do whatever I want, whenever I want." As I have also discovered, that's not always a good thing.

There are times when I am busy - working on the tiny house I am building or building beds for kids who don't have one. or simply just reading my Bible. But there are also times I have nothing to do. What do I do when that occurs? I put together puzzles.

I never really thought about it before but I have been putting puzzles together my entire life. As an architectural draftsman I drew plans for buildings. I would have to figure out how all the walls and windows went together before anyone actually built anything.

Building my tiny home is no different. How can I cramp a lifestyle into 215 square feet? You just figure it out. I recently built a bed from a video I saw on YouTube. Someone asked me, "How did you know how to build the bed? Where did you get your plans?" My reply was, "I didn't have any plans. I just figured it out and built it."

Life is a lot like that. We end up just figuring stuff out along the way. Relationships are like that too.

We live in a throw-away culture. It's broken? Well, throw it out and get another one.

I recently put together a puzzle. The one pictured above. 1000 pieces. Very enjoyable. There are many "little puzzles" within the bigger puzzle. However, when I got to the end I discovered that one of the puzzle pieces was missing. A little disappointing, yes. But I still enjoyed putting the puzzle together. I still enjoyed completing the challenge. That's the way relationships should be.

We can't just say, "Well, THAT didn't work. Time to take this old relationship to Goodwill and try someone new." That's not how God wants to live our lives or our relationships. Every relationship is full of challenges. We are not supposed to throw out the puzzle because one piece is missing or damaged.

I have put together puzzles with a missing pieces and damaged pieces. Sure, the finished product wasn't what I was thinking it would be but I finished it. I finished the challenge. May each of us treat our relationships like puzzles. Assemble the pieces, enjoy the challenge, and even if there are pieces missing or damaged in some way, stand back and look at the whole picture and what you and God have made.

“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." - Ephesians 4:2

“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." - Mark 10:9

As The Snow

"The melting snow is a sure sign if spring. But it is also a reminder of something else to come."

That was the first line of the story I wrote called As The Snow.

I wrote the story on April 3, 2019 and accidentally deleted it on April 10th. The story lived for one week. Sadly, the melting snow I wrote about is still here and my story is not.

As I try to remember what my story could have been about I can only guess. But if I were to re-write the story today I would guess it would have been about a post-rapture world and the ugliness that remains after all the Christians have gone home to be with the Lord.

But I'm just guessing. I don't really remember what I wrote about so any hopes of re-writing the story are gone. So, I will just leave this here as a reminder. Even though you think you are awake at 5:00 in the morning, don't go deleting stuff until you are sure you are fully awake.

And when your computer asks, "Are you sure you want to delete this file?"

Be sure. Wait two weeks. Then try again.

The Parable of The Wooden Bridge

One last story from my hike on the Ice Age Trail this past week. I have written two stories already from the exploits of those two days, but this last one is probably the most important.

To briefly re-cap, I was thwarted in my attempt to hike a short segment of the Ice Age Trail near Bohn Lake. We had a lot of snow this year and the spring run-off and high water had blocked my trail. I simply could not cross the water without getting my feet and clothing wet. What was I to do?

When I revisited the flood area of the trail I was initially sad to see that the water was still there. There was still no way of getting across the trail without getting wet. That is, until I looked off to the side and discovered someone had built a bridge.

The wooden bridge was only wide enough for one person at a time to cross but it did the job.
 I was able to cross the bridge and finish my journey.

Jesus built a bridge for us to cross 2,000 years ago. Come to think of it, He built that bridge out of two wooden boards and some nails, just like the bridge I crossed on the trail. The only difference is that "the promised land" on the Ice Age Trail is just more trail. The promised land that Jesus offers is a bridge much more than that. The promised land is a final destination and a wonderful one at that.

Sin keeps us on the worldly side of the water in this life that you and I are living. The only way to get across that gap is to place our faith in Jesus. The nails, the wood, and the blood required for sacrifice. Jesus is our bridge. God has provided that bridge for everyone. We are the ones who must decide whether we want to cross it or not.

Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel

The Parable of The Hat

Have you ever lost something valuable to you? Do you remember that horrible feeling, wondering "Where could it have gone? Where could it be? Well, wait until you hear THIS story!!

For the past week I have been unable to find my favorite hat. I've looked everywhere! The garage, the sunroom, the basement, I've searched every room of the house! Twice!! I looked in the tiny house I'm building, even at the place I used to work. Nothing. Not a single sign of where my hat could be. Disappointed!

This was a very special hat to me. It is actually older than my faith in Jesus! I wear it everywhere. Most notably to a local food pantry where I am known by my hat. It's lost saddened me greatly.

Well, Thursday, after I had gotten done eating lunch, I took my plate out to the kitchen sink and Boom!! I knew exactly where my hat was. Just like that! I could even see a picture of it in my mind!! So I hurriedly got ready to take a little car ride. You see, my hat was 45 minutes away, somewhere on the Ice Age Trail. [I wrote a story about that. You can read it here]

As I drove I found myself speeding and leading forward in my car seat. That helps you go faster you know. LOL! I KNEW it was there!! I began monitoring my feelings and my thoughts as I drove. I wanted to remember everything for the story I was going to write about God's wonderful provision.

When I pulled into the parking area for the Bohn Lake Segment of The Ice Age Trail, I looked to my left and began to laugh. There was my hat!! It was hanging on the trail sign. Someone had found it and placed it there. It was right where the image in my mind showed it to be, which freaked me out more than just a bit.

So I took some pictures of my hat and then placed it safely in the car. Just for grins I drove to the other end of this particular segment of the trail. I thought I would walk back to where the water had blocked my previous attempt to complete this hike. Guess what was there.

A bridge! Someone had built a 2x10 bridge across the water for us trail hikers. That person was probably the one who had found my hat as well. So I walked across the bridge (completing my hike), took some pictures and returned to my car.

On my way back home I thought about how God must feel when He loses one of us and then gains us back again. These words came to mind.

12“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish." - Matthew 18"12-13

I thank the Lord for not giving up on me all the times I strayed of the path in MY life. I know it's just a hat but it was a great reminder to me of how God looks after each one of His children. I am SO glad He does.

One last thought. Think about the volunteer worker who maintains the Ice Age Trail. Isn't he or she a little like God in this story? He found my hat even though it was lost. And by installing that foot bridge he made my path straight and easy to walk. Thank you!!

And blessed be the name of The Lord!!!

The Parable of The Lost Sheep

Alone

My wife is currently out of town. She is having fun in New York City with a friend. I, however, am alone. And being alone sucks.

Sometimes being alone is alright. Like after you've been at work or school all day and you just need some "alone time". I get that. But then there are those times you are alone when you really don't want to be. Those times are the worst.

A lot of people are alone in this world. How do I know that? There is a video at the end of this story about being alone. How many people do you think have watched it? A million? Two million? Nope. 1.2 BILLION!! That's a lot of lonely people!

A lot of us are afraid of being alone. Being alone is a lot like going to the dentist. We don't really want to go there but sometimes we have to. And sometimes its quite painful.

There are people in my life who are alone. Some say they like it. I don't believe them. It's more like they've gotten use to being that way.

Sometimes being alone is forced on us. My mom was alone when my dad died. Oh, there were people visiting all the time and that was great but at some point you have to turn out the lights and go to bed. It can be very lonely in the dark.

At least I have Jesus with me during the times I find myself unwillingly alone. He has promised never to leave me or forsake me. That's amazing.

"6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6

And when I am alone at night I pray or I read myself to sleep. Why? Well, it's because in Him there is no darkness. It's like He makes my heart light up.

"5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." - 1 John 1:5

If you will only place your faith and trust in Jesus, repent of your sins and follow Jesus, you will find that you are never truly alone and there will always be a nightlight on . . . in your heart. And, should you ever feel alone, even after all that, give me a call. Being alone is always better when there's someone with you.

Alone - Marshmello