Twenty Below

It was a little chilly here in central Wisconsin Friday morning. It's actually twenty below zero as I write this. Brrr! Still, my wife and I are nice and warm inside of our house. Our wonderful little bubble of love. Yay!

But of course, we still will venture outside. Gotta check the mail you know. I also like to visit friends. We still have to go outside our bubble, our comfort zone.

Speaking of bubbles, I recently wrote a story called The Bubble. It was about keeping certain things OUTSIDE of our lives. But what happens when we ourselves venture beyond the perimeter of our bubble and into "The World"? That's the topic for today's story. Let's start off with some scripture to get ourselves going in the right direction.

"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 12:2

Oh, that's a good one! Memorize it AND live by it!

Remember Covid? We were fine while we were staying at home, but when we went outside, that's when we caught the bug. Another lesson worth remembering. The same advice is worthy to note for the Christian. Outside is darkness and death.

Do you remember what Jesus said when He related the Parable of the Wedding Feast?

“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

¹⁴“For many are invited, but few are chosen.” - Matthew 22:13-14

The guy they threw outside was an uninvited guest. He came inside the Bridegroom's bubble and was quickly thrown out. Still, we DO have to go to the grocery store. We still have to go to work or to school.

What happens when we step outside of our bubble and into the "outer darkness?" Only if we are rooted in God's word can we return home unscathed. Yet, at home we allow "the outside" to enter through our television, computers and our "smart" phones. We must be cautious.

I just looked up from my writing and saw a commercial on TV that featured a woman standing in front of the camera in her bra and panties, jiggling her belly fat. Then, suddenly, there she was next with her beautiful NEW body. I looked away. So did my wife. Too late. But that was the topic of my previous story. Letting things in.

The point of THIS story is, what do we do when we venture OUTSIDE our bubble? What can we do to protect ourselves?

Guard your hearts. 

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:7

Protect yourselves.

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." - Ephesians 6:11

Endure.

"You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." - Matthew 10:22

Do all of these things, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

My final point is this. Water freezes at 32°. Shouldn't it be REALLY frozen solid at -20°. One would think so. Yet, I can drive a few miles from my house and see open water on a river. Why? Rapids. The water is very active. It doesn't stand still long enough to freeze. And that is our lesson for today.

Be active in God's Word and in the lives of those that God has placed in your life. You are there for a reason. Don't let your love grow cold.

Adversity?

We all go through times of trial in our lives. Emotional or physical pain, decaying relationships, financial woes, the list goes on. Through reading the Bible, we can discover possible "reasons for the seasons" we are going through.

We come across words like "testing" and "refining" as we read. Here's an example.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." - James 1:2-3

These "testing" and "refining" words imply a tester, a refiner. That would be God. And WHY does He test us? Why does He want to refine us? He wants us to be holy.

"Be holy, for I am holy." - Leviticus 11:44,45

I just got done watching a video about pruning fruit trees. Trees like to do two things - grow wood and grow fruit. If left alone, trees will grow more wood than fruit. To change that, fruit growers prune some of the wood - unproductive branches.

You and I are like fruit trees. We also like to produce unproductive things. We also allow disease to grow in our branches - sin. God, however, wants us to be healthy and produce MUCH fruit. So He prunes.

Do you have adversity in your life right now? Could it be that God is pruning you, to shape you into who HE wants you to be?

Sometimes we ignore these testings and say things like "Well, that day sucked." Instead of wondering, "Lord, what are you trying to teach me?" or "Reveal to me what ir is you want from me."

We all go through times of trial. But what do we look like on the other side of it? Have we grown? Have we become stronger in our weakness?

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Refiner's Fire - The Worship Project

Run The Race!

"On your mark. Get set. Stop!"

Wait a minute. That's not right. I think that "stop" should be a "go." Otherwise the runners aren't going to get very far.

Exactly. Welcome to the world of Apathetic Christianity - filled with wanna-be Christians who are all talk and no action. There is no movement. That's not good. Why? Because we ARE in a race. Go!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2

And again . . .

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." - 1 Corinthians 9:-24-27

Have you ever prayed for God to "use you?" I have. But that's almost like praying for our feet to move at the start of a race. When the gun goes off at the beginning of a race we are supposed to move, not wait for God to move us.

What can we do today to bring glory to God? Call a friend and see how they are doing. Ask someone how you can pray for them. Take someone out to lunch or for a coffee. Get in the race!

The important first step in any race is to get yourself moving. Then, run to win the race - for God, not for yourself.

Dare You To Move - Switchfoot

The Race Of Faith - John MacArthur

Love Never Fails

Every once in a while one of us slips under the radar and delivers a hidden message of hope to the unsuspecting masses. Last night it was Russell Wilson's turn.

The secular media didn't catch it. Why? Because Russell's message sounded all warm and fuzzy to them. And it was! Not worthy of any censoring at all. Yet it was there for all to hear. The love of Jesus.

Russell Wilson, a former Wisconsin Badger, won the 2021 Walter Payton Man of The Year award last night. In his acceptance speech he quoted from 1st Corinthians 13 - "The love chapter" in The Bible.

Russell spoke about love and hope - two things the world needs a lot of these days. Russell finds HIS love and hope in Jesus, his Lord and Savior.

In his acceptance speech Russell quoted his father who said, "Love changes things." That it does, my brother. That it does! Russell also quoted the Apostle Paul at the end of his speech. Words we ALL need to remember today.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love never fails.

Russell Wilson Speech - Walter Payton Man of The Year 2021

Nephilim

"The Nephilim were on the earth in those days - and also afterward - when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown." - Genesis 6:4

There was a plot by Satan and his fallen angels to create a new race of people - bigger, stronger, more evil, more perverse, and totally devoted to worshipping the devil himself.

If you are wondering why God destroyed every living thing on earth (except Noah and his family) these Nephilim, which literally means "fallen ones," are the reason for the flood. They and the perverse offspring of these demons and humans.

There are many parallels between the times of Noah and the days we are living in today. So many similarities in fact that one could think that the flood was prophetic in nature for when Jesus returns to judge us all.

There are no giants in the world today, or are there? Perhaps instead they are giant corporations doing Satan's bidding. Like Planned Parenthood for example. A giant baby-killing machine to be sure. Killing off potential Christ worshippers just like King Herrod did back when Jesus was born, trying to kill off the coming Messiah.

And what about the United Nations? They too are a giant organization who seem determined to eliminate Israel from the face of the earth. That sounds like something Stan would love as well. Eliminate God's chosen people? Oh, yes indeed.

There are many things that we have to look forward to when Jesus returns. One of them will be live without all these evil things in our lives. New bodies, no more tears or pain, no more suffering. Only love, and worship and peace. These are promises from God!

Until that day we must endure. We must endeavor to persevere. But, oh, what a glorious day that will be when Jesus returns! Until then, let us not become children of darkness like the Nephilim. We are children of God. We should act like it.

"You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness." - 1 Thessalonians 5:5

"Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them." - John 12:36

Special thanks to Pastor Dave for inspiring this story through his teaching on Sunday. You can find his message on Calvary Chapel - Waupaca's website under "Teaching". To be posted 7-21-20

Calvary Chapel - Waupaca - Teaching

Bad Day?

Do you ever have bad days? No. I mean REALLY bad days. The ones that leave you wondering, "What just happened?" or "Why me?" I usually don't have too many bad days like that but one of them sure snuck up on me yesterday.

It seemed like just about everything that could have gone wrong, DID go wrong.

Where do bad days come from anyway? Are they just a random series of bad events strung together to make one incredibly sucky day? Or does someone have something against us?

God allows bad things to happen to us. Read the Book of Job. It's true. What possible reason would a loving God have that He would allow us to undergo torment and pain? Good question. But God also rewards those who persevere. Again, read the Book of Job.

I think God allows bad days to see how we handle them. I failed my "bad day test" yesterday. That usually means that I will face that same test again someday. I hope I do better when that day comes cuz yesterday sucked. I need to be more like Job. Job had the ultimate bad day. Again, read the Book of Job. And how did he respond to the worst day of his life?

Yeah, he did some complaining. His wife turned on him and his friends gave him pages of questionable advice. Ultimately, at the end of our bad days, we need to take stock of the blessings we still have. The gifts that God has given us. Are we still breathing? Is our heart still beating? Is not God still on His throne?

We may have bad days from time to time, but blessed be the name of The Lord.

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." - Job 1:21

"I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth." - Job 19:25



Bad Day - Fuel

Beauty From Pain

Jordy Nelson - physical pain (broken ribs)

Yesterday was a bright, sunny day. We haven't seen one of those for quite a while. With all the sunshine and melting snow it seemed as if spring might actually be coming! There was a renewed sense of hope in my heart, remember better, warmer days.

When skies are cloudy and temperatures are cold, it's hard to feel "encouraged" about one more day of winter. Yet, it is the winter weather that makes springtime so welcome.

This past week I spoke with two friends of mine who are going through extended bouts with pain - one physical, one emotional.

How does one cope with periods of extended pain? How does one remove painful memories resulting from a relationship gone bad?

The initial offering of the Christian to someone experiencing emotional pain is that Jesus can ease it. "If you'd only pray harder," some would say. Is that correct?

First, can God heal? Absolutely! So why are there still broken people in this world - both physically and mentally? Why doesn't God heal everyone?

Before that question can be answered one has to answer some bigger questions. Like, "Why are we here?" What is the purpose of our lives? God told this to the Isrealites through the prophet Jeremiah . . .

"¹¹ 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. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you." - Jeremiah 29:11-14

1. God has plans for you. God is going to use us in some way. How? Hmm. But we were created for a reason. Is God going to use your pain to accomplish something in your life or in someone else?
2. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Prosper? You mean get rich? No. God wants to prosper us spiritually. To develop character in us.
3. To give you hope and a future. His plans for you should give you hope. You have a purpose and a future in Christ Jesus!!

We are humans. We tend to think in human terms. God is thinking WAY beyond us. He is thinking eternally. Do you really think our current pain and suffering has anything to do with God's eternal plans for us? Maybe a little bit, but it is inconsequential. It is only a means to an end.

Is it possible that God would use someone's pain to draw them closer to Himself? Absolutely! God told us in 2 Corinthians,

"⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

When we are weak, we are strong, because it is at our weakest that we cry out for God to help us . . . to ease the pain and the suffering. God is using our pain to draw us closer to Him.

Again, why are we here? Is it to live a happy life and then die? For many, that is all they will have. But for the Christian, for the follower of Christ, we are here to learn and grow. We are here to worship and praise. We are here to prepare ourselves for the next life.

Did you see the Packer game against the Giants when Jordy Nelson had his ribs broken? This was a comeback season for Jordy, winning the Comeback Player of the Year. After returning from a major knee injury in 2016, Jordy worked hard through the pain. When he had his ribs broken he rehabbed hard and played the follow week. He played through the pain for his team's ultimate gain.

Our pain and suffering can cause us to lose our focus. There is a tremendous pull at us to think only of ourselves when we are hurting, not that God might be putting US through something so that, one day, er can help someone else.

Constant physical pain is a tough one. It eats away at a person, making them tired, frustrated and depressed. But if that develops in us a spirit of determination, a drive to get past the pain, to beat it, hasn't the pain helped to make us better?

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." - Romans 5:1-5

There's no magic cure to remove pain but if we can use it to grow and to power us past it, then that is what we must do. Pray with me please?

Father, we have many friends who are hurting. Whether it is relationship issues, physical pain, of an illness they can't seem to beat. Help them through their pain and suffering. Teach them to be strong in ways we cannot. Help them succeed in the ways you want them to. Draw them to Yourself and hold them close when they are hurting the most. And heal them, if it is your will to do so. Let us embrace the storms we face in life because they draw us closer to you. It is you we adore. It is you we love above all others. Ease our pain with your mercy and grace and lift our burdens from us as you promised us you would,

Thank you for hearing us. Thank you for considering this prayer. May we be your hands and feet in this world until you call us home. Though the hills might be steep and the rough might be rough, guide us to where you are. Where you want us to be. Amen.

This story and prayer are for friends in my life who are suffering. You know who you are. Be strong and courageous. Draw nearer to The Lord. I love you all.

Beauty From Pain - Superchick
Determined Paraplegic - BBQ pit

The Parable of The Tick

"Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil." - Proverbs 4:26-27

One of the first stops my wife and I made on our recent vacation was to see Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. It sits along the east end of Lake Michigan's southern shore. We stopped at the Visitor Center first to get some information. That's where we first heard about The Three Dune Challenge! Dun-dun-DUN!!

Naturally, being both stupid AND naive, I suggested we accept the challenge. Have you ever tried walking up a sand dune? The Three Dune Challenge . . . DUN-dun-DUN! . . . is one of the reasons I came back from our vacation weighing three pounds less than before we left. Each step forward is followed closely by one slide back. Slow going.

Near the end of our hike we got a little lost. The trail marker was different than what we were expecting. Bev wanted to walk back up the five billion steps we had just come down. I wanted to go cross country to the trail I could CLEARLY see just a few hundred yards through the woods. So, we each went our separate ways.

Well, the "trail" I saw was merely and sand slide in the middle of the woods. I struggled mightily, my heart pounding in my chest, as I tried walking up an unmarked sandy, thorn-filled hill, steeper and harder than the steps my wife was taking. But I made it.

Later on that evening, as I was changing out of my travel clothes, I discovered three deer ticks, one on my leg and one on each arm, fully-embedded. Great. Deer ticks carry Lyme Disease. Great.

There is a moral to this story. As you might have guessed by the opening Bible verse, we get into trouble when we stray too far from the path God has set before us. God's Word is "a light unto our path" and I wasn't reading my Bible very much on our trip.

It is also a reminder that God will discipline His children. The Bible is filled with examples.

My encounter with the ticks and straying off "the path" taught me a lesson we ALL can use as we try walking through the world in which we live.

STAY ON THE PATH!!

Pray as we encounter life's obstacles and challenges. Persevere through the storms and struggles we face and, with God's help, we can prevail.

"In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:6

Thy Word - Michael W. Smith & Amy Grant

The Tale of The Woolly Bear

The days are getting colder now. Even if you don't have a thermometer it is easy to tell based on the signs we can observe in nature. Tree leaves are beginning to turn colors, there is frost on the grass in our yards and there are woolly bears wiggling across our sidewalks.

Woolly Bears are interesting things. When we see them they are usually on their way to "somewhere" with great determination. They are on a mission!

Have you ever picked up a woolly bear caterpillar? If you have then you know what they do. They roll up into a little ball. Why do you think that is? Here is my theory. God gave them a desire and a means to protect themselves. When they feel threatened they curl up so all of their bristles are pointing out. It's their defense mechanism.

If you hold a woolly bear in your hand and are really still, they will begin walking again, trying to find their way to that distant destination. What a perfect example of Christian behavior.

The Christian is on a quest in this world. To make it through to their ultimate destination - Jesus. When Satan tries to distract us or cause us to deviate from our journey we must curl up and protect ourselves. Once he has moved on we can begin our journey again.

We live in this world that is run by Satan. He flies trough it using any means he can to distract us from our ultimate destination - God.

"2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience (that's us), 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind." - Ephesians 2:2-3

Just like the woolly bear, there are many of us who become totally lost or die on their journey. It's a sad thing to see. There are many temptations to distract us. But success awaits those of us who "bristle" at these things of the world. We cast off the sins that long to entrap us or devour us. When the danger or struggle has passed, we must return to the task of reaching our destination. Our whole purpose in this life is to complete the journey. To "earn our wings" so to speak and to arrive at the promised land.

" 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing." - 2 Timothy 4:7-8

A Woolly Bear's Journey To Become A Moth

Rejoice! In Rotten Cucumbers?

I'm trying to think of something good to say about the walk I took yesterday on the Ice Age Trail. Usually I enjoy such outings but yesterday was completely forgettable as far as I am concerned. Why? Let me explain.

First of all it was misting and windy and the temperature was only in the upper 50's. Considering we are in mid-August, traditionally the hottest time of year where we live, it was a little chilly.

Secondly I was walking on one of the "connector links" which is usually just asphalt roads connecting one segment of the trail with another. I don't like walking on roads. My feet get too hot. One good thing about it being cool-ish today I guess. Then . . . I began . . . to smell something.

This smell was unlike any smell I have ever had the displeasure to inhale. I cupped my hand over my mouth and nose. I can STILL smell it. What was it? I heard a tractor. Maybe somebody was fertilizing their crops. Maybe they were spraying pesticide. And then I saw it. A tractor pulling a manure spreader. Only he wasn't spreading manure. He was spreading rotten cucumbers and the wind was blowing the smell of them right at me. Nasty and disgusting. Yuck!

At church yesterday morning the pastor was speaking on the Book of Hebrews. No, there was nothing about rotten cucumbers in the text but there WAS some good information that I should have remembered while walking through that putrid smell. Perseverance.

Hebrews 10, verse 32 - "Remember those earlier days . . . when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering" . . . and smells. That verse reminded me that I need to endure ALL things in my quest to follow Christ.

Why did I walk a quarter of a mile past rotting cucumbers? Well, it was to complete a goal. It was to complete walking a section of the Ice Age Trail. No one said the entire trail was going to be beautiful . . . or SMELL beautiful. The trail is simply there for those who wish to walk on it. The same is true for us as we walk through this world. Not everyone like the journey. Some bail out before the end. But those who endure until the end . . .

"36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls."

There are times when we go through struggles. Everybody has those. What keeps us going though is our faith. Faith in God and His promises are amazingly strong things to hold onto while we are walking through difficult times. Trust in the Lord, always. No matter how dark things get hold tightly to that which we know to be true. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. Cling tightly to ALL of His promises.

I Stand Amazed - Chris Tomlin

Canoe

If you have ever been to our house and happened to look out into the backyard, you have probably seen an old "birch bark" fiberglass canoe that's been sitting there for years. It's all of 40 years old and is scratched, cracked, bent, faded and it hasn't seen any white water in years. Kind of like me.

One could easily say, "Why don't you get rid of that old eye-sore? What good is it? It just sits there." One could easily say the same thing about me. Well, today I will let the world know why I don't simply put my old canoe in a dumpster. Hopefully, this story will provide encouragement to you, just like that old canoe does for me.

When I was in my early 20's me and my best friend Chris did a lot of canoeing. And I do mean A LOT of canoeing. Our summers were filled with trips "up north" to run as many whitewater rivers as we could. The nastier the river, the better.

One spring we decided to run the Namekogan, a tributary of the St. Croix River in Northwestern Wisconsin. One could tell that it was springtime because it was still cold and the river was rather swollen. High water levels can be both good and bad when canoeing a river. It's good in shallow parts of the river so the canoe doesn't scrape it's way along the gravely bottom.

[That's why I chose a fiberglass canoe over aluminum. There is nothing louder in the otherwise quiet wilderness than an aluminum canoe scraping across gravel or rocks.]

The bad part of running a river in springtime is that all that extra water from the melting snow makes the rapids more dangerous. I have seen aluminum canoes literally wrapped around rocks by the force of the current. Springtime canoeing can really be rather dangerous.

Chris and I were canoe camping that weekend, taking a two day trip to one of our favorite rivers. We were veteran canoeists but we were also young and over-confident - not a good combination as we approached our first major set of rapids.

We got out of the river upstream of the first big rapids we encountered and scouted which route to take through the rocks. We did that for half an hour. Then we emptied all of our camping supplies on shore "just in case" and ran the #3 rapid with relative ease. Rapids are rated 1 through 5 . . . 1 = easy, 5 = portage. We had just gone through a #3, which is actually more like a #4 in springtime with that extra water.

"Wow! That was easy!!" we said to ourselves. Over confidence, coupled with high water levels is a VERY dangerous thing. Our overconfidence, pride and youthful exuberance were about to do us in.

We loaded all of our supplies back in the canoe and headed down the swollen river to the next #3. This time we didn't even bother to scout it. We didn't bother to empty our canoe of the things we wanted to keep dry. We just went on ahead . . . through the 3-foot high standing waves in the middle of the channel. Our canoe immediately filled with water and swamped. Our supplies were floating down stream and so were we. A random kayaker, who just happened to be there, grabbed our tent and sleeping bags as we rode the rest of the rapids as swimmers.

As I tried to keep my head above water I also looked around for my canoe. Nowhere. Then suddenly, it shot out of the water like a breaching whale, landed upright in the water, and began floating away downstream. I swam to shore and began running through the woods after it.

I eventually caught up to the canoe and we started placing our supplies back in the boat, although everything was wet, and we continued on. What were we going to do that night? Sleep in wet sleeping bags in the 40-degree wilderness? Our only hope of surviving hypothermia was to paddle our butts off and try to get back to my truck, parked 24 miles downstream . . . and it was already late afternoon.

So we paddled . . . and we paddled. The sun set . . . and we paddled some more. Finally we saw the lights of the dam, where my truck was parked. Exhausted, frozen, and weary, the lights became our focus. If we could just make it to the lights.

Then through the mist that floated just above the river, we suddenly saw something approaching us. Something white, bobbing up and down. What was it!? It was coming right towards us. Well, it was a bald eagle, flying three feet above the water. It flew right past us, turning its head to look at us. That was a sign if we ever saw one! We had made it!

You have probably had events in your life that have made you grow, in one way or another. Sometimes that growth can be painful but that pain is usually accompanied by growth. Why do those events happen? Are they just random occurrences? Or does God put certain events into motion in order to grow or develop us in some way, for His ultimate use in the future? Interesting question.

My incident with the canoe taught me and my friend that we are NOT the most indestructible forces on the planet. That our lives are capable of taking turns for the worse at any moment. But it also taught me that life's challenges can be overcome through a reliance on things unseen, through the help of others and by meeting our challenges instead of succumbing to them.

God is an amazing teacher. He uses any method He wishes in his universal classroom. Sometimes we get wet in the process but we always reach our destination, praising His name. So why is that old battered canoe still in my back yard? It is a memorial . . . to a lesson learned and to a great God who saves.

Do you have things that you hold on to, mementos, that remind you of special moments where your life became forever change? God's chosen people did.

"Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 At the end of three days the officers went through the camp 3 and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. 4 Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” 5 Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” 6 And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

7 The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” 9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.” 10 And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. 13 And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.”

14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), 16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. 17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

4 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.” - Joshua 3:1-17-4:1-7

The following in not a Christian song but it is a good song nonetheless, encouraging us to ALWAYS . . . remember.

Remember - Harry Nilsson

Jinx

The weeks before our daughter's wedding seemed to be going by rather smoothly - almost TOO smoothly. One could easily say we were overdue for something bad to happen in our lives but I don't believe in all of that karma stuff. And I don't do "luck" either. However, this past week my wife and I endured so many frustrating events in our lives one could easily say we were . . . jinxed.

It all was started when our relatively new high-tech oven failed. The cook top still worked but the oven simply would not get any warmer than 200 degrees. My wife had a lot of baking to do, getting ready for our daughter's wedding. And now that was impossible. Strangely enough, that's when the drain for the kitchen sink got clogged. So much for doing dishes (oh darn).

Naturally I decided to unclog the drain by myself. Why pay for a plumber, right? So I got a wrench and a bucket and headed down to the basement to open the clean out for the kitchen sink. All was proceeding as normal. I began unscrewing the cap on the clean out. The pipe began to drip as expected. Soon there was a trickle. It still wasn't draining fast enough for me. Maybe just another quarter turn . . . .

Whoosh!!!

My arm, the basement wall, several storage boxes and the carpeting were all suddenly soaking wet with dirty, grey sewer water. Nice. Smelled nice too. :O

Then I almost ran out of gas coming home the day before. My car notifies me when I get to within 50 miles of having no gas. It does it again at 25 miles. I'm not sure how I missed BOTH of those warnings but I did. When I finally noticed I was running low on gas, I got off the freeway at the next available exit with a gas station. The gas gage read - "2 miles to empty."

Why were all these bad things happening? Was Satan trying to get us to be angry or frustrated? Maybe. Were we being tested in some way? Perhaps. There was a lot of things that could have really ruined one of the most special weeks of our lives. So why didn't it? The answer, I believe, is God.

Really? How can God make us not care when bad things happen to us . . . when frustration mounts and it seems like nothing is going our way? Like we're jinxed or cursed.

I think it's because we have a faith that makes none of this earthly stuff matter. It is because our focus is on things above not the here below. It all depends on our point of view.

Scroll down through the posts on Facebook sometime. You will see dozens of posts by people who have an earthly view of things, not an eternal view. This morning's sampling was pretty typical. There was a movie quote about having sex. Another about how it's too cold outside. One about how someone doesn't like Thanksgiving. ANOTHER one about the temperature. Here's one. Someone is thinking about starting a blog! Ha!

Most of the posts I read are self-focused. Most of our troubles in this life are self-focused. What if we looked at everything with an eye towards heaven? What is we focus on the eternal aspect of everything that happens instead of the temporal?

Suddenly everything "here" becomes less important.

When our oven failed my wife called her best friend and asked to use HER oven. Cookies got baked and a friend came to the rescue, increasing the bond between my wife and her friend. When the drain clogged up the week before our daughter's wedding we were grateful it didn't happen when our house was filled with guests. When I almost ran out of gas I learned a lesson about planning ahead. It all depends on how we look at things.

When Job was confronted with all the things that went wrong in his life, what did HE do? He praised God. He worshipped. Perhaps we should try harder to find ways to do that. Maybe then things wouldn't seem so bad after all.

"20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” - Job 1:20-21

Blessed Be The Name by Matt Redman

Fall

I find it interesting, how God works. It's seldom in a way we would expect. Yet it is ALWAYS in a way that brings Him glory and praise. And here I am, writing about how God has placed me in front of this keyboard today to tell you a story of pain and suffering that transformed itself into a story about grace and mercy. Of love and of hope.

It's fall right now where we live. Leaves are turning colors. The temperature is at or near the freezing mark most mornings. We and the sun get less and less face-time. All the plants are either going dormant or are just downright dying. And baseball season winds down to it's "fall classic" - The World Series. Fall can be a very beautiful time of year but it also can be a very depressing time of the year.

Recently, a friend of mine sent me a text message, telling me the cancer she and her doctors had
battled a few years ago was back. I went to visit her and her husband this past weekend. What a blessing that visit was.

My friend, her husband and I visited for over an hour. Talking about surgeries, and treatments, our children and life. We laughed, recalling stories from our childhoods and from our children's childhoods. We had a great visit, long overdue.

As I was leaving, I glanced back at my friends, a loving husband helping his wife, still sore from her surgery, back up the steps to their home. What a picture of love and compassion and grace. Their family has certainly endured their share of pain and suffering in this life, yet more is on the way for my friends. They will need our prayers.

Maybe it was the visit with my friend and the cancer that has taken so much from her life. Maybe it was the coming World Series about to begin. But my thoughts turned to a baseball player and a story I vaguely remembered from 25 years ago. The story of Dave Dravecky.

Dave Dravecky led the San Diego Padres to the World Series in 1987. In 1988 he was traded to the San Francisco Giants. He was an All-Star, and led the Giants to the playoffs. Then he noticed a lump forming on his pitching arm. It was cancer.

Surgery followed where the tumor, and 50% of his deltoid muscle, was removed. Doctors told him he would never pitch again. They didn't know Dave Dravecky very well.

Soon he was soft-tossing, then came a minor league assignment. On August 10, 1989 he returned to the Giants, pitching eight innings. The Giants won 4-3 that day. His next start in Montreal was the last game he would ever play. He pitched three no-hit innings but then, in the sixth inning, during a pitch to Tim Raines, Dravecky's arm shattered. He was taken from the field on a stretcher, receiving a standing ovation from the Montreal crowd. The cancer has returned.

Doctors had to amputate his pitching arm and shoulder. His career as a baseball player obviously was over. His childhood dream, removed, along with his arm . . . his livelihood. More than enough to induce depression in ANY one. But . . . I think I forgot to tell you something. Dave Dravecky . . . is a Christian.

Followers of Jesus are not immune to pain by any means. It might actually increase. Certainly there is more persecution, more martyrdom. The thing about Christians is what they have been known to do with the hardships they encounter. It's what they do as they face the pain in their lives.

Dave Dravecky now travels the country as a motivational speaker. He has written a few books about his life, the cancer that ended his career, and the God who gave him hope during the darkest of times.

My friend, the one I visited the other day, is still recovering from her second cancer surgery. She told me during my visit that one of her nurses called her inspirational and that my friend had changed the nurses life, simply by how she handled herself during her whole ordeal.

"5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." - John 1:5

I really encourage you to watch this video. It's a short video about Dave Dravecky and how Jesus led him through the darkest of times. But it is also a story about what Dave has done AFTER those dark times. He has shone his light, the light of Christ, for all to see. We should consider the lives of these two Christians, Dave and my friend, and follow their example. Our pain and suffering may not be as great as theirs, but we can still shine. Shine On!

Dave Dravecky Interview

 

This story is dedicated to Ali and Dave, to Sara, and to Dave and Jan Dravecky

 

Endurance web site

Yoke

When my wife and I were in Alaska for our 30th wedding anniversary we stopped at a training facility for sled dogs. That sounds more impressive than it was. It was just a house at the edge of the woods with lots of barking dogs . . . and mosquitoes.

The guy who owned the place came out and gave a pre-packaged little talk about the Iditarod sled dog race and then began hooking up the dogs to his summer-time sled, an old rusty ATV. He let a few of us hook up some of the dogs. My wife did that. I took pictures. It was a cool to watch the dogs pulling the ATV down the gravel road (the motor was not running) Their trainer just sat on the ATV, watching the dogs. No "Mush!" No "On, you Huskies!" He just sat there, yelling an occasion "Hup." And he watched.

The reason the trainer watches the dogs is to sort out which ones run well next to other dogs. Some dogs just don't like each other, he has to watch out for that. In the middle of the Iditarod race, when temperatures have dropped down as low as 41 below zero, is not the time to be discovering that Ralphie and Brutus don't like each other.

The trainer also watches for that one special dog - a dog who can lead. Good lead dogs are hard to find. They control the tempo and overall performance of the entire team of dogs. Lead dogs are a special breed. But it is the whole team, pulling together, equally, that is important.

Do you know what a yoke is? No, it's not a bad pun. And no, I'm not talking about eggs either. A yoke is a means of hooking animals to one another so they can pull something together, like the dogs in the Iditarod race. Or like a couple oxen pulling a wagon.

When the mushers have a strong dog on one side and a weaker dog on the other, there is a tendency for the stronger dog to do more work than necessary. When a farmer has two oxen yokes together he wants them to be "equally yoked" so when they pull the plow, their furrows are straight and true.

Being un-equally yoked is not as productive and being equally yoked. Whether it be animals or humans, pulling together is far more productive than pulling in opposite directions. Human relationships are like that. Whether it's in our friendships or marriages, being equally yoked with one another is vital to the success of those relationships. Marriages that have different beliefs and different desires have a built-in friction that is not always easy to overcome.

The wedding of my nephew a few weeks ago is an example of a couple being equally yoked. They both are followers of Jesus. They both love Him more than they love each other, or themselves. God is the "lead dog" in their lives. Their relationships is poised to succeed. It will be enjoyable to watch as they "run the good race" (2 Tim 4:7) together, behind Jesus, their "musher", their King.

"28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30

As we go through this life may we all have relationships that are equally yoked. Life would be so much easier if we all lived that way. There would be fewer traffic accidents traveling at the same speed. Our politicians could pull equally to serve us instead of them each pulling in their own direction, or in the direction of their particular parties. If we all were equally yoked with one another, in Christ, imagine the productivity for God's Kingdom. Let's pray for that.

Iditarod Web Page

Come To Me by Aaron Shust

"14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God." - 2 Corinthians 6:14-16

Stretch

Much to my dismay, we have two cats living in our house. It's not really all that bad. They both catch mice when the opportunity presents itself. They both provide my wife with companionship and act as a recipient for her love and affection. For me though, the main enjoyment I get from our two cats is from watching them fail.

For example we have a leather couch in our living room. It's a nice couch. It's cool and comfortable on warm summer days. The cats like to climb up on the back of the couch and sun themselves in the morning while they look out the window. However, the cats have claws, so my wife has placed a blanket on the back of the couch to protect it. And that my friends is where the fun begins.

The leather couch can be rather slippery and when a sleeping cat decides it's time for a big stretch, funny things can happen. More than once a cat has fallen off the back of the couch, taking the blanket with it. When the cat emerges from behind the couch it always acts as if nothing has happened. Gotta look cool you know.

As much as I laugh at our poor cats, I do many of the same things. I can catch mice too, I just don't use my teeth. I like to sun myself on the couch and I love to stretch. Stretching is good. Except when things go "crack!" Has that ever happened to you? Right in the middle of a good stretch I've heard a sudden "pop" in some aging joint of mine or in my back and then I'm rather stiff for the next few days. Maybe I stretched myself too far.

Have you ever been stretched in your faith? I have. My wife has. Many of my friends have. We ALL have at one point or another. The question is, how have we responded? How have we been able to bounce back? We are much like tall trees going through a storm. They get stretched too. Sometimes they go "crack!" But it is the wind in the storm that actually makes them stronger. And so it is with us.

I prayed with a group of brothers at a Christian men's conference back in February. One of the guys actually prayed for more trials in his life because He knew they made him stronger and he knew that during those trials he would grow closer to God. He knew his faith would be stretched, but he also knew it wouldn't be broken. That's the big difference.

"13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13

I don't think we should ever go so far as to say that God is our "personal trainer" but that is kind of what He does. He wants to see all of us grow in our faith. He wants us to develop our character. He wants us to be strong. He is the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)

"5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 1:5-10

Jesus said that we WILL have trouble in this world (John 16:33). However in the same verse He also said, "But take heart! I have overcome the world!"

A short video of cats doing stupid things

Rise Above It by Switchfoot

Fight!

It's football time here in Wisconsin! I know it's still summer outside but the Green Bay Packers are already half way through their preseason schedule! And they havent won a game yet!! Players are battling for positions with the team, and for some, these positional battles mean the difference between having a high-paying job in the NFL or tending bar in some small town back home. Making the team is serious business!

Things get so desperate sometimes that there are actual fights at practise . . . between members of the same team!! Watch this short video and you will see what I mean.

Fight at Packers training camp

These are grown men vying for key roles on MAJOR NFL teams, but in the heat of battle we can ALL lose our cool. When the going gets tough we ALL will take a stand for the things that are really important to us. No matter what our skill level is, we ALL will fight if we are pushed hard enough.

What if you or I really wanted to play for the Green Bay Packers? Good luck with that!! But what if we REALLY wanted to play for them? Or how about this scenario . . . what if we HAD to play for the Green Bay Packers or we simply would die? What would we do? How would we approach our daily lives if every decision we made determined whether or not we would make the team?

Well, first we might analyze the team and figure out where we had our best chance. Quarterback is not an option. Aaron Rodgers has pretty good at that job. Most of us are probably too small to be linemen. I guess I could gain a couple hundred pounds and become "an immovable object." That might work.

Of course I'd need to have a try-out with the team. Hey, I spoke with the chaplain of the Packers once for a few minutes. Maybe he could get me in. Or maybe I could find out where the head coach lives and mow has lawn or walk his dog or something like that. Maybe that would help?

Let's face it. There is absolutely NO WAY on God's green earth that most of us could EVER be good enough to make the roster from the Green Bay Packers, or any other team for that matter, and for me that includes Pop Warner League football for grade school kids! So, what about my "make the team or die" scenario? Well, I guess I should be making funeral arrangements instead of writing this blog because I don't have a snowball's chance in hell. (How about THAT for a major league segue?)

There is another team out there though that is more powerful than the Green Bay Packers. This team offers a tremedous benefit package and retirement plan. And making the team does not depend on how well we throw a football or how many times we can kick a football trough then uprights. It doesn't involve and "skills" at all!! Just a simple belief in the coach & general manager, Jesus.

Even though we don't really have to DO anything to make the team, there are many would-be players on God's Team that act as if they are still trying out. They try to DO things to show God and others that "they have what it takes." It's like they are screaming, "Pick me! Pick me! Look how far I can throw a football!" Those are not the kind of players God is looking for.

God's team is made up of losers. We are the lowly, rejected sinners of the world, not worthy to be chosen by ANY team, let alone God's. Yet we HAVE been chosen! We've been drafted!!

"No one comes to the Father (God) except through me (Jesus)." - John 14:6

If we are looking to "make the team," God's team, we must do so through Jesus Christ. We must acknowledge who He is - The Son of the Living God (Matthew 16:16), repent of our sins (Acts 2:18) and then we must give up everything we have (Matthew 19:21) and be willing to follow Him wherever He may go.

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." - Matthew 16:24

There are several believers in Christ scattered throughout the NFL. Aaron Rodgers is one. Tim Masthay, the Packer's punter, is another. Tim Tebow (New England), Ray Lewis (Baltimore, recently retired) but I fear that many more are NOT followers of Christ, but followers of The World. We need to pray for them and for all who have not made a decision for Christ. Because, quite honestly, although they might be "stars" in THIS world, they don't have what it takes to make it on God's team - faith. But there IS a way, THEE Way, Yahweh. Do YOU have a roster spot (in The Book of Life). I pray that you do, because it is nearly game time!

"Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." - Acts 2:18

Bumble

When I was at Ruby's Pantry this past weekend, one of the ladies standing in line pulled out an envelope filled with pictures and showed them to me. They were images of storm damage from a few weeks ago. If you've been reading this blog for any amount of time you might remember that we had four or five tornadoes touch down in our area.

I told you about our losing a portion of a tree in our front yard and how sad my wife was. Well, this lady lost entire trees - a yard's worth! She said that she had a row of ten full-grown cedar trees, beautiful trees. They were all twisted off at the base during the storm. Her entire yard was filled with fallen trees! One of them had even fallen on her house and collapsed a portion of the roof.

She was still flipping through the pictures when she came upon some photos with a bunch of boys in them. They were carrying branches and some cut up logs. There were dozens of boys, swarming all over her yard. Like a bee hive!

"These are the Boy Scouts and some other boys from Rawhide," she said. (Rawhide Boys Ranch is a local Christian-based facility for at-risk teen boys). Then she looked up at me and said, "I don't know what I would have done without those boys."

Later on that same day, my wife and I were burning in our backyard. We were getting rid of some of the branches from one of our favorite trees. We too had been touched by the same storm that had ripped through that lady's yard. I was chopping, my wife was raking. It was getting fairly dark when, suddenly, my lovely burning partner dropped her rake and ran screaming into the house, yelling, "Bees!! Bees!!!"

Being a guy, and stupid, I went to investigate. Guess what? She was right!!!

My wife and I soon decided, from the safety of our home, that we had burned enough wood for the night so we cleaned ourselves up and went to bed. The following morning I went outside to see what she had uncovered.

I approached slowly, a can of wasp spray in my hand. I assumed I was approaching a yellow jacket nest. Those guys can be really nasty if disturbed so I was "bee-ing" careful. (Sorry about that) I saw some of the bees flying in circles where my wife had been raking. I moved in still closer and, leaning in ever so slowly, I discovered what my wife had accidentally uncovered was . . . a bumble bee nest! Oh . . . good. Bigger bees!!

I was just about ready to give them a big dose of wasp spray when I paused and began to watch them as they worked. My wife had ripped the top of their nest completely off and I could see right inside. They were really working hard! And they were still keeping up with their regular duties too, flying in and out of "the roof" of their now topless nest. Flying down into little tunnels, doing what bees do I guess. They were getting on with their lives, despite their home being devastated!

So I thought for a moment. Perhaps is was time to re-think what I was about to do. I went back inside the house and went on-line to do some research on bumble bees. Interesting findings.

Bumble bees are one of the main pollinators of fruit trees and flowers. They are extremely beneficial insects. The male bees do not sting at all. And their actual nests are only discovered in rare instances. Finding their nests is like a once-in-a-lifetime discovery!

So I placed the can of wasp spray back on the shelf. After it got dark I went outside with a flashlight and gathered the pieces of their former roof and placed them gently back on top of the gaping hole.

When we humans have struggles in our lives, like the lady with all the cedar trees and a hole in her roof, God provides for us . . . often in unexpected ways. Those boy scouts just "showed up" because they were "in the area." Same with the boys from Rawhide. God often shows up exactly when we need Him the most. For me He showed up in a nest of bees. He made me see that we gain nothing when we destroy His creation. But we can experience gain when we pause to appreciate it. God helps us rebound when disaster strike us, He helps us bounce back. God teaches us in times of trouble. It is how we react during times of trial that reflects God's Holy Spirit living within us.

I am sure that lady with all of the pictures will be fine. So will the nest of bumble bees. Like Yukon Cornelius said in the Christmas movie Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer, "Didn't I ever tell you about Bumbles? Bumbles bounce!" And so do we who believe.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." - Hebrews 12:1-3

Triathlon

This past weekend the town in which I live held its 10th annual triathlon. It's a three-part race in which contestants jump in a local lake and do a 1/2 mile swim. Then they put on their tennis shoes and peddle for 20-miles around town and the surrounding countryside, and then they all relax with a 3.1 mile run.

 Lots of people trained for many days. They logging hundreds of miles and probably just as many hours getting ready for the race. All of it for a single morning event that's over in a few hours.

I was up early too. The same day as the race, Ruby's Pantry held its monthly food distribution. I was doing the pre-registration that morning, getting the paperwork out of the way so things could flow a little more smoothly than they already do. A long line of people, waiting for food, snaked throughout the parking lot. Some had been standing in line for several hours.

Shortly before the doors opened at 9:00 AM, the first of the triathlon runners came trotting by. At first it didn't hit me that these "joggers" were actually competing in the triathlon, but then I saw a number on the shirt of one of the runners and I figured it out. I can be quite the detective sometimes (yawn).

Just as my brain was beginning to figure out what was going on . . . "uhh, runners" . . . "with numbers?" . . . "duh, umm, a race?" something very cool happened. The people in line for food . . . began to cheer! Why were they cheering?

My eyes began to tear up. I know many of the people standing in line. Some are on disability, others had recently been laid off, some came with walkers or canes, one lady was blind, Another one was recovering from dabilitating traffic accident. These people had every right NOT to cheer, yet they did so. That was such an awesome thing to witness.

Once again God chose to touch my heart as His Holy Spirit delivered an answer to my prayer. You see, earlier in the week I was praying with my friend at work. I prayed for God to kick me in the butt and prompt me, somehow, to take action. I have had a few ideas for ways to serve God swirling around in my head but so far they have remained just that . . . ideas. I'm great at thinking of things to do but not so great at actually doing them. I prayed for a kick in the pants, a spiritual kick in the pants that is. And guess what . . . I got one.

A few weeks ago I wrote a story about a lady named Joann. You can read it here. In that post I had told you how her story of being laid off from work had effected me. I also told you that I had decided to do something about it. Well, after receiving my boot to the butt, those cheering people encouraging others, here it is . . . my idea.

I am accumulating supplies, needed supplies, for someone who has recently been laid off. Resources for finding work, information about job training, support groups, ways to connect with people. I am also gathering other needs as suggested by my friends on Facebook - coffee, toilet paper, toothpaste, etc. By all means, send your suggestions too. The plan is to give the supplies to these people in need of work. It is hoped that the supplies might fill a need, one less thing to worry about, and that the resources might help lead to employment. And then we will also be delivering the most needed item of all - Jesus.

For those we contact who know Jesus already, we will simply pray with them. And for those who don't, we will tell him about the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. And we will give them a Bible. For it is written, "man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." - Deuteronomy 8:3

And so it is that we seek your prayers, Please pray for all in this world who are without work. There is nothing like a job to give people hope for a future here on earth. And there is nothing like Jesus to provide that hope, "not only in the present age, but in the age to come." Thank you. :)

" I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.'" - 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Soldiers

I began writing this story on Memorial Day and it is the direct result of my reading portions of two books this past weekend. The first book was The Bible. I was taking one of my hikes around our subdivision and I read as I walked. Specifically, I was reading from The Book of Jeremiah.

 

The second book I was reading from that day was The Magic Man In The Sky by Carl Gallups (specifically Chapter 15 - The Meaning of Life). I was also inspired by the remembering, on that Memorial Day, the many U.S soldier that have died while protecting us from evil. First though, let's talk about Jeremiah.

Jeremiah had a pretty rough job. He was the bearer of bad news. God had called Jeremiah to be his prophet and instructed him to inform His people that he was going to punish them for their disobedience. Sounds like a fun job, right? God is NOT seeker sensitive!

Chapter 16 - "And I will declare my judgments against them (Israel & Judah), for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands."

Basically, God's people had strayed from Him. They had turned their back on Him and were living for themselves. They had been worshiping other gods, building their own idols and doing as they pleased.

[Does that sound familiar at all? Does that sound . . . like us? We have turned OUR backs on God and have begun worshipping other gods, like money, drugs, power, sex, television . . . we are basically worshipping our selves]

Well, as you may have surmised by reading the Bible, God is a jealous God and He wanted them back. Just like so many times before, God planned to turn his disobedient children over to the hands of their enemies, to teach them a lesson and to punish them for their disobedience.

[Do you think that something like that is happening to us right now? Are we being turned over to the hands of our enemies? It sure seems like it lately. 9/11, the bombing in Boston, the British soldier being hacked to death]

Read this passage from Romans 1 and see if Paul doesn't seem to be describing present day society.

"24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." - Romans 1:24-32

Yup. That's us. So now what? Is God going to turn us over to the hands of our enemies? Seen the news lately? There have been plenty of examples to choose from. But truthfully? As I said before, I think our biggest enemy is ourselves.

That's what I was thinking when I put down my Bible and began to read Chapter 15 of Magic Man In The Sky. The chapter began this way . . .

"What could be the purpose of life? Why ARE we here?" Gallups then says that the answer to those questions can be found in two verses from the Book of Ephesians.

"7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth." - Ephesians 1:7-10

And then Mr. Gallups wrote this:

"In much the same way, a drill sergeant knows that a number of recruits will make it, and some will not. Therefore, he applies the pressure. He applies the teaching, the instruction, and the conditions of the new recruits life. Vigorous training ensues. While in boot camp, recruits will have superb days, wonderful memories formed, and solid experiences to be enjoyed. However, they will also endure tough times, trying times, and painful times, often unbearable. Yet the training marches on."

Then he wrote this, speaking of why we are here on this earth . . .

"What is the military trying to accomplish in the final analysis? Do they want all the recruits to be happy? Do the want them to feel satisfied and loved? Do they want every need met for each of the young recruits? NO, they want SOLDIERS. They want them prepared, equipped, trained, matured and ready.

Likewise, but with a much more eternal and glorious goal in mind, God . . . is conducting a boot camp."

As I was reading Gallups book, the Clint Eastwood movie Heartbreak Ridge was playing on television. The movie is about a drill sergeant, preparing his platoon for combat. The movie meshed perfectly with what I was reading.

If this life is really boot camp. If our purpose is to survive this world and become soldiers for Christ. Then I welcome the hardship. I welcome the trials and the time spent in the trenches. Because I know that my drill Sergeant is turning me into a soldier.

"¹¹ But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, ¹⁴ to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen." - 1 Timothy 6:11-16

Today is high school graduation day in the town where I live. They have been through boot camp and now it is time to graduated and move into the real world. Hmm, I wonder how many of those recruits graduating today will become soldiers in the army of God?