Friday, September 2, 2011
Israel
What a beautiful sunrise over Tel Aviv this morning. We arrived in Tel Aviv without any delays in flight or customs. Everyone is very friendly here. You would never know there is such turmoil in the land. We arrived at our hotel around 4:30 p.m. and quickly changed into our swimsuits to play in the Mediterranean Sea. The water was warm and the waves were just right for body surfing. I thought about where I was. We are near to the Biblical city of Joppa. When I thought about the sunset, I thought of Jesus and realized He would have enjoyed this same coastline. Later, we enjoyed dinner as Dr. Chad Foster led us through Shabbat prayers and what we know as communion. It is quite humbling to see the men come into the resturant with a "kippa" and lead their family in "kiddush" which is similar to Christian communion. It is so uncommon in America for Christian men to even lead in a prayer of thankfulness before eating let alone be so bold as to stand and pray. Dr. Foster led in the blessings in Hebrew and followed with english translation. Today, after breakfast we will travel up the Via Maris, "The Way of the Sea" to Caesarea, Megiddo and Mt. Carmel, where fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, the altar and licked the water up out of the ditch. Oh, I am so looking forward to this. Shalom for the day!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Focus, Focus, Focus
Today I was at the school where my children attend. It was the last day of school before summer break. For the elementary classes, the day was filled with fun and games. I was watching as they played and rotated around many different events. As I watched one event I really saw the life of a Christian modeled. The game consisted of a styrofoam ball about 2" in diameter and a plastic spoon. The object of this relay game was for each team to balance the ball on the spoon and travel down the course about 20 feet, go around a cone, and return to the starting point where the next person in the relay would take over and continue this process until all had participated. The team completing this task would be declared the winner. Sounds easy but trying to keep that lightweight ball balanced on that little spoon is quite hard.
As I watched the girls and boys compete, I began to distinguish those that were successful and why. The ones with the competitive spirit would try to see how fast they could go. If they tried to run or walk too fast, the wind would blow the ball off and they would have to pick it up and start over. But another thing happened to the ones trying to move fast; they would be going faster than their competitor but just when they thought they were doing good, they would look away and invariably drop the ball.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, there were some who were very nervous and walked very tensed and slow. This seemed to work for them, but just like the speeders, just when they thought they were doing good, they looked away and guess what? They dropped the ball!
The ones that were the most successful were the ones who were not as concerned about speed but were focused on the ball. You see, that was the most important part of the game; don't drop the ball.
Now, as I see this game, I see the need for Christians to "focus on the ball."
The writer of Hebrews tells us this:
"Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed--that exhilarating finish in and with God--He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now He's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God." Hebrew 12:2 MSG
As I studied these kids, grade after grade, the results were the same. The ones who kept their focus on the ball were the ones who were the most successful in the race. By the same token, those Christians who keep their focus on Jesus will be the most successful in this race called life.
If we keep our eyes on Jesus, whatever adversity may come our way will be overcome by the One who has, with pleasure, endured the cross, despised the shame and finished our race.
Don't run too fast, you might take your eyes off and be shallow.
Don't walk too slow, you might take your eyes off and be complacent.
Focus your walk on Jesus and stay with Him and you will be what He intends for you to be.
I hope you will keep your eyes on Him!
Don't drop the ball.
As I watched the girls and boys compete, I began to distinguish those that were successful and why. The ones with the competitive spirit would try to see how fast they could go. If they tried to run or walk too fast, the wind would blow the ball off and they would have to pick it up and start over. But another thing happened to the ones trying to move fast; they would be going faster than their competitor but just when they thought they were doing good, they would look away and invariably drop the ball.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, there were some who were very nervous and walked very tensed and slow. This seemed to work for them, but just like the speeders, just when they thought they were doing good, they looked away and guess what? They dropped the ball!
The ones that were the most successful were the ones who were not as concerned about speed but were focused on the ball. You see, that was the most important part of the game; don't drop the ball.
Now, as I see this game, I see the need for Christians to "focus on the ball."
The writer of Hebrews tells us this:
"Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed--that exhilarating finish in and with God--He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now He's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God." Hebrew 12:2 MSG
As I studied these kids, grade after grade, the results were the same. The ones who kept their focus on the ball were the ones who were the most successful in the race. By the same token, those Christians who keep their focus on Jesus will be the most successful in this race called life.
If we keep our eyes on Jesus, whatever adversity may come our way will be overcome by the One who has, with pleasure, endured the cross, despised the shame and finished our race.
Don't run too fast, you might take your eyes off and be shallow.
Don't walk too slow, you might take your eyes off and be complacent.
Focus your walk on Jesus and stay with Him and you will be what He intends for you to be.
I hope you will keep your eyes on Him!
Don't drop the ball.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wet Feet
Last night, I went to bed with many thoughts on mind about the agenda for today. This morning I was awakened by a very loud rainstorm at 3 o'clock. Suddenly, all of the thoughts from the night before rushed back to my mind and I was unable to go back to sleep. At 4 o'clock I decided to go ahead and start my day since I had a men's Bible study at 6. I spent some time in the Bible and prayer and began my routine to leave. When I walked out, the rain was coming down hard and the porch light was quickly blocked out as I made it to my driveway. It had been raining hard and long and many puddles had accumulated in my gravel driveway. Some were very deep, shoe top deep. Yes, that's right. I tested the depth of the puddles with my feet. I looked like a cat with wet feet as I was shaking the water off.
When I made it to my Uprising group comprised of four other men, I began to complain about the rain this morning and the wet feet I had received as a result of it. During the opening prayer, one of my friends thanked the Lord for even my wet feet. It quickly dawned on me how ungrateful I am. Even though my feet were wet, they had carried me from my bed to the shower. My feet carried me through the rain and drove me to town. My feet then carried me into the church where I would meet with one man slightly older than I, one slightly younger than I and two young men that are seniors in high school; my friends, my prayer partners, and the ones that hold me accountable to love the Lord and love others. I then realized, my wet feet would provide the means to do the work the Lord has called me to do and that is to preach the goods news of a Savior whose feet carried Him to a cross where they would be nailed along with His hands for my sins and yours. When I thought about that....I could no longer complain that my feet were wet.
I am thankful today for all things. Even wet feet. May they lead me down the path of righteousness.
Where will your feet take you?
"The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord.
He delights in every detail of their lives."
Psalm 37:23 NLT
When I made it to my Uprising group comprised of four other men, I began to complain about the rain this morning and the wet feet I had received as a result of it. During the opening prayer, one of my friends thanked the Lord for even my wet feet. It quickly dawned on me how ungrateful I am. Even though my feet were wet, they had carried me from my bed to the shower. My feet carried me through the rain and drove me to town. My feet then carried me into the church where I would meet with one man slightly older than I, one slightly younger than I and two young men that are seniors in high school; my friends, my prayer partners, and the ones that hold me accountable to love the Lord and love others. I then realized, my wet feet would provide the means to do the work the Lord has called me to do and that is to preach the goods news of a Savior whose feet carried Him to a cross where they would be nailed along with His hands for my sins and yours. When I thought about that....I could no longer complain that my feet were wet.
I am thankful today for all things. Even wet feet. May they lead me down the path of righteousness.
Where will your feet take you?
"The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord.
He delights in every detail of their lives."
Psalm 37:23 NLT
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