It was Saturday night. I was standing on stage amidst over 300 voices and instrumentalist. Just hours earlier I spoke with may dad. "What are you doing?" I said with a chuckle in my voice. "I don't know," he said with his usual laugh. Dad was in the hospital. He had gone by ambulance the night before due to excessive pain. Melenoma had taken over many of his organs, including his heart. He hid is pain well. Until that night. So he and I chatted. I wish I could remember what I said...what he said...I told him I would be flying home the next morning and I said "I'll see you tomorrow."
400 years of silence. God's people were wondering where He had gone. Then one day, a Light came. And there was singing. Hallelujah! Emmanuel. God is with us. I tried to sing, mostly in my heart, cause the sound would not come out through my tears and pain. "All is well, all is well..." We had to sing it. I tried to mean it. And again we sang "Hallelujah! Our God is with us!" It may have been during that refrain...or another...I don't know...
We exited the stage. I went to a quiet place. There was a voice mail. "Dad is with Jesus..." He's singing Hallalujah! Our God is with us. And he is with our God.
I miss my dad.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Sunday night...finished work at 6...home watching football...thinking about life...
Need to have further discussion related to my last post...
I talked about the Enemy telling me that God is holding out on me. I talked about the battle I'm in to stop believing that. I am battling it. I can't accept it. My mind knows it's not true. I'm one of those who believes what the Bible says. I may not act like it all the time. But I know it's the ultimate source for truth and answers to life's questions. So I will not accept the message from the Enemy because i know God is who He says He is. He is I AM. Not I WAS. Not I WILL BE, but I AM. That's what I'm working on to battle the message that He's holding out on me. He's not. He wants to be with me right now.
The funny thing (not really funny at all) about the Enemy is that once he gets you to believe that first statement, he hits me with an additional statement of contempt. Rather than encouraging me to believe that about God and trying to convince me that I've got what it takes to make it without God, the Enemy hits me with the next message: You don't have what it takes to have the life you want. You've made too many mistakes. You're not smart enough. You're too poor. You're too weak.
Thanks a lot. I really appreciate how you set me up to fail. So this is my response: You are right! I DON'T have what it takes. I HAVE made mistakes. I'm NOT smart enough. I AM poor. I AM weak. But did you hear what I said earlier? I BELIEVE the Bible. God says He's more than enough for me. The price has been paid for my mistakes. Forgiven. Forgotten. He will give me wisdom and understanding. He has all the riches for me I will ever need. He is strong.
I'm not listening to the Enemy any longer. That's my goal. I'll do my best. God will have to do the rest.
If you have just under 4 minutes yet, listen to this http://youtu.be/jv0zvwvrzm0. It's Michael English singing "The Only Thing Good In Me". The recording isn't great. Hopefully you can understand the lyrics.
Thanks for letting me share.
Need to have further discussion related to my last post...
I talked about the Enemy telling me that God is holding out on me. I talked about the battle I'm in to stop believing that. I am battling it. I can't accept it. My mind knows it's not true. I'm one of those who believes what the Bible says. I may not act like it all the time. But I know it's the ultimate source for truth and answers to life's questions. So I will not accept the message from the Enemy because i know God is who He says He is. He is I AM. Not I WAS. Not I WILL BE, but I AM. That's what I'm working on to battle the message that He's holding out on me. He's not. He wants to be with me right now.
The funny thing (not really funny at all) about the Enemy is that once he gets you to believe that first statement, he hits me with an additional statement of contempt. Rather than encouraging me to believe that about God and trying to convince me that I've got what it takes to make it without God, the Enemy hits me with the next message: You don't have what it takes to have the life you want. You've made too many mistakes. You're not smart enough. You're too poor. You're too weak.
Thanks a lot. I really appreciate how you set me up to fail. So this is my response: You are right! I DON'T have what it takes. I HAVE made mistakes. I'm NOT smart enough. I AM poor. I AM weak. But did you hear what I said earlier? I BELIEVE the Bible. God says He's more than enough for me. The price has been paid for my mistakes. Forgiven. Forgotten. He will give me wisdom and understanding. He has all the riches for me I will ever need. He is strong.
I'm not listening to the Enemy any longer. That's my goal. I'll do my best. God will have to do the rest.
If you have just under 4 minutes yet, listen to this http://youtu.be/jv0zvwvrzm0. It's Michael English singing "The Only Thing Good In Me". The recording isn't great. Hopefully you can understand the lyrics.
Thanks for letting me share.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The Story God Is Telling
To say life feels difficult is an understatement. While some really exceptional things are happening there are also many exceptional challenges. I spend far too many hours feeling lost and sometimes hopeless. When will it all change? How will it all turn around? Why is this happening? Why do I feel this way?
I have been a fan of John Eldredge for many years now. I find his writing connects with me in ways that other inspirational Christian writings do not. I like his use of movie scenes to illustrate his points and being a visual person, it helps the message resonate inside me. I have recently gone back to his writing in hopes of finding direction, clarity and hope for my future.
In his book Epic, as well as his other writings, Eldredge asserts that we are all part of a larger story. He believes life is a story, not a math problem, not a scientific formula, nor an accident. He says that possibly the greatest question we can ask ourselves is "What sort of tale have I fallen into?" Furthermore he identifies that, for most of us, life feels like a movie we've arrived at 45 minutes late. Yet we can't escape the feeling that there is a story written on the human heart. But what is it? How do I fit into the story? Where does it really begin and does it have a happy ending?
This Epic is all about relationships and freedom to love and freedom to choose. It's about Romance and Rescue. It begins "Once upon a time..." and it ends "...happily ever after." Traditional Christianity consisiting of frequent church attendance, self-righteous living and lists of do's and don'ts somehow fails to connect the story written on our individual hearts to the Epic that is being written since time began. As I have been working to be really honest with my self I am realizing that I'm not happy with the role the Author of the larger tale has cast me in this Epic. Unfortunately the Villain in the story has capitalized on our freedom to choose for ourselves. You see, it is our ability to choose for ourselves that makes this an Epic love story, for nobody wants the love of someone who is forced to love them. As Eldredge puts it "God created us in freedom to be his intimate allies, and he will not give up on us. He seeks his allies still. Not religion. Not good church people. Lovers. Allies. Friends of the deepest sort." What the Villain of the story has done is whispered to all of us, including me "You cannot trust the heart of God...he's holding out on you..." He has undermined the relationship.
So God has a complicated problem. He loves. And he loves us so desperately that he wants to rescue us. To further complicate things, we don't always realize we need to be rescued. We can be so caught up in ourselves and our smaller story that we don't realize that we are part of the larger story. Yet in my heart, however faintly it calls to me, I hear a voice that tells me I was once more than I am now. It beckons me to be part of this great Romance. So why is the seed of mistrust that the Villain planted in my heart growing like a weed, choking out whatever Romance with the Author the heart is trying to cultivate?
This is where I am struggling right now. I have the knowledge that I am a cast in this Epic love story that has been going since the beginning of time and is, in fact, eternal. My heart is desperately longing for happily ever after. But I find myself stuck in whatever scene of this Epic I'm in and it feels tragic, often hopeless and it feels like God is holding out on me. What do I have to do to get this story moving forward? What do I have to do to have a better role in this tale? I don't like the part I've been given and I want it to change. Could it be as simple as a choice? God says "I have set before you life and death...Now choose life. (Deut. 30:19) I thought I had. I thought I am. I thought he understands imperfection and that justice, mercy and grace were working together to make it all better for me.
So I'm wrestling with the questions. I'm looking at the big story once again. At the end of the book Eldredge lays out "the road before us." He describes the answers to the questions and poses new questions. I am going to spend a bit more time understanding my questions before I write about the answers. I will tell you, however, that I think the answers were presented to me today. The Narrator voice for the story written on my heart spoke louder. The voice of a close friend helped to clarify by listening and offering empathy and insight. But like I said earlier, like all of us I have the freedom of choice and sometimes I think I choose not to be rescued. That is the saddest part of the story. Maybe this time it will be different. I'll let you know in future posts.
If you would like to know more about John Eldredge and Epic: The Story God Is Telling, you can click here: www.epicReality.com. There you will also find a link to Ransomed Heart, John and Staci Eldredge's ministry based in Colorado.
In his book Epic, as well as his other writings, Eldredge asserts that we are all part of a larger story. He believes life is a story, not a math problem, not a scientific formula, nor an accident. He says that possibly the greatest question we can ask ourselves is "What sort of tale have I fallen into?" Furthermore he identifies that, for most of us, life feels like a movie we've arrived at 45 minutes late. Yet we can't escape the feeling that there is a story written on the human heart. But what is it? How do I fit into the story? Where does it really begin and does it have a happy ending?
This Epic is all about relationships and freedom to love and freedom to choose. It's about Romance and Rescue. It begins "Once upon a time..." and it ends "...happily ever after." Traditional Christianity consisiting of frequent church attendance, self-righteous living and lists of do's and don'ts somehow fails to connect the story written on our individual hearts to the Epic that is being written since time began. As I have been working to be really honest with my self I am realizing that I'm not happy with the role the Author of the larger tale has cast me in this Epic. Unfortunately the Villain in the story has capitalized on our freedom to choose for ourselves. You see, it is our ability to choose for ourselves that makes this an Epic love story, for nobody wants the love of someone who is forced to love them. As Eldredge puts it "God created us in freedom to be his intimate allies, and he will not give up on us. He seeks his allies still. Not religion. Not good church people. Lovers. Allies. Friends of the deepest sort." What the Villain of the story has done is whispered to all of us, including me "You cannot trust the heart of God...he's holding out on you..." He has undermined the relationship.
So God has a complicated problem. He loves. And he loves us so desperately that he wants to rescue us. To further complicate things, we don't always realize we need to be rescued. We can be so caught up in ourselves and our smaller story that we don't realize that we are part of the larger story. Yet in my heart, however faintly it calls to me, I hear a voice that tells me I was once more than I am now. It beckons me to be part of this great Romance. So why is the seed of mistrust that the Villain planted in my heart growing like a weed, choking out whatever Romance with the Author the heart is trying to cultivate?
This is where I am struggling right now. I have the knowledge that I am a cast in this Epic love story that has been going since the beginning of time and is, in fact, eternal. My heart is desperately longing for happily ever after. But I find myself stuck in whatever scene of this Epic I'm in and it feels tragic, often hopeless and it feels like God is holding out on me. What do I have to do to get this story moving forward? What do I have to do to have a better role in this tale? I don't like the part I've been given and I want it to change. Could it be as simple as a choice? God says "I have set before you life and death...Now choose life. (Deut. 30:19) I thought I had. I thought I am. I thought he understands imperfection and that justice, mercy and grace were working together to make it all better for me.
So I'm wrestling with the questions. I'm looking at the big story once again. At the end of the book Eldredge lays out "the road before us." He describes the answers to the questions and poses new questions. I am going to spend a bit more time understanding my questions before I write about the answers. I will tell you, however, that I think the answers were presented to me today. The Narrator voice for the story written on my heart spoke louder. The voice of a close friend helped to clarify by listening and offering empathy and insight. But like I said earlier, like all of us I have the freedom of choice and sometimes I think I choose not to be rescued. That is the saddest part of the story. Maybe this time it will be different. I'll let you know in future posts.
If you would like to know more about John Eldredge and Epic: The Story God Is Telling, you can click here: www.epicReality.com. There you will also find a link to Ransomed Heart, John and Staci Eldredge's ministry based in Colorado.
My Happy Place
Today I sat under the gazebo and read a book and did a bit of thinking and soul-searching. I imagine I'll be spending some more time here. Who knows...maybe I'll invest in a fishing license and see if I can catch a big one. Now that it isn't so blazing hot and humid all the time, it's nice to get out and experience what God has created.
I'm reading Epic by John Eldredge. In it he writes "We have grown dull toward this world in which we live; we have forgotten that it is not normal or scientific in any sense of the word. It is fantastic. It is fairy tale through and through. Really now. Elephants? Caterpillars? Snow? At what point did you lose your wonder at it all?...And for a moment we realze that we were born into a world astonishing as any fairy tale. A world made for romance...Surely you see that God is more creative than we can possibly imagine, and romantic to the core."
Sunday, November 6, 2011
I don't know as much as I thought...
I know. You're surprised. On Nov. 17, 2008 I wrote a piece about our dating philosophy. http://voiceofdon.blogspot.com Yeah...I had great intentions and it sounded good. Doesn't work like I expected. But so far it's OK.
It has openned a lot of great discussions with Ashley, my oldest. We died pretty well at listening and then we compromised our position. However, the boy's parent's ended up being more strict than we were. Ashley has lots of guy friends. I haven't really needed to get a shotgun. She is a special girl and some young man is going to be very lucky to receive her love. She did confess that she tried to kiss a boy in kindergarten. Really? Like I said...I don't know as much as I thought.
In that same blog I said the same standards apply for my son as for my daughters. Let me introduce you to Lyssa. She and Jordan have been going out for a few months. I say going out...he doesn't have a car. She's sweet and he likes her. So my dating philosophy has totally failed here. I really don't know much at all, people.
Finally, I will say that a very nice young man asked to take Grace to a movie with he and his dad. Also asked if it was OK to take her to dinner as well. Folks...I know NOTHING!
It has openned a lot of great discussions with Ashley, my oldest. We died pretty well at listening and then we compromised our position. However, the boy's parent's ended up being more strict than we were. Ashley has lots of guy friends. I haven't really needed to get a shotgun. She is a special girl and some young man is going to be very lucky to receive her love. She did confess that she tried to kiss a boy in kindergarten. Really? Like I said...I don't know as much as I thought.
In that same blog I said the same standards apply for my son as for my daughters. Let me introduce you to Lyssa. She and Jordan have been going out for a few months. I say going out...he doesn't have a car. She's sweet and he likes her. So my dating philosophy has totally failed here. I really don't know much at all, people.Finally, I will say that a very nice young man asked to take Grace to a movie with he and his dad. Also asked if it was OK to take her to dinner as well. Folks...I know NOTHING!
My Kids
Most people think their kids are the greatest. I am no different. I have been blessed with Ashley, 19, "The girl I've always wanted." She is in the middle of her 2nd year at California Baptist Univ. I am so proud of her. She is growing into such a fantastic young woman. It is incredible to be experiencing even more of a friendship with her in addition to the parent/child relationship that we will never lose. It's hard to be so far away from her, yet I've always know that we raise our kids to one day let them go and fly on their own. She seems to be well equipped and has shown amazing maturity in her time away. She is learning and experiencing things out from the daily covering that her mother and I provided, yet knows exactly how to come back under our wings for the needed comfort and support.
Jordan, 16, "my little Man" is becoming that man more and more every day. I love watching how Jordan is growing and maturing. I love to see his unique qualities, the care and concern he has for others and the fun he has in life. It's exciting to see his joy as he is finding increased success in school. It is heart-warming to hear his compassion for others when he serves with his youth group. It will be fun to see where the road takes him in the next several years.
Grace, 10, "my special girl" is growing up too fast. Where did all the time go? She is always happy, full of life and lives it full throttle. Whether watching her lead her 4th grade class, seeing her excel in Tae Kwon Do, listening to how she nailed her choir auditions, every day is something new and exciting. She is becoming so aware of the world around her as well as the world far away. She not only talks about herself but asks about me. She not only want's things for herself, she gives to help others in Africa. She is one of a kind.
If you haven't met my kids yet, I hope you can soon. Of anything in life, they are what I am most proud of. I read a post from old blog, http://voiceofdon.blogspot.com, Aug. 24, 2008. In my typical fashion I didn't proof read it and I found a glaring error today. In the blog I attempted to quote a former pastor. This is how the quote should read and I re-post it here as it pertains to what I'm feeling this moment about my kids: "Judgement is getting what I deserve. Mercy is NOT getting what I deserve. Grace is getting what I do not deserve." God has truely "graced" me with 3 amazing children.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
The blind will see!
He said that miracles like that would happen. Yet our idea, even of miracles, tend to be limited to some box we have placed Him in. We created that box with the accumulation of our experiences coupled by what we have been taught and told about Him. Now please don't misunderstand me. I am no scholar. I am not claiming to have unique spiritual insights or even the faith of a mustard seed most days. But I continue to move forward, sometimes after taking 2 steps back and I like to think that I notice what He is doing once in a while.
My friend is legally blind. My friend doesn't really want you to know. My friend is going to have sight restored, first in one eye, then 2 weeks later in the other. That's a miracle. When I think about it, it's a miracle of profound proportions. However an equally profound miracle takes place when the vision of who we are becomes restored and we see life clearly again.
If you are like me you didn't even realize how blind you were getting until one day you woke up and felt so much in the dark, so alone and isolated, not knowing which way to turn because you couldn't see clearly either way. Then in some miraculous, crazy way, sight came back into your life. And this new found vision allows you to look back and see more clearly and to look around and see others that are walking with you. And you are able to focus ahead and move forward with a new freedom that this renewed sight has brought you. Why are you so surprised with that miracle? Why is the box you have put Him in so small? Why are you so blind?
Sometimes you deny your blindness because you have become used to getting by in darkness. Sometimes you reject any solutions because you're too prideful to reveal how blind you really are. Sometimes you accept your blindness out of fear of what it will take to see again. And afraid that the surgury won't insure rhat your sight returns. Sometimes you get in the way of the miracles yet sometimes they happen regardless of your posture and position. So maybe He isn't contained by the box you have placed Him in.
When the veil is lifted, when your sight is restored you experience freedom and hope that had left you long ago. Now it's not only your dreams that are vivid but your vision is clear and propelling you forward toward destinations that you can see.
I'm 44. Even before 40 I started wearing "readers" and I actually wear them all the time. Yet I have no idea what it is to experience what my friend is going through dealing with blindness. But the figurative blindness I speak of I am very well familiar with. I am experience new sight each and every day. For the longest time I didn't realize how blind I was. I denied it. I rejected solutions. I accepted it and chose to live with it. I'm getting more and more sight back every day. I see things in new ways. I see the past more clearly. I see the future with hope even though the present is more challenging than most days I've lived until now. And I see the present for what it is. Some days I wish I didn't have to face it. Some days I have to look the other way, afraid of what I see before me. But more often than not I am looking ahead with great anticipation.
I will give you one specific example from my life. You have to look for additional examples from your own. For years I have refused to see what is now obvious to me in regards to my vocation. For years I have chosen to be blind to the fact that Church or School Choral Music is what I should be doing. Recently my sight has returned and I have applied for Church Choir Director jobs. It is what I was created for. I see that now. It is what I have been successful at in the past. I see that now. It is what I am able to do with a passion that comes from my soul. I see that now. I have been allowing my blindness to hold me back for years. And I have kept Him in a box so as not to let Him help me see. He broke out of my box.
Lest you worry about me I am also seeing lots of other things about myself with clarity that is new and refreshing. I'm getting better about accepting what I see when I look back. I'm excited about what I see when I look forward. What I see right where I am today is helping me put one foot in front of the other. I can't stay here. I have to move forward. At least I can see now. What I see is a miracle!
My friend is legally blind. My friend doesn't really want you to know. My friend is going to have sight restored, first in one eye, then 2 weeks later in the other. That's a miracle. When I think about it, it's a miracle of profound proportions. However an equally profound miracle takes place when the vision of who we are becomes restored and we see life clearly again.
If you are like me you didn't even realize how blind you were getting until one day you woke up and felt so much in the dark, so alone and isolated, not knowing which way to turn because you couldn't see clearly either way. Then in some miraculous, crazy way, sight came back into your life. And this new found vision allows you to look back and see more clearly and to look around and see others that are walking with you. And you are able to focus ahead and move forward with a new freedom that this renewed sight has brought you. Why are you so surprised with that miracle? Why is the box you have put Him in so small? Why are you so blind?
Sometimes you deny your blindness because you have become used to getting by in darkness. Sometimes you reject any solutions because you're too prideful to reveal how blind you really are. Sometimes you accept your blindness out of fear of what it will take to see again. And afraid that the surgury won't insure rhat your sight returns. Sometimes you get in the way of the miracles yet sometimes they happen regardless of your posture and position. So maybe He isn't contained by the box you have placed Him in.
When the veil is lifted, when your sight is restored you experience freedom and hope that had left you long ago. Now it's not only your dreams that are vivid but your vision is clear and propelling you forward toward destinations that you can see.
I'm 44. Even before 40 I started wearing "readers" and I actually wear them all the time. Yet I have no idea what it is to experience what my friend is going through dealing with blindness. But the figurative blindness I speak of I am very well familiar with. I am experience new sight each and every day. For the longest time I didn't realize how blind I was. I denied it. I rejected solutions. I accepted it and chose to live with it. I'm getting more and more sight back every day. I see things in new ways. I see the past more clearly. I see the future with hope even though the present is more challenging than most days I've lived until now. And I see the present for what it is. Some days I wish I didn't have to face it. Some days I have to look the other way, afraid of what I see before me. But more often than not I am looking ahead with great anticipation.
I will give you one specific example from my life. You have to look for additional examples from your own. For years I have refused to see what is now obvious to me in regards to my vocation. For years I have chosen to be blind to the fact that Church or School Choral Music is what I should be doing. Recently my sight has returned and I have applied for Church Choir Director jobs. It is what I was created for. I see that now. It is what I have been successful at in the past. I see that now. It is what I am able to do with a passion that comes from my soul. I see that now. I have been allowing my blindness to hold me back for years. And I have kept Him in a box so as not to let Him help me see. He broke out of my box.
Lest you worry about me I am also seeing lots of other things about myself with clarity that is new and refreshing. I'm getting better about accepting what I see when I look back. I'm excited about what I see when I look forward. What I see right where I am today is helping me put one foot in front of the other. I can't stay here. I have to move forward. At least I can see now. What I see is a miracle!
Out with the old, in with the new
So I have been inspired to start blogging again. I went back and looked at my old blog, http://voiceofdon.blogspot.
but couldn't remember how to log in. Sad but true.
But sometimes it is good to start fresh. It seems to be the theme of my life recently.
After changing jobs 3 months ago I find myself looking for employment again. It is very stressful and often disheartening. I'm to the point where I will take anything in the short term and will go to a Temp Agency tomorrow.
Lots of changes in my life. Lots of opportunities for a fresh, new start. At 44, have I learned the lessons to make each new start better than the past? I hope so. It's hard not to look at the past as "failure". But I have been recently challenged to look for a different word, other than the "f" word to describe those places in my journey that have needed to be left behind. I don't know what that word is yet, but I'm sure I will find it. Until then, I think I'm going to look foward towards the new and exciting future that is ahead of me. It's much more fun to dream about what is to come than to focus on what was behind.
I'm sure I'll have lots to say as I walk forward. I'm glad you are interested so far. It's nice to be known. That's kinda new, too.
but couldn't remember how to log in. Sad but true.
But sometimes it is good to start fresh. It seems to be the theme of my life recently.
After changing jobs 3 months ago I find myself looking for employment again. It is very stressful and often disheartening. I'm to the point where I will take anything in the short term and will go to a Temp Agency tomorrow.
Lots of changes in my life. Lots of opportunities for a fresh, new start. At 44, have I learned the lessons to make each new start better than the past? I hope so. It's hard not to look at the past as "failure". But I have been recently challenged to look for a different word, other than the "f" word to describe those places in my journey that have needed to be left behind. I don't know what that word is yet, but I'm sure I will find it. Until then, I think I'm going to look foward towards the new and exciting future that is ahead of me. It's much more fun to dream about what is to come than to focus on what was behind.
I'm sure I'll have lots to say as I walk forward. I'm glad you are interested so far. It's nice to be known. That's kinda new, too.
I'm Back
I have decided to come back to the world of blogging. I really kinda enjoyed it before. Then life happened. Now I have no life, so what the heck. Maybe it's just for me. Maybe it's for you. Maybe I just want to be known. We'll find out.
If you read it, comment on it. Just something short is fine. Just let me know we touched, if just briefly. Life is too short to feel alone.
If you read it, comment on it. Just something short is fine. Just let me know we touched, if just briefly. Life is too short to feel alone.
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