Monday, May 31, 2021

Backyard Firepits and Barbra Streisand

You can’t tell by looking at it, but this is one of the best relationship facilitators I have. That patio and that fire pit serve to bring people together in ways that don’t often happen otherwise. When you serve a meal, snacks, or dessert out on the patio or enjoy the glow of the backyard fire most people become more at ease and begin to forget the stress of the world around them. It happens with us as a couple, with family members, with a group of guys, or a gathering of couples. Finding a community of people can be difficult and for some feels impossible. This past year, while some have experienced community in new ways, others have felt robbed of the interaction and ability to gather as they desperately desire.

Sometimes we feel like we just don’t fit with the people around us. Maybe those around us are athletic and we aren’t into that. Maybe those in our relational sphere happen to be of a different generation and we struggle to relate to them. It could be that you are quite introverted and many of those around you are extreme type-A personalities. Sometimes we just don’t click with others that are around us. Sometimes it’s that we give up too soon. Whatever it may be that is keeping us from being part of a community is something that is a very real challenge for some of us. But the challenges don't stop there.

Have you felt like the "teathercat" in this picture? Have you felt you’ve taken more slaps and punches than necessary in regards to relationships? Do you feel like you've been wrapped around the painful relationship pole? Have you been victimized by people close to you? Have you been on the painful end of gossip, slander, drama that was not true? It can be extremely difficult to be willing to open up to community because it feels far too risky to emotionally trust others. When trust has been broken, relationships suffer. Sometimes the effects of that suffering are very hard to overcome. Our natural tendency is to protect ourselves so we withdraw from building relationships and engaging in groups for fear of more pain.

Some of you don’t wish to let others into your circle of trust because you fear exposure. You may be that person that doesn't really like themselves very much. You may isolate rather than place yourself in any situation where you might have to be vulnerable. "Nobody will like me. Heck, I don't even like me." It may be that you don’t think others will accept the real you. You want to have others in your life that you can count on, but you wonder who would want to have a relationship with you. "It's not that I don't want to have friends, I just can't seem to get close to anyone." It may be that being close enough to a community of people feels too vulnerable and the risk seems too great. "If anyone knows the truth about me, the pain would be too much to bear." There is a real fear of light exposing the darkness within and it keeps you from living in community with others. Being alone, while not what we really want, is familiar and thus easier to live with than the unfamiliar idea of letting others in.

It could well be that you just don’t know how to fit community into your current life situation. It may be that you don't know if you have any more space to allow anyone else into the journey of your life right now. You don't feel like you have room enough for the load you are traveling with. You may work 60 hours a week and find yourself without time for anyone but yourself. You may be emotionally or physically exhausted because of what the recent and current chapters of your life demand of you. You may find it necessary to prioritize other needs and desires over community. Fitting another activity with a group of people into your life just doesn't seem realistic or even pleasurable, for that matter.

Friends, While all of that makes perfect sense, hear this: God has created you for community. Yes, it's true. Within your very being is the innate need to be part of a group of people. The Bible tells us that we are created in God's image.  "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them" (Gen. 1:27 NIV). The Bible teaches us that God, in His divine essence, is community Himself; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Three-in-One. We have been created for community to reflect the image of our Creator. The three natures of God all share the same attributes. They each also display different qualities of their nature in different times and circumstances. God the Father demonstrates unbelievable creativity, extreme jealousy, and reckless love. Jesus the Son demonstrates perfection beyond belief, grace beyond measure, and commitment beyond possibility. The Holy Spirit demonstrates sensitivity that cannot be matched, conviction that is uncomfortable, and wisdom that cannot be comprehended.

Friends, you need a community of others around you. We need other people with whom we do life. We need others that we can have fun with; people that we can laugh with and enjoy life with. I think of the “chance” meeting my wife and I had on Friday night when we went to listen to a friend play music and ended up with a group of people we knew that we laughed with and thoroughly enjoyed the evening with. We need relationships with others that stretch us to think and challenge us to get beyond our selfishness. We need a community that gives us the opportunity to serve others and to give back. I even think of my own family, each person created uniquely and each one facing their own unique circumstances in life. At times I am stretched and challenged by their actions and their beliefs. At times I am challenged to have the courage to pour into them rather than watch them from the sidelines. Honestly, at times I am challenged to love them with the same love the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have loved me.

Friends, community is a huge part of what helps us overcome and rise to be that person we made us to be. We need men and women like those in the Sunday night prayer group that I meet with weekly; men and women who pray together regularly. Some of them I have never met in person and I don't know their stories. But we share in a commitment to meet for a common purpose. How many times have you needed someone to cry with, someone to confess to, someone to ask advice of? Some of you have been greeted by inspired members of your community who have given a timely “I love you”; “You’re going to make it”; “I forgive you”; “You can keep going.” We need others to lift us up at those times we unable to stand on our own. We need others to believe for us during those times when our faith is waning. We need a community of men and women we can count on when the going gets tough. We were designed for this.

It was Barbra Streisand who made popular these lyrics,
            “People, People who need people,
            Are the luckiest people in the world.
            We're children, needing other children.
            And yet letting a grown-up pride
            Hide all the need inside
            Acting more like children than children.

A feeling deep in your soul
Says you were half now you're whole.
No more hunger and thirst
First be a person who needs people.
People who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world.”
                                - from Funny Girl 1964 Broadway musical, Songwriters: Carmine Appice /                                    Mark Stein / Tim Bogert / Vincent Martell People lyrics © Warner                                                Chappell Music, Inc

The need for community is so evident that it has been proclaimed not only from the pulpits of America but on the Broadway stage. Television sitcoms and dramatic movies have portrayed the benefits of community. Therapists have recommended group activities as being life-giving for those who struggle and addicts find hope in regularly meeting with those whom they relate to on a deep level. As amazing as that is, truth is truth, whether those who speak it, or in Streisand's case, sing it, realize it or not.

One of the gifts of 2020 for me was a new understanding and experience of community. It was marked by inserting myself in a new community that functions in a way I have never been a part of before. It was marked by stepping away from a community where I had responsibilities and was now free from the weight that comes from such things. 2021 has been marked by the call to try to facilitate a new community, one we are trying to grow from scratch, starting at the ground floor. We have yet to see what that is going to look like and who it is going to include. We are taking faithful and sometimes courageous steps to rally around others and invite them to rally around us. It is an exciting and challenging new journey, to say the least.

So the next time you are invited to someone's patio or offered the opportunity to sit around a backyard firepit, just think about whether it would be better for you to be alone or if just maybe you need what these people have to offer or can give what these people may be needing you to give. 

 Thanks for reading,



Wednesday, May 19, 2021

As promised, here is a list of events in the Centennial/Littleton area that you might want to take advantage of this summer. It is by no means complete.

May 29 – 30 Colorado Music and Arts Festival – Centennial Center Park,  live music and concerts, classic car show, custom motorcycle show, fine art displays, youth artist showcase, juried visual artists, vintage market, craft beers, delicious cuisines, and more. Enjoy live performances of national recording artists on the main stage. Hours: 11am-9pm

June 5 Paris Street Market – Aspen Grove 8:00 -2:00

June 10-11 Parker Days Festival – Main Street,  music, rides, car show, carnival, exhibits, beers, food, and more. Hours: Thu 5pm-10pm; Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat 9am-midnight; Sun 9am-10pm

June 19 Paris Street Market – Park Meadows

Thurs., July 1 6:30 -8:00 Highland Heritage Regional Park – TWENTY HANDS HIGH, country, rock

July 3 Paris Street Market – Aspen Grove 8:00 -2:00

July 4 Highlands Ranch Town Center Parade

July 4 Highlands Ranch July 4th Celebration – Highland Heritage Regional Park, live music, game, inflatables, face painting, balloon twister, fireworks, and more. Hours: 4pm-10pm

July 17 Paris Street Market – Park Meadows

Aug. 7 Paris Street Market – Aspen Grove 8:00 -2:00

Aug. 14 Centennial Center Park – Centennial Under the Stars, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, live music and a mesmerizing laser light show.

Aug. 21 Paris Street Market – Park Meadows

Sept 4 Paris Street Market – Aspen Grove 8:00 -2:00

Sept 18 Paris Street Market – Park Meadows


What I Am Doing On My Summer Vacation or A Life-Changing Encounter with Jesus

With Summer right around the corner, you may be starting to think about what fun experiences you might engage in over the next several months. I know that around May 1 I always try to get a schedule of all the weekend festivals, concerts in the parks, and Farmer’s markets in our local area, and there are lots of them. In fact, I’ll share my list tomorrow on my Wednesday post. (This is my Sunday post, only 2 days late.)

Our first Summer adventure will be a weekend at the M Lazy C Ranch “…where you step into the boots of a cowboy and ride in the old west the way it used to be.” It’s

not a “dude ranch” so we won’t be working, we will be relaxing. But we will enjoy some of the activities the ranch has to offer; nightly campfires and s’mores, a horseback ride in the Colorado mountains west of Pike’s Peak, observing owners caring for their horses, and much, much more. We will also use the ranch as our home base as we see some of the sights west of Colorado Springs.

My reason for sharing our plans is not to brag about what we get to do. We are so grateful and it is only because of God’s grace and provision that we are even able to consider taking this time away together. I also do not want to stir feelings of jealousy or envy within you. Rather, I trust that you are making plans to do some things this summer that resonate with you. We are so blessed, as Americans, to have options for recreation, relaxation, and restoration, all of which are important to the health of our body, mind, and soul. So get out there and do something new this Summer for a day, a weekend, a week; whatever you have been blessed with in terms of time and resources.

Speaking of something new, I had a brand new experience this past Sunday that has given me much to think about, which is part of the reason I haven’t written my post until today. In fact, my experience has actually shaken me to the core. When I write, I try to share everything from the mundane to the profound. I hope to make my audience think, laugh, relate, and even question. I believe all of those things are healthy and might I even say, fun. What happened to me on Sunday unexpectedly caused me to do all of those things.

Friends, I attended a Catholic Mass for the first time in my life. Our friend’s daughters were taking First Communion and we decided to go out of love, honor, and support of them. I really had no idea what to expect, except that I knew I would hear some Latin, stand and sit a lot, and that the Priest would likely be in a robe. The rest was up for grabs. I’ll be honest and tell you that I did not know if I would have a worshipful time, but I remained open to it. I cannot begin to tell you what is stirring inside of me as I am reflecting on my experience.

All of my life I have heard of and spoken of the fact that Jesus is alive. I have experienced the presence of Christ in my life. I have understood as best as I could, the love of God. I have tried to have a healthy respect, or what the Bible calls “fear” of God and have engaged in acts of worship, defined as “an expression of reverence, honor, and adoration for God the Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.” Not only have I thought I understood all of those concepts, but I have also been employed as a Worship Leader for much of my adult life. I have also believed that the Word of God, which we know as The Holy Bible, is alive (Heb. 4:12 NIV), vibrant, and carries the power of life and transformation. I believe the Bible is true, all-sufficient, and penetrating. The Word of God is active in the spirit and soul of a Christ-follower, and thus, alive and active in me.

May 16 was Ascension Sunday according to the Liturgical calendar, a calendar that follows a cycle of readings based on events and Scriptural themes. The Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy summarizes the meaning of the liturgical celebrations of the Church this way:


“Holy Church celebrates the saving work of Christ on prescribed days in the course of the year with sacred remembrance. Each week, on the day called the Lord's Day, she commemorates the Resurrection of the Lord, which she also celebrates once a year in the great Paschal Solemnity, together with his blessed Passion. In fact, throughout the course of the year the Church unfolds the entire mystery of Christ and observes the birthdays of the Saints. (no. 1)”

It is not only the Catholic Church that follows the Liturgical calendar. Many Protestant denominations follow it, some closely and others loosely. I have been familiar with it, having had a course in High School and in College on church history. I also served in a Presbyterian church, which historically uses the Liturgical calendar. However, it was loosely observed in my church, probably because of my lack of familiarity and lack of practice with it. Ascension Sunday means that the theme of the Mass centered around the places in Scripture where it talks about Christ leaving the Earth in bodily form and “ascending” into heaven. It’s a story from the life of Christ I am familiar with and includes reference to 3 of the 4 gospels (Mark, Luke, and John), as well as the Book of Acts and others. The experience I had on this particular day will forever change my relationship with Christ.

The first point of reflection from this experience is the reverence and respect for the presence of God. I observed this in the parishioners crossing themselves and some bowing or nodding to representations or icons of Christ. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta said “We cannot separate our lives from the Eucharist; the moment we do, something breaks…When you look at the crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the Sacred Host you understand how much Jesus loves you now.” While I said that I have a healthy respect for God, the parishioners at St. Mark’s gave an outward showing of the respect that seemed to be inwardly sincere.

Another action in the worship service was the burning of incense, which I had never experienced as part of worship. The smoke of burning incense is interpreted by many churches as a symbol of the prayer of the faithful rising to Heaven. This symbolism can be seen in Psalm 141:2 as well as other places in Scripture. The act of preparing the incense and releasing the smoke appeared to be an extremely respectful act on the part of all those that preformed the ritual.

Respect was also shown by parishioners in the physical act of standing at certain times and by some in the act of kneeling at certain times. What was unique about this here compared to other churches I have worshipped in is that nobody was invited or told to stand. It was as if they were doing so because they knew at certain points in the worship service standing or kneeling was an appropriate posture, not just something they do. This could just be my perspective based on the newness of the experience for me, but that is how I interpreted it.

The next point of reflection for me leads to me closer to the most profound parts of the service. What I heard in the Mass was the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news that God sent Christ to die for our sins and rise from the dead, proving His power over sin and death. Jesus later ascended into Heaven, where He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for us. The Priest, in his homily, reminded parishioners that Christ, though physically in Heaven, would also be present with us in a very real way “very shortly.” While the Priest described this as one of the mysteries that we are unable to understand, it is true. However, the presence of Christ he was referring to was something much different than the presence of Christ I know and understand to be Biblical.

That leads me yet closer to reflecting on the profound. The worship service ended with what some call the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, or Communion. This is the practice of remembering Christ’s death and resurrection with the eating and drinking of bread and wine. It is something that Jesus asked His followers to do and has been a practice of Christians for centuries. As Christ explained, the bread represents His body that was broken for us and the wine represents the blood that was shed for us. Christ-followers are to eat and drink in remembrance of Him and in a manner worthy of proclaiming the Lord’s death. 1 Corinthians 11 goes on to say “Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of “remembrance” you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe (1 Cor. 11:27-28 TM).  

Here is where Catholics and Protestants differ. Most Protestant denominations and certainly Evangelical churches consider the elements of the Eucharist to be symbols of the body and blood of Christ. The Catholic Church believes in what is called Transubstantiation. Oxford defines this as “the conversion of the substance of the Eucharistic elements into the body and blood of Christ at consecration, only the appearances of bread and wine still remaining.” Here began my profound experience.

The Priest had been talking about the fact that Christ had left Earth at the Ascension, yet was periodically present with us. His description of the presence of Christ referred to the sacrament of the Eucharist. It is the belief of the Catholic Church that Christ is present with His people at the moment the bread and the wine are consecrated and, though it still appears to be bread and wine, it is actually Christ Himself in the presence of His people. This is why devoted Catholic parishioners take communion at any and every opportunity. It is the moment when Christ is literally with them. As a non-Catholic Christ-follower, I understand the words of Christ and those who wrote the Scripture to explain that Christ is always with us, not only at certain times on certain occasions. It is at this moment in the service that the difference in theology was most evident, yet deeply sacred, moving, and mysterious at the same time.

I sat in my pew so intently focused on the Priest as he was preparing the elements for Communion. I’m not sure if I blinked or moved a muscle. There was a very real sense that something special was taking place and I did not want to miss it. My reflection regarding this act of worship in the service has changed my thinking forever. The reverence with which the sacrament of the Eucharist was performed was beyond remarkable. The seriousness and care in the preparation of the elements was something incredible to watch and one could clearly observe the weight of responsibility the Priest felt as he prepared for the Lord’s presence. I wonder how many Priests take extraordinary care with the Eucharist as the Very Rev. Gregory W. Bierbaum, V.F. Those that received communion, including our neighbor girls, were required to come forward and receive it from the Priest or one whom he had appointed. The Priest went so far as to say that the bread and the wine had to be consumed right before them in order for them to observe the consumption out of “protection of our Lord.” Were Parishioners to walk away with the bread and not consume it, but instead let something else happen to it, it would be an offensive treatment of Christ’s body. Again, I reflect on the instructions given in 1 Corinthians where Paul says “Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of “remembrance” you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe (1 Cor. 11:27-28 TM). What I observed and experience and observed was “holy awe.”

While I do not personally believe in Transubstantiation, my life and my worship will be forever changed for this reason; if Catholics believe that in the sacrament of the Eucharist Christ is fully present, and act with such reverence and “holy awe” towards Christ in the moments of preparation, fulfillment of Communion, and subsequent cleaning up (which was another amazing ritual to behold), with how much more reverence should I conduct myself believing that Christ is always with me, every moment, waking or sleeping. I can easily say that I rarely conduct myself in a manner before Christ with the same posture of worship as was demonstrated by the Priest, his appointed assistants, and even the Parishioners of St. Mark’s Catholic Church on Sunday.

The final piece of profound insight I wish to reflect on after having worshipped in the Catholic church on Sunday is that in this specific Catholic church, the gospel message was unequivocally clear, precise, and for those who were listening, could NOT be missed. It was not a false gospel. There was no heretical twisting of scripture. Those who say that Catholics are not Christians or that they do not know or preach the gospel are as wrong as those who say every person that steps foot in a Protestant church is a Christian. In fact, I believe that many Evangelical Christians need to repent of their divisive attitudes towards others who may practice worship differently than they do. Friends, there are people who claim to be Protestant Evangelical Christians that have never heard the gospel because they have not chosen to listen. I will concede that just as there are Protestant churches and pastors that do not present a clear telling of the gospel, I’m sure that there are Catholic churches and priests who fail to do the same. However, anyone who attended Mass on Sunday at St. Mark’s in Highlands Ranch, if they were paying attention, heard the full gospel preached by Father Bierbaum and could have responded, if they had chosen to. Once again, I was convicted of the tendency of Protestant Evangelical Christians to not only be judgmental but to communicate judgment loudly and perpetuate division amongst people. That is something I do not want to have a part in. While I do not agree with all of the Catholic theology (things like the necessity to pray to anyone but the members of the Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) I also do not agree with all of the Protestant Evangelical theology and may actually have problems with more points of it than that of Catholic theology (a blog for another time). Outsiders looking in on any specific group of worshippers can easily find faults, hypocrisy, and maybe even heresy if they are looking for it. I believe the main thing God is concerned with is what we do with His Son. In that church on Sunday, Jesus was treated with holy awe! Christ-followers, let’s stop going after the differences and judging and condemning those that are not like us and let’s celebrate the thing that truly matters; the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as a result of the reckless love God, our Creator has for us!

Friends, I encourage you to try something new this summer. Go for a hike on a trail you have never been before. Order food from that restaurant you have been wanting to try. Rent a boat and go for an afternoon cruise on the lake with your special person. Go to a church that is different from the church you attend every week. Share your thoughts with the rest of the readers of this blog. We will be glad you did. You will be glad you did.

Thanks for reading,



 

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

May 2021 Playlist

It's the first Wednesday of May. That means it's time for my Playlist. I hope the variety doesn't make your head spin. I think it's great that we all typically have a genre of music that we go to when we feel a certain way. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy other styles of music. Fun fact: 3 of the 8 artists featured this week I have seen live, in person. One as recently as last month and one in June of 1980. I hope you enjoy the music.

Stagecoach BBC Band - Soundtrack Classics

What Kind of Man Legacy Five - Pure Love

Country Again Thomas Rhett - Country Again

Hold On To Me Lauren Daigle - Hold On To Me

Suspicious Mind B.J. Thomas – Greatest Hits

You Say The Trills - You Say

Close to You Mosaic MSC - Human (Live)

(Ghost) Riders In The Sky The Ventures - Another Smash!!!


Sunday, May 2, 2021

Time Sickness and the pace of God

As you know I often think about where time has gone. At one point in my adult life, I felt like I spent so much time living in the past that I made some drastic changes in my social media in hopes of living more in the present and feeling more fulfilled. Some of the changes, like unfriending people with whom I no longer have any connections with other than Facebook, were very helpful to me. However, outside changes didn’t solve all of my problems related to the lack of fulfillment. According to Faceilethings.com, in 1982 American author and Santa Fe physician Larry Dossey defined a new term called “time sickness” as “the belief that many people have about the fact that time is always slipping away, that there is never enough of it, and that we must go faster and faster to keep up.” It is said that Dossey was addicted to trying to see how much he could get done as the minutes ticked away, essential racing against the clock. This particular struggle results in a lack of fulfillment for so many people today because you really can’t beat the clock. Time continues to slip away. Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying “Lost time is never found again.” One day you are 9 years old living your best dream of exploring the planet or your own backyard and then the next, you are becoming a grandparent for the very first time and wondering if you should join AARP at the discounted rate of only $12 a year.

According to Time Magazine in 2006, we actually have more leisure time than we did 40 years ago; an estimated 45 minutes per day of extra leisure time than in the past. In June of 2020, NBC News reported that Americans were unhappier than they’ve been in nearly 50 years. Obviously, a global pandemic has contributed to these feelings but is not the only reason behind them. The number has been trending down since 1970. According to Akorra.com, here is what we do with our leisure time; Watch TV or video streaming, etc.; eat, and for some of us that is a real priority; bathroom time, enough said; communicating via social media, phone, email, or actually talking; Surfing the internet and scrolling social media; reading, something I have picked up in the last 6 months; wishing, meaning that we still spend a remarkable amount of time wishing, dreaming, or hoping for something better; Sex; Traveling; Sleeping. The internet is full of strategies one can incorporate to set new priorities, change one’s lifestyle and habits, and find more time in an average week in order to feel like you have gained some time back.

What I struggled with was realizing that I needed to catch up mentally to the place and time that my life was actually being lived; the here and now. The pace of my mind, my memories, my processing of time, was not matching the pace of the life I was actually living. This, then, begged me to ask if I was keeping up with the pace of God for my life. Long ago (here I reach into a past memory) I heard gifted theologian and at one time the youngest seminary president in the country, Earl Radmacher say, “Look away from that which you must be aware of, unto Jesus.” His statement came as a memorable summary of the challenge given to us by Paul, an apostle of Jesus. Paul uses a running analogy to point us to some insight about our pace of life and faith. Look at Hebrews 12:1-3 (TPT) in the New Testament; “As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us. We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God! So consider carefully how Jesus faced such intense opposition from sinners who opposed their own souls so that you won’t become worn down and cave in under life’s pressures.”

Today, one of our pastors, David Arcos shared some principles out of Acts 3:1-10 that might be helpful as you think about the pace of your life, the pace of your faith, and living in the peace, joy, and fulfillment that God has for you. The story goes like this; Peter and John, two of Jesus’ close followers, were arriving at the temple entrance called the Beautiful Gate, for afternoon prayer. They were noticed by a crippled man who had laid at this gate daily for years and he asked them for money, as was his custom to beg of those coming to the Temple. Peter and John boldly said to him, “Look at us!” The man, who had never walked due to his crippled feet and ankles, looked up into their eyes thinking he was about to receive some money. But Peter told him that they didn’t have any money, but they could give him this; “by the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk!” We are told that the man immediately jumped up and began walking around. He then went into the temple courtyard leaping for joy and shouting praises to God, so much so that all the people around realized this was the crippled beggar they had passed every day as they entered the Beautiful Gate. They were astonished and amazed at the change in him.

There are a few things that Pastor David pointed out that I can relate to in this miraculous story. The first is this; Shame keeps us looking down when we should be looking up. This man’s point of view his entire life has been near ground level. Think about it. He couldn’t walk or even stand, so as he sat or laid at the gate, his perspective was that of working legs and feet, the very thing he did not have. As time passed, his mind kept going to the fact that he didn’t have functioning legs. He kept thinking about the time he tried to get his feet to work, with zero success. As time continued, his shame grew. His shameful image of himself caused him to see those around him but to not really look at those around him. That is why Peter and John had to tell him to look at them. Instead of head down and hand raised, they wanted him to look them in the eyes, to see his reflection in their eyes to know how they saw him, not how time has caused him to see himself. That shame that had been growing for years like a bad weed held him from the pace of life and faith that God was moving at. It was time for him to catch us and see himself as God sees him; BEAUTIFUL.

Isn’t it ironic that he resided at the “Beautiful Gate?” Isn’t it ironic that people passed him by every day for years? Isn’t it ironic that he was looking for an outward, superficial solution to his problems; money? In one moment, God revealed the truth that he had never looked up to see, that he is beautiful, and that the solution went deep, to the depths of true healing. Friends, no matter what is crippling you, be it physical pain or illness, mental or emotional crisis, financial struggle, the battle of addictive substances or behavior, you do not have to hang your head down low. You need to look up and into the eyes of those who see you as beautiful because you are.

That leads me to the next idea, which is to ask for BIG SOLUTIONS! Why ask for a Band-Aid when the ailment can be healed? Why ask for a few dollars when a new career is what you need? Why ask for a mental health day when complete peace and restoration is available to you? Why ask for the temptation to go away when complete transformation and recovery are what you can experience? Friends, our shame so often forces us to look back, focus on that time gone by, and tell ourselves that we don’t deserve the best outcome. Because we focus on the past, we can get to a place where all we can imagine is an external short fix rather than an internal healing. We can only bring ourselves to attempt to address the symptoms rather than allow the Great Physician to heal the root of our problems. We ask for small things like money for our next meal when He wants to give us the cattle on a thousand hills.

Finally, if you can muster just enough courage to look up, and can ask for and expect big solutions, realize the healing that only comes from letting God heal you. Then take the final leap of faith and jump in and give God the credit for the great changes in your life; for the healing that has taken place and the peace and joy and hope that has been poured out to you. Don’t lollygag on the first step of the pool, slowly reaching your toes down towards the 2nd step. Instead, walk to the deep end, and JUMP IN! When you experience this kind of change in your life, the solutions to the problems that you’ve been focusing on sometimes since you were a teenager, you should want to jump up and down, glorify God, amaze those around you, including yourself. When you find new life, positive change, unbelievable relief, you should not keep that hidden.

I am living in the present, at the current pace of life and faith, more than I ever had in the past. The things God is doing in and through me are not exhausting me or frustrating me. They aren’t feeding my ego and causing me mental anguish. They aren’t triggering harmful thoughts and feeling that I want to run away from. My mind and God’s pace seem to be meeting at a point of divine providence. Friend, I looked up from the shame that was crippling me. I came to the end of myself and I asked for a big solution. Once I recognized the healing change that only God could do had actually happened to me, I jumped in. The irony is that the beauty that is being recognized now is the beauty that God had always seen in me. Why did I wait so long? At this point, I don’t really care to know, because the time has gone. I can’t get back even a millisecond of the past. But I can “Look away from that which I must be aware of, unto Jesus.” You see, He is the Healer. He sets my pace. He is so good that offers me the power to move forward and rest when I’m weary. He brings solutions to my problems and he restores my soul. He helps me to avoid the crippling acts that bring shame and I don’t have to be afraid of evil because He’s with me. I know He can do that for you.

As always, thanks for reading,



 

 

Friday, April 30, 2021

Just on a short break. Be back this Sunday!

Hello to all of my faithful readers out there. I just wanted to let you know that I haven't gone away. I just took a break for a week. Sometimes in the ebb and flow of life, we just need to pause and take a breath. It's not a bad thing. I plan to be back this Sunday with a new post full of insight, encouragement, and things to think about. Then on Wednesday, it will be time for my May playlist. Remember, if you have songs you love, you can send me them. They just might make an upcoming playlist. You never know.

I hope you are having a great Spring season of refreshing newness and growth. The sun is out here and the air is warming up for a few days. Take advantage of what you have been blessed with. Spend time with someone you love. Do something you love doing. Make it a great weekend.

Thanks for reading,



Thursday, April 22, 2021

How Old Is Your Brain and other things your cell phone may or may not tell you!

I got sucked down a rabbit hole. For the first time in a year, I played a game on my phone. I first saw it as a puzzle, but as I got into it there were obviously points and levels. I'm never sure with these phone games if the scoring actually means anything or not. They don't give a lot of instructions as to what I am getting points for. Is it speed? Is it the number of moves? Who knows!

Then there were the ads, so many ads. Ads for other games. How many games does a guy need on his phone? There were ads for Bitcoin. What IS Bitcoin? I don’t even know. It was worse than watching a show on Hulu. I could advance maybe 3 levels before I had to watch 3 to 6 ads for things I did not care about one single bit. Oh, I know that I could pay money to see fewer ads. I could pay money to get additional games and probably pay more money to avoid the ads on those games too.

As I was falling down the hole, the ads I came across were somewhat interesting but mostly annoying. I am sure that I do not need to play a game where I am hanging out in

an alternate world or acting as the great decision maker for characters in a story. I have already learned that God is God and I am not. No need to dabble in being God in a make-believe world. I certainly do not need to make the choice if a couple in the clearing are better off with an umbrella or a tent in the rain, the make-believe rain. What are they doing there in the first place? They're not dressed for these conditions. And who are they? Did they plan to get there? Why do I need to choose for them? I have enough important decisions to make in my own life, like where I’m going to eat before the concert tomorrow night or which coat I'm going to wear if it snows in the real world. First-world problems, I know.

I continued down the hole, though less rapidly than Alice did in her journey to Wonderland. That's when I came across WORD games. Now as for word games, let me be abundantly clear. I don’t like them. I don't want to play them. I don't want to watch others play them. I don't want to be invited to play them.  I don’t want to think about words

when I’m playing a game unless it's Cards Against Humanity Family Edition. That is not a cell phone came, as far as I know. I guess I'll play Quiplash too with the right people who play appropriately. I don’t mind numbers as part of games. I can handle symbols, pictures, and objects in games. Words do not a game make, for me anyway. Please don’t tell me to “Install Now.” As if Scrabble wasn’t bad enough, now it scrolls automatically. Does that mean it’s never-ending? Oh my! I am not installing this thing that will take up space and suck the life out of my phone and out of my brain if I ever try to use it. For all of you crossword puzzle enthusiasts and you BINGO aficionados, please forgive me for having such strong feelings about this. I have given it my fair shake. I've lost money at BINGO. I've left many a crossword puzzle unfinished. I've argued over my share of made-up words for Scrabble. You take your dictionary and go play in the other room. Thank you very much. Maybe I'm getting a bit opinionated as I grow older (my daughters hate it when I say that). This leads me further down the hole.

I must have been nearing the bottom the ads tried desperately to get my attention. “How old is your brain?” Really? I need this game to tell me how old my brain is? I know how old my brain is. It is as old as the rest of me. I’m pretty sure it was developing in my mother’s womb as soon as any other part of me was taking shape. My brain hasn’t aged any faster than my feet., my lungs, or my eyelashes. It has never taken a

sabbatical from life and is somehow younger than my kneecaps, my liver, or my wrinkled skin. My brain is 54 years, 1 month, 29 days (and I’m not sure what time I was born) old.

Now ask me how FULL is my brain? How tired is my brain? How messed up is my brain? Those are questions I’d like to see a game answer. The reality is that a game on my phone will not answer any of these questions about me. Some games on my phone might keep my brain functioning better as I age. I’ll concur that the ads that promote that may be correct. However, there are other great things on my phone that help me care for my brain.

YouVersion is a great Bible App. I can read the entire Bible on my cell phone. I can have it read to me and I can select from more translations than I care to even know to exist. I can follow reading plans, discover devotionals, watch videos, and so much more. I can even keep notes and highlight passages. I can do all of that on my cell phone.

I can access ALL of my recent photos (when I say recent, about 2008 on) with the phone that I carry with me in my pocket. I have so many photos that I took, including selfies. Who hasn't take a selfie? I have so many photos saved that others whom I know took. I have lots of photos that people I don’t know took of things I’ve never seen in person. Then there are photos others have taken of place that I have also been. Some of the places I can look at are Yosemite, CA, Disneyland, Kansas, Washington D.C. Actually, thanks to the internet, I can see almost any place in the world. With virtual GPS I might even be able to see into your backyard.

Spotify is my music app of choice thanks to my oldest daughter. It took me forever to get with the times but I now have too many playlists for my own good. She and I share a playlist. My youngest and I share a playlist. My wife and I share a playlist. I have Southern Gospel playlists, Country playlists, Classical playlists, Movie theme playlists, and the playlists go on and on and on. iTunes used to be my source for music. At some point and time, most of the music I purchased and put on iTunes has disappeared from my technology. Glad to have contributed to someone’s wealth, iTunes...Oh well. I did get a lot of enjoyment out of it. What I still haven't figured out is how music artists are making any money these days. I haven't purchased a CD, cassette, 8-track tape, or record in years.

Then there is my CPW Fishing app. This is the app I use in order to choose where I want to fish in Colorado. I can use this app to figure out what kind of fish I should be catching. I can get condition reports, find out bag limits, and even learn the latest fishing techniques. There is a section with the "Catch of the Week." On this app, I am able to discover when a body of water was last stocked with fish, how accessible the lake is, and if I were totally crazy, I could log all of my outings. Instead, when I fish I use my phone to listen to Spotify or to Podcast, which is a whole other function of the cell phone that I’m not really going to go into today.

So I thought that I was going to solve a puzzle that looked intriguing to me; how quickly and easily can I untangle several strands of rope. Instead, I have pulled you down the cell phone rabbit trail with me. I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey. You can invite me to listen to Podcasts you like. You can share music with me. You can send me fun, inspirational photos if you would like, especially if you catch a big fish. But don’t challenge me to any of your games on the phone. I won’t be playing!


Thanks for reading,