As I read Romans 8, I am reminded of an adventure I had off the coast of New Jersey the summer of my Senior year of college.
Paul is talking about the work of the Holy Spirit (which literally means "wind") in our lives. He says that letting the Spirit give us guidance is supposed to be both a freeing and a powerful thing.
On a summer beach missions project, I went with a friend from Philadelphia to his favorite sailing spot on the east coast, "up near the Barnaget light". The short, small, but beautiful wooden sailboat he carried in the back of his cargo van would be our transportation out into the Atlantic Ocean. He was an experienced sailor. I and my roomie were there to do as directed, when needed, for this windy adventure to work properly.
Lugging the boat into the water, we hopped in... well, no, actually this boat is just a big wooden kayak with a mast, so we put our 6 feet in the small well designed for 4! There was a center board to be lowered or raised as needed for "drag" in the water. The rudder was manned by our fearless captain. The sail and mast were over 12 feet tall when fully raised, and the seafaring guys from Iowa and Georgia were in charge of it!
We began our journey by sailing past the swimmers and surfers, south away from the lighthouse. There was a strong wind from offshore, and it made the sail billow strongly. The salt spray and open water made us feel like we were true sailors!
Too soon, it was time to turn around, and head in. We were given instructions about raising and lowering the centerboard, and being ready to "duck when I say duck"!! With rudder hard over, and the crew literally kissing the deck as the sailboom swung over our heads, the captain brought our boat around, and we were aimed back toward the lighthouse from which we'd come several miles.
Then the stunning realization hit me: the same strong offshore wind that had made possible our wonderful trip out, was still blowing us out!! We would never be able to sail into it, and make it back to land or sand!!
The captain began giving some simple instructions about how to position the sail, to lower the centerboard for leverage, and he adjusted the rudder. Within seconds we were moving at a 45 degree angle into the wind, all of us leaning away from the sail, headed straight toward the lighthouse. I was amazed! It was as if Ella Wheeler Wilcox's poem had come to life:
"One ship sails east, another west, with the selfsame winds that blow. 'Tis the set of the sails, and not the gales, that determine the way they go."
Talk about a surprised landlubber!! In fact, before the afternoon was done, we had made several turns, going both north and south, following the shore, actually going anyway we chose, before we finally called it a day.
Paul is challenging us in Romans 8 to live our lives that the Spirit may have control of the centerboard, the rudder, and the sail. He will take us on an adventure that can overcome all our fears, misunderstandings, and lack of faith. I'm not sure the Holy Spirit speaks with a North Jersey accent, but he makes a Mighty Fine Captain!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Current Economy Expert - EZEKIEL !!
If you would be interested in getting a review of an economic situation similar to the current economic crisis in the USA and the world markets, here's an idea. Try what J. Vernon Magee used to say before each session of his through-the-Bible radio broadcasts: "Let's take a look into the Old Book!"
It is interesting to me to read what our friend the Prophet Ezekiel had to say on the Lord's behalf, especially when read in a modern translation like The Message. Take a look at Ezekiel 7, and find some statements like the following: "the end of business as usual", "the country is bankrupt because of its sins, and it's not going to get any better", "the bottom has dropped out of buying and selling". It makes we wonder: if the results sound the same, could the cause be the same?
Ezekiel had more to say, and if you'd like to stay on the web to find it, you can search on http://www.lifeway.com/ , http://www.biblegateway.com/ , or http://www.crosswalk.com/ . You can look for Ezekiel 7, or any other passage you'd like to reference, just by entering it into the search box. Maybe there's something more going on in the economy than boards, billions, hearings and investigations can actually fix!!
It is interesting to me to read what our friend the Prophet Ezekiel had to say on the Lord's behalf, especially when read in a modern translation like The Message. Take a look at Ezekiel 7, and find some statements like the following: "the end of business as usual", "the country is bankrupt because of its sins, and it's not going to get any better", "the bottom has dropped out of buying and selling". It makes we wonder: if the results sound the same, could the cause be the same?
Ezekiel had more to say, and if you'd like to stay on the web to find it, you can search on http://www.lifeway.com/ , http://www.biblegateway.com/ , or http://www.crosswalk.com/ . You can look for Ezekiel 7, or any other passage you'd like to reference, just by entering it into the search box. Maybe there's something more going on in the economy than boards, billions, hearings and investigations can actually fix!!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
"Do Hard Things"
Recently I was directed to a website that has the blogs, booklists, and speaking schedule of 19 year old twin brothers Alex and Brett Harris. Their older brother is Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Boy Meets Girl). They are in college, but have traveled world-wide speaking to missions conferences.
They wrote a book together titled "Do Hard Things". It is a challenge to young men and women to find a place of service and ministry in the world, wherever one may be. Part of it's premise is that our modern society in the USA does not really have a place for young people to make significant contributions until they have finished college.
It is amazing what Alex and Brett have on their site, from the books they've read, those they plan to read, the movies they've seen, and their commitment to the Lord and walking worthy of Him. You can find excerpts from the book posted, as well as some videos about going off to college and other issues. These men have what Dr. Howard Hendricks refers to as "the real disease" when it comes to passion for the Lord's work!
I am thoroughly impressed by what I've seen and experienced here. They are where I want to be as a Christian, and where I pray many young Christians want to be, as well!! These are some guys we could use as spiritual heroes and models... and again, they are nineteen, and college Freshmen!
http://www.therebelution.com/
They wrote a book together titled "Do Hard Things". It is a challenge to young men and women to find a place of service and ministry in the world, wherever one may be. Part of it's premise is that our modern society in the USA does not really have a place for young people to make significant contributions until they have finished college.
It is amazing what Alex and Brett have on their site, from the books they've read, those they plan to read, the movies they've seen, and their commitment to the Lord and walking worthy of Him. You can find excerpts from the book posted, as well as some videos about going off to college and other issues. These men have what Dr. Howard Hendricks refers to as "the real disease" when it comes to passion for the Lord's work!
I am thoroughly impressed by what I've seen and experienced here. They are where I want to be as a Christian, and where I pray many young Christians want to be, as well!! These are some guys we could use as spiritual heroes and models... and again, they are nineteen, and college Freshmen!
http://www.therebelution.com/
Saturday, September 27, 2008
FireProof Movie
What a great story, both gripping and challenging, whatever your age! This movie has the excitement of riding with the firemen on real calls, and the pain of dealing with relationships in life that just don't seem to work right, whatever you do. Kirk Cameron does an excellent job in presenting the character of Caleb Holt, a man who is a hero everywhere but at home. It is well worth your time and money! More information can be found on the website: http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/ . You may have friends you'll want to take, or encourage to see it in their city.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Fame You Might Not Want
In our college & singles study of Matthew, we looked this week at Matthew 18:21-35. The story Jesus used was to help answer Peter's question about forgiving his brother, and to further explain the Kingdom of Heaven. (I like John Ortberg's prayer in God Is Closer Than You Think: "Make it down here, like it is up There!!")
We discussed forgiveness, and the need sometimes to make restitution (to fix the damage done by our actions, words, attitudes). We sometimes don't know how the little things we do impact others. Suddenly during our class time, I remembered how 4 of the class members had been involved in an incident on Spring Break of their Senior year, that involved having to rebuild a wooden door.... all of them had forgotten it, but finally remembered it, with prompting. Then came a few dropped heads, a few groans, a few chuckles. They didn't know how I knew about something 3.5 years previous. It was a small thing, that happened out of state, and everything there got fixed and settled.
Life is not always that simple!
Fast forward to 2008, and to an incident that took place privately earlier this year. (This is not a political or judgmental comment, just an observation about publicity). It seems that Levi Johnston spent some personal, private time with a young lady, who happened to be the daughter of the Governor of the largest state (by land area) in the USA. Evidently the family, and the small town, had come to deal with the unwed teenage pregnancy in a manner that worked for them, and honored life. A very private encounter soon became local common knowledge.
Then came a phone call from a Presidential candidate to the Alaskan Governor in August, asking Sarah Palin to become his Vice Presidential candidate. Suddenly, an encounter in April became world news, and a young man finds that his comments and pictures on his MySpace page become public domain. Some websites are actually becoming something of a "fan" page for Mr. Johnston...soon to be a groom and dad. That which was for a while known only to 2 people, is now known by any of the billions of people who can access the web!!!
Again, this is not a judgment, or a political opinion. It's just a suggestion to my young friends, "as the great-grandfather you never knew". Be very careful how you conduct yourself, what you say, what you do, and the attitudes you reflect. Be very cautious about what you post, and ALLOW to be posted, on any website that has your name one it. Someday, and maybe sooner than you think, it could be news that you'd prefer not to have in the "public domain".
We discussed forgiveness, and the need sometimes to make restitution (to fix the damage done by our actions, words, attitudes). We sometimes don't know how the little things we do impact others. Suddenly during our class time, I remembered how 4 of the class members had been involved in an incident on Spring Break of their Senior year, that involved having to rebuild a wooden door.... all of them had forgotten it, but finally remembered it, with prompting. Then came a few dropped heads, a few groans, a few chuckles. They didn't know how I knew about something 3.5 years previous. It was a small thing, that happened out of state, and everything there got fixed and settled.
Life is not always that simple!
Fast forward to 2008, and to an incident that took place privately earlier this year. (This is not a political or judgmental comment, just an observation about publicity). It seems that Levi Johnston spent some personal, private time with a young lady, who happened to be the daughter of the Governor of the largest state (by land area) in the USA. Evidently the family, and the small town, had come to deal with the unwed teenage pregnancy in a manner that worked for them, and honored life. A very private encounter soon became local common knowledge.
Then came a phone call from a Presidential candidate to the Alaskan Governor in August, asking Sarah Palin to become his Vice Presidential candidate. Suddenly, an encounter in April became world news, and a young man finds that his comments and pictures on his MySpace page become public domain. Some websites are actually becoming something of a "fan" page for Mr. Johnston...soon to be a groom and dad. That which was for a while known only to 2 people, is now known by any of the billions of people who can access the web!!!
Again, this is not a judgment, or a political opinion. It's just a suggestion to my young friends, "as the great-grandfather you never knew". Be very careful how you conduct yourself, what you say, what you do, and the attitudes you reflect. Be very cautious about what you post, and ALLOW to be posted, on any website that has your name one it. Someday, and maybe sooner than you think, it could be news that you'd prefer not to have in the "public domain".
Friday, September 5, 2008
Cornfield Prayer!
This is an interesting farm photo, done by a farmer with his tractor, GPS, and bushhog!!!
Being a former farm boy myself, I certainly appreciate the energy, time, and fuel this creation took to make.
Maybe we realize the impact that our life has on others, maybe we don't. This fellow was "intentional" about what he wanted to communicate, and how important it was to him to get his message out. Shucks, maybe we should take his example, and be more determined about sharing the good news and encouragement we have in Christ, for whoever might be watching!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
A Spiritual Bucket List
Reading through the New Testament, we eventually come to Hebrews 12. Having just written what is known as the "Hall of Fame of Faith", the writer turns his attention to his audience, which now includes you and me, challenging us to live a life worthy of the Lord's call on our life.
He indicates that there may be some difficulty, pain, and weariness ahead...but the challenge is always to move forward. We've not suffered like some of those folks he talked about in Hebrews 11, he reminds us.
A common expression in sports that was heard during the 2008 Olympics, is "leave everything on the field". Loosely interpreted, that means, "don't come back into the locker room without having given your best, and all of it, in the game". Our writer reminds us that Jesus deserves our best effort, even more than any sporting event (including Professional Flag Football - where the coaches ARE really serious!)
Perhaps you've heard of a "bucket list"... the things you want to do before you "kick the bucket" (country term for 'die'). Hebrews 12 challenges us to have a worthwhile, Christ-centered "bucket list". Note this interesting story that occured during the Olympics....
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,410541,00.html
...we might not have as much time as we'd hoped, huh?
He indicates that there may be some difficulty, pain, and weariness ahead...but the challenge is always to move forward. We've not suffered like some of those folks he talked about in Hebrews 11, he reminds us.
A common expression in sports that was heard during the 2008 Olympics, is "leave everything on the field". Loosely interpreted, that means, "don't come back into the locker room without having given your best, and all of it, in the game". Our writer reminds us that Jesus deserves our best effort, even more than any sporting event (including Professional Flag Football - where the coaches ARE really serious!)
Perhaps you've heard of a "bucket list"... the things you want to do before you "kick the bucket" (country term for 'die'). Hebrews 12 challenges us to have a worthwhile, Christ-centered "bucket list". Note this interesting story that occured during the Olympics....
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,410541,00.html
...we might not have as much time as we'd hoped, huh?
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