THINK POSITIVE

Confession: I watch American Idol from time to time. I enjoy watching Simon’s critical perspective on the performer who indeed is, the “Idol-Want-To-Be”.

Simon’s perspective is rarely predictable. In spite of Simon, I have been thinking about the importance of having a positive perspective. Our culture today is predictably filled with whiners, nay-sayers and neg-aholics. I’ll admit it, at times I can easily become critical. When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, "He’s so big we can never kill him." David looked at the same giant and must have thought, "He’s so big I can’t miss." Two shoe salesmen were sent to Africa. One sent a telegram home that said: “Get me home, nobody here wears shoes.” The other salesman’s telegram said: “I’m going to be here a long time. Send me all of the shoes you can, nobody here wears shoes.” After hundreds of failed experiments Thomas Edison reportedly told a lending institution, “I am not a failure, I am merely an expert on what does not work.” Again, perspective!

In his later years Paul wrote, "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable; things that are excellent and worthwhile. Put into practice all you learned and received from me and, do what you have seen me do….this one thing I know, I have learned the secret of living in every situation…I face (endure, overcome, vanquish) every situation, whether well-fed or hungry because I know I can do all things through Christ who give me all the strength and power I need (Phil. 4:8-12). Paul is so practical in his counsel on achieving a positive perspective. First, positivity begins in the mind (be aware of your thought life!). Second, positivity is nurtured when we do the things that we have been taught will bring success. And third, a positive attitude flows down from the mind to our behavior to our hearts. Positivity occurs because a person has a heartfelt faith in God in spite of what is going on around them. Positivity involves our minds, our behavior and our emotions--positivity stirs up a “can do” attitude in each of us.

The Most Unanswered Question

Kris and I had just finished our workout the day after Thanksgiving when she asked, "What are you thankful for this year?" My list includes some really big things. Her question got me to thinking about today's blog-- 'The Most Unanswered Question'. (Hint for the day: When people are consumed with unanswered questions being thankful is nearly impossible).

The most common unanswered question I know is, "Why?" The question, "Why?" does not come from a minor disappointment. This question usually comes when a person knows they were right, the other person was wrong. The innocent party is left empty-handed or broken- hearted. THESE experiences often leave a person with life's most common unanswered question: "Why?" I have long thought the question, "Why", is a meaningless question. I do not think the word "why" is in God's lexical dictionary. In the majority of instances, the answer to 'why?' seldom offers any significant change to the situation. (As an aside, Kris and I disagree on the value of the question, "Why?" She thinks answers or explanations can be of significant value as an aide toward healing. This difference of opinion may just be a male/female thing). I personally believe the relentless bantering of "why,why, why?" is a mechanism a person uses to regain control in a distasteful experience that has gotten to be out of control. I have counseled disappointed people to not ask "Why?" but instead ask, "What am I to learn from this?"

Kris is just finishing up a book right now (she is always in the midst of three or four that are stacked on her night stand) called, Breaking Free. The author offers some ideas that may be helpful for you in "breaking free" from a hurtful past that has left you asking, "Why?" The author, followering her own brush with past disappoinments and emotional meltdown penned these statements (I call this "reframing" or reinterpreting). Instead of living in a victim role and being ruled by the demon of "why?" be a victor and exchange your quesitons for beliefs. Here we go. Whatever your situation was or currently is could it be that....

1. God knew you would have to seek Him diligently for healing and in your search for healing you would meet The Healer.

2. God knew that because of your healing you would know the power of His resurrection and become a partner in His suffering.

3. God knew that out of your situation you would come to be compassionate with those that have pain similiar to yours.

4. God knew that out of your "victimization" you would become a victor that would champion His cause rather than live a defeated life and whine about your past.

5. God wants you to learn that it is possible to "reframe" the most hurtful of situations and learn that good can come out of bad.

My last word today is God's word,

"Your enemies will cower before you and,
you will trample down their high places." (Deuteronomy 33. 29)

When It Isn't Meant to Be......

Last week I was on a treadmill (one of those machines that take you nowhere but promises you that you are losing all those calories and running all those miles, yeah right!). During my workout I saw the attached videos (featured on ESPN) on the overhead mega screens. I do not want to say too much as the videos nearly say it all. You will want to watch BOTH attached videos to get the whole story. (Plan on about 10 minutes, well worth it!! If you have technology problems, these videos can be seen directly on youtube under SC firefighter or by clicking on the video picture directly).

I do however want to make two observations. First observation, we live in an age where "entitlement thinking" runs rampant. Entitlement thinking says (entitlement thinkers as a rule, do not know they have this going on in their brains), "Because I did 'Y' I should get 'Z'." Another way of saying this could be, "Because I graduated from...I attended...I know...I did....they owe me something." Key lesson: when anyone has entitlement thinking as a mental operating system in their brain they leave God out of their lives. Bottom line, stay away from entitlement thinking. Second observation: when things do not go your way, when you do not get the date, the job, the spouse, the bid on the job, the acceptance to a school...these are all opportunities for you to find a way to suck it up. When things do not go your way you will need to draw on a level of courage that you can only imagine but, a courage that God has placed within you. I will shut up now. I hope the videos reach your heart in a similar way that they reached mine....

Just Do It!

It was late in the evening when I posted yesterday's blog. By morning, readers had already responded to the message. I concluded my writing with the encouragement, "God is with you." One reader recounted an experience that they had earlier in the day and how the promise of God's 'forever presence' was important for them. I pass on a portion of their writing to you,

As I started to back my car down my driveway I saw there was a man not far away from me laying on the ground. Three people were with him and they all looked panicked. I contemplated just going on to the grocery store. Instead, I got out and went to see what I could do. (Come to find out, he was a fifteen year old kid who had fallen off the back of a pickup truck. He was only going a short distance, to the pool.) He was bleeding badly from his head, and was in and out of consciousness. I stayed with him and his friends until help came-- I hope I never have to experience that again. I wonder if that kid is okay. Oh God, please be with him and his family tonight. Why did I stop to help? Did I truly care about him? Or maybe I’m just selfish and wanted to be a hero. These were my thoughts tonight when I read your blog and watched the video you included. At the very end of the video there was a message I so desperately needed to hear tonight.

One thing I was struck by in this person's experience was that they were just "on their way" to run an errand. Second, that the injured boy in a similar way was "only going a short distance from his house" when the unexpected happened to him. Life has a way of happening to us when we least expect it. Times of unplanned and unforeseen events take us to unexpected places. These experiences nearly always teach us invaluable lessons about ourselves. Life's unpleasantries can be mirrors that allow us to see ourselves for who we really are. Or, as someone once said, "Integrity is who you are when no one is looking."

In one of my daily readings for today I read, "Jesus does not ask me to die for Him, but to lay down my life for Him...it is much easier to die than to lay my life down my life day in and day out." When we lay our life down for others, give up control, get involved in our communities we, "come to know love (in a new way)and practice what our Lord practiced...laying down our lives for others"(1 Jn. 3.16). When we give up our selfish priorities and seek to help in any need, great or small, we show the world that God is truly a prioritity in our lives. There is much preaching and slick religious self promoting today. I have always liked what Pascal said when he wrote, "Preach whenever you can and if necessary, use words." The world and a growing number of people in churches today are seeking an authentic and transparent experience with God. The world would rather see a sermon than hear one. The world does not need another Messiah. God is only asking that the Messiah's true friends do what the reader in the above did.

So, next time you feel as though you are being interrupted...the next time you are put out because the line at the grocery store is longer than your patience...the next time you can't find a parking place closer than what is convienent (poor baby)...the next time you have an opportunity to help someone ESPECIALLY when it does not fit your timetable...JUST DO IT and when you do, you just might fnd God showing up in a way that you would have never expected. Oh yeah, my annonymous reader, thanks for being a hero, to me.....

EMPTY

A new songwriter on the contemporary music scene pens these words,

I've had just enough of the spotlight, where it burns bright, to see how it gets in my blood. I've tasted my share of the sweet life and the wild ride and found a little is not quite enough. I know how I can stray and how fast my heart can change. Empty me of the selfishness inside--every vain ambition and the poison of my pride and any foolish thing my heart holds to...Lord empty me, of me, so I can be filled with you. Every thing is a lesser thing, a lesser thing compared to you, to you.

You do not have to be famous, not a rock star, a grocery market tabloid photo spectacle or a presidential hopeful to want success for yourself. You do not have to be in the news, a headliner, an author, a religious leader or a person with some notoriety. You do not have to be "someone who has made it" to strongly desire significance. Bob Dylan wrote a song, "You Gotta Serve Somebody". In this song (great song, by the way) Dylan says everyone eventually serves someone. You either sell out and serve the world in self promoting ways or you put to death attention getting devices (which only brings attention to the person) and serve the world in God honoring ways. What does the songwriter mean when they say, "I've had enough of the spotlight to know it is not enough?" This songwriter has come to know the world's symbols of success can result in profound emptiness. I have been in the homes of a hand full of famous people (from sports hall of fame celebrities, white house advisors and television stars) who have told me they too go home after their day to empty houses (and some for some, to family or roommates) only to discover how meaningless their lives had become. Some tried to change, most did not....(sad memories right now). Thousands of years ago an ancient writer penned these words, "Oh God, my heart is restless until it rests in you."

Right now I ask myself, "Looking at just the outside how can a person have so much going for themselves and yet feel so empty and out of control?" With the songwriter in the above mentioned lyrics (Thanks Kris for adding it to the playlist!) I too have come to know "how fast my heart can change". Really important point coming next....it is very possible to NOT even realize that my heart has become cold, hard and divided. (These three words describing the heart are all found in the bible).

I want to offer an interpretation of emptiness that you may not want to read, here goes...Emptiness is God's tool to get us to a place where we can be full of him. If a person is full of themselves they cannot be filled with all that God wants to deposit in them. As long as a person is full of themselves they cannot be filled with God. I have counseled many people who decided to turn away from life threatening self destructive behaviors. I have asked many of them, "What do you attribute the success of your recovery to?" Nearly all of them has said, "I hit my bottom". That is to say, they allowed God to empty them, of them. In addition, they worked hard and did not give up.

In Psalm 42 we read, "I long for streams of water (water is symbolic for the provision of God)...day and night (this speaks of endurance and perseverance) I have only tears as my food (this speaks of emotional pain)...my enemies (the reality of being misunderstood by others) taunt me... I feel as though you (God) have forgotten me..my heart breaks... but my hope will be in God". This is not the only place in the bible that paints a picture of a "hard to find God" that has seemingly forgotten his people when they needed God the most. Jesus from the cross (his place of abandonment and pain) questioned God as he cried out, "Why have you forsaken me?" Psalm 42 does not end with the empty searcher finding God! So, is God some celestial sicko who places a desire within us to find him but God does not allow us to find him? How twisted would that be?! The only thing more troubling to me than a "hard to find God" is a "community of believers" who say they have found God but are quick to keep a record of a person's wrong doings (see 1 Cor. 13.5).

This is what I am driving toward, emptiness should be something a Christian should seek (ouch!). Meaningful emptiness, godly emptiness, takes place in the very same way ancient wineskins were made. When early travelers needed a container to hold drink for a long journey they often killed (or put to death) several animals. After the death of the animals, the animals were "gutted"--all that was not useful for the purpose of the container was removed. The skin was then dried out over a fire (fire is a symbol for God). After the drying was complete the skin was then further prepared by "oiling" the skin (oil is another symbol for God). The skin needed to be made supple through the application of the oil so the skin could be molded into a useful shape with other prepared skins.

When a person initially experiences emptiness they can feel like they are being put to death--they are! Further, a person who is in the process of being emptied by God feels as though God has "burned them". God is burning them but, with a cleansing fire. At just the right time God will oil the person, bring healing to the person. God will sew this "oiled" person together with other people (who are also willng to be 'shaped') and have been through a similar deathlike experiences. Finally, God will fill the empty person with God's Spirit. Yes, God does want us empty. Yes, God does want to fill us. And yes, God wants to pour you out to a very thirsty world. This has got to be the longest piece I've written yet. If you finished, thank you! By the way and here is a surprise for you, the songwriter I referenced at the beginning of the article...American Idol finalist Chris Sligh, the playlist song is, Empty Me--ENJOY!!!!

A Son's Birthday

Early this moring I was awakened with a very powerful sense of the Lord's presence as I was coming out of my sleep. Kris sensed something was going on with me and I told her the Lord was speaking to me about Brady. We were to celebrate his 20th birthday this afternoon. At this stage in my own spiritual life I have learned not to "quench" these stirrings from God (as Paul and many other Christian theologians have written about and warned against). I got up to seek God (much like Samuel was instructed by Eli). What you find below are God's "birthday greetings" to Brady. I have shared them with him and now with you, with his pernmission.

Kristen and I include this on our blog cite because Kris believes these words, although given to Brady, speak to his generation ("20 somethings") in many ways. I do not want to say anything more at this time, perhaps at a later date. Please pray for our family (Bill, Kris, Emily, Brady and Kelly) as you feel led. Kris joins me in the conviction that God is moving strongly with us, awkening both of us to dorment areas in our lives, building a stronger marriage and seeking hard after God on the behalf of our children. Thank you for pausing to read this posting........

The Lord says, “You are right when you say, ‘I am not alone’”. Yet for a time, the safety of a familiar coastland was out of your view. All you could hear was the crashing of waves, indeed your life, on a distant shore. I was still your God in your aloneness, even though you left me. You ran wild. I chased after you. I tried to reach you through the love of those around you but you were blind. I called to you but you would not listen. When evening would come and darkness enter like an unwanted intruder and when tears became your only friends—
I was with you even when you felt most alone.

The Lord says, “You are right when you say, ‘I am not alone’”. Like Jacob (a deceiver) and Peter (a denier) and Thomas (a doubter) I caught them all and today I reach for you, Brady. From this year on, you and I will be lost in each other’s aloneness. I, like you, know aloneness, friendlessness and, being misunderstood. Our relationship will have a closeness that neither of us has known but a closeness that we both have longed for. Today, the celebration of the day of your birth, has been ordained for your mind to clear. The clouds surrounding your thoughts will burn away but know, I am in the clouds, too! You will understand and see me in new ways. You will have new thoughts--dwell on them, talk to me about them, write your new thoughts down and share them with others but only with people, who you know have known the same aloneness that you and I know. Brady, do not run from these new thoughts because I am the author and finisher of the stirrings in your mind.

The Lord says “You are right when you say, ‘I am not alone’”. Do not run from the friends who love you—I have carefully placed them in your life. They have protected you from much harm (the harm I speak of neither you nor your friends is unaware of). When the darkness of friendship comes around you again, and it will, know I am with you. In these times, when you feel as if you have lost your way, I will lead US out. I long to be with you. I want to be your friend. Do not run from me again. I trust you and love you very much. The deep cavity of your sensitive heart, like the undertow beneath my mighty oceans will be filled with a love that you have never known. Brady, the safe and familiar coastland that you have waited to see and, have cried out for, is within your view. Think about the words I have spoken to you today. Talk to me about what I have spoken to you. And know, “You are right when you say, ‘I am not alone.’”

Choices: Come Out From Your Shadows

Several weeks ago, it may be months now, I was in a meeting with a group of men. The leader, Jim, shared clearly and personally as to why it is hard for most men to make good and brave choices. The choices I am talking about are choices with no hidden agendas or self protecting strategies. Jim is so real, so honest...I hope I can be like Jim someday.

You must know, I have given dozens of these types of talks in churches, retreats and at the university where I teach. A significant portion of my doctorate explored why men "blow up" or self destruct--it does not take getting to middle age anymore to unravel. Jim showed the video clip that is attaached (above) to this posting. The clip comes from the movie, Legend of Bagger Vance. Matt Daman plays a young golfer who has "unresolved issues". Will Smith plays a caddy but symbolically is, "the God voice" in Damon's mind. Damon's issues hunt him down, surprise him and do not let him go. Damon's past keeps him from becoming the golfer and the person that he is capable of becoming and, such is the case for many of us. In the clip, Damon contemplates how he is to play out of the woods that he has "hit" himself into. Have you ever "hit yourself into a fix" that you thought, "There's no way out of this!" The young golfer is heard saying, "I can't do it...don't know how". Will Smith, ("the God voice") gently but firmly encourages with words any of us would love to hear, "you are not alone, loosen your grip, be still, very still...come out of the shadows....play the game that only you were meant to play.....don't hold back......now is the time".

Every one of us has choices to make and many of these choices are invitations for us to "come out of the shadows". Shadows that in actuality are false ways of living and feeling and being. Shadows that are truly an outward lifestyle that is a direct disconnect from a person's inward chaos. The truth is this, only YOU can make the choices you need to make. Each of us, as golfers say (and no, I am not a golfer), need to "play through" the hazards of life. Final comment, Tiger Woods was once asked how he was able to get out of some of the golfing problems he occasionally gets himself into. He answered by saying, "My dad taught me to never look at the obstacle, look past the obstacle, look to the opening." My invitation to you today is this, "Would you make that choice you know you have needed to make?" I encourage you to not look at the obstacles in your life but rather, consider the opportunities. To become a decision maker you must loosen the controlling grip that you may have on your life, listen to your inner counsel, do not hold back...play the game of your life that you were meant to play. And know this, decision makers become history makers.

Starting Right

I (Bill) took the picture that you see below last summer. The Tower at Pisa could be one of the most photographed architectural points of interests in all of Italy, maybe the world. The building of the tower at Pisa began in 1173. For the next 200 years, under four different architects, the "leaning"tower could never be corrected. Today, the tower remains a huge architectural point of interest and to this day still offers an important life lesson,"there is no right way of doing a wrong thing." Construction on the tower was actually more than a year under way when the builders were told by soils experts that the ground on which the tower was being built was unstable. The builders had the belief system, "don't confuse us with your facts." Other specialists were brought in hopes of discovering other facts would allow them to correct the lean. This attitude falls under the category of "shopping for the best opinion" or, if a child does like what they hear from Mom, go to Dad. Eventually the builders of the tower would have to accept the facts, "there is NO right way to do something that has begun so very wrong." A key life principle I offer you is this, if the foundation of what you are building (your life, a relationship or any endeavor) is not solid from "the ground up" no matter how hard you try the project you are involved in will "lean"... and lean, in full view for everyone to see! Learn from the builders of the tower at Pisa and remember a second life principle, B.S.B.S...this means (not what you think!), build slowly and build strongly.

Unexpected Loss

Today is Friday, before Memorial Day weekend. I am keenly aware this Memorial Day will be "remembered" by contemporary Christian musical artist Steven Curtis Chapman and his family in a way altogether different than the rest of us. Early this week tragedy struck the Chapman family as their five year old daughter was killed. This is a hideous tragedy. All such events are keen reminders that life can be shorter than any of us could ever imagine. Not one of us is promised tomorrow. One unconscious false belief system I see with my university students is a belief that I call, "invincibility". Many young adults (am I sounding old or what?!) think they are promised tomorrow. Then something unplanned, unwanted or unimagined takes place. Because they (or any of us, really) are operating at a break-neck pace of life they have no time to react, much less respond in a God-intentioned way.
This morning I heard an old song by Carly Simon, Haven't Got Time for the Pain. When bad things happen to seemingly good people, when pain barges into our lives like an uninvited intruder, we need to remember the words of C.S. Lewis who wrote after the death of his wife Joy Davidman, "God whispers to us in our joy but yells at us in our pain. Pain is, God's megaphone to a deaf and hurting world." If Lewis could talk to Carly Simon (now that would be a strange conversation!) he might say something like, "You've got to make room for the pain. Pain is one of God's invitations. Pain is an invitation for us to look at the lives we are living, pause and ask at least one question, "Am I living my life with God at the center of all I do or, with me at the center with all my good ideas, good luck, hard work and occasional prayer that is used more like an emergency cord on a parachute?"
Last thought, the picture you see at the top of this posting is one of my sentimental stops in Southern California. I took this picture of a life saving station last summer while Kris and I were visiting family. My mind goes back to that time and, many events in my life since then. Kris and I will go back to this very place again, in July. We all need favorite places to go back to. Every one of us needs a life station station with good intentioned life saving type friends. This Memorial Day my prayer is that the Chapman family has a life saving station (a healthy church) to go to and, friends who will simply be there for them. The best friends are not ones who always have the right words to say, although words can be important. Life saving friends know the importance of availability. I am glad you took the time to read this post. Now it is time, for you to be a life saving friend to someone in need. Who?, you ask....they are all around you...they are called, the world.

Graduation (facebook series)

Saturday morning- beautiful, silky air blows smoothly through our back deck wind chimes. I hear Kris outside as she waters plants. I am thinking about the few hundred 20 somethings who will walk across a stage in a week or so and graduate. They often hear, "Today is not an ending but a beginning." I am SO burned out on this overused aphorism. I have thought, why can't some of these young adults have their biggest life challenges right now, when they think they know it all. After all, they are graduates! Some of my biggest mistakes have come when I thought I knew better, knew myself better, knew others better-- only to learn I did not know them or me very well at all. Every completed chapter of our lives is a self portrait, autographed by our actions. For some the signature will be penned by excellence and by others, by mediocrity. Hear this, hope is the feeling that you will succeed tomorrow in what you failed at today. You may not be a graduate but, in God's eyes you are special!

Coincidences (facebook series)

Coincidences..things that happen, 'per chance'. Makes me think of a facebook quote I I like, "I, like God, do not play with dice or believe in chance." When things "happen to us" we either think it is luck or we say,"Why me?". In the case of luck, why not look around, pray (what a concept!)and perhaps, you might discover the event or experience is not luck but maybe, just maybe (hear my sarcasm?), God is trying to get your attention. In the case of bad fortune many people immediately default to the 'victim button' on their emotional computers (we are all hard wired with this to some extent so don't feel bad) and say "Why me?". In some situations you may find yourself saying, "Why me, AGAIN?" If you are having a repeat performance where you are the victim of someone else's choices and you are left again with an empty heart or an overcrowded mind remember, there may be nothing coincidental about your situation-everything usually happens for a reason.

Overcoming to the end (facebook series)

I am at the point of the semester for professors and students where both want the end to come. God promises to the weary and worn out,"When you pass through he waters I will be with you" (Is. 43.2). THE great word here is, "through'. We all will get through whatever we are experiencing. The NEXT great words are, 'WITH YOU'. God has each of us in His field of vision. There are certainly times in all of our lives where we either have papers to write or papers to read. In these times, there is the temptation to not finish our task strongly. We forget the passion by which we started an endeavor. Carl Sanberg once said,"There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud." I do not know about you but, that can describe me. Jesus warned, 'In the world you will have tribulation BUT, I have overcome the world' (Jn. 16.33). Decide today to be the overcomer described in Revelation. Decide to not just get by--DECIDE TODAY to be victorious!

6 ideas about loving (facebook series)

Jesus was once asked what was the greatest commandment. He said, "You must love the Lord, your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and...your neighbor as yourself." This brief teaching carries with it six ideas about loving. Jesus gives his friends a PERSONAL command about love when he says,"YOU must'. Jesus gives a SPIRITUAL command- 'love the Lord'. Next, an EMOTIONAL or passionate command about love, 'love with ALL your heart'. And then, we are to love with the HIDDEN PARTS of our being, this is loving others with all our soul. We are also challenged by Jesus with a MENTAL command, we are to love others with all our mind. And finally, we love with all our STRENGTH. To love with all our strength is to love even when it is MOST DIFFICULT to love. Jesus then 'tags on'--" love your neighbor as yourself". Why the 'tag'?' Jesus knows if we cannot do the first six, the part of loving ourselves is near impossible. Or could it be, loving ourselves is THE KEY, that opens the floodgates of love?

In any case, today, choose to love, extravagantly!!

Grace (facebook series)

Been reading the past couple of days Jay Bakker's memoir, Son of a Preacher Man. This book recounts his parent's life (Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker) and his use of drugs and alcohol to medicate his deep pain and not so private hell. For those who remember the 80's church wars, this book is quite a history lesson. For those who have been trashed and burned by religion and religious fundamentalism and DO NOT want to seek refuge in the church ever again, this is a must read (but only do it sitting down). Grace, writes Bakker, is an unearned gift. If one is obsessed with works-you simply reflect the culture around you rather than radiate the greater work of God inside you. God loves each of us not for what we do for him but simply, God loves us for who we are. What a gift! All we need to do is receive the gift of God's love and open it. God bless you today, dear friend.

Stop running (facebook series)

One reader responded, "you would think I might have got the message by now-- that I needed to take a hard look at my life and the choices I have made. I have not realized I not only run from the pain and the hurt of being alone (or that I could be alone, again)...I ran from God because I had no idea of who He truly was. If I stopped running from God long enough I might realize that God would not attack me, leave me or make fun of me but rather...love me like no one ever has.." If you are a runner, slow down, at least long enough to make a healing choice and connect with a "Jesus with skin on". Yes, trusting God is a risk, but I am a runner too...and I make the coice, especially during times of pain to seek out Jesus with skin on (people who will not hurt me)...sure beats not having any safe place to crash into.

Thoughts around Isaiah 30 (facebook series)

Thank you for your responses to yesterday's posting. One reader sent me this from Isaiah 30, "The Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show his love and compassion....the Lord gave you adversity as a teacher so you can have ears that hear, 'this is the way, walk in it.' It occurred to me last night after spending time with a dear friend who loves me enough to tell me the absolute truth about myself that if I want an improved life I must take a more active role, not a passive role, in creating a renewed life. I am learning in a far deeper way today that God intends for all of us to be "shape-makers" with Him as our lives get developed. As we make our way through (not around!) the valley of the shadow of death to the table of promised blessings we must choose to give up control, the need to be right, self pity and, an approval orientation to life (which is always short lived). Final words--anticipate celebration, may your party begin today!!

Reading ALL of Psalm 23 (facebook series)

"The lord is my shepherd; I have all I need. I rest in green meadows; he leads me besides peaceful streams and renews my strength." These verses from 'The Shepherd's Psalm' tell me God is my protector, my provider and my peace-giver. O, that I would know this. In very recent days I have not been living in 'the Lord is' or, 'I have all I need' and certainly not, 'my strength is renewed'. I have journeyed to the next verses, 'the valley of the shadow', 'a highway of fear', 'the presence of enemies'. Like Jonah (see chapter 2), I find myself quickly swirling to ocean depths,
death wraps itself around me as I sink deeper and deeper into (perceived) chaos. An answer, you ask? To all wearied pilgrims I say, there IS the promise of a prepared feast, an anointing from the hand of God Himself and, a cup overflowing with blessings. I am NOT at the feast today. I am in need of fresh oil. The Scriptures declaration of blessings to come are but only a prophetic promise. Yet, I will continue to seek other wounded healers--they are out there. If you too are lost hold on and, don't give up, please!!

Don't be an ostrich (facebook series)

You may feel like you are losing your mind because you are acting like an ostrich. When threatened, an ostrich either puts its head in the sand (denial) or has a lethal "kicking ability" (acts out! Ostrichs really do this!!). Denying the need for change or acting destructively (hurting others) will only fuel your inner sense of craziness. If you want to continue to feel out of control here is what NOT to do, DO NOT: overgeneralize ('everyone is doing it'), minimize (its not that bad), have black and white thinking, practice wishful thinking (if only) or,'should on' yourself (you stupid idiot). If you want to continue to live in low self esteem continue to insist on being perfect, refuse help, practice selfishness by not helping others or, take every opportunity to be negative. You need to know, confidence comes from helping others, doing the absolute best you can and celebrate even the smallest of victories. You do not have to be an ostrich! Now, start living!!

Is Bobby Knight crazy? (facebook series)

Basketball coach Bobby Knight of Texas Tech announced two years ago he would not accept his quarter million dollar salary because of his team’s 74-68 loss to Baylor. Knight said he had not done a good job and neither had his team. Texas Tech athletic director Gerald Myers tried to talk the coach out of the decision. Myers added, “Bobby's too hard on himself. He’s done a great job these last two years". When this story broke (Knight has since resigned his post) I thought he was crazy. But I share this true story for a reason. There comes times in all of our lives when we have to show others and, ourselves, what we really believe. In the college environment, it is the time of year where students must step up, and focus. For all of us the comes a time where we need to focus and get back to what is important to us. Thank you Bobby Knight for conviction to show others what you believed and....you are still a little crazy.

REAL Easter people (facebook series)

I'm still thinking about REAL Easter people. The very people who were calling Jesus, "King" within a week were screaming "Crucify him!" How two-faced! But, I catch myself because I know I can be a two-faced follower too. John Maxwell says when we follow Jesus "at a distance" (like Peter), we easily move into denial mode. Nancy Groom, in her book, From Bondage to Bonding-Embracing Biblical Love, says, "The world needs honest strugglers and not pious pretenders." Henri Nouwen says, "it is easier to be God than to love God." REAL Easter people are flawed, mistake makers that fall down BUT do not allow themselves to stay down. Poor decision makers often believe the lie that just because they made a mistake God will not allow them to be happy ever again. This simply is not true. A.W. Tozer said, "spiritual growth happens when self-sufficiency dies". The death of self-sufficiency always reveals to us that we are not as put together as we think. REAL Easter people--every one is an overcomer.