The Unknown God

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017:22-23&version=NIV 

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2055:8-9&version=NIV 

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Cor%2013:12&version=NIV 

Every once in a while we get surprised by others, don’t we?  I’m not talking parties here.  I’m talking actions.  For example, a friend that we’ve known for years suddenly quits their job.  And buys a house in Aruba.  Or a neighbor that we’ve known for years one day commits suicide.  Or a spouse that we’ve been married to for years decides they want a divorce.  They walk out the door.  And into the arms of a new-found love.  We are left wondering why?  How?  Yes, it appears that all of us are surprised by others at some point in time.  We thought that we knew them.  Then we found out that we didn’t.

That happened to me with God recently.  God and I go way back.  To be truthful, we go all the way back to eternity past when He first thought of creating me.  But from my recollection, we go back 45+ years.  To when I was just entering my teens.  That’s when God & I ‘tied the knot’, so to speak.  When I entered into a relationship with Him.  A relationship that continues to this present day.

Now one would think that in 45+ years, I would really know God by now.  I mean, we’ve been together such a long time.  We’ve talked together.  We’ve gone through life together.  I’ve learned so much about Him.  By reading the Bible.  Through experience.  By worshiping Him.  So it came as quite a shock to me when I found out that I really didn’t know Him that well after all.  It’s almost as if I’ve been worshiping a concept.  Or a God of my own creation.  Sometimes I feel like John 4:22 where Jesus told the woman at the well that she worshiped ‘what she did not know’.  Or when Paul found an altar to the Unknown God on Mars Hill in Athens.  Let me explain.

Lately my attention has been drawn to a number of verses in Scripture.  Verses that talk about how holy God is.  How terrible He is.  How awesome.  Verses that talk about how loving He is.  And full of grace.  And mercy.  Slowly I have to come to the realization that after all these years I have only scratched the surface of who God really is.  And it has rocked my world.  I am ashamed.  I thought I knew God pretty well.  It turns out that I don’t.  Because I  haven’t spent time going deeper in my Bible reading.  I haven’t spent as much time meditating on His Word as I should have.  My prayer times have been far too short on time.  And substance.  The result is that I find that I don’t know God very well at all.

And God is not content with this.  Because His desire is that I get to know Him intimately.  Deeply.  That I know Him in an intensely personal way.  Because that is the essence of love.  Of relationship.  And that is His desire for you, as well.  And for every person on this planet.  In Jeremiah 9:24 God says, “But let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me...”  This is what God wants from us.  To be known.  To be understood.  To be appreciated.  To be loved.  But this takes time.  It takes intentionality.  It takes commitment. 

So I am asking God to help me.  To help me get to know Him better.  To help me pursue Him.  And seek Him.  With all my heart.  One day I am going to see Him.  And then I will understand so much more about Him than I do now.  And for all eternity I am going to get to know Him better and better.  Now that’s something to look forward to!

Lord, You are so awesome.  And holy.  And loving.  There is so much to learn about You.  To explore.  To know.  Help me to pursue You will all my heart.  Increase my desire to know you.  And understand You.  And love You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Every Knee Will Bow

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Phil%202:5-11&version=NIV

One practice that was fairly common in ancient times, and for much of human history, is obeisance.  This is the reverential bowing or kneeling to another person.  It is performed as a sign of respect.  Usually to a sovereign.  A king or queen.  In some cases, it might even be done to a person who is not royalty but who was highly respected.  Since it was very common in ancient times we find many instances of obeisance in Scripture - people bowing to kings such as David, Solomon, Nebuchadnezzar, etc.  However, in modern times bowing has become far less common, practiced in only a small number of countries today.

As Americans, bowing to others is a practice that is virtually unknown to us.  Even though our roots are in England and its monarchy, when we formed this nation we founded it as a democracy.  A nation that is - for the people, by the people, and of the people.  In our break from England, our forefathers steadfastly refused to bow to anyone.  This is now a part of our culture.  We don’t bow.  To anyone.  Anywhere.  Anytime.

Of course, one aspect of bowing that I have not mentioned is worship. Obviously if bowing or kneeling is a sign of respect, one would expect that it would be a part of worship.  And so it is.  Once again, we see that this practice was very common in ancient times.  People of all religions bowed down before their idols, their gods and goddesses.  There are also numerous examples of people bowing in worship that are recorded in Scripture.

Unlike bowing to royalty, however, bowing is still very much practiced in the realm of religion.  Every day people still bow in churches, synagogues and mosques to worship their God.  And many millions more bow in worship before an idol or shrine.

Once again, as it relates to American culture, we don’t normally bow in worship.  At least publicly.  Many of us are too formal for this.  Or not used to it.  But there are a number of people who bow privately.  As a sign of worship, reverence and submission to God.  The older I become the more readily I bow in private worship before God.  I love what it communicates.  I am the servant.  God is, well, God.  He is the Lord.  The Sovereign.  The Almighty.  I am in awe of Him.  I revere and respect Him.  I submit to His leading and His will.  And well I should.  If you are a Christian, you should too.  The Bible is full of passages that speak of our bowing or kneeling, even lying prostrate, before God.

The link to the Philippians passage at the top of the post talks about bowing.  Before Jesus.  It says that someday every knee will bow before Him.  Every knee.  Everyone in Heaven.  Everyone on earth.  Everyone under the earth.  Yep, that pretty much includes everyone.  People who love Jesus.  People who don’t believe in Jesus.  People who hate Jesus.  It doesn’t matter.  Someday every person is going to give Jesus the reverence and worship that He deserves.  Why?  Because He is the Son of God.  Because He is our Savior.  Because He alone is worthy.

That day is getting closer and closer.  The question is, are you going to be one of those who bows willingly or not?  The choice is yours.

Jesus, I thank you for all that You have done for me - creating me, loving me, dying for me, transforming me.  You are my all in all.  I willingly bow the knee before You.  Today and every day.  And for all eternity.  There is none like You.

Restaurant Stakeout

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=COl%203:12-14&version=NIV 

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eph%204:2&version=NIV

The past couple months Beth and I have watched a program on the Food Network called Restaurant Stakeout.  The show stars Willie Degel who is the founder and CEO of the Uncle Jack's Steakhouse chain in New York City.  Each episode finds Degel visiting a restaurant at the request of its owner.  The reason for Degel’s presence is that the restaurant is underperforming.  Profits are either down or non-existent.  The hope is that Degel can come in, assess the situation, and then recommend changes to the owner that will help increase its profitability.

The way that Degel accomplishes this is through the use of hidden cameras.  These cameras are installed without the staff’s or customer’s knowledge.  They cover every facet of the restaurant’s operation - the kitchen, the bar, and the entire restaurant floor.  Then Degel invites the restaurant’s owner to join him in a separate room where they can view how the restaurant is being run.   What they see is incredible - drinking on the job, arguing with customers, flirting (with other employees or with customers), arguments between the staff, neglect of customers, and a lack of knowledge of the menu.  In addition to observing the staff, Degel will enlist some undercover people to enter the restaurant, acting as patrons.  These people are wired so that Degel can communicate with them.  Degel’s purpose in this is to test the staff and see what they know and how they respond.

As you can imagine, there is usually a good reason why the restaurant is underperforming and Degel and the owner can see it with their own eyes.  Of course, the owner is shocked when they see for themselves what goes on in their restaurant when they are not around.  Degel will mention to the owner what he sees is wrong and what should be happening.  Afterward Degel and the owner confront the staff.  At that time they learn who Degel is and why he is there.  More importantly, they are then told about the presence of the hidden cameras.  And that they have been under surveillance.  Usually this results in a look of shock, embarrassment and shame on the faces of the staff.  Degel will then tell the staff what he saw.  He will commend the staff who did do a good job.  And he will criticize the ones who didn’t.

As a leader, I put myself in the owner’s shoes.  In some cases the staff haven’t been trained properly.  Or there is no chain-of-command.  That’s on the owner.  But that still doesn’t excuse staff for basically ‘stealing’ from their employer by consuming product without paying for it or being lazy.  If it was up to me I would have fired more than one staff member right on the spot.  But Degel doesn’t do this.  He meets with each employee individually.  He tells them what they have been doing wrong.  And then tells them what they ought to be doing.  In some cases, he promotes employees and in other cases he moves them to a different position.  Lo and behold, when Degel comes back a couple months later, those same staff are now model employees.  They know what they are doing.  They like what they are doing.  And the restaurant is profitable.

As I watch these staff make a 180̊ change, I feel guilty.  While I was willing to fire some of the staff, Degel worked with them.  The result was a win-win situation.  The employee learned how to do their job and the restaurant was not only able to retain their staff, but also get increased productivity out of them.

This is a problem in the church at times.  And with Christians in general.  We are pretty quick to judge others.  Let a Christian fall off the wagon, or commit some kind of sin, and we immediately distance ourselves from them.  We act as though they have committed the unpardonable sin.  (Which they haven’t.)  We also have little tolerance with church workers who don’t meet our expectations.  If they are not performing well, we simply don’t re-up them the next year.  Or we make not-so-subtle hints that they ought to do something else.  Quite frankly, often we treat others like they are disposable. 

How sad!  Over and over again the Bible says that God is a God of second chances.  Why don’t we understand this?  And practice it?  Shouldn’t we be praying for, and working with, those who fall into sin?  Shouldn’t we be coming alongside our workers to help them improve?  To become all that God created them to be?  The answer to both of these questions is yes.  The fact is that God doesn’t give up on anybody.  Neither should we.

Lord, help me to be humble.  And filled with grace.  To see the best in others.  To be willing to look past their mistakes and weaknesses.  To see the potential that You have placed within them.  Help me to pray for, and work with, others so that they can be all that You created them to be.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Where Would I Be Today?

I wrote the following song in August 1982.  The words pretty much reflect what I was thinking at the time:

WHERE WOULD I BE TODAY?

        I can still remember the very time and place,

        I came to know Him and trusted in His grace,

        T’was something very special and beautiful to me,

        He loosed the bonds of sin and guilt and gave me liberty,

        Thank you for the preacher who told the Old Story to me,

        Thank you for the Sunday School teacher who taught it to me.

        Where would I be, oh, where would I be, where would I be today,

        What would have happened if no one would have shown me the way,

        Where would I be, oh, where would I be, where would I be today,

        What if nobody had taken the time to tell the story to me,

        The story to me, the story to me?

        Ev’ry day I praise Him for a brand new day,

        I thank Him for the strength He gives to walk the narrow way,

        I’m so glad I’ve found Him, He’s everything to me,

        He’s at my side in all I do and gives me victory.

        Thank you for the parents who read the Old Story to me,

        Thank you for the Christians who were an example to me.

        Where would I be, oh, where would I be, where would I be today,

        What would have happened if no one would have shown me the way,

        Where would I be, oh, where would I be, where would I be today,

        What if nobody had taken the time to tell the story to me,

        The story to me, the story to me?

I don't know if you have you ever stopped and thought about how different your life would be today if you hadn't put your faith in Jesus as your Savior?  It's definitely something to think about.  In my case, as a child, I had a terrible temper.  We're talking uncontrollable rage.  Once I punched my fist through the glass in our front door when my younger sister locked it on me.  I might have been 10 at the time.  Then, in 4th grade, I was involved in a fight at school during lunch hour that ended up in a brawl.  I was suspended from school for the remainder of the year and spent 5th grade at home with a tutor.  Funny, today I tell people about my temper issues and they can't believe it - thank you Jesus!  I know for a fact that if I hadn't become a Christian when I was 13 that, sooner or later, I would have either killed someone and/or been killed myself.

In the movie, It's A Wonderful Life, George Bailey gets an opportunity to see what life would have been like if he had never been born, and it was very different, in an extremely negative way.  I don't know when we get to Heaven if God will show us what our lives would have been like if we hadn't put our faith in Jesus as our Savior or not.  Time certainly won't be a factor!  If He does, I am sure that we will watch with horror and then deep gratitude, appreciation and worship over the difference He did make - and will continue to make for all eternity! 

Lord, thank you so much for the difference that You have made, and are making, in our lives!  Only You know how different they would have turned out otherwise.  Continue Your wonderful work of transforming us into the image of Your Son.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

When The Bottom Falls Out

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+18:2&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2034:6&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+40:2&version=NASB

Having the bottom fall out of something is seldom good.  For example, which one of us hasn’t had that happen to a bag of groceries?  The bag got wet.  Or there was too much weight.  All of a sudden, bam!  The bottom falls out.  Next thing we know there are groceries all over the floor.  Or the ground.

Or what about a business transaction?  The paperwork is all set to get that house that we’ve had our eye on.  Or that vehicle.  All of a sudden, bam!  The bottom falls out.  An inspection reveals previously unknown damage.  A credit score comes back lower than expected.  Suddenly the deal falls apart.  No house.  No vehicle.

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to the Bush family of Seffner, Florida last Thursday evening.  Jeff Bush, 36, was in his bedroom sleeping at 11 pm when all of a sudden the bottom fell out.  Of his bedroom.  Literally.  A large sinkhole swallowed Jeff and the entire contents of his bedroom.  Jeff’s brother, Jeremy, who was also in the house, heard the noise and immediately ran down to his brother’s bedroom.  When he opened the door, everything was gone.  Including Jeff.  Jeremy jumped into the hole to try to find and rescue his brother but was unable to do so.  The hole was still collapsing and Jeff had to be rescued by a sheriff’s deputy.  The sinkhole eventually grew to an estimated 60' deep.  Fortunately Jeff and 3 other people in the house were unhurt.

I can only imagine the pain that Jeff felt.  He lost his brother.  In an instant.  Without warning.  He also lost the house that he was living in, since it has been subsequently demolished.  The house had been in his girlfriend’s family since the 1970's.  Now the house is gone.  Along with many of their personal effects.  All they have left are memories.

Isn’t that a lot like life?  One day things are going well and the next thing we know, bam, the bottom drops out!  We lose our job.  We are in an accident.  Or get diagnosed with a disease.  We go through a separation.  Or a divorce.  A child gets into trouble with the law.  A loved one dies.  All of a sudden we are in a free fall.  And we don’t know when or where we are going to land.  Or even if we will land.  Maybe we are just going to keep falling forever.  These are traumatic times.  In many cases, we never saw it coming.  Just like Jeff Bush.  Unfortunately, some people never recover from this.  The bottom falls out of their life and their life is over.  Maybe they don’t die.  But for all intents and purposes, their life is done.  Addiction.  Anger.  Bitterness.  Withdrawal.  They never recover.  They gradually sink from sight.  Never to be heard from again.

What can we do?  Well, it’s not like we can prevent the bottom from falling out of life.  It happens.  Sooner or later it will happen to us.  The goal is to be prepared.  The best way to do this is to know God.  To have a personal relationship with Him.  Because at the bottom of every hole, God is there.  He loves His children.  And He will always be there for them.  He will catch them.  He will rescue them.  He will put their feet back on solid ground once again.  We have His word on this.

Lord, I thank you that when the bottom falls out of my life You are there.  Sustaining me.  Holding me.  Loving me.  May I continue to strengthen and deepen my relationship with You today.  So that when bad times come I am not searching for You.  I will know exactly where You are.  Right beside me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lights In The Darkness

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201:4-5&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%208:12&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:14-16&version=NIV

Light.  You really can’t appreciate it until you don’t have it.  Then you realize its value.  Take the winters here in the Flathead Valley, for example.  Because of the nearby mountains it is not uncommon for us to get socked-in with clouds.  Not for just a day or two.  But for a couple of weeks! Now let me tell you, after a couple weeks of not seeing the sun, just about everybody is depressed.  As humans, we like to see the sun.  On a frequent basis.  When we don’t, we miss it.

The same is true for other lights.  Walk into a dingy or dark room and there is nothing much to see.  However, get a few lights going and the whole atmosphere changes.  Designers and architects know this.  That is why they devote so much time and energy to getting just the right amount, and types, of lights.  In the design world, lighting is everything.

One of the features of light that I find fascinating is just how far it can be seen.  Living on the south side of Kalispell I can see lights on the distant mountainside.  These lights are probably coming from someone’s porch or garage.  Now the fact is that these lights are probably 3 or more miles away.  But they stand out in stark contrast to the dark mountainside around it.  The same is true on water.  You can be out in the middle of Flathead Lake at night, miles from shore, and yet still see all kinds of lights in the distance.

Of course any discussion about the visibility of light from a great distance has to include the stars.  Early in the morning or late at night I am always amazed to go outside and see how brightly they shine.  Especially considering that they are at least 4 light years away.  That is the closest star.  Many are much further away.

This brings us to Philippians 2:14-15.  “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’  Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.”  What these verses are saying is that when we live for God the way that we should, our lives will stand out to others.  Just like stars do at night.  People will notice us.  They will see the light of God’s glory in us.  As such, they receive hope.  Direction.  Joy.

So many times we feel that, as Christians, our lives don’t count.  That we really don't matter much for the Kingdom.  But that is not true!  As we have already seen, even a single, solitary light can be seen for miles around.  You may be the only Christian in someone’s life.  They notice you.  They might not say it but you are the bright spot in their life.  The only ray of hope in an otherwise dark existence.  Don’t get discouraged.  You’re having an impact.  In your home.  School.  Work.  Community.  And as the world get darker as a result of sin, your life is going to shine that much brighter.  Your honesty, your kindness, your compassion and love will be noticed by others.  And just like a moth on a summer night they are going to be attracted to you.  And, in turn, to Jesus.  Isn’t that a great thought?

So don’t give up.  Your life does count.  You are being noticed.  Let your light be all that it was intended to be.  Let it shine.  Let it shine.  Let it shine.

Lord I thank you that I have the light of Your presence living in me.  I might not realize it at times but it is shining for others to see.  And appreciate.  It brings them hope.  And direction.  And joy.  May You use this little light to show others the way to You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Short Leash

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012:5-11&version=NIV

I am not a dog owner but I have observed a number of people who do own them.  When a dog owner wants to take their dog for a walk, in most cases, a leash is very important.  The leash allows the owner to give their dog some freedom (as opposed to carrying their dog in their arms!) but not too much freedom.  The fact is that if some dogs weren't on a leash they would run wild - and either get into trouble or possibly put themselves, or others, at risk.

Of course, depending on the dog and the circumstances, not only might a dog have a leash, it might have a short leash.  The reason for this is that usually the dog is in an environment that is too tempting for it to handle.  Or too dangerous.  For instance, when an owner walks their dog past other dogs they may need to shorten the leash in order to keep their dog from getting too close.  Or the owner might be walking his dog in a crowd or near traffic, a place where too much leash could have bad consequences.

Now it appears that most dogs don't like leashes but it's not like they have a say in the matter.  That being said, most dogs really don't like a short leash.  This is because there is something that they want to see or explore and a short leash prevents them from doing so.  Unfortunately the dog probably doesn't understand that the short leash is actually a symbol of love and thoughtfulness on behalf of their owner.  The short leash is for their own good - to keep them out of mischief.  Or worse.

Over the years I have found that God has me on a short leash.  For example, I only skipped school once in my life.  It was during my senior year in high school and a couple of my friends decided to ditch school and go across the border into Canada for the day.  So I threw away my lunch, hopped on the bus with them, and headed north.  Unfortunately our plans were thwarted at the bridge to Canada - the result that a truant officer took all 4 of us back to the high school.  Where our parents were called.

Then there was the time right after I was married and we were moving to a new apartment.  As I pulled up in front of the apartment there were no parking places on the right side, so I pulled across traffic (there were no cars coming) and parked on the left side of the road - facing the wrong direction.  Now the reason that I did this is that I'd seen others do this hundreds of times.  However, I didn't even get out of my car before a police officer came by and lectured me on the dangers of this - and made me move my car.  Like I said, for most of my life God has had me on a short leash.

Of course, at first I chaffed at such treatment.  'How come others get away with things?  Why are You so harsh and stern with me?' I complained.  Just like a dog, I wanted to do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it and I didn't like the idea of being restrained - of being told no.  However, over time I have come to thank God that He has me on a short leash.  I am glad that He doesn't allow me to get too far away from His side.  Having a short leash means that I can't continue in known sin.  I just can't.  I have to confess it as soon as possible and put it behind me.  I also can't say an unkind word to someone.  Or ignore God when He's asking me to do something.  I just can't.  Sooner, rather than later, I give in, confess my sin and do things God's way.

So rather than complain about the things that others get by with that you can't, maybe a little appreciation and thankfulness is in order.  Thank God that you got caught stealing the first time.  Thank God that you got a ticket the first day you took the car for a spin.  Thank God that the first time you told a lie someone called you out on it.  As His child, God loves you too much to allow you to get into trouble - to drift too far from His side into dangerous territory.  Rejoice and be glad!  Your Heavenly Father has you on a short leash because He wants you close by His side - which is the very best place to be!

Dear Lord, I thank you for keeping me on a short leash.  For wisely not letting me have my own way - for not letting me go places and do things that would have only caused me pain, suffering and embarrassment.  I have come to embrace and love the short leash.  It tells me how much You really love me.  In Jesus' name, Amen.