Monthly Archives: March 2013

Are You Drinking Enough?

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The popular adage is “drink eight glasses of water per day.” You may need more depending on your body, the amount of exercise you do, your condition. But it is clear: we need water, and plenty of it.

When we were in Bolivia I read that altitude affects the need for more water consumption. We were told to drink lots of water each day, which combined with the lack of public restrooms, became a stressor of its own! 🙂 Nonetheless, we were advised to drink water before we became thirsty. By the time your brain tells you that you are thirsty, your body is already suffering. And so we are all advised to drink water throughout the day to stay hydrated. This will increase our ability to think clearly and our stamina. Whether you are healthy or have Leukemia, your body requires plenty of water to make healthy blood cells.

The same is true of our spiritual thirst. If we wait until our soul is parched, our thinking becomes clouded and judgment impaired. In fact, if we wander long enough in the desert of our own thinking, we can lose our ability to find or even desire the ‘living water’ that Jesus freely offers.

Don’t wait until you feel thirsty to come to God. Drink regularly throughout the day. Drink without stopping. Be refreshed.

“Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
Revelation 22:17

The Story of Two Horses

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One of my relatives reflected how one of my blog posts had led her to consider who she has become as a person and the faith journey that has led her to where she is now. She rides and shows horses and we shared what lessons God has taught us through the animals He has given us. With her permission, let me share an excerpt from her story:

“I had show horse that was a beautiful horse. He had won the Yearling Halter Gelding class at the Appaloosa World Horse show and was a beautiful mover and very smooth to ride.  I won a LOT with him. What he wasn’t was a nice horse.  You had to watch him all the time. He would try to kick or bite you whenever the mood stuck him and he was what is known as a dishonest horse, which means you can’t trust him under saddle to do his job.  After the first year, he began to cheat me regularly in riding classes.  At horse shows, the trainers I rode with would tell me to do one thing in one class and a totally different thing in another class. Nothing I did pleased my trainers or made the horse ride better.  My self-confidence was completely gone because the trainers convinced me everything I was experiencing was due to my lack of talent.  As you can imagine, I was in a very dark place.  The thing I enjoy doing most in the world and I was a complete failure.

I sold that horse and found Moe.  He was not as beautiful as the other horse and he rode like a truck with bad shocks, but what he had was a heart of gold.  He was the happiest horse I have ever known.  He would do anything I wanted, whenever I wanted.  He had an incredible sense of humor and took very good care of me.  Most importantly, he pulled me out of that dark place and gave me back all my confidence.  As you can imagine, I loved Moe.”

As I read about these two horses, I’m reminded that our inner character is so much more important than our appearance or ‘success.’

I need to be more like Moe. How about you?

How To Read The Bible -2

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Would you go mountain climbing without equipment and training? Me neither. Understanding and applying the Bible’s truths equips you to climb (or move!) the mountains in your life. It gives you the tools you need to live beyond the circumstances that surround you. It gives you hope in the face of seemingly hopeless situations.

The Inductive Study Method (see yesterday’s post) is a simple approach to reading, understanding and applying God’s Word so that you can live out your life with joy, peace, faith, and real power. (If you want to enjoy His promises, read and apply His Word.)

It is a discipline that will improve your skills and your life over time. It starts with a desire to not just know more about God (and yourself) but to experience more of who God is and how much He loves you. After all, this book is his personal love story to you.

When something you read and interpret strikes you as important, stop and reflect on this. You might want to write your impressions down in a notebook for future reference. One thing I have often done is simply write one word or phrase on a 3×5 card and placed it in my pocket, or on a mirror, or by my computer to challenge me to ponder the truth I had just read. Holding this truth up against how I am living leads me to ask myself how life would be better if I actually applied this truth to my daily routines and life goals.

Transformation comes from taking truth from the mind to the heart and then into our daily lives. Why not try this for thirty days? Hopefully you can find a quiet spot, free from distractions, and a set time of day to better understand God’s plan. If you want, ask a mature friend that you trust and respect to study with you.

You CAN understand the Bible. You CAN grow closer to the one true living God who loves you dearly. You CAN apply tested truths to living a victorious life no matter what your circumstances! Ask God to help you understand and see what happens!

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” James 1:5-7

How To Read The Bible For What Its Worth

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The Bible has helped millions of people discover the secrets of living a victorious life despite the circumstances that surround them. And yet many don’t read the Bible. Why is that? Is it because there just isn’t time? Or because we fear its truths might require us to change? Or perhaps because it seems so intimidating? Could I really understand it?

In a word, yes. It makes sense to take a look at the book that has literally transformed the lives of millions of people over two millennium. You might ask, “But HOW do I get started?”

Let me suggest a simple and solid approach called the Inductive Study Method. In this approach you ask three questions when reading:
1. What does the passage say?
Observe what the Bible says. Pay attention to the words and read with a receptive mind. Who is talking? Who is involved? What has just happened? What do the words actually say? Being a skilled observer of the word does take practice, but it is a skill you already have applied to other areas of learning. Why not apply it to reading God’s Word today?

2. What does it mean?
Carefully observing what the passage says allows you to better interpret what it means. Sometimes our biases and past experiences lead us to think we know what something means without actually paying attention to the facts. As you take time to observe what the passage says, look up words and names you don’t understand. Check out other passages that discuss the same topic. The more you observe and interpret, the more wisdom and skill you gain.

3. How do I apply it to my life today? Application is where you take action on what you have read and interpreted. But action is always based on belief. As you read the passage, what truths are revealed? Ask yourself to what extent you believe them or what stands in the way of believing. Lives aren’t transformed by reading or knowing what a passage says. Ultimately our lives are forever transformed through God’s power in us, and this begins with the simple actions we take, like confession, submission, trust, and obedience.

You CAN read and understand the Bible. Why not start with the book of John in the new testament? Maybe you’d like to ask a trusted friend to study with you. You can read it free online at www.biblegateway.com.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Liar, Insane, or Lord?

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Many people consider the historical Jesus to have been merely a good moral teacher. But if he knew he were merely a man and still presented himself as God, he certainly wouldn’t have been a moral teacher. Years ago, Josh McDowell wrote a popular best seller, More Than A Carpenter, that examines three questions that seem fair for the inquiring mind to ask:

Was he lying? Was he insane? Or is he indeed The Lord?

If Jesus knew he were merely a man and yet presented himself as God, he would have been a liar. He would have been a charlatan for telling people to trust him when he himself was untruthful. But this assumption doesn’t agree with the facts: lives were and are still being changed because of Jesus. The blind see, the lame walk, the lost are found, the hopeless experience hope, the powerless find power to live victorious lives despite their circumstance. In view of these realities, it doesn’t make sense to conclude that Jesus was a liar. As McDowell concludes, “Someone who lived as Jesus lived, taught as Jesus taught, and died as Jesus died, could not have been a liar.”

If Jesus were merely a man and he didn’t know it then he was at best mistaken about his identity or worse, delusional and insane. The difficulty with this assumption is that it doesn’t explain the soundness of his teaching or the consistency of his life character. It doesn’t pass the psychological requirements for being mentally disturbed.

If Jesus were not merely a moral teacher, and not a liar, and not insane, was He actually Lord? One the one hand, what you and I think about truth doesn’t determine the truth. I can say, “You are not real. You don’t exist.” And yet you, reading these words know the real truth.

On the other hand, the most profound question you and I will ever ask is the one Jesus posed: “Who do YOU say I am?” The answer to that question will determine the course and outcome of your life. But you don’t have to answer blindly. Check out tomorrow’s post on How To Read The Bible For What It’s Worth. Reading what God has to say provides practical counsel for answering everyday questions.

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31

When Bad Things Happen

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Visiting a friend in the hospital recently, I asked how he was coping. He said, “This isn’t what I asked for but it’s what I got.” You’ve been there, right? We find ourselves in situations we hadn’t planned or desired. The road we were traveling suddenly took a long detour through unpleasant territory. We wouldn’t have come here if we had a choice. But it’s where we are now and we’re trying to find a way back to our path. The truth is some detours lead us to a new path. And most make us wait.

This is usually when the “why” questions start. Why did this happen? Why me? Why now? Probably, you’ve asked these too. I’ve always maintained if you have questions, ask them. Bring them to God. He is big enough to handle any honest question you have even if you are upset with Him or aren’t even sure He is listening. (Guess what? He already knows this. He is just waiting for us to come to Him.)

If you search the bible on the subject you will likely find multiple answers to why bad things happen:

Some bad things happen because of our own doing. We make bad choices and bad consequences naturally follow. Some suffering happens because others make bad choices. We wonder why wouldn’t a loving God intervene and stop wrongdoing…as long as it isn’t our own.

Some bad things happen because we live in a corrupt world that suffers from the choices of man. Some happen to allow us to grow our character, learn an important life lesson, and draw closer to God. When this happens, God is honored and we benefit.

But it seems to me that the faster we move from ‘why’ to ‘what,’ ‘how’ and ‘who’, the more we will benefit during this time of suffering:

What can I learn in this situation? What does the nature and character of God tell me about this situation and what He wants to accomplish in my life and in the world around me? He is always revealing His wisdom, courage, strength and grace to those who look for it. How can I grasp this and make it part of who I am? Who around me is suffering or needs encouragement? How can I bring light to their dark situation? The first step of the journey out of suffering is to stop focusing on our situation and focus instead on God and others.

You can focus on despair or you can focus on hope. Choose hope.

“But as for me, I will always have hope.” Psalm 71:14a

Something Better

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Have you ever NOT received something you wanted or planned for, only to later receive something BETTER?

Maybe you didn’t get that trinket you wanted as a child but instead saved your money and later were able to buy something of far greater worth. Maybe you were running late for an out of town meeting only to discover that had you been on time you would have likely been in a major accident on the interstate. Maybe you gave up your right to custom coffee once a week and instead found greater satisfaction in giving hope to a child in a third world country through a monthly sponsorship.

One of my favorite scenes in the movie, Facing The Giants, is when the coach’s wife came out of the health clinic. Expecting positive results she had instead been given heart breaking news. With tears in her eyes, she looked to the heavens and said to her God, “And still I will praise you.”

What? Your hopes are dashed and STILL you give praise? Is that really possible? In Hebrews 11, Paul uses the phrase “by faith” over 20 times to describe the lives of many ordinary people who lived trusting their extraordinary God…even when there was no evidence for that faith. And here’s the kicker Paul writes: “These were all commended for their faith, yet NONE of them received what had been promised.” Really? We understand delayed gratification: Give up some now so you can get more later. Experience some pain now and so build your character in a far greater way later. But NOT getting what was promised?

Wait; there’s more. Paul writes: “…none of them received what had been promised. God had planned SOMETHING BETTER.” Something better than a pain-free life, better than a cute house or big retirement plan, better than your biggest dream. Something so much better that you might not even see it in this life, and yet it is still worth living for.

Before my wife said, “I do” 40 years ago, she had faith in a young man with an unknown future. She saw something that couldn’t yet be really seen. As parents we dedicated our children to the Lord, not knowing their future paths. In the face of heartache we must look beyond the daily ‘evidence’ to celebrate not only today but the unknown tomorrow.

Great faith is built by trusting God for small things one day at a time. What can’t you yet see that is worth living for…by faith?

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

Dying Wish

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Korean War veteren Gearald Bowman was recently granted his dying wish to walk on the decks of the USS Laffey where he served for four years. Can you imagine what it was like to stand by his old bunk or to revisit the engine room where he worked on the ship some 60 years ago? He describes the service time as a life changing event.

What times or places have left an indelible mark on your soul? Marcia and I look back on the two years we lived in Australia when first married, or the years with Post Katrina mission work, or the one month mission in Bolivia. Each of these (and others) were times when God spoke deeply into our lives, close and lasting friendships were formed in extraordinarily short periods of time, and when our life vision was expanded far beyond ourselves.

In one sense, you can’t really ‘go back’ because it is a different place and you are now a different person. But do you sometimes feel a great desire to pay homage to a place, time, or person that influenced you greatly? Each wedding anniversary, Marcia and I reflect upon things, places and people that have influenced us over the years. And, especially with regard to people, we have increased our effort to speak appreciation to people who have influenced our lives. Some of them were quite surprised, not recalling any special contribution they made. But sometimes it’s not what others do or say, but what we observe in their lives.

You might not be actually able to make the trip to revisit a place that changed your life, but you hopefully you can speak appreciation to those who have spoken deeply into your lives. I hope the busyness of life doesn’t cause you to miss the opportunity.

What opportunities are there today or this week to simply live well in the face of adversity or more directly influence others? You never know. Your attitude and approach to life today, or some seemingly small gesture, may be a life changing event for someone else. . . or you.

BE the light. RUN to the darkness and let your light shine.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16

Speaking ‘Gymnastics’

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image“Is Nada here?” With a welcoming smile, “Mama” explained where Nada was. Unfortunately, we don’t understand any Croatian and she doesn’t speak any English. Seeing that we weren’t going to get anywhere with dialog, “Mama” pulled me into the apartment. “Sjesti!” she commanded us with great hospitality. It was pretty clear she meant, “Sit.” So we did and made polite conversation, each saying something the other could not possibly understand.

About an eternity later 🙂 Nada returned home with her daughter Maria. Maria who grew up in Croatia, instantly picked up on the situation observing, “I see you have been speaking Gymnastics with Grandma.” (Meaning lots of hand language accompanied with unintelligible words.) What followed was a most delightful and insightful visit. Nada was excited to see us and surprised we remembered her birthday. (Nada was my housekeeper during my two months at Mercy Hospital.)

Maria shared with us what it was like to grow up in a country embedded in war, escaping to refugee camps. She said that her family’s Serbian Orthodox religion was one based a lot on traditions and family history. “If your family was Orthodox Christians you and you children and grandchildren were Orthodox.” As we discussed these traditions, Nada showed us some of her household decorations that symbolized “good luck and blessings,” based on her traditions.

Maria commented on our positive outlook on life with cancer. We explained that we simply believe that what God said is true: this life is just part of the much larger eternal life. We have to decide now where and how we will spend that. I found it interesting that Maria then remarked that evangelical funerals here are more a celebration of life compared with the Orthodox traditions of deep mourning death as the end.

We left after many hugs and farewells (especially for “Mama”), thankful for new friends and the great celebration of life now…and life eternal.

“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
Romans 14:8

Living Beyond ‘Luck’

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“Good luck!”

It was the response of one God-believing person to my Leukemia treatments. I appreciated the well-meaning gesture, I really did. Having grown up on a diet of Disney as a child, I remember the “luck of the Irish” and “wishing upon a star.” But, luck seems to be superstition that is contrary to real faith. What if your skilled surgeon, after years of perfecting her techniques, said to you before your surgery, “Well, wish me luck!” It certainly wouldn’t instill much faith in their ability, would it? If doctors have reason to believe in their abilities, then what role does ‘luck’ play if you believe in a Living and Loving God?

“Knock on wood.” “Cross your fingers.” Don’t get me wrong. I’m not knocking folks who use these phrases to wish others well. But I wonder if such vocabulary defines – or betrays – what we really believe.

Click on ‘leave a reply’ at the top of the post and tell me what YOU think. Are there other needless (and hopeless) words we could safely eliminate from our daily conversations? What words would you use instead?

Proverbs 16:21
“The wise in heart are called discerning.”. Proverbs 16:21a