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May the Source Be with You

May the Source Be with You

I happen to be one of the few adult citizens of the United States who has never watched a Star Wars movie.  Yes, I realize this is nearly unthinkable to many.  Some would even say inexcusable.  But the storyline never held much appeal to me.  My children, on the other hand, are all huge fans.  Even my wife has seen most or all of the movies.

Star Wars, of course, is the creation of George Lucas.  The first movie was released in 1977, and it became an instant hit and worldwide phenomenon.  Many more films have followed, as well as multiple Star Wars’ offshoots, including even theme park attractions.  Star Wars has generated billions upon billions of dollars.

Part of the premise of the stories revolves around a mystical power referred to as “the Force.”  The Force was described in one of the movies as “an energy field created by all living things [that] binds the galaxy together,” and it can be used for good or evil. Those few individuals who find themselves with strong abilities in the Force are able to do remarkable things.  Some of these folks utilize the Force for good; others for evil.  Both sides vie for the ultimate control, which sets the stage for a number of Force-filled battles.

In the movies, the phrase “may the Force be with you” is invoked as a blessing to protect or guide another.  Consequently, May Fourth (“May the Force” – get it?) has come to be known as Star Wars day.  And in case you didn’t notice earlier this week, there were Star Wars’ references everywhere on that day!

Of course, the theology and the science behind the concept of the Force leaves much to be desired.  So as Star Wars references abounded on “Star Wars Day,” I wondered if there might be a better, more theologically accurate, motto.  And it came to me immediately: “May the Source be with you!”

What do I mean by that?  Simply this: the Source of every good thing is the God of the Bible, and when that Source is with us, we have everything we need – rich blessings and sufficient solutions.

James summarizes this truth beautifully.  “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights …” (James 1:17).  In other words, the Source (the Lord!) provides for our every need. 

Consider what “the Source” tells us in his ultimate source of truth, the Bible:

Afraid?  “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).

Anxious?  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Bereaved?  “Jesus said…, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die’” (John 11:25-26)

Bound in the chains of addiction?  “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Depressed?  “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Discouraged?  “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5).

Feeling Unloved?  “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).

Guilt-ridden?  “In [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Lonely?  … God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).

Needing Guidance?  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (Psalm 32:8).

Tempted?  “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Threatened?  “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. … The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:1&11).

Troubled?  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles …” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Weary?  ‘“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light’” (Matthew 11:28-30).

All of which underscores the accuracy of our motto, “May the Source be with you!”  But an even better, more accurate motto would be, “The Source IS with you!”  In the Lord, the Source of every blessing, our every need for now and forever truly is provided.

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A Conversation with Jesus about COVID

A Conversation with Jesus about COVID

Everybody has thoughts on the current pandemic.  The internet and news outlets are abuzz with information.  Comments from scientists, doctors, politicians, and others abound.  Everyone has their own “spin” on things.  So whom does one believe?

In light of this, it seemed beneficial to consult with the Son of God.  What does the Lord have to say on the complications of COVID?  I recently spent some time with Jesus to get his perspective.  It turns out that he has a great deal of insights on the matter.  One wonders why people haven’t consulted with him more.  His comments were brief and often blunt, but it was clear they were all spoken in love.

Without further ado, here is my “Question and Answer” session with our Almighty Savior:

Q) Thank you, Jesus, for your time and your willingness to answer my questions. I’m grateful, and I will share your answers with as many as I can.  Here’s my first question: Why?  Why did you allow this pandemic to occur?

Jesus)  “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working. (Jn 5:17)  People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. (Lk 13:29)  I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33)

Q) Lord, this pandemic thing and all its related issues are pretty big. Some might wonder whether you are you really able to handle it all.  Can you?  Does anything ever slip past you? 

Jesus)  “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Mt 19:26)  All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  (Mt 28:18)  The Scriptures testify about me. (Jn 5:39)  Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  (Mt 28:20)

Q) So many people have been … and still are … living in fear. Some are afraid of the virus and what might happen if they or someone they love contracted it.  Others are anxious about work, bills and finances.  Some about the virus’ impact to society.  Still others about our government’s role in all of this.  What do you have to say to those struggling with fear?

Jesus)  “You of little faith, why are you so afraid? (Mt 8:26)  Take courage!  Don’t be afraid. (Mk 6:50)  I tell you, do not worry about your life.  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  So do not worry.  Your heavenly Father knows [what] you need.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow. (Mt 6:selected)  Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mk 5:36)

Q) Do you have any specific suggestions for anxious, uncertain and fearful Christians to do or remember?

Jesus)  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:28-30)

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Mt 7:7-8)  Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Mt 6:8)

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (Jn 3:16-17)

“Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (Lk 10:20)  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (Jn 14:2-3)  Look, I am coming soon!  My reward is with me.” (Rev 22:12)

Q) I think I know how you will answer this question, but how important is God’s Word for us in the midst of this pandemic?

Jesus)  “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. (Lk 10:41-42)  Scripture cannot be set aside! (Jn 10:35)  The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. (Jn 6:63)  If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (Jn 8:31-32)  Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Lk 11:28)

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Mt 6:19-21)  What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Mt 16:26)

Q) What do you see our role to be as Christians in this pandemic world?

Jesus)  “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me.  Night is coming, when no one can work. (Jn 9:4)  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. (Jn 15:16)

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Mt 28:19-20)  Go to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you. (Mk 5:19)  The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Lk 10:2)

“You are the salt of the earth.  You are the light of the world.  Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Mt 5:selected)

Q) A related question: what should be our attitude toward others in these difficult times?

Jesus)  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  Love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these. (Mk 12:30-31)  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn 13:34-35)

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk 10:43-45)  Truly I tell you, whatever you [do] for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you [do] for me.” (Mt 25:40)

Q) Are there any illustrations you can give us in regard to your relationship to us? Any pictures that will provide us with comfort as we struggle through COVID frustrations?

(Jesus)  “Do not be afraid.  I am the First and the Last. (Rev 1:17)  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, (Rev 22:13) …who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:8)

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (Jn 10:14-15)

“I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12)

“I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6)

“I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (Jn 6:35)

“I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5)

“I am the resurrection and the life.  The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (Jn 11:25-26)

Q) As we wrap us this interview, do you have any closing comments?

Jesus)  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Jn 14:27)

“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. (Rev 2:10)  I am coming soon.  Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” (Rev 3:11)

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (Mt 24:35)  Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Mt 13:43)

How to Interact on This Blog

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Everything for Good?

Everything for Good?

I rented the cottage because I was hoping we would catch some fish. 

The house was ideally located lakeside with a large dock and a lovely view.  The lake had newly stocked rainbow trout, and resident bluegills, perch, bass and catfish.  With four of us fishing with two hooks per line for several days, a fish dinner (or two!) seemed a certainty.

Our first hint of misfortune was the weather report.  The one day we were on site for the full day was the only day of the week that rain was forecast.  Bummer!  But sometimes fish bite better in the rain, so we packed rain jackets and were willing to endure the dampness for lots of action.

We didn’t even get a nibble!  Not in the sunshine; not in the showers.  

We tried everything – tight-line bottom fishing, bobbers on the surface, a slip bobber to test different depths, and even casting spinners.  We offered night crawlers and Power Bait.  Nothing worked.  It was so dreadful my youngest son declared with absolute conviction that there were no fish in the lake.

Major bummer!  All that eager expectation and effort, with nothing to show for it in the end.

It occurred to me after being “skunked” on the lake, and as I listened to the raindrops tap-tapping the skylights inside the cottage, that we were being blessed.  No, we wouldn’t be enjoying any fresh fish dinners.  But our family had quiet time together.  We enjoyed the fireplaces.  We read at the lakeview windows, lifting our eyes frequently to enjoy a sight we normally didn’t see.  We watched the Mariners game.  We talked.  We napped.  We played games.  In short, we slipped into exquisite relaxation – something we all desperately needed, and something we wouldn’t have experienced reeling in fish on the dock.  (Though that certainly would have been fun!)

Somewhere along the way I realized that it was just another example of the Lord working everything for good.  You know the passage; it’s often quoted: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him …” (Romans 8:28).

Maybe you struggle sometimes to embrace that truth.  It’s difficult to rejoice when long-awaited vacation plans don’t play out as hoped, or have to be altered or cancelled.  (Really when any anticipated plans fall through!) It’s frustrating when one’s hard work to make things better seems to result instead in making things worse.  It’s stressful when the car breaks down or the house needs attention.  It’s troubling when one’s physical or financial health takes a significant hit.  It’s agonizing when a loved one dies. 

Whenever our expectations aren’t met or the unexpected occurs, it’s challenging to see how the Lord is working “all things for good.”  Yet that’s his promise, and the Lord cannot break his word.

I believe the greatest hurdle to our accepting that the Lord is blessing us through everything is that we don’t see the complete picture.  We don’t recognize the nasty turn something would have taken if things went the way we wanted instead of the way God directed.  We don’t realize the sometimes horrific results that would have resulted if the Lord hadn’t graciously altered events.  We don’t comprehend all the significant and wonderful ramifications of God’s good plans.  We rarely fathom the really big issues from which the Lord spares us, and we certainly don’t see the subtle nuances brought about by his loving, guiding hand.

Although sometimes God gives us a glimpse.  Like while relaxing in a cabin and watching the rain pelt the lake where the fish aren’t biting. 

Yes, the Lord truly does work everything for good.  In the little things and the big things.  In all things!

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Hope Springs Eternal

Hope Springs Eternal

I am almost giddy with joy. 

Baseball is beginning!  Major league players are reporting to their spring training facilities, and practices are under way.  Games will follow soon.  Along with the amount of daylight increasing daily and the daffodils stretching from the ground, baseball is one of the wonderful harbingers of Spring. 

When “the boys of Summer” report for duty, it’s a sure sign Summer isn’t far away!

And after the last year, who of us isn’t ready for some fun in the sun?  Some enjoyable distractions on the ballfield; the sounds, sights and smells of a ballgame; some social gatherings at the ballpark?  (Well, hopefully anyway!)

On top of just the exaltation that baseball is back – and it seems it’s back for a full season this go-round – there is the added excitement that this is the year my favorite team, the Seattle Mariners, are going to win our American League West division!

At which any of you who are even a little informed about the Seattle Mariners are probably rolling your eyes, shaking your heads, and possibly even guffawing out loud.  The Mariners have the distinct dishonor of being the only MLB team that has never even played in the World Series.  The only one!  In addition, they currently own the longest playoff drought of any major professional team.  Not just the longest drought in baseball, but the longest drought of any team in MLB, the NFL, the NBA, or the NHL!

Consequently some (most? all?) will take exception to my prediction of the Mariners winning their division and breaking their playoff absence.  To which I reply with the aged and sage proverb, “Hope springs eternal!” 

And nowhere is that expression more true than in regard to one’s favorite baseball team!  (Especially if one’s favorite team happens to be the Mariners!)

“Hope springs eternal” is actually an abbreviation of a line written by Alexander Pope in “An Essay on Man” in 1732.  The entire phrase was originally “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.”

The concept, of course, is that humans long for, search for and even manufacture hope.  We need it, want it, and have to have it.  Our tendency is always to somehow, somewhere, in some way uncover some kind of hope.  We will cling tenaciously to hope against all odds because existence without hope is a shallow existence.

Unfortunately, this sin-shattered world excels at undermining hope.  Perhaps that’s why we are so desperately and constantly seeking a semblance of hope?  We recognize that hope tends to be frail, finicky and fleeting.

Which is why, I’m convinced, the Bible speaks so adamantly and repeatedly about hope.  Not about the uncertain hope this world offers, but rather about the certain, immovable, unchangeable, persevering, everlasting, rock-solid, count-on-it-no-matter-what hope that God gives.

If God says it, God must do it.  If God makes a promise, God must keep it.  If God offers words of hope, he must stand behind them.  Which makes the hopes that God gives us absolutely reliable.

The list of God’s hope-giving promises is long!  His assurances encompass his love for us, his redemption accomplished for us, his daily care of us, and his eternal reward for us.  And so much more!

 “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).  To which the writer to the Hebrews adds this encouragement, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

Wherever the Bible addresses the hope that God gives us, we should add the word “certain” to it.  Not because it sounds more encouraging that way, but because it’s true! 

Let’s try it and see what that sounds like.

“We wait in (certain!) hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our (certain!) hope in you” (Psalm 33:20-22).

Now that’s a (certain!) hope that truly springs eternal!

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The View from Above

The View from Above

Many of you are aware that last November I had my left kidney removed.  It was shrunken and appeared to have a growth on it which was potentially cancer.  (It didn’t and it wasn’t … thanks be to God.)

Consequently, I will see a kidney specialist to monitor my remaining kidney for the rest of my life.  (A nugget of knowledge for you; the official title of a kidney doctor is a nephrologist – something I never knew until I had to visit one.) 

My nephrologist has a nice office on the seventh floor of a medical building behind Allenmore Hospital in Tacoma.  And if someone happens to have an office on the seventh floor, then it is only proper that the office have large windows to provide a splendid view from above.  It allows the somewhat unsettling experience of looking down on high-flying birds!

I arrived at my appointment a bit early this week.  After getting checked in, I was ushered into one of the waiting rooms.  As I gazed through the windowpane there, I had a splendid view of a golf course a quarter mile away.  A number of golfers were scooting around the fairways on carts; others were practicing their drives at the range or their putts on the green.

But what caught my eye was the huge parking lot for the medical complex immediately below me.  It was packed with vehicles.  Just beyond was a Walmart parking lot, also jam-packed with cars.  I did some quick calculations and estimated that I could cast my eyes on about 400 parked cars.  (There were even more I couldn’t see and additional ones driving by on the adjacent street.)  My doctor laughed when I told him the figure.  I doubt he or any of his nurses or patients ever bothered with such an inane exercise.

But it wasn’t pointless.  It struck me that I only knew the make of one of the vehicles below, and the name of its owner with certainty.   (Dark-green Chevy Silverado; David Birsching).  I even knew most (but admittedly not all) of the contents in that particular vehicle. 

That left approximately 399 other cars and trucks about which I was clueless.  I could even watch a few of the drivers strolling through the parking area and could usually discern their gender.  But beyond that I knew nothing about them. 

Yet it occurred to me that the Lord knew the make and model of every single vehicle below.  He could tell you where it was made and the exact date that vehicle rolled off the assembly line, what repairs had been made, which additional ones would be made, and when the oil was last changed.  The random contents inside were also obvious to the Lord, even down to the coins and stale fries between the seats and the paraphernalia tucked underneath.

He knew every owner, and every driver, if different.  God could even list off every single person who had ever ridden in every single one of those vehicles, and every single person who ever would.  He knew the drivers’ birthdays, their exact ages, and precisely when they would be called out of this world.  Same for all the passengers!  The Lord could also recite their social security numbers, detail their job resumes, summarize their health issues, and provide the full names of their entire families.  Curious about their addresses?  He could provide that too!

The contents of the drivers’ pockets, the bills and cards in their wallets, the miscellaneous necessaries and unnecessaries in their purses, and the jewelry on their body were all known by God.  Tattoos too.  The Lord even had the hairs on their heads numbered (Matthew 10:30).

I didn’t consider all of these details at the moment, but only recognized God’s all-seeing and all-knowing view in a general sort of way.  Still, it was striking.  It wasn’t until I write this that I am able to draw these details out and expand on the concept.  I was in awe that day; my awe deepens the more I work through this.  What an incredible God we have!

Of course, I’m only exploring just one tiny facet of God’s wisdom.  He truly sees all and knows all; it’s a knowledge that encompasses far more than 400 vehicles.  For example, the Lord could easily itemize the lines on the parking lot pavement and the cracks in it, the bushes and weeds and the number of bark chips in the flower beds, the number and kinds of the bugs below the surface, and how many birds flew above.

Furthermore, he sees all and knows all in the all of Tacoma, and all of Washington, and the entire United States and all of the world.  All about the people who are and who were and who will be.  Not to mention all their thoughts, concerns and aspirations.  And all of the hairs on all of their heads as well!

It’s beyond bewildering.  It’s mind numbing!

David wrote about the exquisitely profound knowledge of the Lord: “You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. … Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (Psalm 139:1-4, 6).

Combine the Lord’s omniscience (ability to know all things) with his omnipotence (almighty power), then stir in his boundless love for us, and we recognize we have a God we can absolutely rely upon.  Nothing is too complicated for the Lord to understand or unravel; nothing is too daunting for him to adjust or overcome.  How incredibly comforting this truth is!

God always knows where our car is, and our car keys too, (and anything else one might need to know!), because he’s got the ultimate view from above. 

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

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The One Constant

The One Constant

Most people don’t care for change.  At least, not significant change.  A fair number of folks will even fight against change, perceiving significant change as significantly negative.

And while some adventurous souls actually enjoy mixing things up a bit now and then, everyone has their limits.  Radical change might be defined differently by different people, but everyone has adjustment boundaries they absolutely do not want to cross.

Ironically, despite our penchant for clinging to the familiar … everything is always changing!

In fact, the Second Law of Thermodynamics states that all systems, if left to themselves, move from a state of order to disorder.  This natural decline is called entropy.  (Also known as change!)  In other words, natural change isn’t just a happenstance; it’s a scientific necessity. 

Which is lousy news for all the hangers-on-to-how-it’s-always-been folks!  Because, let’s face it, change is everywhere, and it’s never ending.

Just this week we saw the transition of a new president.  He is the 46th person to hold that distinguished office in our nation.  That’s an ongoing stream of leadership change over our nation’s 245-year history!  But the rulers of this land, and the inhabitants of this land, were in flux long before the United States was formed.

Meanwhile the countries and borders on distant continents have been repeatedly altered as migrations and invasions and political upheavals have changed the face of nations.  And it’s not just boundaries that were changed, but style of government, laws of the land, local customs and language.  Over time even climates were transformed, and everything that climate impacts with them.

As the earth orbits the sun, the view of the night sky shifts and seasons are rotated.  The length of daylight and the average temperature changes.  The flora and fauna adjust.  People adjust too in regard to what they wear and what they do.  The seasonal hobbies and the sports seasons also change. 

Landscapes are altered.  Highways are adjusted.  Buildings are torn down and new ones built.  Companies begin and others end.  Restaurants and stores open while other close.  People change occupations and residences, and sometimes even states or countries.

Of course, COVID has brought an unending cascade of changes. 

Our bodies are in a state of unending transformation from conception to birth and all through life.  And the situations in our lives change too!  Even our relationships are being continually refashioned. 

Most significant of all, we experienced a drastic spiritual change when the Holy Spirit brought us to faith, which in turn drastically altered our spiritual destination as well!

Since our conversion, our faith in our Savior is always varying too!  It is never static but always dynamic.  Either our faith is growing, or it is shrinking.  (The results are directly linked to our exposure to God’s Word.)

There is no tiny fringe of our existence that is not impacted by change. 

Except one.  Our God doesn’t change.  Our God never changes.

God’s attributes (characteristics) haven’t changed.  The Lord is still eternal, almighty, and present everywhere.  He is still all-knowing.  He is still good and faithful.  He is still holy and righteous, but also merciful, gracious, loving and forgiving.

God’s promises haven’t changed either.  The unchanging God is still with us, and always will be.  The fact that God works everything for the good of his people won’t change either.  Nor will Jesus redemption of us, or his resurrection; those are unchanging facts.  Furthermore, God still has a special home prepared for us in heaven.  

God’s Word hasn’t changed, and God’s loving plans for us haven’t changed either.

The fact that our God doesn’t change … and isn’t changing … and won’t change is incredibly comforting at a time of incredible change and in a world overflowing with change.

The Bible reminds us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.  (James 1:17-18)

How extraordinary to have a God who doesn’t change – who is untouched by the Second Law of Thermodynamics (because he created it!).   The way God was … is the way God is … and the way God always will be.

So it turns out there are actually two constants, two changeless truths: change is everywhere … except, that is, in our unchanging God.

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A Mountain of a God!

A Mountain of a God!

In my humble point of view, there is nothing quite as visually impressive as a mountain.  Rising up from the land, jutting high into the sky and dominating the horizon, mountains can take your breath away with their majesty.

And is there anything else in the world that seems as immovable as a mountain?  Is there anything as unchangeable as that monstrous piece of solid stone?  Anything as eternal as that rock-hard, in-your-face, unable-to-be ignored piece of granite?  Anything as invincible as that unbending, unyielding, undeniably solid wall of rock?

In reality the mountains can and do change.  The rock on the mountains is slowly eroding.  Glaciers, ice and snow impact the heights.  Landslides happen.  Volcanic mountains can blow their tops, as we know only too well here in Washington.  Humans can scar and change the mountain face.

Yet, I submit that there is nothing else on earth that seems as reliable as a mountain. There is nothing else in the world that seems as immovable, unchangeable, eternal, or invincible as a mountain

Consequently, the mountains are a magnificent picture of God’s power and protection.  The Lord truly IS immovable, unchangeable, eternal, and invincible … just like a mountain seems to be.

That’s exactly how David describes the Lord.  “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.  Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.  Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge” (Psalm 62:5-8).

Fitting words as we close down a tumultuous year and embark upon another potentially challenging one!

I am confident that every one of us will acknowledge that it is God alone who is “my rock, my fortress, my refuge, my salvation, my rest,” and “my hope.”  We agree with those statements verbally and mentally, and yet all too often that’s not how we live our lives.  We are constantly tempted to look elsewhere for our joy and security.

Whenever we are leaning on the things of this world to support us, we have moved our life’s foundation from the mountain that is God to shifting sand that is most definitely not.

As David states so clearly in Psalm 62, it is God alone who can fill all our needs.  He is our “go-to God” for everything!  And indeed, he carries quite a resume’.  Rock!  Fortress!  Refuge!  Plus, he’s our salvation, rest, and hope as well!  Sounds like exactly what we need (Who we need!) as we roll into another year.

The Bible actually contains about 50 references to God as the Rock.  In other words, it’s a picture that the Lord wants his people to remember and embrace.  Clearly, it’s a picture that is intended to bring God’s people comfort.  And indeed it does!

It’s important to note that many of the Bible’s 50 references to God as the Rock imply that believers are grounded in that Rock.  Half a dozen other times the Bible stresses specifically the importance of being on the Rock.  In other words, not only is there no alternate for the Rock that is the Lord, but there is also no substitute for being on that Rock. 

In fact, it’s crucial that we are not only ON the Rock, but IN the Rock!  A person can build a house on top of the largest rock on earth, but if that house has no connection to the rock, it is destined to collapse.  Rather, a house built on a rock has to be anchored in that rock.  And when it is, there is nothing that can shake it.

So it is with us.  The Lord makes it clear that he is our Rock upon which we find our stability, strength, safety, help and hope.  But the only way we will reap the benefits of the Rock is if our spiritual roots are sunk down deep into him.  And when our foundation is the Lord and his Word then, as David writes, we “will not be shaken.”

As we embark on 2021, after enduring 2020, there certainly is no shortage of uncertainty and instability in our world and our lives.  All the more reason to be centered on the unchangeable, eternal, invincible, immovable Rock that is our God!

Is there anything quite like a mountain?  I don’t think so.  It’s a picture of stability and power.  And that is exactly what our God is.  He is the mighty rock, the mountain that cannot be shaken.  What an excellent place to be anchored at the beginning of a new year, and always!

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

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Flying Blind?

Flying Blind?

Most of us probably don’t fret much about jumping on an airline flight.  Note that I wrote “most of us;” I know some fret a great deal if they have to fly somewhere.  The other qualifier that might give some pause about flying these days is COVID. 

Still, the majority of us don’t stress overly much in regard to climbing onto an airplane.  We might not look forward to all the extra hassles that accompany flying, like packing, transportation to the airport and airport parking, checking our bags and being checked personally in security, or the long hours that are typically wrapped into a day of air travel.  The flight itself, however, is generally relaxing – an opportunity to catch one’s breath, read a book, watch a movie, listen to music, or take a nap.

However, have you ever stopped to consider what’s involved in a typical flight?  (Those who are generally squeamish about flying might want to skip the next few paragraphs!)

An average sized commercial plane (a Boeing 737) weighs approximately 45 tons.  When you add in the fuel (20 tons) and passengers, cargo and crew (22.5 tons), the weight climbs to almost 88 tons.  That’s a LOT of poundage to keep aloft!

Now consider that the average cruising height is between 31 and 38 thousand feet (6-7 miles high!), and the planes generally climb to that position in the first 10 minutes of the flight.  Once there, the airline settles into the modest cruising speed of approximately 540 miles per hour. 

And who is handling this monstrously heavy contraption 7 miles above the earth at an astoundingly high rate of speed?  Whose capabilities and actions are you, the passenger, dependent upon? 

The captain!  Though he or she has a copilot who shares some flight duties, the captain is typically the most experienced pilot in the cockpit and the one in command and control. 

And you rarely even see him or her, at least before the flight!  Maybe you hear their voice while in flight; maybe you don’t.  You know nothing about them or their experience or how they are feeling the day of your flight.  Yet you entrust your life to the pilot.

There are many details to attend to on a commercial flight.  The pilot has to constantly monitor other air traffic so there are no collisions.  Weather conditions, both on the ground and in the air, have to be considered.  He or she may have to climb higher to pass over a storm or detour to skirt around it, but everyone expects the captain to keep them safe.  

Furthermore, you expect your pilot to deliver you to the proper destination.  If you booked your flight to Chicago, you don’t even consider the possibility of arriving in Houston instead.  More trust on your part!  And again, you know nothing about the pilot.  (He or she might greatly prefer to set down in Houston rather than Chicago!)

Landing at your destination presents additional challenges.  For example, Seatac Airport in Washington State is one of the 10 busiest airports in America, and one of the 30 busiest in the world.  In 2018, there was an average of 553 flights departing per day, and about the same number arriving.  That’s approximately 23 flights departing per hour, and 23 more arriving, which makes for a congested sky around the airport.  The pilot has to navigate those busy skies.  But you and the other passengers expect that he or she will do so safely.

Some passengers might be a bit tense about the flight.  Most become at least a bit anxious if flying through a storm or experiencing turbulence.  But no one is pacing the aisle or crying out with emotion-packed exclamations.  (At least not usually.)  None are urgently demanding to speak to the pilot and inform them what needs to be done.  They trust the pilot will perform.  (Finally, they have no choice but to trust him!)

Of course, pilots are just people, skilled as they may be.  They simply can’t fly non-stop; they need time off to rest.  The safety of the passengers, and their own, demands it.  Recognizing this, the FAA regulates the number of hours commercial pilots can fly.  Pilots cannot exceed 100 hours of flight time in a month, or 1,000 hours in a year.  During normal circumstances, they average 75 hours per month in the air.

Our Lord is like an airplane captain, except the Lord doesn’t need to rest, he doesn’t need a copilot, and he doesn’t make mistakes.  Ever!  Furthermore, our God isn’t just the pilot of a jetliner with a few hundred people on board, but the captain in control of everything. 

The Lord is the Pilot of the cosmos, the universe, the world, our nation, our state, our city, our neighborhood and our home.  He is also the Pilot of our church, our work, our school, our friends, our family, and ourselves.  He is the unerring, almighty, all-knowing, ever-present, always faithful, constantly loving Pilot of all circumstances and every situation, always.  (Yes, even through pandemics, amongst social angst and rioting, and in elections.  And yes, even through our personal struggles and dilemmas!)

The Captain over all things lifts us off the earth at our spiritual births, carries us aloft across the miles and years with his Word, provides us with some glorious views along the way, guides us over or around (and sometimes through) the storms in his love, and sets us safely down at our destination (heaven!) at the end of our “flight.”  The Lord is a Pilot we can rely upon with absolute confidence, no matter what unsettling events may be currently affecting our “flight” though life.

The Lord is our Pilot.  Or to use another similar picture, he is our Shepherd.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever”  (Psalm 23).

We may feel like we are flying blind through life, but we never are.  Our Lord, our Pilot, and our Shepherd is carrying us and caring for us the entire way.  Though we may not see him on our “flight,” we can still trust him.  And be assured, we will most certainly meet him after we “land.”

Our Certainty

Our Certainty

There certainly is plenty of uncertainty these days.  In fact, one of the certainties in this world is that there is constantly uncertainty.

Uncertainty has always been a given in our existence.  Yet COVID has been the harbinger of even more uncertainty than usual.  I don’t need to list off multiple examples; you are living daily in the midst of the unknown. 

As if we don’t have enough uncertainties already, we are just days away from a major election.  The nation will choose a president; states will select governors; districts will elect various representatives.  The entire political landscape could change dramatically. 

No one can be certain about whom will be elected.  No one knows what will happen in the streets of our nation afterwards.  No one can discern what drastic changes the election results will usher in, whether in government halls, in the stock market, jobs arena or our economy, in our society, or in the general morale.

Uncertainty abounds!  And uncertainty breeds fear and despair, anxiety and drastic measures.

Some seem determined to demonstrate publicly regardless the outcome; some are resolute on rioting.  Others undoubtedly will hunker down in their homes or businesses armed with prayers and loaded weapons.  Still others would consider migrating to Canada – one segment if one man is elected as president, another segment if the other prevails.  (Unfortunately for them, the Canadian borders are currently closed!)  Regardless of the outcome, we can be sure that there will be a significant portion of our country engaged in handwringing and cries of despair.

But that need not be us, no matter whom we want to see elected or how the ballots fall. 

I remember sitting at my desk in my first history class at the Christian high school I attended.   I was struck by the teacher writing “History is His story” on the board.  Of course, this has been true throughout the years, even if we humans don’t understand some chapters of the story.  This is still true, and it always will be true!  History … all of history (even this election!) … is God’s story.

Let me assure you that the Lord knows what he is doing.  He understands all things, he sees the entire picture, he controls everything, and he doesn’t make mistakes.  I know that some are convinced that it will definitely be disastrous if so-and-so is elected.  But they don’t realize, or are forgetting, that our God is the ultimate King, no matter who wins out on Tuesday.  And our Heavenly King doesn’t abdicate his authority to any ruler nor cede his control to anyone.

David, a king himself, was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write, “Dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations” (Psalm 22:28).  Later in the psalms we’re informed that, “The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths” (Psalm 135:6).

David’s son Solomon, also a king, wrote these inspired truths: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps” (Proverbs 16:9).  Regarding chance or fate, Solomon assured us, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:33).

Nebuchadnezzar, the king of mighty Babylon, stated these words about the Heavenly King after the Lord humbled him significantly, “Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.  His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.  All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.  He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.  No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’”  (Daniel 4:34-35).

The Apostle Paul describes the Lord in this way: “God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.  To him be honor and might forever.  Amen.”  (1 Timothy 6:15-16).

 All of which is to say – be at peace.  Be at peace as you watch the voting results unfold Tuesday evening.  Be at peace – no matter whom you “just know” needs to be elected, and despite the final results.  Regardless of how others react – be at peace.  Even if the Lord is giving Americans the hardships they “demand” by their rejection of Him, like God did when Israel desired a monarchy instead of the theocracy God had established (1 Samuel 8:6-7) … Christian, be at peace.  

It was by design that Jesus repeated the concept of peace to his people over and over again, both before his crucifixion and after his resurrection.  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. … Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).  In this uncertain world, there are few promises more comforting or encouragements more beneficial. 

So no matter what happens in regard to the elections, (or in regard to anything, for that matter!), you and I can relax in the peace God gives.  The Lord over all will still be over all even after the election results are in.

This is our certainty amid the uncertainty: the King of kings and Lord of lords still reigns!  Furthermore, he loves us, has saved us, and is guiding all things around us.  Therefore, we have peace.  Yes, even in regard to the elections! 

Solitaire for Two!

Solitaire for Two!

I often have trouble falling asleep at night.  It’s not that I haven’t typically worked hard that day.  It’s because I have a mind that refuses to shut down.  No matter how exhausted my body may be, my mind keeps churning.  It happens to be one of the more frustrating things in my life.

I’ve often wished I had an on/off switch for my thoughts.  Click on the brain first thing in the morning, and click it off when I crawl into bed each night.  But I suppose if one’s mind isn’t already engaged, a person wouldn’t think to activate it when waking up.  (OK, so that could be an issue.)

Fortunately, one of the things I’ve learned that helps my mind begin to disengage after a long day is Solitaire.  I began playing the card game when I was in elementary school.  But back then, I had to shuffle the cards after each game and lay out the seven rows.  In fact, the entire game was done manually.  It took a fair amount of time to play a game, and then as much or more to reset the deck after each “hand.”

But now my computer does it all!  And much faster than even the best card handlers in the casinos could.  There are even sound effects!  (I’ve often wondered about the psychological feel-good benefits of the “ding” of moving an ace up above, the “clack” of making a connection between cards, and certainly the electronic celebration following a win.)

Yes, I know that sleep experts advise avoiding staring at screens before going to bed.  However, Solitaire somehow soothes me.  I don’t pull up the cards every evening, but several nights a week isn’t uncommon.  In fact, Microsoft informs me that I’ve played over 6,600 games through the years, and I’ve won over 1,100 times.  (That’s a 17% winning percentage, by the way.)

The card game Solitaire can be a great approach to numbing the mind late at night.  (At least for me.)  The foundational concept of Solitaire is solving the card puzzle alone.  This works well in the card version.  However, it happens to be a lousy approach to life.

To some degree I think we all have the tendency to try to conquer life’s puzzles alone.  We want to be smart enough, strong enough, adaptable enough, determined enough, or whatever other characteristics one might toss into the mix to “win” the game of life.  We want to finagle the details so all our “cards” line up in four neat descending rows, and we want to accomplish the challenge ourselves.

Realize that I’m not referring to earthly relationships when I write those words.  Some prefer to associate with many people while others prefer fewer connections.  Some folks are happiest alone.  Some are quick to request assistance from other people; others rarely will.  As humans, we are all over the spectrum in regard to our affinity for earthly relationships.  How we tackle life, with how many and with whom, are separate matters.

However, we ALL need God!  We don’t just need him a little or now and then; we need the Lord completely and constantly … every day in all things.  He is our help and our hope, our strength and salvation, our rock, fortress, protector and provider.  Without the Lord, we are doomed, both now and forever.  With the Lord, we are conquerors and overcomers; people blessed beyond measure with significance and salvation.

Jesus summed up this concept beautifully in John 15:4-5:  “Remain in me, as I also remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Branches must remain attached to the vine to live and produce fruit.  It’s crucial that we stay connected to Jesus through God’s Word!

Solitaire is best known as a game for one.  Life however is best approached as Solitaire for Two.  Each of us individually … along with God.  That is a sure-fire formula to win at life!