Plum Gone!

Plum Gone!

We have two fruit trees in our front yard: an apple tree and a plum tree.  The fruit produced by both is exceptional. Every spring I watch with delight as the blossoms fill the branches; every summer I enjoy checking on the progressing fruit; and every fall the entire family looks forward to tasting the final produce.

An interesting thing occurred this fall.  I checked on the plums one day and found them ripe and ready for picking.  However, I couldn’t get to the task that day, so I determined to harvest the fruit in the next few days.  Two days later I looked at the tree, remembering I must find time for pulling the plums, only to find the entire tree bare of fruit!

My first thought: someone snuck into the yard overnight and harvested the purple beauties.  But the plum tree was plum bare … including the highest branches.  It’s possible someone would be so bold as to grab the fruit off the lower branches … even in our well- lit yard next to a house that always seems to have some lights on and some people moving around.  But to reach the highest plums, they would need a ladder … and to see the hidden plums in the dark, they would need a flashlight … both of which would make the crime particularly brazen and extremely unlikely. 

Which means that the tree was stripped by some marauding animals or birds.  The potential suspects are multiple.  Even though we reside in a larger city, we have plenty of crows, opossums, and raccoons – all omnivores – residing here as well.  In fact, just the other night just a half-block away from our house, I saw a raccoon family of at least four.  Now that I reflect back, they were all heading toward our place.  (Maybe the mystery is solved?  Or maybe it was a combination of many thieves?)

The moral of the story is – I was expecting and even anticipating enjoying the fruit from our tree, only to find it stolen away at the end.  When the reality hit, my emotions flowed from shock to anger to disappointment to sorrow.

Afterwards the thought struck me that sadly there are many people living that story in their spiritual lives.  They become engrossed in the joys and difficulties and distractions and busyness of their physical lives – all the while looking forward to the fruits they expect are awaiting them in heaven at the end – but along the way they neglect their souls.  And when this happens, the worst-case scenario can occur: the fruit of their faith can be lost or stolen.  (The Bible shows us this is a possibility!  See Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:18-23 or read Hebrews 6:4-6.)

Finding one’s faith gone when facing the Lord is a profoundly more serious tragedy than finding one’s plums gone.

Which is why the Apostle John warned us about becoming engrossed in this world.  “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

It’s also why Jesus himself posed these thought-provoking questions: “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?” (Matthew 16:26).  The answers seem obvious, yet so many opt to live ignoring them.  And some of these folks will experience spiritual tragedy.

May you and I not be one of them!  Better to lose everything than to lose Christ!  Better to lose the entire world than to lose salvation!  Better to neglect literally anything than to neglect God’s word and our souls that it feeds and fills.

The Apostle Paul’s encouragement is my encouragement as well … to both you and me.  “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness”  (Colossians 2:6-7).

My plums are plum gone.  But my Savior is not!  May my faith in him never be either!

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A Joyful Jesus?

A Joyful Jesus?

Some of my favorite portrayals of Jesus are of him smiling or laughing.  When viewing Jesus like that, he seems to become more human … more loving … more approachable.

Yet, there are no mentions of Jesus smiling or laughing in the Gospels.  Can we still assume that he did? 

In my mind, there is no question about it.  Undoubtedly Jesus shared light-hearted moments with his mother, stepfather and siblings growing up.  Similarly, with those with whom he was close, like his disciples, and Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  Furthermore, I can’t imagine the Lord looking at eager, bouncing, smiling children whom he loved dearly (Luke 18:16) and not smiling back at them.

But there is no reference of Jesus smiling or laughing in the four Gospels.  I am convinced that this was not because it didn’t happen, but rather because the Holy Spirit moved the gospel writers to focus primarily on his key statements and astounding actions instead.  Jesus’ kind heart was clearly portrayed, so the happy facial expressions that would naturally follow were a given.

Can I “prove” it?  I think I can.

The proof begins with John 1:1&14, where Jesus is clearly referred to as “God” and as “the Word” who “became flesh.”  That is, Jesus was the embodiment of the words that the Holy Spirit had given to the Old Testament prophets (and ultimately ALL of God’s words!).  Jesus was the living fulfilment of them!

Therefore, when you read a passage like Zephaniah 3:17 – “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you; in his love he … will rejoice over you with singing” – we can safely assume that the delight and rejoicing Jesus experienced over those who believed in him often brought him to smile upon his followers.  He smiled because Jesus was the Word (the embodiment of God’s truth!), and therefore One who delighted in and rejoiced over those who were being saved.

Or in the words of the psalmist: “The LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns [them] with victory” (Psalm 149:4).  This incredible “victory” he was winning would naturally lead to Jesus, (the Word!) grinning over and at his people.

And how could the loving Savior not smile as he spoke forgiveness to those clinging to him in faith?  When he said to the paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5), would it not be natural for Jesus to be smiling warmly?  The prophet Micah writes that the Lord “delights to show mercy,” so he “pardons sin” and “forgives transgression.”  (Micah 7:18).  As the Son of God embodied God’s Word during his ministry on earth, surely his delight in forgiving showed itself in smiles as he forgave.

Even on a simpler level, I have no doubt our Savior smiled at the beauty of creation that he, the Father and the Holy Spirit formed.  A gorgeous sunset, a graceful deer, or a newborn baby likely … at least on occasion, and perhaps often … brought joy to his lips.  “The Word made flesh” would certainly “rejoice in his works” (Psalm 104:31), as God’s word declares.

Yet I submit that the thing that brought the greatest joy to Jesus’ heart was likely the last thing that would come to our minds.  Consider this remarkable passage from Scripture: “For the joy set before him [Jesus] endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

Even in his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane while Jesus as true man begged his Heavenly Father to remove the burden of suffering from him, Jesus as true God rejoiced at what was about to be accomplished.  Even amidst the torment of his body being beaten, torn and pierced, Jesus had joy.  In the excruciating suffering of crucifixion, he had joy. 

The work of saving sinners was being completed, and this filled Jesus with delight.

I doubt he smiled during those dark hours of suffering, but his heart overflowed with rejoicing nonetheless.  And a few days later, surely Jesus smiled as he exited the tomb on Easter morning … the price paid, the victory won, salvation for sinners secured.

Finally, and perhaps best of all, we can be certain that it will be a smiling Jesus who welcomes us into heaven when God calls us home.  (Isaiah 65:19).  And we will be smiling too!

What a joy to know we have a joyful Jesus!

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The View from the Top

The View from the Top

As I weigh a call to possibly transition ministry to Michigan, and as I’m dealing with all that the call process entails, I’m finding little extra time to write.  So I’m resharing a popular post from several years ago.  As always, I pray it encourages you!

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I’ve often thought that a Christian’s life is like a backpacking trip in the mountains.

Backpacking, of course, is where one carries everything they will need for the duration of a hike in a pack on their back.  It’s camping … minus the vehicle and most of the other conveniences.

One can backpack in all kinds of environments: forest, prairie or beaches.  We have a fair share of all of those in Washington.  But the geography that seems to especially draw the backpackers in this state is the mountains.  I believe there’s a reason for that!  (More on this in a moment.)

There’s actually a multitude of reasons a person might choose to backpack.  Perhaps it’s the desire to get away from the crowds.  Perhaps self-sufficiency.  It might be eagerness to overcome difficult challenges.  Or maybe the draw is the joy of time spent with dear family members or special friends.  Maybe backpacking scratches the adventure itch.  Maybe the pull is as simple as providing a much-needed break from normal responsibilities.

But one of the greatest lures … at least for me, and I believe for many … is to be able to enjoy the view from the top.  Consequently, we are pulled to the mountains.  John Muir stated, “The mountains are calling and I must go.”  I (and others!) can relate.

However, in order to enjoy the top-tier views, one must begin below, at a lower level.  That necessitates a lot of uphill trudging to get where a trekker is going.  Keep in mind that one’s load is always heaviest at the bottom!  Not to mention that the hiker is undoubtedly at a higher elevation and the air is a bit thinner than he or she is accustomed.  So a backpack in the mountains typically starts hard, and then gets harder.

Inevitably the uphill slopes begin, and the hike becomes more grueling.  Sometimes one forges up a steep hill only to scramble back down into a valley on the other side.  Which means the hiker has to regain all the elevation he or she lost (and more!) on the other side of the valley!

Of course, there are a multitude of joys along the way: immersion in wilderness; scenes normally not seen; delightful conversations with companions; encounters with wildlife; lovely vistas and relaxing campsites; even unforgettable and life-changing experiences.  These are encouraging, but they aren’t the key reason the hiker is on this journey.  There is something bigger and better, greater and more grandiose, up ahead.

So the backpacker continues to lug his or her backpack ever higher.  Along the way, multiple inconveniences and even crises are encountered: tripping on roots and rocks; mosquitoes and biting flies; the sun beating down and burning one’s skin; rainstorms; thirst; disappointing meals; sore muscles or even injuries; rude people and thieving animals; sweat, dirt, and exhaustion.  Perhaps even a wrong turn or two along the way!

But finally … after lengthy days, many miles and thousands of steps … the backpacker crests a summit, and there is that revelation!  That epiphany!  That goal that the hiker strived for all along the way.  It’s the view from the top!

Now is the time to unstrap the backpack, pull out a water bottle and a tasty snack, find a comfy seat and soak in the scenery.  Was it all that was expected?  My experience is that it’s usually better!  Was the rugged journey there worth it?  Undoubtedly!

I believe that a Christian’s life is like a backpacking trip in the mountains.  It begins rough, and generally gets rougher.  There are many joys along the way, of course, but multiple challenges too.  There are lovely views and relaxing rests at times, but frustrations are common as well.  Our path contains some comfortable walking, and even some downhill slopes.  Yet the trend is always uphill, and sometimes steeply!

But that’s OK, because our goal is the view from the top.  Every step is one step closer to the destination; every obstacle overcome brings us just a bit nearer; every blessing a precursor of what awaits. 

And finally … after lengthy days, many miles and thousands of steps … the believer in Jesus crests a summit, and there is that revelation!  That epiphany!  That goal that he or she strived for all along the way.  It’s the view from the top!  It’s the first gorgeous sight of heaven, and it’s eternal immersion in the grace and glory of God!

Will it be all that we expected?  No.  It will be better!  Will the rugged journey there be worth it?  Oh, most definitely yes!

On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine — the best of meats and the finest of wines.  On this mountain he will … swallow up death forever.  The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces … In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us.  This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation”  (Isaiah 25:6-9).

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Punching Powerful and Invisible Foes

Punching Powerful and Invisible Foes

The other day my wife and I were in Seattle for another routine appointment following her eye surgery.  (Everything looks great, thanks be to God!  And pardon the pun.) 

On the sidewalk near the medical facilities was a man who was boxing the air. 

We’ve all seen similar things; it’s not uncommon for people to sometimes throw a few jabs at an invisible opponent.  But typically when we witness this, it is either a person goofing around or making a demonstrative show, or it is an actual fighter mentally rehearsing technique.

But that wasn’t the impression I got of this man on the sidewalk in Seattle.  It wasn’t just a swing or two for show, and he certainly didn’t seem to have the smooth and defined appearance of someone in training.  No, this man swung clumsily and wildly.  Over and over and over again.  And he showed no sign of stopping.

I couldn’t help but wonder, “Who or what is he trying to hit?  Who is the foe he is attempting to fight off?”

We’ll never know what he was seeing in his mind.  But we can safely surmise that at its most basic state, it was Satan or his spiritual henchmen. 

My heart went out to him.  The man was swinging but missing.  It was a battle he could never hope to win on his own.  Not when his opponent was both powerful and invisible.

Solomon wrote about people like him: “Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed — and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors — and they have no comforter” (Ecclesiastes 4:1).

Paul’s well-known description of the spiritual foes of humans also comes to mind.  “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

The flailing gentleman on Seattle’s sidewalk isn’t the only person punching at powerful and unseen foes.  He may have been an extreme example – a physical illustration of a fruitless spiritual battle – but he is not alone.  Every single one of us is punching blindly too.

Perhaps our enemy is an addiction.  Perhaps a health issue, whether physical, mental or emotional.  Maybe a secret and repeated sin; maybe an open one that continues to trouble us and others.  Perhaps an attitude learned via environment or one fostered by circumstances.  Undoubtedly, there are sins of the mind that afflict every one of us … worry, greed, lust, discontent, dislike (or even hatred), despair, scorn (for self or others), self-righteousness … and the list could go on-and-on.

In short, we are all afflicted by unseen but potent oppressors.  We may not physically swing at the air, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually we do.  We detest our spiritual tormentors and want to beat them off!

And like the sidewalk boxer, it is a battle we could never hope to win on our own.  Not when we are permeated with a sinful nature and our other opponent is both powerful and invisible.

But unlike the swinging man versus his enemy, we have a Comforter – one who fights for us!

Our primary solace comes not through a self-help book or podcast, or a psychologist or person who cares (though these can all be helpful.)  Rather, “our help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2).  He is the “refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9).  And he is the One who brings spiritual victory; the One who always perceives the invisible enemies and whose power is unmatchable.  So “do not be afraid of them [whether physical or spiritual enemies]; the LORD your God himself will fight for you” (Deuteronomy 3:22).

How do these spiritual truths become engrained in us and empower us in our spiritual battles with the powerful unseen?  Through regular exposure to God’s word!

Notice how Paul surrounds the description of our spiritual foes in Ephesians 6:10-13:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

We become “strong in the Lord,” wearing “the full armor of God” which enables us to “stand our ground” during spiritual conflict (and still be standing afterwards!), when we are immersed in the Scriptures.  That is how the Holy Spirit empowers us and brings our unbeatable God into battle on our behalf against our spiritual enemies.

Without the Lord, we are punching at powerful and invisible foes.  With the Lord, battles are won.  If not completely on earth, then ultimately when the Lord brings us home to heaven.

The victory is always the Lords.  But thanks be to him, we are the benefactors!

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Even Me?

Even Me?

This is a post I shared a few years ago.  I thought I would dust it off and share it again.  I pray it blesses you!

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We humans have the capacity of character to demonstrate extraordinary things.  And especially Christians!  Things like courage, kindness, commitment, compassion, dedication, selflessness, love. and so much more!

We can even forgive others who have wounded us deeply … whether physically, emotionally, or both.  The Gospel can heal our heart and time can ease our pain to the point where we can perhaps pardon even those who have hurt us most and move on with our life.

It’s extraordinary character indeed, and a wonderful gift of God, to be able to mentally maneuver beyond the wrong someone has done to us and settle in a better place!

But many of us, (even Christians, who should know better and do better!), often have one drastic flaw in our makeup.  We might be able to forgive horrible wrongs others have done to us, but often enough can’t bring ourselves to forgive the wrongs we ourselves have done.

We forget to forgive ourselves.  Probably more accurately stated; we refuse to forgive ourselves.  The mistakes we have made are inexcusable … at least in our own minds.  We consider them deplorable, indefensible, unmentionable and unpardonable.

We know Jesus has secured God’s forgiveness for us.  (At least we as Christians should know this, because that’s the recurring theme throughout God’s Word!)  The Scriptures tell us, “… everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43).  This is clear Christian doctrine – the heart of the Gospel and the heartbeat of our faith!

Yet all too often we struggle to forgive ourselves.  And if we struggle to forgive ourselves, the next logical step is to struggle to recognize God has forgiven us too.

To which I ask … how did we get bigger than God?  When did we take over the “allocating forgiveness business?”  Are we somehow and suddenly the king or queen of grace?  The answers are: no, we didn’t … no, we haven’t … and no, we aren’t!  Spiritual forgiveness is God’s territory.  Always has been; always will be.

When God writes to us, “Dear children, your sins have been forgiven on account of Jesus’ name” (1 John 2:12), he is writing as the ultimate authority on forgiveness, and he was referring to you and me and all who look in faith to Jesus as their Savior.  That’s full forgiveness, fully provided by God and fully effective!  Signed, sealed and delivered by Jesus … according to the Lord himself.

I’m convinced that our gracious God supplied us with so many vivid illustrations of his forgiveness in his Word because he knew that our “drastic flaw” would be forgiving ourselves.  Guilt would linger in us and harass our hearts; shame would discourage us and foster despair in our souls.  So the Lord was determined to provide us with concrete metaphors of his forgiveness that would be cemented in our psyche.

How does God describe our forgiveness in the Scriptures?  God calls it “forgiving our debts” (Matthew 6:12), “blotting out our transgressions, and remembering them no more” (Isaiah 43:25), “hurling all our iniquities into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19), and “removing our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12).  Not to mention the oft-repeated pictures of redemption (bought back), justification (declared not guilty), and sanctification (made pure). 

Sinner, take these lovely pictures to heart, cherish them and pull them out repeatedly to gaze at their beauty yet again!  In Jesus, you are forgiven!

The simple point is this:  God has worked our forgiveness; it is accomplished!  God has spoken our forgiveness; it is fulfilled!  It is what our God and Savior has done and said that matters, and not our point of view.  We might try to conclude that we are forever tainted.  Thanks be to God; he says we are eternally clean!

It is time for us to stop crucifying ourselves; Jesus was crucified for us.  That is more than enough – even for you and me!

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Advancing into the Unknown

Advancing into the Unknown

Dark, impenetrable fog enveloped Chase like swirling eddies in a muddy river; like thick, black smoke pouring from a roaring fire.  He could see nothing – nothing! – but the shifting and roiling banks of murk all around him.

That was disconcerting enough.  The pounding waves banging the bow of his boat relentlessly was also rather alarming.  But even that wasn’t the most troubling aspect of his situation.  The recognition that he was drifting swiftly and inexorably forward into the hiddenness ahead of him was terrifying!

What dangers awaited him in the unseen waters?  What challenges was he about to face with no advance recognition and no possible preparation?  Sharp and sturdy tree branches to impale him?  Partially submerged roots to puncture his boat?  Protruding boulders to upend him?  Tight twists of the river or fierce rapids to negotiate blindly?  Waterfalls to plunge over?  The potential risks were innumerable!

It hadn’t always been that way.  There had been times when the visibility was clear, destinations were discernable, water conditions were calm with the weather desirable, and Chase could direct his boat fairly efficiently and as he saw fit.

Or at least, so it seemed.  It was interesting how often he intended to arrive at one destination only to land at another!  He thought he was a proficient navigator and boatsman, but his past record indicated otherwise.  It was one of the more bewildering (and troubling!) aspects of his previous journeys.

But on this day at this time, things appeared dire and beyond dangerous.  Chase was completely discombobulated by the all-encompassing fog he was drifting through.  What should he do?  Which way should he go?  Should he actively paddle or actively “brake?”  If only he could see through the murkiness, he could orient himself!

The waves pounding and rocking the boat seemed to be increasing in intensity.  That would seem to indicate an approaching rapids with all its associated risks.  Rough water was disconcerting even when one could see the boulders and the drop offs.  Bouncing through “white-water” blind was madness!

Chase had never felt so helpless.  The cloying clouds left him feeling claustrophobic and vulnerable.  He wanted to beat visibility out of the invisibility, but sweeping his paddle through the air accomplished nothing.  It only accentuated his dilemma.

In desperation, he cried out to God.  “Please, Lord, clear the darkness!  Open my vision!  Show me what I need to see!”

To his amazement, Chase sensed a bright glow forming above him.  He lifted his eyes and watched in astonishment as a ray of brilliant sunshine knifed downward through the gloom, driving through the darkness, drawing ever closer.  It wasn’t the distilled light that one typically experienced in the fog.  Rather, it was clear and bright, and repelled the swirling darkness as the beam stretched toward him.

“The Lord has answered my prayer!” thought Chase.  “I’ll finally be able to see again!”

But his consternation rose as it became clear that the beam wasn’t cutting a path to the unseen before him.  Instead, it was descending to a place behind him.

Lower and lower the beam tore through the fog.  Still it was aimed behind him; it’s trajectory in line with the back of his boat.  Chase wondered what good that would do him, but still he watched in fascination.  He couldn’t take his eyes off the brilliant point of the approaching light.

And then he gasped!  Before reaching the deck of his boat, the beam illuminated something totally unexpected.  Jesus was sitting behind him, manning the rudder!

The Lord smiled.  “Hello, Chase.  And you were concerned?”

Tears rolled down Chase’s cheeks, and he gave a weak grin.  He sighed contentedly.  “No.  Not anymore.”  And for the first time since entering the bewildering fog of uncertainty, he relaxed.  He couldn’t see the waters ahead, but he knew who was steering him from behind.  And that was incredibly comforting.

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Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Psalm 48:14
For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.

Isaiah 42:16
I, [the LORD], will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

Exodus 15:11, 13
Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you — majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? … In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

Psalm 139:1-12
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. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

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A Challenging Past; An Uncertain Future?

A Challenging Past; An Uncertain Future?

Not to be overly dramatic, but the Seattle Mariners happen to be the team with the longest absence from the playoffs – by a large margin!  And not just in Major League Baseball, but in the top four men’s professional sports leagues!

The New York Jets (NFL) haven’t made the playoffs in 11 years.  It’s the same length of time with the Buffalo Sabres (NHL).  The Sacramento Kings (NBA) have missed out for 16 years now.  But the Mariners (MLB) drought extends to 20 years!

That’s two long decades!  A generation of time!  Over 252 months and an excess of 7,300 days of no post-season play!

The last time the Mariners made it, my youngest son wasn’t even born yet … and he’s about to enter his senior year of high school.  My second-youngest son was only 3 at the time and can’t remember a thing about their last playoff appearance.  He is now graduated from college and is actually working for the team.  Both sons essentially lived their entire lives without experiencing post-season play from their favorite ball team.

The “M’s” have come close a few times since 2001 (the last year they qualified).  In fact, last year they still had a chance to back into the post-season on the final game of the regular season … only to miss out again.  So the playoff drought continued for yet another year.

Wonder of wonders, as I write this, the team is actually holding the top position of three in the “wildcard” qualifiers, and their remaining schedule of games is judged by experts to be the easiest in the American League.  Furthermore, the team is finally at full strength.  (They’ve been playing without some of their better players nearly the entire season.)  So there is cautious optimism that maybe … just maybe … they can break this embarrassing streak.

But there’s a saying in “hardball” circles: “It’s baseball.” 

This brief, bland and generic phrase seems to say nothing.  But for those who know and love the game, the saying says it all.  Namely, that the game of baseball is incredibly fluky, uncertain and unpredictable.  Weird things happen.  Streaks of bad luck occur.  Injuries strike.  Slumps suddenly slam players or teams.  Contending teams can plummet from the heights and unexpected teams can rise up.

“It’s baseball.”  Which means no matter how good things may look at the moment, literally anything could happen in the next six weeks of the regular season.  The history of the Mariners has certainly born this out (in a negative fashion).  Their past has been challenging, and their future remains uncertain.

That’s the delicious beauty of the game … and the sickening reality.  No one can know what will happen on the next pitch, the next swing, or the next at-bat.  No one can predict the events of the next inning, the next game, or the next week.  The “experts” are routinely wrong, which is why the teams play each game to discover what will unfold.  And why one simply has to let the season fully unwind. 

Baseball is actually a microcosm of life.  Full of surprises (both good and bad!) and bound up in uncertainty.

However, there is one significant way that life is different than baseball.  At least different for Christians.

In baseball, one never really knows the outcome until the end.  In a Christian’s life, one always knows the outcome!  And, because of Jesus, we always win! 

To stretch the baseball analogy even further, as Christians we will absolutely have a joyous “post-season!”  Heaven awaits us!  No matter how challenging our “season” has been, our future is certain, and it’s delightful!

The Apostle Peter writes exquisitely about our certain hope for a wonderful future despite the difficulties we are currently enduring.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:3-7).

Who can know if the Mariners will finally make it to the playoffs this year, or if their reign of futility will stretch to 21 years?  I certainly hope they are still playing in October!  But that hope is a hesitant and uncertain hope.

My hope for heaven, however, is a confident one.  Not because of me, but because of my Savior who lived, died, and rose back to life for me.  (And for you too!)  So “let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

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Loving the Light

Loving the Light

Two lengthy flowerbeds stretch along the front base of our house.  Since our home faces west, the plants in those beds receive afternoon sunshine, which means they are bathed in the hottest and most direct rays of the sun for the longest possible duration.  Any plants in those beds must be able to tolerate full sun.

So, of course, those are the types of shrubs and flowers I have planted there.  And they certainly prosper – stretching both up and out and bursting with beautiful blooms in due time.

However, there is an interesting disparity between some of the same types of flowers residing in the same beds but different spots.  And the situation repeats year-after-year.  A few of the flowers are noticeably shorter and smaller than their kindred flowers just mere feet away.

In the one bed, a Younique Phlox and Russian Sage are significantly stunted in stature from their twins further down the line.  In the other bed, a New York Aster and Goura can’t compare to the exact same plants rooted nearby.

Why the difference?  They were planted at the same time, in the same soil, and in the same beds.  The soil around them is equally fertilized and weed-free.  They receive the same amount of water at the same times.  So what’s the issue?

The explanation is simple; the dwarfed flowers receive less sunshine than the others.  They are blocked for one reason or another from the full effect of a full afternoon of sunbeams.  The result? They don’t thrive as much as the other plants that enjoy unencumbered rays.

The same thing occurs with Christians.

Those who frequently avail themselves of the light of God’s word tend to bloom and flourish more than their spiritual brothers and sisters who are “light”-starved. 

Perhaps one might argue that there are plants that actually prosper when they receive limited sunshine.  This is true, of course.  But we are not that type of plant! 

We are rated “full sun.”  If we aren’t experiencing regular doses of light, we will certainly wither and our risk of dying spiritually rises exponentially.  Rather, for our souls to thrive, we need extended time in the brilliant, beaming light of God’s word.  And the more we are immersed in Biblical light, the more we burst forth with spiritual foliage, and the more spiritual fruit and flowers we produce.

The amount of faith, trust, peace, joy, confidence, self-esteem, and spiritual security one owns typically corresponds with the amount of “sunshine” to which they have been exposed, (and still ARE being exposed!).

The contrast between light and darkness, spiritually speaking, permeates the Scriptures.  To list just a few of the many examples, there was God’s promise to send the Savior who would bring light into the darkness of this world (Is. 60:1-3).  Later, Jesus announced that he was that very light – “the light of the world” – and that those who follow him will have the light of life (John 8:12).  Jesus also informed us, his followers, that we are now lights in the world, and urged us to let our lights shine! (Mt. 5:14-16).  Finally, the Bible tells us that heaven will be lit by the glory of the Lord, and there will be no night there (Rev. 21:23-25).

But here is the critical key to all the rest.  For us to understand these pictures.  For us to experience these truths and exemplify them.  For us to escape the spiritual darkness … and remain free from it … we must be the recipients, initially and regularly, of the rays of God’s bright and brilliant “sunshine.”  (i.e. His dynamic word – Romans 1:16).

Scripture emphasizes this, and reemphasizes it!

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).  “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

We were brought into the light of faith by our gracious God through his gospel.  And God’s gospel still provides glorious, life-giving light which results in beautiful bloom and blossoms from believers.  The psalmist writes of the Lord, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. … The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:105 & 130). “For with you, [O God], is the fountain of life; in your light we see light” (Psalm 36:9).

Which is precisely why “full-sun” plants like us love the light!

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2 Peter 1:19-21
We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Psalm 118:27-29
The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine on us. … You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 43:2-4
You are God my stronghold.  … Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

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Oddly Elegant

Oddly Elegant

Is there any animal more gangly-looking than a giraffe?   Yet the long-legged, long-necked creature appears almost regal.  There’s an odd elegance to it.  (If you’ve ever seen giraffes in person, you understand; they command one’s attention!)

Giraffes are not your every-day sort of animal. The ancient Romans were fascinated by giraffes, calling them “camel-leopards” because of their body structure and colorization.  The Chinese emperor Yongle, when presented with a giraffe as a gift in the early 1400s, regarded it as a qulin (a mythical creature along the lines of a unicorn). 

The lanky creature still intrigues viewers today.

Giraffes are the tallest land-dwelling animal.  A mature male giraffe stands an astounding 15-19 feet tall, while females reach an almost as impressive 13-16 feet.  Their necks comprise half of their height (as much as almost 8 feet!) while their long legs contribute up to another 6 feet.  Just their tails alone can stretch to 8 feet long!  Males typically weigh between 2,000 and 4,000 pounds; females between 1,200 and 2,500.

These herbivores reach these impressive dimensions by eating primarily acacia leaves, buds and twigs.  But they ingest a lot of it – approximately 75 pounds per day!  Their long, dexterous tongues (18 inches!) are highly efficient at wrapping around potential food, delicately plucking it off limbs and delivering it into their mouths.  After grinding the greenery in their palate, the leaves are swallowed for processing in their complex stomach, and then passed all the way back up the neck for further chewing.

Giraffes gain 70% of their moisture from the foliage they eat, so they typically only drink once every several days.  If need be, they can go without water for as long as three weeks.  When they do drink, they must splay their front legs at a 45 degree angle to reach the water with their mouths.

Their coats consist of patches of orange, chestnut, brown or nearly black, surrounded by white or cream-colored borders.  This camouflage pattern can hide the animals well in the mixed light and shade of savannah woodlands, something especially important for the newborns.  Both males and females have 5 inch cartilage “horns” called ossicones on their heads – the females’ ossicones displaying tufts of hair on top while the ones on bulls are bald.

Giraffes are social creatures, residing in herds for both comfort and safety.  A gathering of giraffes is referred to with the descriptive and appropriate term “tower.”

Full-grown giraffes have few predators beyond lions and humans.  Their excellent vision and elevated sight-plane assist in avoiding danger, and their long, powerful legs brandishing dinner-plate sized hooves (12 inches in diameter!) prove effective at dissuading most aggressors.  However, the young face a 25-50% mortality rate in the first months of their lives due to leopards, lions and hyenas – despite their mothers’ best efforts to defend them.

The calves are born via a headfirst drop of five feet from their standing mommas.  (Imagine that!)  Amazingly, they are rarely hurt in the process.  When born their necks are significantly shorter in proportion than they will be as adults, but newborns still stand about 6 feet tall and weigh up to 150 pounds!  In 20 minutes the calves are standing; within an hour they are able to walk; in a day run.  In just a year giraffe calves can measure 10 feet tall.

The stature of a giraffe is obviously impressive.  A less evident but perhaps even more astonishing feature is the circulatory system in the creatures – their great height necessitating special traits in order to enable basic function.  Their two-foot, 25 pound hearts must generate an extraordinary amount of blood pressure to maintain blood flow to the brain that resides eight feet above. 

Yet this would be a major complication whenever the animal lowers its head, causing excess blood flow to the brain, were it not for a complex network of arteries and veins that prevents it.  Meanwhile, as excess blood is blocked from the head, a series of valves in the neck ensure that blood is also flowing through the veins from the head back to the heart, even with the head down, (countering the pull of gravity!).  In the same way, as it raises its head again, blood vessels constrict and push blood into the brain, keeping the animal from fainting.  (How incredible!)

Another remarkable trait of giraffes is how little they sleep.  They can function with only five to thirty minute’s sleep in a 24-hour period, though they typically sleep several hours.  (Even that amount being scant.)  They will rest lying down, especially at night, but can also sleep standing.  When in a deep sleep, they will bend their necks backward and rest their heads on their hips or thighs.

Giraffes have only two gaits: walking and galloping.  When running, they can sprint about 37 miles per hour, and can sustain 31 mph for over a mile … their necks moving backward and forward in rhythm to maintain balance.

Originally the species populated over twenty African nations.  Now they are extinct in seven.  They are primarily found in East Africa; though Southern Africa boasts some.  The largest concentration of giraffes is found in national parks and reserves.  Typical life span of a giraffe in the wild is about 25 years; they can live longer in captivity.

Not surprisingly, giraffes are the celebrities of the evolutionists, who propose that the animals were forced to stretch and grow longer necks and legs over time as tropical forests reverted to more open savannahs.  The argument goes that the giraffes “needed” the extra length to reach the most luxurious browse in the tops of trees to survive, so over countless years of reaching, their necks and legs evolved. 

Yet, as Wikipedia records, the early fossil records demonstrate that “the elongation of the neck appears to have started early in the giraffe lineage.”  Well, of course that’s what the fossil records show!  Because that’s how the Creator, in his unrivaled creativity, created them on Day Six of Creation!  (Along with all of their other remarkable special features or “adaptations,” as biologists call them).

In fact, the wonders of the animal called a giraffe denounce as foolishness any other conclusion than that the Lord made them with all their unique and astounding features and in all their oddly elegant splendor. 

How imaginative is our God!  How wondrous are his works!   How blessed are we to recognize this, and how natural then is our praise.

The psalmist had it right:  “Praise the LORD. I will extol the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate” (Psalm 111:1-4).

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Genesis 1:24-25
And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

If you enjoyed this post on one of God’s amazing creatures, you may also enjoy some past posts on this site about other animals.  To access them, simply find the “categories” window in the side bar, (it’s the final one), and click on “God’s Creatures.”  If the sidebar doesn’t appear on your device, go to the top of the post and click on “comments,” then scroll down.

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Guarded and Guided by the One Who Never Sleeps

Guarded and Guided by the One Who Never Sleeps

I am not an early-morning person.  I have some family members who are, but that would never describe me.  I function much better late than early, so if extra time is needed to handle some responsibilities, I will tack the additional time at the end of my day rather than the beginning.

I can wake up early, if need be.  Say for a fishing or hunting trip, a hike, a metal-detecting excursion, or some other outdoor adventure.  But normally I would not choose to crawl out of bed before a seven is registered on the clock.

Consequently, it is always eye-opening when I am awake early and out-and-about to see how many others are up before the crack of dawn, and clearly are routinely early risers … often by necessity.

Earlier this week, my wife and I needed to be up in Seattle for a follow-up surgery on her eye.  (Her sixth – and God-willing, final – one!)  Her assigned check in at the hospital was at 6 a.m., so we were up and going at “0-dark-thirty.”

It’s remarkable how many people in a larger city are circulating in the wee hours of the morning!  On my caffeine run to a 24-hour convenience store before our commute, there was the clerk … AND a delivery truck driver … AND others getting their fixes before heading to work.  A police cruiser rolled by as I returned to my vehicle.  The freeway was filled with folks flying north or south to their jobs. (Not as filled as it would be later at a more decent hour, but filled sufficiently nevertheless.)  The hospital was buzzing with activity as personnel carried out their various responsibilities. 

There’s a lot of people up early doing what they need to do!  Those of us who prefer to sleep a bit later into the morning sometimes fail to recognize the many folks who start their days … or end their nights as the case may be, while we are embracing our ZZZs.

But they all have to sleep sometime!

Sleep isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity.  The human body must sleep.  It doesn’t take long for lack of rest to severely impact a person’s well-being.  Just 24 hours without it can result in irritability, altered perception, memory deficits, impaired judgement, vision and hearing setbacks, decreased hand-eye coordination, an increased risk of accidents, greater muscle tension, and even tremors.

Add just another 12 hours to that, (36 hours without sleep), and one’s body is significantly affected.  Appetite, metabolism, temperature, mood, and stress level all take hits, creating issues with hormonal imbalances, decreased motivation, inflexible reasoning, decreased attention and risky decision-making. Sleep deprivation can make routine tasks like driving exponentially more dangerous. (www.healthline.com).

Which is why we all sleep.  Why we all HAVE TO sleep.  In fact, we humans actually spend a third of our lives sleeping!

Consequently, the concept of our God never sleeping is challenging for us to grasp. 

But he doesn’t!  The Lord never crawls under the heavenly covers and “crashes.”  He never sneaks in a “cat nap.”  He never accidentally nods off for a moment.  He never intentionally “shuts it down.”  He never even closes his “eyes!”  Never, ever!  We’re told in Job that God “views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens” (Job 28:24).

Not only does our God never rest.  He never loses his concentration; his mood is never altered; his perceptions remain unphased; his perfect abilities continue unhindered. 

Furthermore, the Lord never ceases to be vigilantly watching over us and acting on our behalf!  God’s unwavering attention is riveted on his people; his loving heart, guiding hand, and providing and protecting arm are always engaged in the goings-on of our lives.  “The eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them …” (Psalm 33:18-19).

So while our Lord never sleeping is a challenging concept to grasp, it is at the same time tremendously comforting.  We are continuously guarded and guided by the Loving One who never sleeps.

The psalmist summarizes this truth beautifully!

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you — the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121).

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