Walking -- One Foot in Front of the Other

(Begun a week ago)

Well, the season of shipping has come and gone, at least from a package handlers point of view. There was a definite increase in the workflow, though some days were heavier than others. One good thing; more work means more hours. More hours means bigger paychecks. Bigger paychecks means not much, as it seems that the evaporation process impacts both large and small checks, especially with everyone home around the holiday season.

And so here we stand at the conclusion of another year. How ever did we get here? Quite simply, by putting one foot in front of the other. One day follows the other [one box follows the previous -- or on shoe day, 500 follow the previous]. On to serious thoughts.

So often we pray and ask (1) God to guide us and/or (2) God to be with us or someone else. Stop and think for a moment. Is our issue God's guiding or our following? Is the problem that He is not with us or that we live as if we are independent from him. Of course He guides us and He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. As we live day after day, we can rest assured that our great God is with us, guiding us all of the way.

David Jeremiah wrote a book titled, "A Bend in the Road" about navigating life when life doesn't go according to plan. It may be that we experience a life-changing event that we cannot understand or explain, but we can rest assured that God is there and that He will guide us even when we cannot see around the corner. Whether in good times or bad; whether life is according to plan or off course, our Heavenly Father is there with us to aid us, indeed to do even more than that. He delights in meeting our needs and in caring for us.

We live one day after another. Each day is a unit unto itself, and yet each day is part of a longer period of time. And then, each day is one small part of a life. The decisions made in a day impact not only that day, but the week, month, year, and life. That is why waiting on God is so important. We cannot see around the bend in the road, but God knows the beginning of our journey, our present location on the journey, and our final destination. Even when our destination is not where we had intended. Health issues, financial difficulties, relationship concerns, vocational problems -- any or all of these can throw a life "off course." How we handle life when that happens is of great importance. If God is present and he is guiding, are we willing to trust him and follow him even when we do not understand? We have a great and wonderful God and there is not one part of life with which he is not interested. He is not concerned with detachment, nor will he micromanage our lives. He cares and assists, but he allows us to navigate life. Life is full of twists and turns, some of which lead to what we view as positive outcomes and some which do not. And yet, we know that all things work together for good when we follow his leading.

As we end one year and begin another, let each of us commit to follow the leading of God and trust him through the challenges of life. 

Walking with a Christian Worldview, 4

Our fourth lesson in the Worldview series is entitled, "Paradise Lost." It looks at the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and the effect that the Fall had on mankind.


Worldview 4 (audio)

Worldview 4 (notes)

Walking into Christmas

Genesis 1:26-27

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Romans 7:13

Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Romans 3:10, 23

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

Galatians 4:4

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Christmas 2017 is here and there is so much for which we should be grateful, though we tend to reserve that for Thanksgiving. Though somewhat simplistic, we this season should especially be grateful for our faith and our families.

• The focus of Christmas should be on our savior, Jesus Christ. The day is intended to celebrate his coming to earth where he would love and die for us. When we stop to think on it, the fact that a holy God would love a sinner is utterly astounding, even more so when we realize how incredibly horrendous our sin is. Any sin, all sin is more than bad, it is exceeding sinful (Rom. 7:13). Yet, in spite of our exceeding sinful sin, at exactly the perfect time God sent his son to redeem us from our sin. The "Jesus is the reason" saying is quite trite as most folks fail to look beyond the baby in the manger. if they did, they would find the crucified savior. He is indeed the reason, but in a sense, mankind is the reason -- man's sin separated him from God. If not for that, the baby in the manger would not have been necessary. However, man did sin and God's love was demonstrated by giving of himself to give man a solution. Now, if only man would see the dire situation that his sin has left him in and then see the wonderful gift of God's love. Christmas is a fantastic time to reflect on our faith and all that it means. 

• During the holidays, we often have time to spend with family. Whether immediate or extended, family is a wonderful gift from God that is too often overlooked. In all of the hustle and bustle of the season, we need to be sure to let those closest to us know how important to us. Even those family members separated by distance should know that they are missed and loved. Just as God demonstrated his love to us, so we should show love to those we love. If God could love us in our exceeding sinful condition, then we can and should love our family members regardless of their idiosyncrasies and quirks. One of the greatest blessings that we have is the family that God has placed us in. Take advantage of family; love and cherish them.

Have a wonderful Christmas and rejoice in the Christian faith and rejoice with your family. Our incredible, wonderful God has graciously blessed us and now we get to reflect on/ponder/meditate on His rich blessings to us.

Walking with a Christian Worldview, 3

Here is the third installment of the Worldview Sunday School series. It is focused on creation and our creator.  We know that He is the creator, but we need to recognize His place and our place in relation to Him.

Worldview 3, notes

Worldview 3, audio

Walking with a Christian Worldview, 2

Here is the second installment of the Worldview Sunday School series. It is entitled, The Center of Everything. Indeed, our God is (to be) the enter of all. We know that He is the creator and the sustainer of life, but often we remove Him from His place as the focal point of our lives. I believe that we need a fresh look at God and the role that we allow Him to play in our lives, as He will not force His way in.

Worldview, 2 (notes)

Worldview, 2 (audio file)

Walking with a Christian Worldview, 1

For the next few weeks, I will be teaching a Sunday School class on worldviews. I thought that I would try something different and post the audio of the class and the related handout. Should you be interested, enjoy.

Worldviews, Lesson 1 Notes
Worldviews, Lesson 1  (audio file)

Walking with a Thankful Heart

Happy Thanksgiving

In our busy world, it is not often that we actually take time to stop and smell the roses, er, coffee. And yet, when we do pause for a moment, we can easily see that we are incredibly blessed. God has been so good to us.

Family

• God has blessed me with a fantastic wife. Bec has been a wonderful helpmeet over the years, assisting around the home and in the ministry.

• God has graciously given us three wonderful kids: Justin, Brianna, and Josie. It has been fun to watch each of them grow this past year as Justin finished college and began a career in IT, Brie continued in college, and Josie began preschool.

• I have been blessed with super parents (and in-laws). They are tremendous examples of godliness. God has provided me with parents that live their Christianity and exhibit Christlikeness as they live each day. 

• And then I think of my brother and sisters. While this has indeed been a challenging year for all of us, it is encouraging to see how God has blessed and continues to bless. We all have faced different challenges, but He has shown Himself faithful as He met/meets needs.

Job

• While not what I expected to be doing, God has provided a job that continues to pay the bills and meet the needs of the family. By the way, I abhor www.chewy.com.

Church

• We have been blessed to be a part of Cedar Hill Baptist Church in Dillsburg, PA for the past year. I have had to opportunity to teach Sunday School as a part of a rotation of teachers, so that was enjoyable.

Home

• God has graciously given us a great home. It is not only sufficient for our needs, but exceeds them. It is more than we could expect.

Provision and Protection

• The family has been blessed with good health over the year. While there have been the occasional sniffles and sneezes, we have had good health over the year. We deal with aches and pains (maybe, FedEx has something to do with that), but overall good health. As we drive, work, and play, God has protected us from serious harm and injury.

• God has met each need that we have. We may not have an abundance of cash in the bank, but the bills are paid and their is food in the cupboard.

There is so much more that could be stated, but you get the idea. Our God is great and wonderful and He continues to demonstrate His goodness to us. Let us continue to be thankful in all that we do.

Walking Day by Day

Whether one uses a day-a-time calendar, a monthly calendar, or a digital calendar, we must all recognize that one day follows the other and time continues to move along. We may speak of how long a day was or how quickly time flew by, but surely each day is followed by the next and time moves on. The great question for us is, "How do we use each day?"

1. What have we learned?
2. What have we taught?
3. What have we accomplished?

Having goals, dreams, and aspirations is great, but our greatest desire should be to serve God faithfully where we are. 

Daniel was over a thousand miles from his home when he was in Babylon, but he still found a way to faithfully serve God. Whatever his circumstances, whether in the king's court or in the lion's den, he was fully committed to his God. Life may have (many) ups and downs, but God is still in complete control. We need to trust Him and allow Him to do what He does so well. 

As God grants us time, we need to use that time to accomplish His will wherever we find ourselves. We may be at home, at work, or at school. We might be near family or around the world on the mission field. We may be a part of a team or flying solo. Wherever we are and whatever we are doing, we must keep God in first place in all that we do.

I have more on this topic, but this is all for now.

Walking by the Tree

The message Sunday night was from Luke 19, the story of Zacchaeus. Some of the thoughts that I had while listening to the message.

1. The crowd
1. They passed judgment
1. on Zacchaeus
2. on Jesus
2. They stood by on the sidelines
3. They missed out on the blessings
2. Zacchaeus
1. He was determined to see Jesus
2. He was changed by Jesus
3. He was humbled
4. He was accepted by Jesus
5. He was found by Jesus
6. He was redeemed by Jesus
3. Jesus
1. He had a plan
2. He moved with a purpose
3. He sought out the lost
4. He saved the lost

This is not a complete list, nor is it completely fleshed out. It is just a series of ideas that came to mind during the message on Zacchaeus.

Like a Walk in the Park

Well, it is Monday, July 3. I work tonight, am off tomorrow, and resume the normal schedule on Wednesday. Today, as with most Mondays, I get the day with Josie. Probably her favorite question any day, but especially on Mondays, is "Can we go to the park?" I try to accommodate when possible, but sometimes schedule or weather do not cooperate. Today, all is good, so we are at the Adventure Park in Mechanicsburg - popular place. Safety and security are never a concern, neither is the source of the next meal, snack, treat, etc. Simple childlike trust that all will be well, so let's play.

Then come the adult years. Dreams come and go and life gets real in a hurry. College choices, degree choices, job choices, location/relocation choices. Marriage, housing, church, etc. Day after day, choice after choice. Each choice carries consequences and the consequences help to reroute us on our path. Life is one "re-calculation" (GPS-speak) after another. And yet, the little children simply look forward to the next time we visit the park or the next visit to the play area at Chick-fil-A or McDonald's. The adults pray for guidance and direction, for God to provide wisdom, discernment, for jobs and provision. We may get discouraged and disappointed when our goals and plans do not come to fruition, but all the children want the next time to have fun.

If all that we truly want is to glorify God, then He should be able to direct us along the path He chooses, whatever and wherever that should be. If He reroutes us, then "Fine." We must simply be willing to go and do what He asks. Just as we expect the little ones to obey, so we are expected to obey. We just follow. God never promised that life would be easy, nor did He say that it would go according to plan. He did promise to never leave us.

And so, we continue on the path that we travel, waiting for the next set of instructions, we exercise patience, trust, and obedience. If we can trust God with our eternal destination, we can surely trust Him with our day-to-day lives, even when life does not make sense. We just trust as the little child at the park.

Enjoy and have fun.

Walking to the Front of the Truck

I had intended to write with a greater frequency, but the loading of trucks at night and the subsequent sleeping during the day changed that plan. I have been able to work extra, so even though I choose to remain part-time, I am working between 40 and 45 hours a week. Then I typically get 1.5-2 hours of sleep on Saturday morning and then it is "family" time for the day. All of this means one thing: Sunday after church is now nap time. (I try to not let nap time happen during church.) Lately, I have been working every other Sunday night as well, so I get one normal night of sleep each week. That said, I will make an effort to write more regularly.

God has been very good to us. As stated, the cap on FedEx Ground hours was lifted and I have been able to work full time hours. Becky's job has been as blessing as she works for Penn State University (Healthcare) for the Hershey Med Center. Justin is home from college, finishing his final two courses and preparing to get a job to pay off his college loans. Brie is serving at Pioneer Bible Camp in Eden, Utah. Josie is being herself, getting into everyone's stuff. She is a blast.

While wait for God to show what is the next step on our path, we have been attending Cedar Hill Baptist Church in Dillsburg, PA. Becky is a substitute teacher for the ladies' Sunday school class. I taught in the auditorium class for six weeks. It has been a true blessing for the family. Josie attended her first Vacation Bible School a few weeks ago and had a ball.

More to come, at some time.

Happy Resurrection Day

Today is perhaps the most joyous day of the year. Other days have their certain charm -- birthdays, Christmas, first day of vacation -- but Easter far and away carries more hope and anticipation to those who truly understand its meaning than any other day. Our savior raised from the grave to conquer sin and give us the victory over sin and death. As I reflect on the goodness of God and His love for us, some simple statements come to mind.

Crucify Him

   It's Still the Cross

It is finished    It Is Finished

He is risen

   The one Who Lives Again

This same Jesus...shall so come
Jesus Is Coming Soon

What a wonderful day to call our hearts and minds to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is so wonderful and gracious to us.

A Walk in the Park

Continually in American sports (due to different seasons) we are in the middle of the phenomenon known as the "coaching carousel." One of the topics that sometimes impacts the hiring process, perhaps preventing the hiring of a tremendous candidate is the question of power/authority. Many coaches want more power/authority over the operations of the organization. It is normal for man to want a better position; we welcome raises and promotions. Sometimes the promotion brings a better life, sometimes only more trouble. Some days we wish that life could be easier, perhaps a "walk in the park."

Many times the Word of God presents us with a paradox in the Christian life. One of the desires of God is that we live a life of submission. While life is not going to be easy, much of the pressure is relieved when we understand that our responsibility is simply to obey. We must willingly submit to the will of the Father. The paradox in the Christian life is that God also wants us to submit one to another. So, we must surrender our own wishes and desires even as we naturally want everyone to help satisfy our wishes and desires. Though we want what we want, we should seek to help others get what they want. At the same time, God wants us to want what He wants. He has informed us that our way is not His way. In the gospels, Christ stated that the first shall be last, and vice-versa. God wants us to serve others even as we serve Him, indeed, we serve Him through serving others. God expects us to use the skills that He has given us, but to do so by serving. We yield our rights and live as servants of the King. How is it a walk in the park, as He may lead us through times of difficulty and trial? We have the God of all who knows all as our guide through life. We do not need to try to second-guess Him, but rather humbly obey. We need to spend time with Him that we might discern His will, but we simply live each day according to the principles found within His word.

We have dreams and aspirations, but the desire of our heart should be to please God. We should strive to use our skillset to minister to others. Just as a child may go for a walk in the park with his father, holding hands as they walk, so we can go through life with the same sense of peace and confidence. Whatever we face, wherever He leads us, God has promised to be there with us. We can trust Him; we only need submit and obey as we follow Him while walking in the "park."

Walking without a Map (2)

(Guess what I found in the "Draft" folder. I had intended to post it last week.) I have not posted any thoughts for some time from the book I was reading on living life during times of trial.

• Walk in the Spirit
• Daily yield control of your emotions and of your heart to the power of God's Holy Spirit.
• You cannot control events, but you can control responses.

• Wait on God and hope in Him
• His grace is sufficient

• Try your ways
• Try = test, evaluate
• There are reasons that God allows trials
• The anger and judgment of God upon sin
• The natural consequences of sin
• Spiritual warfare or sifting
• Uniquely for His glory
• The chastening of a loving Father
• Trials should be periods of refining

• Be strong and work
• Keep God first and He will keep you
• Do what (little) you can with what (little) you have to glorify God and serve Him. He will make up the difference.
• His strength is made perfect in weakness.

When we face trials, we must try to see what God wants us to learn and to do in the trial and as a result of the trial. 

Walking through the Winter

Some thoughts to consider:

Genesis 18:25
That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

• Just looking at the last statement in the verse, we can know that our God will do what is right. Even in the midst of challenging times, God will do right.
• My life may not always follow the path that I expect, but God will always do right.
• God is definitely trustworthy.
• We may not know what is down the road ir around the corner, but God does. With that foreknowledge, He will always do the right thing.
• God is governed by Biblical principle, not by emotion.

Genesis 24:27
And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.

• Again, looking at just one part of the verse -- "I being in the way, the LORD led me." When we put ourselves in the place to be used, God will indeed guide and direct.
• Often we pray and ask for "guidance and direction." The fact is that God does through the Spirit guide and direct, but we do not always follow His leading.
• I want to place myself in a place where I can be used of God in whatever way He chooses.
• God is worthy of our worship and praise.
• He has not abandoned us, not even in the midst of challenging times.
• I can trust God's leading, even when I do not understand what He is seeking to accomplish.

As we read the Scriptures, it is important that we allow God to give us direction and even encouragement. He is truly a great and wonderful God.

Walking Together for 28 Years

My, how time flies. Of course, birds fly, planes fly, and flies fly. But I digress. Time indeed flies. Just a few days ago (somewhere in the neighborhood of 12,250 days) I saw the most beautiful girl in the world at summer camp. Four and a half years later she became my wife. Now, twenty-eight years since then we celebrate another anniversary. I popped into that bastion of modern American commercialism (Walmart) to pick up some roses and some Hostess DingDongs for the love of my life. I was getting home from work about the time she was preparing to leave for work, so I put the goodies on the table and collapsed into bed in the spare room. Twenty-eight years. My, how time flies.

God has richly blessed me over these years, as we have been on this incredible journey together. We have from WI to FL, TX to PA. Now we wait on God to show what He wants us to do and we do so with confidence that God is in complete control. Many of our family and friends face greater challenges, but none have a greater life partner. Bec has been such a huge blessing from God. The roses will fade and the DingDongs are nasty chocolate, but the roses and snack cakes are simple gestures to show how much I appreciate the one that God has allowed me to spend my life with. Thanks Bec. I love you a ton!

Walking along an Familiar Path

In Genesis 8:1, I find an interesting phrase: "And God remembered Noah..." I find it interesting because God never forgot Noah. He knew where Noah was, what Noah was doing, when Noah would land, and why Noah was in the ark to begin with. God knew every detail about Noah. God did not remember Noah as we understand the concept of remembering; He once again interacted with Noah. Our God delights in being engaged in the lives of His children, but that engagement is to be a two-way street. God wants to engage with us, but He wants us to interact with Him through prayer, reading of the Word, and the practical application of the principles found within His Word.

And now, as we consider our personal situations, how is our relationship with God? Are we engaged with God? Are we in a place where we need God to "remember" us? Are we recognizing the work of God in our lives and practicing the word of God? Do we ever wonder if God cares? Indeed He does!

"And God remembered Noah." I wonder if Noah was concerned whether or not God remembered him. There may be times in the daily struggles of life that we wonder where God has gone, but the truth is that He has not gone anywhere. In Noah's case, God was there all of the time. In our case, He is there all of the time. And God remembered each of us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is there all of the time to watch over us and meet our needs. He loves us and cares for us and wants to see us accomplish His will. He did not lose us; He did not forget about us. God was there, is there, and will always be there. The "familiar path" is that place where we find ourselves -- going through life one day at a time. Remember, God is there with us.