The recent tragedy at the Navy ship yard in Washington DC--another in a string of senseless massacres--is potentially terrorizing. How do we send our children out into a world so ransacked with sin and anger and volatility? Do we need to carry guns to protect ourselves? Do we pull into our private--seemingly safe world--and limit our exposure to the real world around us? It is hard not to live in fear.
Fear has torment. Fear paralyzes. Fear is from the enemy. Paul wrote his protege, young Timothy who was struggling with fear, "God has not given us the spirit of fear (timidity) but a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline." What do we do with that statement?
1. Fear is the enemy's tool to diminish our productivity and to dampen our enthusiasm for the pursuit of a purposeful full life.
2. Fear is NOT from God; therefore, we know it is from the enemy whose declared purpose is to destroy us for he goes about "like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour."
3. What God has given us in place of fear is...
"a spirit of love"--our love for God, and the remembrance of His love for us reminds us of His promised care and sovereign oversight of our lives.
"a spirit of power"--our link to God as His children indwelt by the Holy Spirit results in a confidence in His ability to sustain us and protect us.
"a spirit of self-discipline"--our life in God is one of presenting ourselves to Him daily, resting in the knowledge of what we intentionally affirm to be true in His Word-and not succumbing to the spirit of the world that would depress us.
We have not seen the last tragedy or act of terrorism in our lifetime; as long as sin reigns in men's lives it will be our daily fare. We are drawn by our love for Christ--a love that "casts out fear"--to a deeper relationship of trust and confidence in Him.
Cling to Him today..."casting your cares upon Him for He cares for you..."
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
"There's no place like home..."
It's been unclear in this time of transition where "home" actually is. "Home is where the heart is", an oft-quoted proverb, suggests that where your affections and deepest connections are made is where home is. In these last six weeks as I have lived in my new "house", I've mused about where "home" really is.
When we left for Sutter Creek last Thursday for five days of multiple responsibilities--a funeral, a seminar, counseling, dental work--I said a few times, "We are going home", almost without thinking. In that subconscious expression I was responding to the seventeen years we had lived there, the multitude of friendships we had developed and the poignant memories of good times.
We had a great time in Amador County, visiting and sharing meals with friends, driving through familiar country that we had navigated many times before. But, alas, I discovered it was no longer"home" for too much had changed about my life there...and here.
The place where I now go to church is in San Luis Obispo. The place where I have my office is in San Luis Obispo. The place where I shop, where I sleep, where I run on the beach, where I bike, where I eat, where I see my family...all are in San Luis Obispo County, three hundred miles from the place I used to call "home".
Bev and I left Jackson and drove to my mom's house in Stockton early Tuesday morning before heading south to Arroyo Grande. I grew up in Stockton, but as wonderful as it is to spend time with mom there, it is no longer "home". As we said good-bye to mom and my sister, Diane, and climbed into our Yukon, I turned to Bev and said, "We are going home".
"There's no place like home..."
When we left for Sutter Creek last Thursday for five days of multiple responsibilities--a funeral, a seminar, counseling, dental work--I said a few times, "We are going home", almost without thinking. In that subconscious expression I was responding to the seventeen years we had lived there, the multitude of friendships we had developed and the poignant memories of good times.
We had a great time in Amador County, visiting and sharing meals with friends, driving through familiar country that we had navigated many times before. But, alas, I discovered it was no longer"home" for too much had changed about my life there...and here.
The place where I now go to church is in San Luis Obispo. The place where I have my office is in San Luis Obispo. The place where I shop, where I sleep, where I run on the beach, where I bike, where I eat, where I see my family...all are in San Luis Obispo County, three hundred miles from the place I used to call "home".
Bev and I left Jackson and drove to my mom's house in Stockton early Tuesday morning before heading south to Arroyo Grande. I grew up in Stockton, but as wonderful as it is to spend time with mom there, it is no longer "home". As we said good-bye to mom and my sister, Diane, and climbed into our Yukon, I turned to Bev and said, "We are going home".
"There's no place like home..."
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
The suicide epidemic
Thirty per cent more baby boomers committed suicide over the last ten years than those the same age a decade before.
More teenagers die from suicide than from automobile accidents.
Staggering statistics that can be added to others heralding the gruesome truth that suicide is becoming an ever-increasing "way out" and "escape" from the rigors of life.
WHY?
Many reasons are suggested by the professionals--economic woes, joblessness, increased use of opiates, gender identity issues, the collapse of the traditional family unit, etc.
When Jesus said that His purpose was to bring us "abundant life" in John 10:10, many contemporary "teachers" chose to use that idea as a platform for what has been called the "health and wealth" gospel, i.e. "God wants you rich", "Christians should never be sick", etc. Apart from the fact that this flies in the face of scripture, and that such a message would not play well in third world countries where disease and poverty abound, the challenge, then, is to understand what an "abundant" and "full life" looks like.
A "full life" is understanding who I am and whose I am. When I discover that I am God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) created by Him with a unique place and purpose, and pursue that relationship with Him (we know that He first pursues us with His love) and discover my purpose in Him--then I can begin to experience true fullness in my life as I follow Christ.
It's not easy. This is not a ticket to a comfortable life nor is it the promise of problem-free living. What it does give me is a prescription for life--how to live it rightly and how to build meaningful relationships that are supporting and sustaining.
I firmly believe that if we understood this, and the significance of Philippians 4:6-8 where we are encouraged to come to God with our problems in prayer with the promise, "...He will keep your hearts through Christ Jesus...", or, as another commentator suggested, "keep you sane"--we would embrace life, not despair of it.
Too many are living in the grip of hopelessness and despair. This week I have the privilege of speaking to those who have lost friends and family members to the tragedy of suicide. My prayer is that I will be the voice of hope to those who have survived and are struggling to make sense of what happened.
Our hope is in the Lord.
More teenagers die from suicide than from automobile accidents.
Staggering statistics that can be added to others heralding the gruesome truth that suicide is becoming an ever-increasing "way out" and "escape" from the rigors of life.
WHY?
Many reasons are suggested by the professionals--economic woes, joblessness, increased use of opiates, gender identity issues, the collapse of the traditional family unit, etc.
When Jesus said that His purpose was to bring us "abundant life" in John 10:10, many contemporary "teachers" chose to use that idea as a platform for what has been called the "health and wealth" gospel, i.e. "God wants you rich", "Christians should never be sick", etc. Apart from the fact that this flies in the face of scripture, and that such a message would not play well in third world countries where disease and poverty abound, the challenge, then, is to understand what an "abundant" and "full life" looks like.
A "full life" is understanding who I am and whose I am. When I discover that I am God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) created by Him with a unique place and purpose, and pursue that relationship with Him (we know that He first pursues us with His love) and discover my purpose in Him--then I can begin to experience true fullness in my life as I follow Christ.
It's not easy. This is not a ticket to a comfortable life nor is it the promise of problem-free living. What it does give me is a prescription for life--how to live it rightly and how to build meaningful relationships that are supporting and sustaining.
I firmly believe that if we understood this, and the significance of Philippians 4:6-8 where we are encouraged to come to God with our problems in prayer with the promise, "...He will keep your hearts through Christ Jesus...", or, as another commentator suggested, "keep you sane"--we would embrace life, not despair of it.
Too many are living in the grip of hopelessness and despair. This week I have the privilege of speaking to those who have lost friends and family members to the tragedy of suicide. My prayer is that I will be the voice of hope to those who have survived and are struggling to make sense of what happened.
Our hope is in the Lord.
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