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"Letters, we get letters.
We get stacks and stacks of letters...."

-from the Perry Como Show, 1957/1958


Thank you for reading On My Way To Faith. I hope you will feel free to leave a comment, a thought, recommend a book, etc. Whether you found this blog on purpose or by accident, it is a way for us to connect through a common interest. If you like what you are reading here, please pass it on.


Something else I am going to start doing is add a "Recommended Reading" note at the bottom of each post when there is a particular book that is connected to the subject I am writing about. Reading is a passion of mine and book-buying is an addiction. I'm always looking for books on faith and have come across some interesting and important books to inspire thought and build upon what I have learned. I also love history and biography, so, I'll pass those titles along too.


--DL

Why Wouldn't You?

There are some books on the market that I absolutely do not understand. They are books that question faith, the existence of God and assert that Jesus Christ was “just a man.” Now, a disclosure here, I haven’t read any of the books and honestly don’t want to. If that makes me close-minded, well, so be it. The reason is that my mind is made up. I have been through all of the “Is God Real?” questions for myself and I am convinced. I believe what I have learned about faith is the absolute truth. Jesus died for our sins. He took it all upon himself to bring us into a close, loving relationship with God. God is real. That simple. Accepting the love of God and the love of Christ places one in the protection of Unconditional Love. It is a love with no strings, no restrictions, no mistakes. Unconditional. Who would not want that?

It seems people like Christopher Hitchens and Bill Maher want nothing of it. Sam Harris doesn’t want it. Richard Dawkins doesn’t want it. Dawkins, author of “The God Delusion”, argues that “atheists should be proud, not apologetic, because atheism is evidence of a healthy, independent mind.”¹ Wait a minute. Atheism is evidence of a healthy, independent mind? So, I suppose those of us who have faith and believe are blockheads? Hardly. Most people of faith I know put a lot of thought, study, analysis, and well, work, into their faith. They (we) read books, get online and study websites, discuss topics with friends and try to broaden our knowledge of faith, what it means and how it can affect our lives. Faith is not a casual decision. It is life changing and never ending. It presents challenges and tests every day. To me, atheism is the easy way out.

There are some people who seem that they don’t want to believe anything. Bill Maher is one of them. He recently released a movie called, “Religulous.” It’s a movie that probably six people have gone to see. Bill, nice guy that he is, admits using deception to gain interviews with his subjects for the movie. "We never, ever, used my name. We never told anybody it was me who was going to do the interviews. We even had a fake title for the film. We called it 'A Spiritual Journey.' It didn't work everywhere. We went to Salt Lake City, but no one would let us film there at all."² We all know people like Bill. He’s, you know, just one of those guys that you let ramble on and then you think, ‘How can he believe such nonsense.’ Bill’s in for a big surprise someday. They all are.

The problem with this kind of thinking, and this is just my opinion, is as much as I believe in faith, I also believe in free will. That is, make up your own mind. Bill and Christopher and Richard and Sam have come to their own conclusions. That’s fine with me, but I think there is a greater issue at hand here, which brings me back to an earlier statement in this post, “Why wouldn’t you?” Simply reading the Bible has opened my eyes to so many things. I call it the “World’s Greatest Self-Help Book.” My gosh, if you going to listen to Dr. Phil, why on earth wouldn’t you give the Bible a chance? The answers are all there and there were confirmations of things in the Bible that I always believed, and the Bible backed me up. Amazing. Reading C.S. Lewis, Lee Strobel, James P. Moore, Jr’s, fantastic, “One Nation Under God,” and other books about God, faith, religion, the who, what, when, where, why, and how of it all, has cleared my mind of so much worry, doubt (about myself, not God), disappointment and failure, that I don’t believe it could have been done any other way. And that is what faith is to me. That is why it is called faith. You have to believe it yourself. You have to find the answers on you own. Do the work. Do the reading. Study. Ask. Question. Learn. Do it, and I believe you will come to the same conclusion that I have. This relationship that we are offered with Christ is truly a great one. Notice I said offered. Remember, free will. You don’t have to accept his promise, his word, or even himself. But I believe if you do, you will have a much more settled life, a life you can “handle” with less worry. You will recognize disappointments, life’s ups and downs as a fact of life, and this relationship with Christ will help you through it.

Why on earth would you want to do it alone?

__________________________________

Source Material:

1 Wikipedia. Richard Dawkins. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dawkins

2 Wikipedia. “Religulous,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religulous#cite_note-10. (Additional Source:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2008/08/bill-maher-hate.html

Recommended Reading:

"The Case for Christ," and "The Case for Faith," by Lee Strobel

"One Nation Under God," by James P. Moore, Jr.

"Mere Christianity," by C.S. Lewis

John McCain's America

Note: This is a little off topic, but I wanted to give you my impressions of the election. 

John McCain lost in his effort for the presidency. Probably for the last time. For a man who spent most of his life serving his country, this had to hurt. But for many people, McCain represents a different time in America. A friend of mine told me that McCain’s time had come and gone. Bill O’Reilly said that McCain ran a campaign from twenty years ago. This could be true. I thought that there were many times when McCain barked, he should have bitten. He took total responsibility for his loss. “The failure is mine, not yours,” he said. 

I voted for McCain. But, I’ll be honest here. I knew he was a U.S. Senator, I knew he was held prisoner in Hanoi. But beyond that, the politics, I didn’t know that much more about this great man. I didn’t until the last five minutes of his speech at the Republican Convention. The last five minutes did it for me. When he repeatedly urged us to stand up for America and fight. It brought me to tears. From that instant, I feel like I understood John McCain. Whatever the challenges and mistakes we make as a country, whatever the pundits, personalities and bloggers say, we are still the best in the world. “The Last Best Hope,” as Abraham Lincoln said.

As you know, I read a lot of history, and I often say that you don’t have to read much history to get a real feel for what America is. It is a miracle we are here, living in the country we have. I absolutely believe that God has blessed this country over and over again and has placed in power the leaders we have needed for that moment. No, we don’t as a country, and as a voting public, get everything right. We’re not going to and it does no good to beat ourselves up over losing or gloating over winning. The system worked, and for whatever reasons there are for voting against Barack Obama, he won, and now we must look forward with open eyes and hearts. For me, that is being an American. Because to wish Obama failure, to me, is bad for the country. But should he fail in his efforts, the system will work again, and someone else will get the job in four years. 

Obama is right about one thing. The politics in this country must change. The pure evil against the candidates, on both sides, from bloggers, what we have seen on television, and heard on the radio, is hard for me to understand. This isn’t the America we should expect of ourselves. We’re better than this. 

I voted for McCain, and I would do it again. There was something else about John McCain that stood out for me. John McCain is the only person running for president that has had America taken away from him. Just imagine for a moment that America is gone. I think if more people could experience what John McCain experienced for five years they would feel different, they would understand just what this country is, and means. But you don’t have to spend five years in prison being tortured like John McCain was to understand what we have and what we take for granted. You can just read a little history. 

__________________________

Recommended Reading: "1776," by David McCullough; "The Last Best Hope," by William J. Bennett. Take some time and read some history. It will enrich your life. -DL

How Much Jesus Do You Need?

Throughout our lives, there are moments when we need help. When we take a class in college, there are some people who catch on right away, while some of us have to hit the books a bit harder.

I think the same thing can happen with our faith. Some go to church on Sunday and they are fine and covered for the whole week. I confess to not being a regular church-goer, but I watch some of the programs on Christian TV. If Billy Graham is on, I'm there. And you know how much I enjoy Joel Osteen's messages.

If you are new in your faith, I think we need to remind ourselves to touch the word of God every day. It gives us balance. A connection. I have learned that without the daily "touch," we open our vulnerabilities to the flesh (The battle of the spirit vs. the flesh is constant). Without the touch of the Word, we can be severely sidetracked in advancing our relationship with Christ. 

I don't think "being a Christian" is a done deal. I think we are a “work in progress,” and the devil is always looking for a road into our souls. The great relief that I have, feel and know, is that Christ is always there, looking over my shoulder. When I fail, He still loves me and invites me back into his arms. He invites you, too.  

So, I know every day I must spend some time reading, thinking, and learning about what Christ has done for me (and you, and all of us). It is a tremendous break-through to know the sacrifices he made. The punishment he endured on the cross. Doing it so our souls, our spirits and our lives can be free and clean.

How much Jesus do you need?

_______________

(Recommended Reading:  The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel. Go to Chapter 11, “The Medical Evidence.” Begin with, “The Torture Before the Cross,” and keep reading. This is the most shattering, heartbreaking piece I have ever read about Christ’s Crucifixion. I cannot describe how crushed I felt after reading this. –DL)

Finding the Pasture

“I am the door, and the person who enters through Me will be saved and will be able to come in and go out and find pasture.” (John 10:9)

Really, what else do you need to know? I have been studying the subject of the Spirit vs. the Flesh (the Spirit being choosing to walk with Christ, and the Flesh being our “sin nature,” as it was described in some of my reading.)

The struggle of the spirit and the flesh is constant and what I have been able to determine is, like many things in our lives, it all centers on the choices we make. A left turn or a right turn? And the choice we make is for our soul. Choosing the spirit strengthens the soul, choosing the flesh weakens it. And I think that choice is the meaning behind everything about the spirit vs. flesh battle. Choosing the spirit strengthens the soul, choosing the flesh weakens it.

Now, how is the soul strengthened? By studying the Word. Get into your Bible. Find a Bible that speaks to you, one you will use, and read, and make notes in. Write in the margins, highlight passages and scripture, put little sticky notes throughout your Bible marking pages you like and scripture that speaks to you.

A side note here: One of the Founding Fathers, John Adams, was an avid reader. He devoured books. Reading books was the most common way for people to get an education in Adams’ time and he was certainly no exception. He “used” his books—he made notes, writing extensive arguments and thoughts in the margins. My point is this: to get the most out of our study of faith and Christ, we have to get into the Bible, use it and study it. So when you’re reading your Bible and something jumps out (trust me, it will), get a highlighter and
mark it. 

Gregory Dickow says we have to keep “pouring the word in,” like water. I think he is absolutely right. The spirit vs. flesh battle is exactly that, a battle, a fierce one, and the more we pour the water of the word in, the more we will be able to drown what the flesh is trying to do to us. And I mean that. The flesh is trying to do things to us. It is trying to keep us from reading the Word, getting its message, and practicing its teachings.

Further, we have to know our Faith and what it is. What is it to you? How much faith do you want to have? For me, it is an unconditional commitment, an absolute, unwavering belief in Christ, as the Son of God, who died on the cross for our sins (erasing them forever), and He rose again. Now, just think about this. He died for us. I love the scripture, and it is my favorite, Romans 5:6 – “When we were unable to help ourselves, at the moment of our need, Christ died for us.” Every day, I read that scripture several times to simply get the magnitude of its meaning. Christ died for us, taking all of our sin, to erase sin from robbing our soul of a life with Him. We owe Him. As Christians, whether you are new in the faith or have been a Christian for 70 years, we owe Him.

Once we reach the crossroad of faith, we step into Grace. Grace comes through faith in Jesus Christ. And what I truly feel is the key, Prayer. We must open that line of communication with God and Christ every day. It is a direct talk with Christ and God, and believe me, they hear us, and they are listening. They want to know how we’re doing. When things are good, you get a promotion, you’ve had a good day, your child does well in school, tell them, they want to know. And when you are troubled, they want to know. Everything from the car won’t start to how to deal with an illness in the family. If there is anything I have learned since I began my Journey of Faith in 2004, it is the fact that Christ wants you to talk to Him. God wants you to talk to Him. They want to know. Tell them. Everything.

So walking in the Spirit is all of these things for me. And just like athletes, we have to “go to the gym” every day. We have to read our Bibles, build our faith, feel the Grace of God, and pray to Christ and God every day.

Which brings me back to the scripture at the top of this post where it says, “…. go out and find pasture.” For me the pasture represents freedom, peace, the knowing that God is with me.

Today, take some time. Find the pasture.

Flesh, Spirit, Law

It has been a while since I have posted. I have been in deep study of the Spirit vs. Flesh 

in its connection with the Law. This is a new topic for me and the absorbing of information and knowledge has been massive. I am just now starting to get a grip on what it means to me and I will post my thoughts in an upcoming entry. The Spirit and Flesh battle is huge. It is a daily battle, and a complete understanding is important in our walk toward and retaining our Faith. But Faith is the key. If this topic is new to you, as it is to me, I encourage you to research it vigorously. It will lead you down an amazing path. More on this subject when I feel as if I have a better understanding of it. 

Time

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under the sun,

A time to be born, a time to die…

A time to weep and a time to laugh

A time to lose and a time to seek….

--Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

     I spent last Sunday visiting with my mom. She’s 87 (88 in October) and when I ask how she’s feeling, she always tells me she “feels like she’s sixteen.”

     Now that mom is older and time is passing, it is making me deeply aware of time. How much time has passed. How much is left. So, it is important to me to tell my mom things. How much I appreciated everything she and dad did for me, right down to the scrambled egg and bologna sandwiches she used to make for me when I came home for lunch as a teenager. How I always knew mom and dad were there for me and my sister, and how much they meant to me during those years.

     My dad passed away in 1997. I didn’t get the chance to have this conversation with him, so I feel it is important, very important that mom knows these things now. I always mention something about home and growing up. She always says she enjoyed every second of it. Ironing, cooking, cleaning, wiping up this and that, she enjoyed it all. And she told me that she always wanted to be sure we had something we liked when we came home for lunch. And it was important to her that it was always ready on time. Those scrambled egg and bologna sandwiches, served with a great bowl of Campbell’s Soup, would always hit the spot. Even then, going back over thirty years, I knew it. I knew that we were the most important thing in her life, and her job, as a mom, was important to her.

     I think it’s important to tell people things. Important things that matter. Things that will mean something to them, things that they will enter into their heart and keep there. The hardest thing and the simplest thing, is to tell someone you love them. Intimacy is sometimes difficult for people. You don’t want to embarrass them, or yourself, but you just might be surprised. They could very well say they love you.

     So, after I travel down memory lane with mom on a pleasant Sunday afternoon, before I leave, I always look in her eyes and tell her, softly but in a way she knows I mean it, I love her. She always says, “I love you, son, and I’m proud of you.”

     Mom loves me and she’s proud of me.

     And I’m not embarrassed at all.

Counting Your Blessings

“When I'm worried and I can't sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep

And I fall asleep, Counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small

I think of when I had none at all

And I fall asleep

Counting my blessings.”

Written by Irving Berlin and sung by Bing Crosby in “White Christmas” (1954)

This morning, I was listening to the radio and heard about Jess King. Just two months ago, Jess and her husband Wes were living a happy life, newly married, Jess was expecting, and then Wes got sick. Then her home was broken into. Then the company she worked for filed for bankruptcy. You can read the story by clicking this link from the original source, KOTV Channel Six in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Please take a minute and read it. Here’s the link for the story written by Latoya Silmon.

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=8719073

Count Your Blessings. We all have our share of hard knocks. We lose jobs, loved ones, property, things. But even within all of that heartache, most people are able to find something to be grateful for. How many times have you watched a story on the news and a tornado has wiped everything away that a family has. Have you noticed that they never say. “I sure hate losing that big screen TV,” or “My DVD’s! All my DVD’s are gone!” No, it’s “We’re alive, no one was hurt, we’ll be fine.” Over and over, again and again. People are resilient. We’re pretty tough when being tough is required.

And being tough is what Jess and Wes King are doing. Friends and strangers are coming forward to help. With checks, TV’s, VCR’s, the “stuff” of life. When something happens, others always step forward to help. In droves. It’s natural for us to help others when they are in trouble. We offer help, prayers, support, friendship.

After I heard the story, I thought for a moment how blessed I have been. Sure, I had been without work for a year, and then my wife lost her job, but we never lost our home, we had enough savings to stay afloat, we always had groceries, and when we felt like we needed a break, we went out to dinner. Both of us have now found jobs, so even thought we are still in the regroup phase, we're doing well. Things aren’t bad. There are always people who are having a much more difficult time. Jess and Wes King will be on my mind for a long time.

Irving Berlin knew what he was talking about. Count Your Blessings. Today.

Recommended Reading/Your Comments

I have added a Recommended Reading section. It is at the very bottom of the page.

I have noticed visitors to this blog from across and outside the United States. Please feel free to leave a comment about any of the posts you read. I would like to know what you think and I promise a response.

Thanks for reading On My Way To Faith. 

--DL

Click

I’ve noticed this week that I feel better. I seem to have more zip, more interest, I’m more “alert.” I think it is a combination of several things. My work life is great—I have found a job I really like (I’m a broadcaster), my employer seems to like me (they compliment my work on a regular basis), and from the moment I took the job, I felt at home. I am getting a really deep feeling of understanding what my faith is and how it is working for and in me. My home life is perfect. Things seem to be lining up after over a year of “What next?” Boy, could I tell you some stories.

It is important to be around positive people, people who do you some good. Your spouse, your boss, your friends, everyone and everything needs to be a positive experience. If your daily environment is a challenge, find a “spot” in your day, it can be just a few minutes, where you think about the good things in your life. Your spouse, your children, where you are in your faith habits, even your hobbies that you enjoy can give you the “lift” to get through your day. You might try listening to some books on CD or your favorite music on your way to work. Be certain to take some time to study your Bible, get some good rest and have some quiet time.

My wife gets up early, 4am most days, and I will follow at 5. It allows us to have a few minutes together before she gets ready for work. We visit and sip coffee and look at the paper. When I go get the paper, I will take a moment, stand in the silence of my driveway, and look at the dark sky filled with stars. It amazes me. The beauty and wonder of its creation. And, I give the following promise to God: “Today, I will do my best to serve you better.” A quick little prayer, to “say hello” to the day, and to God. I think in a small way, it launches my day and gets me ready. I enjoy the peace of early morning. It takes less than 30 seconds to do it. I suggest you give it a try.

After my wife leaves, I go into my office and start reading. I have a few books that I call “Thumbers,” which aren’t really “reading” books. They are books you “thumb” through. I just received The Letters of C.S. Lewis. For years I never understood why anyone would want to read someone else’s mail, but now I understand that writing letters – the old fashioned way, with pen and paper – can be a window opening into someone’s deepest thoughts. It is highly personal. No one but the receiver is expected to read the letter, so the writer is more casual, more open, more thoughtful. I was interested in reading, through Lewis’ letters, about his transition to a man of faith. (Shameless Plug: I have purchased many books from Edward R. Hamilton Booksellers. They are a closeout store and I have found some great books and great buys over the years from Hamilton. Website: edwardrhamilton.com, but have them send you their catalog).

Now a couple of ideas for you. There is a company called the Teaching Company. They produce lectures by the leading professors in universities across America. The lectures are truly outstanding, and far from dull. The DVD’s come with graphics, photos, charts, etc., but if you buy the audio CD’s or tapes, you still get the full effect of learning from the lectures. They have everything from history to literature to science to art and religion. All of them are worth considering. I am currently watching the DVD of The Old Testament. An outstanding lecture presented by Professor Amy-Jill Levine of Vanderbilt University Divinity School. There are 24 lectures, 30 minutes each. Many times they place the lectures on sale and that is the time to buy (they can be a little expensive). Here is the website: thegreatcourses.com (or teach12.com).

Another idea is I have been listening to Gregory Dickow. He is the pastor of Life Changes International Church near Chicago. I found his program while channel-surfing one Sunday morning. He has what he calls his “40 Day Fast From Wrong Thinking.” It is an interesting concept and Pastor Dickow has interesting ideas about how we should make a conscious decision to remove wrong-thinking from our thoughts. I have always heard that if you do something for a month, you will be able to make a habit of it (or break the habit). Pastor Dickow’s idea of the “40 Day Fast From Wrong Thinking” is something to consider to build your faith. There are videos on his website which you can watch to get a better idea of Gregory Dickow’s ideas. Here is the website: gregorydickow.org or changinglives.org. From the Home page, go to Media, then Video On Demand. Recommended starting point: Filling Your Mind With The Word of God (the fifth video down from the top). He discusses the soul – It is excellent.

Reflecting on the Fourth

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness … And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

Reflecting on the Fourth

Have you ever taken some time to read the Declaration of Independence? I would expect most Americans have not, but I took some time to read it this week. It is a remarkable document. First, the striking prose of Thomas Jefferson will make you sit back and marvel at his command of the English language, his use of words, his powerful conveyance of thought.

You don’t have to study a lot of America’s early history to recognize the enormous risk the Founders were taking, and accepted. It was Ben Franklin who said, “We must all hang together, or most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." What Franklin and the other members of the Continental Congress were suggesting was absolute separation from England. This obviously would not sit well with the Mother Country, and if the Revolution had failed, “most assuredly,” Franklin, Jefferson and the others in the Continental Congress would have hung. But separation was the only way. The colonies were being over-burdened by excessive taxation and total lack of representation. The colonists were people dedicated to starting over and the United States in its early years was already making considerable progress toward managing itself. The States did not need England getting in its way. So separation, and independence, was the only answer.

We would not have the freedoms we have today without these men and their dedication and bravery. We would not have the country we have today without them. America, as we know it, most likely would not exist.

Now, think back on the numerous times America has helped other countries around the world. How without America, those countries would have been in dire straits and totally on their own, probably helpless, in fighting the evils threatening their way of life. World War II comes to mind first. And there are thousands of other instances in our history.

So take some time and pick up a book about America. Thumb through it. Read a little of our history, or a lot, about the founding of our country. Fly your flag this weekend. If you don’t have one, get one. The founders deserve it, and you will have a greater appreciation for what you have.

The Constant of Christ

First, a shameless plug for a really excellent online bookstore for works on Christianity. Christianbook.com has repeatedly impressed me with their selection of books about faith, Christianity and the Christian way of life. It is an online bookstore in the traditional sense, you’ll find Joel Osteen, Billy Graham, and others, but what makes it especially helpful to me are the academic and reference works available, usually at amazing prices. Check it out, you’ll find something to buy, enjoy, and learn from.

I purchased the Complete Sermons of Martin Luther from Christianbook.com. An excellent find and typical of the kind of material I am looking for. There are seven volumes to the set, which I purchased for about $35.00 (plus shipping, of course). This is an excellent buy and an eye-opening read. There is a lot of material here and a cover-to-cover reading is practically impossible, so I would simply try to find a top of interest and read what Luther had to say about it.

Today's Post: The Constant of Christ

Sometimes we struggle with our faith, thinking it isn’t what it should be, it’s not strong enough, we’re being weak in our faith. Martin Luther has an interesting thought on the subject:

Thus we see that Christ makes no distinction between weak and strong faith, and rejects no one; for weak faith is also faith, and if it only continues, it will ever grow stronger. He [Christ] came into the world to receive the weak, and to carry and sustain them. If he were as impatient as we are, He would at once say to us: “Depart from me, I will have nothing to do with you; for you do not believe as you ought.” Who could receive help from him? But the great art of Christ is to know how to deal gently with the weak, not to knock them about and impatiently drive them away. Even though today they may not be strong, it may happen in an hour’s time that they grasp the Word more richly then we who regard ourselves as strong. (Luther’s Church Postil, Vol III; Twenty-First Sunday After Trinity; p275-33.) 

Let’s look at this: Christ makes no distinction between weak and strong faith, and rejects no one. How often do we struggle with our faith; we’re not doing it right, we’re not doing it enough, we’re getting it wrong. Luther says there is no difference between weak and strong faith. To me, that makes a clear and powerful distinction about Christ and his relationship with us. In our studies we find ourselves working and learning to place our faith and love in Christ. Luther says the reverse is also true: Christ places His faith and love in US! The clear Unconditional Love of Christ. It is His gift. Now, think about that. His commitment to us is as strong as our commitment to Him. This is love at its most perfect. He "rejects no one."

Luther continues: For weak faith is also faith, and if it only continues, it will ever grow stronger. This is particularly powerful for me. Take note of Luther's statement about "weak faith is also faith." This is important. On days when our faith may not be what it should be, maybe we're too busy and we simply are not thinking about our relationship with God and our faith, this does not mean that faith goes away. Faith is a constant. Once Christ is in your life, he is there, within you. So, on days when your faith does not feel as strong, try not to worry, you have made the commitment and the commitment is constant and on-going. What Luther says next is more important. "If it only continues, it will ever grow stronger." Now, think about this. Remember when your relationship with Christ and your walk toward faith was new? If your experience was like mine, you could feel the "new" of it, and it was a learning, growing process. Step-by-step, day-by-day. I started my walk toward faith in 2004 by watching Joel Osteen and reading his books. I was saved in 2007. I am just now, (four years later!) beginning to feel a daily "touch" by God and getting a grip on how He is leading me, learning to listen, and learning to let go. It really is a Journey.  

Another interesting point from Luther is his remark about how “impatient we are.” Seems that even in Luther’s time, everyone was in a hurry. But Christ stays with us, He is here to hold us up when we fall, when we fail, when nothing seems to work. I think the point that stands out for me the most is Luther’s comment about the “Great Art of Christ.” It is art. Art in its finest form. Luther continues: Even though today they may not be strong, it may happen in an hour’s time that they grasp the Word more richly than we who regard ourselves as strong. My understanding of this is even though we may fail and fall, we always have the Word to get us back to a proper place with a greater understand of what the Bible is saying. I'm getting more out of my reading today than I did four years ago.

So, keep reading, learning, thinking, praying, trying, living. Because the Unconditional Love, the Constant of Christ is with us on our daily journey.

Which Way Is The Way?

Church has really changed over the years, hasn't it? It seems we've lost a lot of the "old traditions" of church and church-going. One thing that stands out in my mind is that people actually applaud in church now. When I was a teenager, you wouldn't dream of applauding in church. It reminds me of the old Andy Griffith episode where Andy, Barney, Opie, and everyone else are in church. Someone is introduced to speak and Barney innocently starts to clap. Andy stops him in the caring way that he had. 

It introduces an interesting topic brought up by a friend of mine in Ohio.  (She has a blog called Illuminating the Grey.) Church is simply boring for younger people, perhaps under 40. It seems this generation (is it X or Y?) is looking for something else in church and the "way is used to be" doesn't interest them. No problem there, things change. But for me, I like "old church." And churches. When I pass through small towns, I tend to look for their churches. They are usually the beautiful white churches with the tall steeples. Typical of small town churches. Today's churches look more like a Wal-Mart. 

The music has changed, too. Personally, I prefer the old gospel music ("In the Garden," "Softly and Tenderly"). It seems deeper and richer. I get more out of it. Today's Christian Music (as one of the radio stations here calls it) doesn't do a thing for me--and I've tried listening to it. Sounds like all the other junk music out there. But I suppose I'm typical of many people who find themselves in their mid-50's. I spend more time wondering "Where did it go?" rather than "Where am I going?" It's the "going" that takes adjustment. 

I don't want to be "entertained" at church. That's why I haven't gone in so many years. Today's church reminds me of a pop concert more than a church service: loud music, noisy crowd, etc. I like quiet in church, a peace, a reverence, a calm so you can actually listen to and hear God. 

But I suppose whether you choose the "old way" or a "new way," either one is fine, as long as it leads to "THE way." Whether you spend your Sunday's in a church singing and clapping, or on the back porch with your Bible in quiet study and thought, as long as you spend some time with God, that is a good thing. It is where He wants you to be. No matter what generation you are. 

Opportunity

It is interesting to me when God places a not-so-obvious opportunity in front of us. This morning I was in the bookstore (no surprise there!) and it wasn't long before a woman came up and asked if I could help her. I said certainly, and we walked over to the magazine section where she said, "Could you get a magazine for me? I just don't know why they put them up so high!" It was a copy of Good Housekeeping. She wasn't very tall, and she simply didn't have the reach to get it. I was happy to help her and she was delighted to get her magazine.

I think God gives us the opportunity to bless others when we don't even know it. I thought about getting the magazine for the woman, and it was easy to pass it off as just getting something for someone. I think it is bigger than that, and we as Christians need to look for these opportunities. They can be something as simple as getting the door for someone (especially seniors), picking something up for someone when they drop it. Doing something for a neighbor (Our neighbor flies the flag almost every day. Sometimes the wind will knock it down. I love the flag, so I will roll it up and put it on his porch. Anything for Old Glory!) Simple stuff, yes, but in the big picture, it plays an important role in building our faith.  

A Whack Up The Side Of The Head

If you ever find yourself falling in your faith, feeling a little off track, and need a really good boost listen to Billy Graham.

One particular sermon I heard him speak is from his 1979 Crusade in Tampa, Florida. Some of the Christian channels will broadcast these sermons and it is worth checking the TV listings to find them. They will be listed as Billy Graham Classics, and they certainly are. They can also be found on YouTube. Just search Billy Graham. Sometimes we need a good "whack up the side of the head" with our faith. We fall, we forget, we get too busy, and we simply fail to spend time with our Bible and thinking about our faith. 

The solid, stern teachings of Billy Graham will help you get back on track.

1 Corinthians 15-33

"Do not be misled. Bad company corrupts good character."

- 1 Corinthians 15-33

I was searching the internet for Scripture on the subject of Character and found this passage on BibleGateway.com. Very powerful: "Do not be misled. Bad company corrupts good character." What does the Bible mean when it says, "Company." I think it is much broader than the people we spend time with, the "company" we keep. To me, "company" can be nearly anything: our attitude, the television we watch, the thoughts we have. "Company" can be quite the bag of tricks. 

It is difficult to watch out for certain elements of Company we have in the course of a day. In many instances it is impossible to avoid it, but I think we have to keep an antenna up when Company comes around. These are part of the challenges we face as individuals trying to walk with Christ, to be persons of excellence, persons of Character. It can be tough.

Romans 5:3-5 goes into this further: "We also have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience, and patience produces character, and character produces hope, and this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts." As I read further I found a Scripture which really spoke to me: Romans 5:6-8, "When we were unable to help ourselves, at the moment of our need, Christ died for us, although we were living against God.... Christ died for us while we were still sinners." While some may read this as saying that we were so terrible that Christ died for us (and they would be right), I take it a step further: By saying Christ died for us while we were still sinners, I think the scripture is also saying that Christ's death is a covering, a Scriptural back-up plan, if I can say it that way, in that when we fail, when our character falls short, Christ is there to remind us and lift us up, bringing us to the Bible to get back on track. The moment of our need can happen again and again.

The Bookhound, Part 3

I usually have 3 to 5 books going at a time. There is so much to read, I can't seem to cram it all in. One of our libraries had a book sale last week and I found some terrific books. The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel (I have already read his excellent The Case for Faith); Miles Gone By, a literary biography by William F. Buckley, Jr. (Mr. Buckley recently passed away; he is best known for his keen intellect and as founder of National Review magazine and the Firing Line television show. He is also known for his massive vocabulary, which a life-long love of words will produce--I have only read a few pages of this book and I have already found several words I have never heard of and can barely pronounce, but that is the point of reading Buckley: You'll learn something). 

I also picked up Sidney Poitier's The Measure of a Man. The book is described as a "Spiritual Autobiography," and it is exactly that. I am about half way through it and it is remarkable. I know of Mr. Poitier as a brilliant actor, but I have seen only one of his movies ("Guess Who's Coming To Dinner," 1968). My knowledge of the man's work is minimal, other than "Dinner," but I have always been interested in Poitier. Reading the book will give you an interesting portrait of a man of great depth. And the fact that he is a man of color, he did not (ever!) let that get in his way of his own personal beliefs or personal progress. Throughout his life, if he could not accomplish one thing one way, he would try another and keep at it. He let nothing hold him back (The World, The Man, the blatant discrimination and racism of the 40s, 50s, 60s), he always looked for "another" way. Most interesting about Poitier is his absolute refusal to accept roles in movies which did not reflect his personal character. I'm not talking about an artist trying to "make a statement" with his work, but personal character. The things that he was made of, the things he learned from his parents and life, he would not compromise. Not with arrogance, but with simple fact. He had/has standards and he lives by them. How admirable is that? This is a man who through his art and life, has earned our respect. 

I have a backwards approach to reading biographies. I will find someone who I think is interesting, read their biography and then examine their work. I have done this with the poet Robert Lowell, author Richard Yates, and now Sidney Poitier. I knew little (or nothing) about their work before I read their biography. I like this approach. I think it gives me a deeper look into the artist and a greater and deeper understanding of the work. 

I first heard of Robert Lowell on the day he died in 1977. I was working at a radio station and the AP wire clanged away announcing an Urgent (a step below a Bulletin): "Poet Robert Lowell is dead," it said. In those days, I did a lot of writing (songs, poems), so poets were of interest to me. Later, the superb biography of Lowell by Ian Hamilton was released (1982). I bought it and read it. Lowell had an interesting life with its share of troubles (not unlike Richard Yates). Once I had an understanding of his life, I started reading his poetry. His collection called Life Studies (1959) is recognized for its autobiographical nature and is considered trendsetting in poetry for the time.

I recently finished A Tragic Honesty by Blake Bailey, an excellent biography of Richard Yates (best known for Revolutionary Road, 1961). I found this book and a collection of Yates short stories on sale at the same time. I bought them and after reading the biography, I feel I have a greater understanding of Yates stories. His work is practically word-for-word autobiography, using people in his life as characters for his stories, and actual situations from his life for story lines. Yates sadly had mental problems and was a helpless alcoholic and his work never really gained the acceptance that it should have during his life. And subsequent books after Revolutionary Road did not receive the audience(s) many believed they should have. But, Yates books can be found in stores today and there has been talk of a film adaptation of Revolutionary Road in the works with Leonardo DiCaprio. I hope so. Yates deserves better. 

I am also reading Just As I Am, the autobiography of Billy Graham (excellent!) and One Nation Under God, a History of Prayer in America by James Moore (discussed earlier in The Bookhound, Part 2). So, it is going to be a summer filled with books--can't think of anything better!

Matthew 13:43

"When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it travels through dry spaces, looking for a place to rest, but it doesn't find it. So the spirit says, 'I will go back to the house I left.' When the spirit comes back, it finds the house still empty, swept clean and made neat. Then the evil spirit goes out and brings seven other spirits even more evil than it is, and they go in and live there. So the person has even more trouble than before. It is the same way with the evil people who live today." --Matthew 13:43.

While browsing through my Bible last night, I found this passage of Scripture. This is the key thing that amazes and impresses me about the Bible: Everything Is In There. Everything. Whatever problem you have, question, concern, the answer is right there in those pages.

 

Look at that Scripture closely. The evil spirit looks for a place to rest. You have run it off, and now, it wants to go somewhere else. Maybe where it wanted to land, that person was able to block it, and so, it goes back to find you. But now, it sees you are 'clean.' The evil spirit cannot tolerate a clean soul, so it will gang up on you, bringing seven, SEVEN! of its pals to try to get you. If you're not ready, they just might get in. And this is the key, when we cave to our weaknesses, it is much harder, in this case Seven Times Harder, to fight it off the next time. The evil spirit sees an open door and it wants in. 

The devil, chief evil spirit that he is, is trying to find some kind of passage into us any way he can. His goal is to simply foul us up. To misplace something about our life to keep us off balance and just miss the good things of God and Faith. It is the devil's job. It is what he is here to do. To mess us up any time he can get a chance. 

Watching TV when you really should be studying for a test or loafing on the net when you should be doing something else, laundry, for instance, as un-fun as it is? There he is. But this is the point, he wants to get to you any way he can, in the simplest fashion. Keeping you from doing something simple like laundry, or picking up the back yard, is perfect for him. All he needs in an inch. Reading the wrong kind of books, magazines, websites? Bang, there is the devil trying to keep us just a few levels lower than our best. It's his job and he's good at it.

A simple turn of a few pages in the Bible and BANG! Right there in front of your eyes is exactly, exactly why it is so important to work on the awareness that the devil is waiting, waiting for just the right moment for him to strike. I can point to one particular instance, that seems really harmless on the surface, but it is an under-the-table approach that the devil will use. I was chatting with some of the guys at work and it wasn't long before it turned to talking about other people and their mistakes and failings. Sure as the world, I joined in saying 'Yeah, that's right,' and generally agreeing with them. At that moment, a sharp voice entered my head saying, 'Stop That!' Needless to say, that was God warning me not to get involved in the gossip and hearsay of others. It is not healthy for me/you to do this and it sends a negative spirit to the person you are talking about. It goes both ways. It hurts you and it sends an unhealthy spirit message to the other person. It's hard sometimes when we think about the people who have hurt us and have done us wrong. It is easy to turn up the volume and rant on about how he or she did this or that. But the negatives that are sent out are simply not worth expelling the energy. Now, this takes some strong will power to bite your tongue. This does not mean we do not defend ourselves when we are done wrong, but in so many cases, the damage falls back on us. We carry the negative spirit around and on us (yes, ON us) and if we're not careful, it will get IN us. Yes, IN US. 

It is a huge responsibility we have taken upon ourselves to walk with Christ and live in Faith. It is massive. It comes with daily twists and turns that challenges the very foundation of what we are trying to do and how we are trying to live. CS Lewis discusses this in his excellent book, Mere Christianity, saying that when we begin to walk with Christ, get ready for the ride of your life. (I discuss this more in depth in an earlier posting called The Two Phases of Faith.)

When I struggle with these evil spirits (and they can be anything, anywhere), I have a moment of acceptance that I am not alone and my struggle is the same as anyone else. When the spirit takes hold, and I fail, I immediately grab my Bible or a positive book of faith (Joel Osteen, Martin Luther, Billy Graham), open it up and start reading. When you feel good pouring out of you, get that pitcher of good and pour more in. Now. That Second. Keep pouring and eventually, the evil spirit will drown. It is immense power knowing that evil spirits are aware that one day, one moment, you may not be paying attention, and then, right then, is where it will strike.

Read Matthew 13:43. Read it again. And again. And one more time.

It is a simple, powerful truth. 

Blank.

I wonder how different our lives would be if we spoke to God before we spoke to anyone else in our life. Our very first conversation was with God. I can imagine Him presenting us with a blank sheet of paper. “What’s that?” we would ask.  And God would say, “It’s your life, your future.” “How can it be my future, there’s nothing on it?” “Well,” God would say, “What you put into your future is entirely up to you.” “But God, I don’t know how to do anything,” you say (notice how you start from the very beginning thinking you are less than you can be!) “No,” God says, “You can be anything you want. What would you like to be?” “A writer. I’d like to be a writer,” you say.  “What does it take to be a writer,” God asks (like he doesn’t know already!)  “Well, I suppose I could learn how to be a good writer by reading good writing, to begin with,” you say.  And God says, “Go on.” (notice His encouragement, here). “I think I would need to go to school and learn the craft of writing, sentence structure, good grammar, and so on.”  “Yes, that’s right,” God says.  He adds, “Now, listen to Me. You have decided what you would like to do.  Now, work hard, study hard, get into school, read everything about the writing business you can get your hands on, never quit, and most importantly, do not let any discouragement keep you from moving forward. Don’t let friends, family, teachers, anyone, keep you from being what you want to be. This is your life, your future. Plan for it, work toward it, be honest in your work and with the people you meet, and everything will work out.”  “Thank you, God,” You say.  “One other thing,” God adds, “Remember, I’m proud of you.”

 

Imagine from the very beginning, you get support, you are told that your life is yours to do anything you want. To explore, to try, to think, to hope and plan. And the best of all: God is proud of you!  Imagine how life would be, knowing this from the very start.

 

We actually start out this way. Remember when you were young, there were no limitations. If you wanted to do something, climb a tree, ride your bike in the woods, anything, you just took off. It wasn’t until later when someone, whomever they may be, started telling you, you can’t do this or that. And at some point, you started believing it.

 

At that moment, you stopped doing things you wanted to try, because deep inside of you was the root of doubt, questioning everything as not worth the time or effort, and the result would be certain failure. Somehow, at some point in our life, we stopped believing. We stopped trying, and what is worse, we stopped caring.

 

It can be seen everywhere. Talk radio is filled with people arguing simply for the sake of arguing; TV news programs are smothered in people bashing other people. Respect for opinions appear to be diminished day-by-day.  I have noticed this again and again, and as much as I like to stay informed about what is happening, it is getting increasingly difficult to watch people go after each other. Would God say He is proud of any of this? I doubt it. But we got ourselves into this mess, and we can get ourselves out.

 

It starts with a blank sheet of paper. What do you want to be?

 

 

The Bookhound, Part 2

With summer approaching, I am taking stock of the books I would like to read. Since I lost my job last June (!), I have had to cut back on my book buying. Now, do you have any idea how HARD that is for me? If you're a book lover, I'm sure you know. But the upside of this is that I have taken time to look through the books I have, many of which I have not read.  There are two that stand out, and in keeping with the topic of Faith, I would like to share with you. These are books I have just started reading.

One Nation Under God - The History of Prayer in America, by James P. Moore, Jr.

This book came about after Mr. Moore noted there was hardly anything available of the subject. Interesting because faith is the very foundation of our nation. The book sleeve notes the subject of prayer in America and "the extraordinary role that prayer has played in every area of American life..." Subjects include how prayer is an "essential ingredient" in our nation's character and has been a key component in the formation of our country and the thought of individuals as diverse as Ben Franklin and Elvis Presley. You should be able to find this book in any bookstore. I have just started reading it, and I can't wait to dig deeper into it. This book is of particular interest to me because it covers three areas of my greatest interest: History in general, American History specifically, and Faith. America and prayer seems to go hand in hand.

The History of Christian Thought, by Jonathan Hill. This books explores faith and Christianity with a much broader brush. It is described as "a wealth of insight on the history of Christian thought and the colorful personalities of those who gave it shape and form." Browsing over the Contents page will give you an idea of the depth of this book. Subjects include The Church Fathers, The Byzantine Empire, The Middle Ages, The Reformation (an area I have somewhat of an understanding as it includes The Reanissance, Martin Luther, John Calvin), The Modern Era (The Enlightenment, Immanuel Kant, Kierkegaard; I expect this section to be particularly interesting), and The 20th Century (Existentialism, Feminist Theology). I expect this book to be quite a brain stretch, and much of it could be over my head, but that is the whole point in reading it. In the study of faith, I expect some of the texts to be a head-scratcher. Faith is a very deep, involved subject with a variety of thoughts and opinions. Some I expect to be way off the mark (for me) and most I expect to have a "so that is what is means" moment.

This is a personal search. A step-by-step walk toward a fuller understanding of faith, the purpose of Christ, the role of God, and my/our place in it. I think the search is worth it. There is something bigger than us, and I expect to discover that the something bigger is on our side. 

What Are You Doing?

"Regrets, I have a few. But then again, too few to mention."

-From "My Way," Frank Sinatra, 1969

When my dad wanted to know if we were causing trouble as kids, he would say (in a very bold voice, I might add) "What are you doing?" He was a guy that didn't waste time and if we were out of line, we heard about it. Immediately. There was no doubt there was a problem. Dad was a great guy. He passed away in 1997, and I miss him every day. But decades later, "What are you doing?" takes on a whole new meaning for me.

What Are You Doing? How many years pass before we start thinking about what we are doing from day to day. For me, it's the simple stuff. I love to read and I need to read more. I need to watch less television. I need to spend less time noodling around on the internet (except for writing this blog!). What Are You Doing? Simply spending some time thinking about where you've been - and where you want to go - can be valuable. I try to have some kind of quiet time every day. It can be in the car with the radio off. I take the turnpike home, there is little traffic, so it allows me to have some quiet and think about things.

Time Flies.

It is truly amazing as I sit here in my almost mid-50's thinking about how much time has passed. And how much time I have wasted, just let slip by. There is a book, I can't remember the title (I'll hunt it down and add it later), that I came across in the bookstore recently. It was one of those "meaning of life" books, but without all of the new age puff. There was a question in the book, something along the line of 'What do you believe?' The book explained how much time passes in our lives without asking of ourselves, What Do You Believe? What an important question. I was a little stunned. I had no idea, really, what I truly, truly believed. Well, there are the basics: I believe in God; I believe that people are basically nice (I seem to be getting challenged on that one from time to time); I believe that the cup is half-full, etc. But what are the core beliefs, the things that make my "center." Now, that will take some thinking. It is something like politicians - their beliefs change with each poll that comes out. Their beliefs and their "core" changes with the breeze. Makes me miss Harry Truman. But the idea is to sort out the unbendable things about yourself; what you feel about life, faith, love, the should do/shouldn't do's. I think this is how we all get so anxious a lot of times. We don't know, really know, what we believe and who and what we are. And we get anxious to the point of medication about what we have lost. Time, friends, love, etc. 

There is a light at the end of this tunnel. Maybe it can be as simple as a checklist for ourselves. Just a little notebook of things we would like to do or change. For me, the big one is finishing my degree in History (when our finances get a little more leveled out around here). One of my professors told me that she hoped I would write or teach history. WRITE OR TEACH HISTORY. Astounding! What would those grade school teachers think of that! (See "Bump" blog). There is so much to do. 

As Darren LaCroix, a motivational speaker friend of mine said in one of his speeches, "Even when you fall on your face, you fall forward!"

Ah, that's it -- Forward.

Maybe I'll go back to the bookstore and find that book.

NOTE: The book in Time Flies is Choosing Happiness: Short Answers to the Big Questions, by Stephanie Dowrick.

Bump.

It's good for us to Stretch ourselves.  Not just with exercise, but at work, and really everything we do.  I think God wants us to find out what we can do well; to challenge ourselves.  I can't tell you the number of times I didn't do something because I let fear win.  Over and over; time after time.

I love the music of Gordon Lightfoot and when I was much younger, I kind of fancied myself as a Gordon Lightfoot wannabe (no American Idol in those days). I had the 12-string guitar and everything. I wrote songs, made an album which I never released, and had a good time doing it.

At one time, I even had an agent (questionable as much as he was) but he did manage to get me a "gig." I said "Sure," when he asked if I would do it.  It was in a little night club that held probably 200 people, if that many, most of them would be properly pickled by the time I would go on. I gave myself just enough time to think about how I would probably forget the words and mess it up. So, I called the sort-of-agent back and told him No. Unfortunately, he had already told the club owner I would do it, so now, he has to call him back and tell him I decided not to do it. He (the agent) wasn't happy. And I guess the club owner wasn't happy either. Now, a good thirty years later, I'm not happy about it. I should have done it. I loved music, particularly folk music. I was a pretty good singer, a nice Lightfoot like voice, and had some good songs that I had written myself. But no, fear kept me from doing something I would have loved to do.

Things have a way of "sticking." And I can trace the club episode to my earliest days in grade school. It doesn't take too many times for a teacher to tell a six-year-old that they are stupid and "can't do anything," before the kid starts believing it. Low and behold, twenty years, thirty, forty, fifty years later, the kid still believes he is stupid. This thinking has stopped me dead in my tracks so many times I can't tell you. It has just been in the past few years that I have realized how much has been taken from me by the words of a heartless teacher. I always promised myself that if I ever had kids, I would spend most of the time telling them how great they are. Things you say to kids matter. I'm evidence of that.

So now, I try to do something that scares me a little. It's was I call "Bumping." Try to do something every now and then that challenges you, or "bumps" you to a higher level. Joel Osteen speaks about "coming up higher" frequently in his talks. After reading his books and hearing him speak, I realized I could be so much more. Come Up Higher. 

So, at a new job I have started, I have offered to do the radio traffic reports while the regular reporter goes on vacation. Now this is for the top rated radio station in town with massive credibility. There are several reports per hour on the station, two per hour on a local TV station and four additional radio stations in the chain. It is absolutely frantic. The second I finish on the TV station, I go to the radio station. There are just seconds in between. The prospects of this scared the bleep out of me and I even expressed my concerns to my supervisor. I wanted to bail. Just like I have done forever. By the time I get to my car, I realized what I had done: I let fear drive me again. When I got home, I called him right away and told him to keep me scheduled to do the fill-in work. Come Up Higher. Bump. Bump. Bump.

I did the reports this morning, and yes, it was the most frantic experience of my career. But it was also a "Wow" experience. Sure, I had some rough spots, but it let me know I need to raise my game, to step up, come up higher.... Bump!

God wants us to find out what we can do. To grow. To learn. You will never hit a home run till you step up to the plate, in front of thousands of people, you could strike out, you could look silly and like a disaster, you could fail, they could shake their heads at you, you could feel horrible about your failure, people will look at you.... but THEY won't step up to the plate. You did.

You Stepped Up!  Bump!

The Watchful Eye of God

I have this belief struggle.  I have always believed, from the time I was a teenager, that God does not "cause" this or that to happen or not happen.  The "Why does God allow all the suffering in the world?" question.  I always believed that He didn't allow it to happen, we did. God gave us the world, and what we do with it is up to us.  We can take care of it or destroy it. We can love each other or kill each other.  That simple, I always thought.  Still do.

Same thing for tornadoes and hurricanes and tsunamis.  I don't think God causes these events and I don't think He is likely to prevent them from happening.  He gave us the world and it's ours with all its blemishes. I have always thought, again from the time I was a teenager, that these things are simple to explain.  The earth has its own cycle, its own life, and its own rhythm. We are just as likely to have a beautiful, sunny day as we are to have a tornado (particularly here in Oklahoma).

But here is where I get stuck, and maybe you have your own explanation for these things.  If what I said in the above paragraph is true, or at least makes sense, then what about this:  I have been out of work since June 07 and my wife and I are going through our savings, but I have never had the sense that we would lose our house or all of our financial security.  I never had the feeling that this would happen.  Why? Because I never thought God would let it happen. Now, see the catch?  If God does not cause/prevent disasters in the world, wouldn't it make sense that He wouldn't get credit for some good luck (or finding a job just in time)?

I have struggled with this (and maybe you have some answers or opinions) but I think it all boils down to my favorite topic: faith.  The simple belief that things will work out,  holding on to your core beliefs, principles, ideas that make up your character, and pursuing appropriate opportunities, will ultimately result in a positive outcome.  Share your concerns with God, confide in Him and let Him help you by way of His strength.  

The "working conclusion" I have is that I believe God gives us things. He lays everything out for us. He gives us our lives, our brains, our purpose, the earth. What we do with these things is really up to us.  He can nudge us along the way, and He may not be happy with what we do or decide--it's called "Free Will,"--but we can do it or not do it.  And this is how I resolve the question of "Why does God allow all the suffering in the world?"

It's not up to Him -- It's up to us.

Confident of Heaven

Some of you may be of an age old enough to remember Mike Smith.  Mike was the lead singer of one of the British Invasion bands of the 1960's, the Dave Clark Five.  Mike was absolutely one of the greatest singers in rock history.  His terrific and powerful vocals on the DC5's hits like "Anyway You Want It," "Try Too Hard," (two of my favorites) and "Glad All Over," resonate on oldies stations across America and in the hearts of baby boomers to this day.

Mike Smith died on February 28th of pneumonia.  After a fall on his property in 2003, he was paralyzed from the mid-ribcage down.  Since the accident, he spent most of his time in a hospital, but he was able to spend his final months in a specially designed home with his beloved wife, Charlie.  The loss of this decent man and tremendous talent is truly heartbreaking.  What is especially sad is that Mike was just days away from seeing the Dave Clark Five inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, something that has been long overdue for this fabulous singer and band.  

As much as I could go on about Mike Smith's extraordinary talent and the music of the Dave Clark Five, there are some messages of faith in this story. Rob Bolton is a fan and friend of the Smith family and he has had a tribute website for the Dave Clark Five and Mike Smith for some time.  In a conversation Rob had with Charlie Smith (Mike's wife), he shares the following:

"[Charlie] told me that Mike passed away peacefully last night [February 28], confident of heaven, after exchanging 'I love you' with her."

Confident Of Heaven. What an interesting expression of love and faith, I thought.  That says so much about faith. How many of us are truly Confident Of Heaven?  Are we sure?  Do we know? There is a depth to these three words that have stayed with me since I first read them.  The impact and the meaning are so important that I have been thinking about their extended meaning.  It says so much.  Confident of God, confident of faith, confident of the power of blessings, confident of Who You Are in Faith.  

How many of us walk through life knowing about God, Christ's sacrifice, the beauty of life, knowing these things but not mentally absorbing the confidence it takes to walk in Faith.

This is why I think it is so important to spend time reading about your growing faith each and every day. It is so easy to get distracted by the demands of our lives on a day-to-day basis that we can forget to take a few minutes to spend time with God in thought and prayer.  It has happened to me.  All of a sudden things have gotten busy, and I have a lot on my mind, which had taken some of my time away from my faith study.  It is study because I believe it is an on-going experience--you never stop learning about faith and particularly your faith.  Your Faith is important, it is something that belongs to you.  You can share it with your friends, on a blog, or in quiet thought and contemplation with God.  It brings a depth to life that is personal and strong.  It is something to be absolutely certain about.  Confident about.  Confident of Faith.

Confident of Heaven.  Confident of God. 

Mike Smith 1943-2008.

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To read Rob Bolton's website about the Dave Clark Five and Mike Smith, please copy and paste this link:

http://www2.rpa.net/theboltons/DC5main.htm