Whatsoever You Do to the Least of My Brothers

How do I motivate my team?

2013-10-16T20:49:00.001-07:00

Has it really been that long?!

2011-11-16T08:38:00.000-08:00

Wow!

I haven't been on this blog in a year and a half. So much has happened in this span of time. I am profoundly happy to say that my walk with Jesus has deepened significantly. So many things have changed.

Its funny in April 2011 one year after my last post I resigned from my J O B in corporate America to pursue a life as an entrepreneur. God had placed in me then confirmed multiple times that his design for my life was to work for him and me, not to work for a company. its a lot like my favorite verse in Isaiah (40:31)

"Those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength, they will mount up on wings as eagles"

That is exactly how it felt to take the risk of soaring into God's arms rather than relying on my own abilities. Perhaps you have seen the trust fall. The exercise where you close your eyes cross your arms and fall backward into the arms of a team of people. That was me falling into his arms ignoring the advice and wisdom of the world.

I set a new career goal.

To be confident in my dependance on God to provide.

A cool yet scary goal

While it has not been easy and there have been some stressful uncertain times, while the workload is double what it was in corporate america it is worth it simply to know that God has my back, he has my finances, he cares for me he will never leave me nor forsake me.

Praise God

Amen

Sad Women

2010-04-11T18:36:00.000-07:00

Sad Women…

Last week I commented on a blog I had been reading recently about the state of male leadership in the Church. I contacted the author, Rev. Mark Brown and talked to him today. In our discussion he asked if I had read the comments in that post. Yes I had, I told him. The vast number of women who responded to his article shocked me. Where are all the men?!

He responded "A whole lot of sad women"

He was right. As I read the comments my heart was torn out by the carnage left. It was like a train wreck with women's hearts laid waste all over the road. A failed marriage, despair, a cheating husband, apathy, ignorance. AGGHHH!

THIS HAS TO STOP!!!

WHERE ARE ALL THE MEN?!

How do we get men to take their rightful role as leaders in the Church?

Well I have a few ideas.

Not ideas exactly more like plays in a field book that has been battered and worn down.

Ever heard the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result...

Honestly I think that is what happens when it comes to men in the Church. We have work parties; we have breakfasts maybe even barbeques. Events!

A Pastor I recently met did a great sermon recently on this. Pastor Bayless Conley called it Process versus Event. We in the Church seem to be event junkies. We go from event to event speaking christianese, trying to look Holy, hoping that the next event will be the mountain top experience we seek so desperately. After all if we can get back to the mountain top we can be with our God, and all will be well, all will be right, RIGHT?

Look following Christ is a day by day, minute by minute process. The important thing about events in my opinion is they mark the mile markers in the journey, that's it. Well yeah they are also times of intimacy with our Heavenly Father and that is a very good thing. But stop, what makes you think that we can only find God on a mountaintop? He is everywhere, he is always and forever, his love is everlasting. He wants us to be in relationship with him.

So look, stop the whole event junkie crap. You might get a man's attention for maybe a millisecond with an event but not his heart.

If you want to connect with the heart of a man you start elsewhere.

Be a Man!

Here is a radical idea treat him like...a man. Treat him with respect, with dignity. laugh with him, cheer with him, sweat with him, stand with him. Here is the most important part, give him permission to be a man.

Yeah I said it. Men are competitive, they are hard on the outside, they love to play hard and respect those who will stand in with them when they do. Don't you remember the schoolyards of our youth? Back before guns and gangs became the rage and fear of the day. What happened when a boy had a beef with another boy? They had a fistfight. Often the outcome of these was not the making of mortal enemies but good and even best friends.

Let a guy be rough, let him be masculine.

Jesus was tough, a Man’s Man

Remove all the crappy expectations that my Hero, the lion of Judah was meek and wimpy. My God is a hero, he is courageous, he is a warrior at heart. He knew how to be a real man. A man who oozed masculinity. ALL the way to the Cross at Calvary.

Don't ask a Man to wear a metaphorical Skirt!

Guys don't want to come to Church and hug like the women do. They don't want to stand around with soft low voices saying bless you brother. They don’t want to stand around with china doll smiles pretending to enjoy the sermon. Nah they want to hug for real, a slap you on the back, shake your hand and laugh at a crappy joke hug that says Yeah I'm here. Yeah I see you. You are alright by me. That is the way of men. Let a man be a man.

WE START THERE…

Father walk with me through this line of passion you gave me. Help me to share the passion for your men that you have burdened on my heart. May your men WAKE UP, may they come to you thirsty, to love you, to follow you.

Let you will be done in your men

Amen

Read a Great but Sad Post today

2010-04-08T05:43:00.000-07:00

I was flipping through Facebook this morning and came across a headline about why there are so few male leaders in the Church today. Check it out here.

Normally I glance at articles and skip on by but this one was tugging at my heart. As a leader in Men's ministry and a guy myself I know exactly what the author was talking about. So I commented back. But this is such an important issue to me I wanted to share a piece of my comment with you here.

I am saddened by the state of the Church and the lack of male leadership. The bible is clear on this point. As a volunteer leader in my churches mens ministry I do all God wills me and I can to raise up men as leaders. I have been blessed to lead a Men’s group that is now over 60 strong with a clear vision to raise every man up to be a leader in their home, their Church and their community. AND Praise God we are seeing the fruit of our labor as my men slowly enter into other ministries intent on making a difference for God throughout our church.

Honestly I believe the Church has done little to engage men in ways that meet them where they are and stay relevant through their healing and growth. Broken men aren’t interested in hyper-spiritual platitudes or seemingly meaningless religious advice nor are they interested in being treated like a pack mule and taking on every service project that requires a strong back, good heart and a pick up truck.

Who can men trust?

That is the relevant question here. Can I get to know you and trust you the man says quietly to himself. Will you get to know me, not judge me in my brokenness, not laugh at me, not send me to a fix it class. Will you know me, stand beside me, play with me sometimes, work with me occasionally, cheer for our team with me, stand silently and mourn with me when necessary. Then I might show up and ask you to pray for me. Then I might take the risk to open my mouth and worship in front of you. Then I might take a first cautious step toward leading something.

Why are there so few male leaders in the Church? I am not convinced we (the Church) know how to reach them…

To those who lead, with diligence

Be blessed

Ron

My Grandfather: Integrity

2010-03-21T21:37:00.000-07:00

When I was a young boy my hero was my grand father. My grandpa was a towering man at least to a little guy he was. 6 foot 1 inches tall solid and stoic. He was the kind of guy you read about, the kind of guy you can’t help but admire. My grandpa was a simple guy took care of his family worked very hard to provide. Even in the darkest days of the great depression in the 1930’s he would do what he had to do. Work odd jobs, work on farms, hunt for game whatever it took to provide for my mom and her family. As I was growing up I loved to stand in his shadow, follow him wherever he went. If he fished I was there, if he hunted I tagged along, working the family farm I went along there too. Heads together underneath a car fixing something, cutting wood on the latest project whatever.

I remember hunting with him one hot fall day. We trudged through the woods him with his shotgun me with a stick that I imagined could take down an elephant. I was only 6 years old at the time imagination runs big when you are small. I think we were hunting for moose maybe a deer. I don’t know. I was too busy trying to be brave like my grandfather. I imagined my stick my gun was the most powerful gun that I would single handed take down a deer. All the while I was scared. I had never seen a wild animal up close and never ever seen an animal shot. We didn’t find anything that day and trudged back to our car and back to the cabin. Him disappointed and me thrilled to have spent the day with him

No matter what he did I wanted to do it.

We went fishing a lot spending time on the water waiting for a bite. I actually used to collect earth worms and carry them around in my pockets hoping that I would get to go fishing with him again. That all ended when my mom found a pocket full of worms in the wash one day. MY butt hurt for days after that!

No matter what he did I wanted to do it too.

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I would say imitation was the sincerest way I could tell my grandfather I loved him. I learned what it meant to be a man from him in those days. What it meant to be a father, a husband, a family man, a leader. I learned so much from him.

The most significant thing I learned from my grandfather though was a simple idea that seems to be forgotten these days. It is a concept that people for centuries prided themselves on. It encompasses the idea of dependability, reliability, honesty and caring. It is a simple thing yet an elusive thing sometimes as we face the challenges of life.

Integrity.

Do you have a definition for this word? Do you think it is the same for your neighbor? You see this is part of the challenge everyone seems to want to define this word differently. If they do they stand a better chance of living up to the expectation. They can add conditions under which they are no longer required to live up to their commitments

Now I can throw words around like the best of them. I can write, I can argue, I can persuade with words. No problem. I can come up with a really long and complex definition to this word filled with all kinds of escape clauses. I could…

But you know in the end this really matters very little. You see you can put any words you like to integrity but what it really is about the heart of it is very simple.

Do your words match your actions?

When I was a little boy following my grandfather around I was receiving a life lesson in integrity. He was showing me that a man makes a commitment then lives up to it. A man signs up in life for certain responsibilities, to be a father, a husband, a friend, a neighbor, a Christian. With each of these responsibilities he says you can count on me to do exactly what I say I will do. Yes I might stumble from time to time, I might make mistakes and let someone down, I might hurt someone I love. Yes I might do all of those things but in my heart I am committed to the idea that I will keep my word to those around me. And when I don’t I will seek forgiveness and resolve in my commitment not to repeat my earlier stumble.

I used to love to listen to my grandfathers stories. There was one story where in the 1930’s while he was out of work and scrapping to put food on his families table he was out hunting. He managed to get several rabbits that day and was on his way walking home. His family would eat well tonight. On the way he was stopped by a stranger. The stranger a thin tall man looked hungrily at the rabbits. He said I have an offer for you. “I own 30 acres on the hill behind you and I will trade it for the rabbits in your hand.” My grandfather thought carefully on the matter. That was a lot of land, someday he could have been rich even a millionaire if he said yes and handed over the rabbits. But then he, his wife my mother and her two sisters and brother would go hungry. “No deal” he calmly exclaimed. “No deal” His family was too important to him. Here I was over thirty years later hearing the story of how he might have been a millionaire. When I was young this story was about the money for me. It was a story of what could have been. You see there was a big fancy golf course built on hat land he owner had to be a rich man. That could have been my families golf course.

But I had missed the stories real meaning. I hadn’t seen the love, the sacrifice a man had made for his family. Love, integrity that was the story that was the lesson.

There is much to this story I will continue another day...

By the way I have not forgotten the story of Extraordinary. Not at all in fact the last several months have been a study in diving deeper with God, stumbling along the way but not being discouraged or distracted. We will come back to that story as well.

Extraordinary! Ch3 Storing Up Treasure

2009-10-20T05:33:00.000-07:00

So I am saved by grace and not by works so that I may not boast… Eph 2:8-9

Okay I get that, can’t earn your way to heaven. For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Cor 5:9-10

Why? If I am already saved why the judgment? What possible consequence could there be that a judgment necessitates?

I don’t know about you but for well over ten years I have wondered about these questions and frankly no one has adequately answered them.

Well I found an eloquent answer in the pages of Extraordinary Chapter 3. Amazing to me that John continues to hit homeruns, dealing with and helping me through core issues, areas of struggle in my faith life. I read through chapter 3 wondering where John would go now that he had already rocked my perspective on God’s love.

When we die we will go before Christ who will act as our advocate telling the father this one is mine and we will be saved on our way to heaven. But there are several peculiar scriptures that talk about that same judgment in different ways and other scriptures that encourage us to store up treasures in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy. Why?

For that matter what about the Christians that struggle mightily with last minute converts to the faith. The mass murderer who repents seconds before execution. Will they share in the same eternity as us?

Well that last one is a big ole can of worms but all these arguments and issues relate to the same core issue. What happens at the judgment?

John cunningly uses multiple scripture to support the argument that each will be judged and afforded heavenly treasure as it relates to our acts once saved. If we lead an ordinary life not living up to God’s unique plan for our life, we can expect little treasure. Lead an extraordinary life and watch the treasure be heaped up on us.

Now I have no idea what you need treasure for in eternity but sounds pretty cool to be well rewarded in heaven. In fact as I reflected on this possibility it gave me great joy to think that I could do kingdom work and get rewarded for it. Not that I do so expecting reward, not at all. My purpose in serving had always been to say to God, here is an offering of love for you, I do this because I love you.

So you see as I contemplated this chapter I found myself in a new place. A place where a deep fundamental question had been answered and joy came welling up. Joy that I serve the creator of the universe and he wants to reward me for doing so. That is cool!

As I prayed at the end of the chapter content in what had been revealed, another thought came...

Don't read any more of this book for at least four days. Take the time to reflect on the challenge at the end.

In your life now how are you pleasing God? How might you please him more?
What do you believe is God's special plan for you?

EXTRAORDINARY! Ch1-2 Gods Love

2009-10-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

It was a cool fall day in so Cal, a day that stands out as there are few October days that stay below 70 degrees. This is the type of day I love; grey overcast and cool, threat of rain, it kind of reminded me of the steely grey days of Canada in my youth.

This day was special I had a new book to read.

I should say that I am an avid reader. It is not uncommon for me to read over 100 books a year. Yet in the past 6 months I could not even pick up a book. They simply held no interest to me. I had wondered why for months but allowed my time to be consumed with thee many other demands of my life. NOT today! Today I would crack open John Bevere's new book Extraordinary. Before I did so I earnestly asked God to reveal to me his wisdom as I read every word.

As I read this book implore me to read sequentially cover to cover I shrugged. I do that with every book I read, odd though for an author to ask for that behavior. When I got into the argument of God's love I understood why. This book builds on a firm foundation that must be built to gain the most value.

I read the chapter on God's love for us checking every scripture as I read and contemplating on each. What a powerful exercise. I ended the chapter reading John's challenge. Three points

Do you believe God loves you unconditionally?

If you do not is it based on feelings or what God has spoken?

Make a decision to believe Gods word.

Well as I reflected on these questions, sitting at a local park I like to frequent, God spoke to me.

You see on question 1 the answer came quickly

I don't know that He loves me unconditionally...

Heck I am not even sure He loves me.

How could He love me? How could He even know me? If He knew me surely He would be ashamed of me.

I worked through this emotion and with His help came to an interesting place. Yes He loves me, He just doesn't like my behavior much lately.

Clearly my opinion regarding His love was based on my feelings which I know to be deceptive.

The final challenge was extremely powerful for me. I believe in the gospel hence I believe in His word. He says He loves me. I heard a thought to read all the verses demonstrating God's love in the bible. I did so later that day and was surrounded by a sense of peace and comfort as I did so.

You know He does love me and He loves you to. Do you know His love.

PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME FATHER.

Thank you for loving me

Thank you for not giving up on me

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

Amen

EXTRORDINARY!

2009-10-13T17:56:00.000-07:00

Well long time no write...

I have spent some time out in the dark fighting demons and other characters of satan's creation. Mostly I have been fighting myself...for months. It has been a dark time with moments of bright light. Enough light to not lose hope but more darkness than I ever wanted to experience ever. Despite being lost I soldiered on fighting, winning some battles, losing others, caring for Gods people, falling into pits of selfishness. Will the battle ever abate Father? Will you help me? Will you deliver me from this swamp of despair? His answer was certainly unexpected.

I discovered with clarity God's love for me, my desire to please him and my desire to serve him.

This discovery came from the most unlikely source. A book.

This past weekend a new dear friend Pastor Gary Hornsby of The Rivers Edge hosted a leadership conference at my church. The keynote speaker at the conference was a guy named John Bevere. I knew of John because my small group is studying one of his curriculum on Drawing Near to God. Funny though I fall asleep during every video segment of this study. ATTACK ATTACK the darkness not wanting me to see something, I should have known.

I struggled through the first several hours of the conference feeling I had little right, desire, motivation, whatever to be there. Despite this a voice in the back of my head reminded me of the need to fight through where I was and worship the Lord anyway. I did and spent the entire time of worship in repentance. Alternating between worship and despair. God won.

After some preliminaries John began to speak. I have to admit my expectations were low after all I could not stay awake during video segments of this guy, how would I do with him live for two hours after an intense 60 hour work week. Man was I wrong. John talked about his new book Extraordinary: The Life You're Meant to Live . By the time he was done for the evening I was hooked.

The following afternoon John retook the stage and continued to explain how we as Christians are not called to mediocrity but to the Extraordinary. So I bought his book and decided to read it with new eyes, remember the old post? I want to read this book with the eyes of my heart.

So in this series of posts I will chronicle chapter by chapter what my journey through this book is. You see I am only a few chapters in and already I can see that God desperately wanted me to read this book. My journey need not be so dark, he has offered me a light to guide my path and I want to share the journey with you.

'The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Zep 3:17

PRAISE BE HIS HOLY NAME

AMEN

Limping Out: Requiem Well Almost #1

2009-05-04T19:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was exactly 4 months to the day since I about killed myself hiking.

I would like to say I am fully healed and that all is normal. Spiritually speaking I have been fully healed since that day. As I said before the presence of God was so clear in the hours following my accident that I knew I was healed. Funny thing though my ankle did not get the memo. The first six weeks were difficult to say the least. Somewhere around 10 weeks I realized I was “almost” normal again. This despite all my wise friends and colleagues saying it might never heal fully. Yeah thanks I would say. I started working out in week 10 and have been doing so now for 6 weeks. I feel alive and strong. Energy levels climbing by the day. Still though my ankle did not get the memo. A missed placed step and a dull shooting pain was my reward. A stretch of a joint that just won’t go as far as it used to…

Throughout this ordeal I wanted to live the wisdom “if you fall get right back up and try again”. I desperately wanted to go back up the mountain and thank God for my deliverance. I wanted to run the dirt and rock through my hand in the spot I fell. I wanted to see the blood stains in the ground where I came to rest. I wanted to retrace my steps as God carried me out of that place. The desire to return was overwhelming. Only thing is I knew that I could not too early, I had to be fit and strong.

My wife and friends wanted me to take a friend, they wanted me to play it safe. Common sense sure, wise advice certainly, but is that the way of a real man? How could I go back into Gods country with a safety net?! No this was a journey I had to take alone.

I decided to ride my mountain bike up there this time. I had always wanted to do so in the past but was not fit enough for the cardio beating it took to do so. I have no friends capable of this ride and only a few acquaintances who could and they just would not get the significance of the ride so I rode it alone.

I got to within half a mile before I had to walk. Travelling off-road up a mountain trail for over five miles will wear you down like no other workout I know, it just never ends. As I approached the mound I was stunned. You see I had secretly begun to think I has exaggerated its size. No it could not have been over 40 feet high. It was higher, at least 60! It was not that steep, yes it was. I climbed that thing?!

I stared at it awestruck at how blessed I was to have been delivered from this. Even though I had returned to the spot I had fallen I felt this strange urge upward. Should I? You must, a voice inside me responded, closure awaits. So I climbed back up the slope I ran down just four months earlier. I got to the top and praised God for my deliverance, thanked him for his grace. Then I began to climb down.. again…

Father thank you

there are no words to describe the depth of my gratitude for what you did for me that day

Thank You

Honored in another Blog

2009-02-25T12:01:00.000-08:00

You know its funny. I write this blog for just a few reasons.

1. It is a chance to journal the remarkable things that our heavenly father does in my life

2. It hopefully provides some encouragement for others who are searching for God

3. It acts as a reminder for me when I am struggling with sin

4. It teaches me to be courageous and provides me a small activity in living the great commission

That’s it, that’s why “Least of my brothers” exists. I have never publicized the blog. I have never tried any search engine optimization. In fact the only time I have ever shared its existence is with a hurting brother or sister a story it contains believing it will help them.

So imagine my surprise when I received an email from someone representing www.christiancolleges.com telling me that my blog had been listed in their 100 enlightening bible study blogs. I can only hope that such publicity and recognition will lead to other brothers and sisters being encouraged by reading this blog.

So check it out here.

Ron

Limping Out: Final

2009-02-09T21:22:00.000-08:00

the journey back to normalcy was almost as fascinating as the exodus from the mountains. A week after the event still limping badly I attended worship for the first time. Raising my arms in praise was a new sensation. My chest stung as I did so. My heart leapt for joy. Tears streamed down my face as I realized what God had done for me anew.

Two weeks after in my small group we worshiped again. This time as I sang the words of Mercy Me "We all fall down" No I am not making this up. As we sang this song the words came alive. This was true worship. The stinging of my chest was a gentle reminder of my ordeal while the words echoed in the hills. God spoke to me in this moment.

I was with you always you did not need to hear from me. I am with you always. I walked you out.

I was stunned. In an instant the whole journey made perfect sense. All the times he spoke to me. All the guidance, the protection, the laughter, it was all him. I was stunned.

Please do not think I got all this the day of the accident I had no clue. It took two weeks and time in worship for it to be revealed.

Throughout this time I believed I was already healed. Nothing broken, just bruises. Through these stripes God wanted me to learn a lesson. My ribs did not crack, my ankle did not break, ligaments intact. How could this have happened?

Did you catch the psalm?

Praise be to the LORD,
for he has heard my cry for mercy.

7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;
       my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
       My heart leaps for joy
       and I will give thanks to him in song.

I love it when I get to see a part of God's plan come together.

Praise be to the father the son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Limping Out: Part 3

2009-02-05T21:11:00.000-08:00

Through necessity I did this day. You see the ankle sprain I had sustained was so severe that when eventually examined it was thought to be 100% certainly broken. The rib and chest pain I described, that was a collapsed lung and bruised chest. Every breathe was a labor to survive. I was told had I not come in to urgent care I would not have been able to breathe by the end of the day. Remember my post on reaching the end of your breath as the start of God’s?!!! THIS WAS THAT DAY. I had no hope of making it out unless God walked at my side carrying me along the way. There was no crutch, no walking stick, no rescue, only a rugged uneven loose rocky terrain of the San Gabriel mountain range. Did I mention this is the home of mountain lions, Coyotes, and other wild creatures. Not a good situation. So I got up and began to walk out, limp out with God.

Along the way I was reminded of the prayers I had said that very morning. Prayers of protection, prayers where I claimed the healing power of Christ, prayers where I claimed the power of the Holy Spirit in casting out evil. Amazingly powerful prayer. Each step was a labor, not too much pressure on the left foot not too much compensation on the right chest. Shooting pain on a foot for an incorrect step, blazing fire in my chest when I breathed too deep or compensated for my ankle. It was a no win situation. Three miles to go, 2.75 miles to go, 2.5 miles to go. A mountain biker, a hard core guy, my kind of rider labored up to me issuing a faint greeting of beautiful day isn’t it?! Fantastic I countered, have a great ride. It was all I could muster more words would have been like fire in my chest.

But why didn’t you ask him for help?!!!

I had already decided that this was God’s turn. He would save me from this place. He would be my deliverer. This was my Egypt, he is my King. No, some mountain biker would do me no good on this journey.

2.25 miles

Pain seemed to envelop me, panic was lurking in the shadows. This was not going to be easy could we make it I wondered more than once. Could this battered body make it out even with God as its guide?

2.0 miles:

Passing by places from happier hikes time with God in prayer, time with wind whipping through my hair times of promise, times of joy. Today was a labor today was dependence.

1.75 miles:

There were steps where I swear my ankle stopped hurting. My mind said pick up the pace this is a bad dream. Was this the edge of shock and delirium? No this was God. Remember the serenity prayer and the story of how two sets of prints became one? God was carrying me out in this time. This was not of me.

1.5 miles:

How can this be God? Why did this happen? I protected you, remember the psalm? He asked. Why does it hurt so much Lord I can’t take it . Remember my son? What was his pain like for you? I am with you even now.

1.25 miles:

I can see the end of the trail it is a long way off but I can see it for the first time. Can we make it God? I trust you. Will my ankle get that far?

1.0 miles:

Father why am I not angry that this happened? Why does this seem like only an inconvenience? Why the range of emotion? Why the JOY?!!!

0.75 Miles:

Oh the biker again. Laughter He still can’t help me. Have a great ride! Have a great hike he responds. If only he knew! This was the hike of lifetime. Limping out with God.

0.5 miles:

What! You have got to be kidding me a JEEP!? Man too late no way we finish what we started God and man (injured man) How’s it going guys, enjoy your ride.

0.25 miles:

Time for the cell phone not much battery left but enough to make the call. Kim (my wife) please come get me now! Are you okay? A voice of genuine concern she can hear the labor and pain in my voice. Just come get me I will tell you when you arrive.

0.0 miles:

Relief God has carried me out of the wilderness. Praise his holy and faithful name.

Only joy remained in my soul as my wife pulled up and I carefully managed to get into her car. Yes the human emotions wreaked havoc on my mind. In less than 4 hours I would travel the entire grief cycle while waiting for and between medical care. Urgent care confirmed the extent of my injuries and marveled at how I was able to get out of the mountains. Not me I knew how, it was a God thing. I ended up travelling by ambulance to the local hospital where after many pain killing drugs a chest tube was inserted to address my collapsed lung. It is funny to consider that despite the vicadin, adavan and morphine and whatever else was in the cocktail they gave me I had once and for all experienced the peace that surpasses all understanding. I was joyful, I was content.

Amazingly this was not the end of the story...

Limping Out: Part 2

2009-02-01T21:07:00.000-08:00

I chose the latter…

Before I knew it I went from a careful slow walk to a careening reckless freight train heading into a rock face. With every step my pace quickened. Could this be happening I asked. Slow down on the flat I reasoned. You’re going kind of fast I cautioned. There was no slowing down every step became more and more a sprint toward the hard packed dirt and rock ground of my mountain playground. I fought to keep in control ever accelerating. 5 feet from the bottom I was at full sprint. The thought of slowing down now seemed impossible. My body knew what was coming. 2 feet: Thoughts of I can make it, slow down on the flat , were engulfed by how the heck did we get this much speed up. You better be able to stop this could be bad. 1 foot: This is going to hurt, aw crap! My left ankle rolled under the unbearable pounding of velocity and change in direction. My body continued its relentless downward journey until hard earth smacked into it. THWACK! Roll after roll to a dusty dazed stop in the dirt.

With a scream of anguish I yelled. It did not hurt yet, this was a scream of frustration, stupidity, and the slow rising blood of pain. This was bad. I am 3 miles from ANYWHERE. What will I do.

Then a thought came over me. God this is NOT what I had in mind when I said I wanted to hear from you. Laughter. I laughed until it hurt. I laughed with God, I laughed at myself until it hurt. Unfortunately that did not take much.

I did a body inventory as I have always done when I fall. Check the joints (oh left ankle bad I can feel the blood rushing there even now) legs fine, head fortunately fine clear thinking no blood phew! Arms ouch right elbow stinging and the cool sensation of blood hitting the cool mountain air. Otherwise arms good. Chest: why does it hurt to breathe? Oh this is bad cracked some ribs for sure, deep stabbing pain on each breathe with my whole right chest erupting in fire with every touch. That can’t be good.

Again survey the situation. 3 miles from and possible means of rescue, in the middle of the wilderness late morning. Know anyone with a 4 by that can come get you? No would take too long anyway. Want to call 911 and wait for med-evac? NO that would cost a fortune although it would be cool to do the MASH 4077 helicopter ride. NO GET UP AND WALK OUT. Was it my voice or God’s? In my pain fogged state I had no idea.

Have you ever depended so completely on God that you gave yourself no room to be on your own?

to be continued...

Limping Out: Part 1

2009-01-28T21:03:00.000-08:00

A few weeks back I had the most profound experience

I had gone hiking in the mountains to hear from God and while I had a great experience, wonderful solitude, a clear sense of awe and dependence on God, yet I did not sense an answer to my earnest desire to hear from God.

I thought and prayed about it some more and decided to go hiking again 4 days later. Only this time the outcome was different.

It was a beautiful day. January 3^rd should be so beautiful in the rest of the world low 60’s, overcast and breezy. It was like walking in Heaven without actually being there. The day started in prayer and was filled with many moments of praise as I discovered the rugged beauty of another section of this magnificent mountain range. About an hour and a half in I decided to stop and spend some serious time in prayer. So far I had not gotten the clear sense that God was talking to me and I knew that through prayer and petition perhaps I would be answered.

I found a small mound alongside the trail I was hiking and decided to climb it to pray. Now I should say that small is a relative term when you are hiking at the feet of 7000 foot mountains. This mound was 40 feet tall and had a slope of about 60 degrees. As I climbed up more than once I placed my hands on the ground in front of me to steady my balance. Only thing is on a 60 degree slope you do not have to bend over to touch the ground. (this should have been a clue!)

On top of the mound there was a flat boulder and I sat upon it to pray. I came prepared with my bible and decided to read from the psalms.27 I think I like that one seems appropriate given all the current adversity in my life. As I approached this favorite psalm I was drawn to psalm 28. In fact it was as if a voice was yelling in my head READ THIS ONE!

To you I call, O LORD my Rock;
       do not turn a deaf ear to me.
       For if you remain silent,
       I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.

2 Hear my cry for mercy
       as I call to you for help,
       as I lift up my hands
       toward your Most Holy Place.

3 Do not drag me away with the wicked,
       with those who do evil,
       who speak cordially with their neighbors
       but harbor malice in their hearts.

4 Repay them for their deeds
       and for their evil work;
       repay them for what their hands have done
       and bring back upon them what they deserve.

5 Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD
       and what his hands have done,
       he will tear them down
       and never build them up again.

6 Praise be to the LORD,
for he has heard my cry for mercy.

7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;
       my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
       My heart leaps for joy
       and I will give thanks to him in song.

8 The LORD is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

9 Save your people and bless your inheritance;
be their shepherd and carry them forever.

So I did. Now of course at the time I had no idea that this was God telling me to read this psalm, I just read it. Upon finishing I continued to pray for so many things. Finally when I was done I got up and planned to continue my hike. A little further north then back to home I thought. That was the plan anyway. Funny thing about steep slope mounds, they go both ways. I carefully started to walk back down the mound taking extremely careful and small steps. About ten feet into my decent it happened, my right foot slipped…

You know there are moments that seem to stretch into eternity while others seem to be so short they cannot be recalled. I had a choice to make. I could fall on my backside and slide down the remaining 30 feet and have a sore scratched up butt or I could regain my balance.

to be continued...

Fontana Adopt A Block

2008-06-01T22:52:00.000-07:00

In the very first post on this site we discussed an outreach event my mens group and I have been a part of. This past Saturday we attended our 13th month supporting the event.

Something was different this month from all the previous ones and it gave new meaning to all our service.

I was fortunate enough to have the presence of mind this past Saturday to watch God working in our midst and capture it on my camera. As the message was spoken many people accepted Christ. It was truly a special moment to behold. In all the months we have been working together on this ministry we have not been blessed to see this many people accept Christ, yet today the raised hands were unmistakable. Why was this? or should I was ?pourquoi était? Yes my friends the message was translated into spanish Praise God!

I love the fact that scattered throughout the
pictures are members of my small group loving people serving people. If only more groups could experience the joy from this and other outreach events. As was said in church a few weeks back we don't have to go far outside the walls of our campus to find the mission field. It is all around us.

I hope you appreciate the images and the eternal impact of serving our Lord.

All I can say is praise God

Amen

Love Your Wife as Christ Loved the Church

2008-06-01T17:06:00.000-07:00

Have you ever stopped to consider what God meant with this statement?

For me it is clear, we are called to love our wifes sacrificially. Love them in a way that they know you are willing to make their needs more important than your own. With this in mind I volunteered to lead a children's ministry class at my church this weekend. You see my wife was planning to attend a womens retreat as were many of the ladies who normally volunteer in this ministry.

So I agreed to lead a classroom. This may seem like no big thing to you after all its just two hours whats the big deal. Well I volunteer in a number of other capacities closer to or in my gifts. Leading a bible study for kids, no that is not in my gifts. I have been known to say I have no intention of volunteering in Children's ministry. Gods sense of humor at work again, never say never.

You know it was fun. A lot of the facilitation and leadership skills I use with adults worked equally well with the 40 ten year olds I was trying to lead. It was messy and certainly I did not have everyones attention the whole time. There were some connections though, places where eye contact belayed a new friendship. Someone looking at me as a teacher not just some old guy. The kids were respectful and anxious to be. They wanted to be heard and to test out their fledgling Christianity.

A Lot like adults

I was honored to serve Gods children this day

What fun

I just might have to return and lead in the Children's ministry again

Praise you father
praise your providence your wisdom
Thank you for the opportunity to serve your people
thank you

Amen

Read This!

2008-05-28T22:49:00.000-07:00

A colleague of mine up in Toronto Canada posted a blog article that I want you to read. It is so profoundly moving that I have to fully recommend you check out her blog. While you read it make contact with this brave lady and share your encouragement with her.

Irene's Just Coach It blog

God bless you

Service in Christ

2008-05-14T21:00:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone it has been a while. In the past six weeks my focus has wandered and the moments where I had something to write about few. There were many attacks, many diversions many excuses. Yesterday the Lord laid a story on my heart that I need to share. It is about service.

There is a feeling of uncertainty and excitement when you step out into the mission field. It does not occur as you leave your house, as you drive in your car, or as your ego searches for reasons not to show up. It happens the moment you step into the event, the environment, the community. It could be a city park, a homeless shelter, a tent city, a soup kitchen; the venue does not matter it happens every time. The feeling of excitement to know that finally, today, I can forget all the troubles of my world and serve someone else less fortunate then I. Finally I can do God’s work, not in a pay it forward kind of way, no today I get to serve in obscurity. No one other than my small group and the people I touch will ever know I was here. No one that is except the only one who really matters, God.

That same moment you step into the fray you may not know what to do. People swirl around you looking for all the world like they know what they are doing. You have been faithful and showed up but now you need to figure out what to do. You seek a leader someone who has it together and ask for guidance. You are given a role a job to do. Your ego revolts claiming the work is below you. You should have no part in this enterprise. Are there not others who are paid to do this type of work? But then this is ego of course he will revolt. Somewhere in the process the Holy Spirit shows up. He always does. He works a miracle in your heart. He softens it. Soon the tasks that once seemed beneath you now take on a whole new meaning. It is life itself that you are serving, cleaning, sharing, moving; life abundantly as a child of God. You are connected into something supernatural something beyond comprehension. Then there are the miracles. The lives transformed, the friendships started, the people healed, the hungry fed. It happens every time.

You pray for people who are desperate. They do not resist, they do not walk away. No they quiet themselves and allow you to pray for them. The Holy Spirit once again shows up and melts your heart and theirs connecting the two for a moment in time. Some of the people speak no English yet they hear your prayer, they need it, they want it, they are grateful. God shows up and ministers to his people. Somehow the food never runs out, the love continues on and the workers never grow tired. God shows up.

Then comes the jubilation. The prayers of praise for what God has done in our midst. The testimony and witness we provide when we love others unconditionally. There is the life changing profound impact we have on our children as they join us in this labor of love. The afterglow of serving others lasts well into the day, well after the last person has been cared for. It lasts for several days and when your small group meets again the stories of victory in Christ are retold with excitement and wonder. Lives transformed in the community, lives transformed in the small group. God shows up.

So why is it that so few people take the step into the mission field? Why do they smile politely make vague commitments and then find excuses when the time comes. Why do they avoid the topic? Why?

Do they feel unworthy?

Do they feel guilty?

Are they too busy?

Do they have somewhere else to be?

Do they have something more important to do?

I know that for several years I wanted to serve yet I did not make it happen. That is until one day in the spring of 07 when my heart was so heavy at not serving that I drew a line in the sand. In fact as a small group leader I drew it for my small group. I need to serve I told them. I do not care what it is I do but I need to serve, my heart is aching to serve. We have been together a long time and our group has not made this leap of faith. I believe we need to serve together. I believe so strongly that if we cannot find somewhere to serve together I am out. I cannot continue in this group without serving with you guys somewhere. That is how my men’s group came to be a part of the Fontana Adopt a Block event. Faithfully for 13 months my group has packed food, prayed, served food, prayed some more, met the poor, helped the poor. We are richly blessed to be a part of this important ministry. Our group has blossomed ever since growing to three times the size it was only a year ago. This Easter we impacted the lives of over one thousand people in south Fontana. God showed up in our community, God showed up in group.

Last week my other small group stepped out in faith to serve at the clothing ministry. Once again that familiar twinge of excitement and uncertainty was present as I crossed the threshold. Today we would take dust covered boxes of donated clothes sort through them. Some items would go to the store others would be donated to the Mexico ministry. As I surveyed the wall of 2 year old donated boxes a question pierced my heart. Why did these donations meant to bless others have to sit for so long unsorted. How many poor people might have benefited from a warm coat, a blanket, a pair of shoes, a dress? We will never know.

My mind flashed back to a question that had haunted me the first day I arrived at the Adopt A Block outreach thirteen months prior; where are all the people from Water of Life?

Who are you serving…

"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Luke 10:2

No prayer father only heartache for your people

I love you

amen

Photos of God's country

2008-04-12T13:47:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year I posted a two part story on a hike I took with God just after Christmas. Believe it or not it took me till now to get the pictures off of my wife's camera. I want to share a few of them with you as they turned out amazingly well and so clearly validate the story of my journey. Go back and have a look at the posts here Part 1 and here Part 2

The trip started with about a 4-5 mile hike upward. Part way up (about 3 miles) there is a plateau I talked about in the post. I stopped there to finally touch the pine trees that had stood sentinal over my time in Southern California.

The view into the valley below was stunning and vast, too vast to take in all at once.

Leaving this place I hiked further upward stopping only to take in the breath taking beauty of the mountain range.

Midway through the hike I came across a solitary fireplace chimney

Finally I rested beside streams of cool mountain water and prayed.

This truly was a time of great intimacy with God and a journey I will repeat. I encourage you to find your own way to take solitary time with God as well you will not regret it.

A Very Cool Honor

2008-04-08T17:53:00.001-07:00

I have shared before that I start each day in the word listening to Brian Hardin's podcast The Daily Audio Bible. Once again I highly recommend it. But my podcast learning habit does not stop there, it barely begins.

Another podcast I listen to is The Bible Podcast by Michael Lee. I love the cool music and the clear engaging voice Mr. Lee uses in reading scripture. Well at the end of his casts he asks the question "if you want to contribute a chapter..." I was intrigued. I contacted Mr. Lee and asked if I could do exactly that.

He offered me Judges 18 to read. Late last week I sent him off an MP3 file and hoped for the best. My sound equipment is at best decent but not professional by any means. It is funny when I saw Judges 18 on his site I thought hmmm he must not have liked my recording it shows his name on it.

Then I listened to the cast. Yup it was me!

Why do I share this? I love the fact that I got to read the word of God and the world can listen to the voice he gave me reading his words. The best part is they won't even know it was me unless they read my blog that is.

What was that verse about not letting the left hand know what the right is doing?

The irony is delicious!

Be blessed and have a listen here

Lord, How do I open the eyes of my Heart?

2008-04-06T16:54:00.000-07:00

Open the eyes of my heart

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

(Repeat two more times)

Holy, holy, holy
We cry holy, holy, holy
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to see you

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to see you

Michael W. Smith

The Heart?

I shared a few weeks back that I am an engineer. I have a tendency to look at the world with a dispassionate analytic perspective. For many years this was a significant stumbling block in my faith life. Heck for most of my life as an engineer I had no faith life. Yet somewhere along the way Jesus showed up. He brought the Holy Spirit with him and started to minister to the emptiness that had taken residence in my soul. It was a very painfully empty God shaped hole within me.

I shared the story of that time a while back as well, that is not the point here just the context. You see I want to talk about the eyes of my heart. In 2002 I first discovered Michael W. Smith. A friend had recommended him to me as an excellent Christian artist that I might like. Like, I loved him! I could not get enough of listening to his music. In fact this was the start of a six year love affair with worship music that is not soon to end. Check out My Private Worship Time if you want perspective.

There were many songs at the time that I loved yet one stood out; Open the Eyes of my Heart.

Here is where the engineer and the Christian setup a cognitive dissonance (fancy term for two opposing ideas held in the mind that cannot be resolved). Essentially the meaning of this song was lost on me. How could I see with my heart?

Well….

That was then, this is now

In the past several weeks I have had a number of experiences that when considered from the right perspective offered me a glimpse into the meaning of this song. The perspective is that of heaven or the kingdom instead of a worldly one.

There was the time when in worship and prayer my heart ached so hard for the Lord that I wanted to cry. I prayed instead, on my knees, until the feeling passed.

There was the time my heart ached for the men I work with and a difficult decision they face. I cannot bear the thought of them hurting. I prayed for them until the ache stopped.

There was the time at a worship service I closed my eyes and took in the scene. I believe the lord was clearly showing me how to see with my heart in his realm. It was so peaceful so wonderful. I was content to be in his presence and I know that had I quieted my mind even further I would have seen his angels ministering to his people.

This morning as I listened to my daily audio bible segment, courtesy of Brian Hardin, my heart leapt as the word from Leviticus started. All at once I felt present with Brian half way around the world in India connected through a supernatural link.

Close my eyes and see?

So now I know that there are times that I can close my eyes and see as he does. I can trust my heart instead of my eyes. I can trust in him and see his people with love.

I am further honored that though this gift from the Lord is momentary and seemingly random that all the prayers I have pleaded all the times I have asked for a new heart are being answered He is constructing a new heart in me, a renewed spirit. He is teaching me to love without condition to care without boundary.

I am a blessed man

In him

Ron

As Iron Sharpens Iron

2008-04-01T21:25:00.000-07:00

As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

Last Sunday I was talking to a brother in the faith and co-laborer in my churches men’s ministry leadership. We were discussing our vision and in particular the verse from Proverbs that most men know by heart, as iron sharpens iron…

This verse makes me want to meet other Rons ;-) (as I ron sharpens I ron…) so much for my sense of humor.

Ya, okay…

I am sure that none of you know what I do for a living and fewer (if that were possible) would know what I went to college for a couple of decades back. Well let me tell you, I am a metallurgist. Metallurgical engineering is somewhat of a lost science. There are few of us who go into this noble field of study. It is in many ways the modern form of the blacksmith. Of course it is engineering as well. Blacksmith, calculus chemistry and heat transfer, a strange stew indeed.

What the heck does all this have to do with faith you might ask? Well let me tell you. I learned long ago that if your eyes are open the Lord can show you connections in the most unlikely places. As Jesus taught in parables, there are wonderful metaphors out there just waiting to create meaning for us.

“As Iron”

Have you ever stopped to consider how iron or steel are made into something useful?

I have worked in modern blast furnaces, steelmaking shops, hot mills, cold mills, literally the whole process. I have studied ancient metallurgy, how dirt is transformed into a metal. I was led through the whole process both literally and figuratively in thought and in action.

Iron is a very interesting metal. On its own it is fairly ordinary, dull, soft and prone to rust. You would not want to build much with it, it would not hold up. Funny thing though contaminate it with minute amounts of other metals or other “dirt” and you can make it extremely strong, hard as well nails, tougher than pretty much any other metal.

Ancient iron (biblically) would have been like this, impure. The processes used today to make steel and iron so remarkably versatile had not yet been imagined. So we start with iron mixed with impurities of carbon, manganese, silicon, sulphur etcetera.

If you think about butter or cheese what happens to it just before it turns to liquid? It gets remarkably soft, same with iron. The easiest way to shape iron into something useful is to heat it in a hot fire, the hotter the better. In fact somewhere above 750 degrees Celsius (1350 F) is where you would want to be. If you go to a blacksmith you would find him working the metal to a bright red / orange color which is as much as 1900 F. As I said at this temperature steel / iron is soft and pliable.

If you were to want to make a sword you would take the metal up to this temperature then beat it with a hammer on an anvil into the approximate shape you wanted. Since it would cool and harden quickly you would alternate between heating and beating the metal into shape.

“Sharpens Iron’

The next step is to begin to get the metal to the toughness you want with the ability to hold a sharp edge. How do you do this? Well the process is quite fascinating.

First you must quench the metal from its high temperature. The metal must start from above 1350 and be brought as quickly as possible down to a low temperature. In this form the metal is brittle, so brittle in fact that it is like glass. If you gave it a sharp blow it would shatter into many pieces.

From here we reheat the steel (not too hot) just enough to relieve the internal stresses caused by the quench. This process known as tempering provides the toughness required to enable the metal to be used without breaking. Depending on application there might even be a follow up process of hardening an edge of the metal like a sword where the quench and temper process is repeated or the metal is treated with a chemical and heated to enable the edge to stay sharp and hard during use.

The process can be summed up by a favorite phrase of metallurgists:

“Heating, beating and treating”

“So One Man”

Alright enough with the metallurgy class! What does this have to do with faith?

I believe the verse in proverbs 27 is talking directly to men about the transformation they will undergo as they mature into true believers in Christ.

Our transformation begins when we invite accept Christ as our Lord and savior. It continues as we invite the Holy Spirit to come into our heart and lead us in the faith. It goes deeper as we realize we are called to community with other believers. When men come alongside other men there is something powerful that happens and this is where the verse in proverbs comes to life.

You see as a man you are not much different than the lump of metal dull and lifeless prone to tarnish and full of impurity. As we invite Christ into our life we begin the process of refinement and strengthening.

We are put in situations that test us, that put us in the fire. We are beat upon and hammered by the circumstances of life. We are criticized, admonished, overlooked. We are tempted, we are corrupted we are discouraged. Yet through all these circumstance one thing remains true we belong to Christ Jesus. Through these tests we have the ability to grow wise, to learn from our trials. So we learn from the trials and our character (structure) is forever changed, strengthened.

Like the quench we too experience the temptation after testing and we may fail, shatter at the impact. Yet like the metal this is not our destiny for even the metal can be re-forged into a new creation so can we. But to exist in this fragile state has no life we must continue on and be tempered. We must through our experiences be softened just enough to be toughened, conditioned to handle future trials.

"Sharpens Another"

When we emerge from the forge hardened on the exterior yet soft for the love of Christ we can be further refined. We can be sharpened to a razors edge to do the work of the body of Christ. Through the words of our trusted brothers we sharpen out character our behaviors, we become more Christ like. We cycle through the fires, the beating down, restoration and refinement coming ever closer to our goal of surrender to Christ and an iron tool of his perfect will.

Metaphors indeed!

Father I praise you for the curiosity you planted so deep in me

The desire to learn to grow, to discover how things are made

I praise you for the glory of your creation human kind

I pray that I might do your will and serve your people

I pray for your perfect will to be complete

Both in heaven and on earth

Amen

God is Love

2008-03-26T21:40:00.000-07:00

This past summer I had a brief momentary opening. It was during the painful stress of being back home to care for my mother as she underwent cancer surgery. My eldest, and closest, sister and I had both returned home to be with my parents in this terrible time. During one brief respite my sister and I talked about “religion”. She knows that I have come back to the faith after many years of wandering. She has not. My sister has led a life of struggle and trial. She is remarkably successful and I am extremely proud of her and the things she has strived for and achieved. She is truly an inspiration to me. There is nothing I would want to share with her more than the faith that has blossomed in me the last ten years. I have prayed for the opportunity to do so many times in the past few years. In this brief conversation she asked me what I believed the Catholic (read Christian) faith was really about.

I knew this was a pivotal moment. The wrong words could further justify her distance, a judgmental perspective would shut her down to this topic. My sister sees the church as a man made invention to suppress women. I think in many ways religion is just that so again my words had to be chosen with care. I cried out the briefest of prayer and trusted in the spirit to put the rights words in my mouth. Love. The Christian faith is first and foremost about love. I explained what I meant and left it at that. I have wondered since that day whether the seed the Holy Spirit planted had taken root or not.

Well I believe it may have. Not in an obvious way, rather in one of those delicious ironies that God so masterfully wields to talk to us. Today I finished reading a profound book The Shack. Have you heard of it? William Young has written a book for the ages. Shades of C.S. Lewis come through for me in the richness of the pictures Mr. Young paints. This book is a heart wrenching story of love that must be read, it demands to be read. It does not matter if you believe or not it is hard not to be entranced by the elegant simplicity of this wonderful story. As the tears flowed, the lump in my throat grew there was only two thoughts invading my mind; God is love, give this book to your sister to read.

God is love indeed.

I hope my sister will love this book as much as I did

If you want to learn more about The Shack go to www.theshackbook.com

God bless.

Are you Free?

2008-03-19T20:07:00.000-07:00

There is a verse in Second Peter that says;

a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day

2 Peter 3:8

Have you ever stopped to consider what this might mean?

Recently I have been reflecting on a deliverance the Lord has granted me. For years I have fought a battle in this area for years I have failed. This was for me the thorn in my flesh the wound that would not be healed. Before I came back to the faith I really did not even consider the behavior to be wrong. Sure I had a vague sense that it was, that old catholic guilt thing. I was able to quickly rationalize my behavior and continue on oblivious to the consequences I was piling up. In the last ten years as my faith in Christ has grown I have become increasingly aware of how wrong headed I was and how much death I was sowing.

So I began in earnest to stop the behavior. I would fail each time and then the guilt of failure would convict me sending me deeper into despair and self loathing. I would cry out to God seek forgiveness and healing for my sin and start anew. Yet I would stumble and fail again and again.

I looked deeper what were the triggers to the behavior, if only I could stop them, I would be delivered! I sought these out. One by one I eliminated the triggers, only to find more or worse yet new triggers as my flesh desperately clinged to old ways. The stumble comes leading to failure.

I tried studying Christian books on the subject. How to break free from old patterns. I followed their models for years with only minuscule success. The stumble comes and failure follows and the cycle goes over again.

I tried talking to Christian friends and family. I shared my heart I asked for their support. This worked for a while accountability is a great thing especially in Christ. However in time even this broke down and again the stumble comes and the cycle repeats.

I tried crying out to God in desperation. I yelled at him, screamed, lashed out in anger, cried tears of desperation, humbled myself before him in a last ditch attempt to find freedom from my bondage. I gained some relief but in time I would stumble and again the cycle repeats.

Then something happened

There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus

Romans 8:1

I discovered what this verse means and for the first time believed it.

It is finished

John 19:30

I discovered what this verse means and for the first time believed it

Love the lord your God with all your heart your soul your strength and your mind

Luke 10:27

I finally began to understand what this verse meant and began to live it.

As you sew so shall you reap

Galatians 6:7

I began to finally understand my struggle from a spiritual dimension

This winter my pastor did an extended sermon series on Galatians and it changed my life.

I am Free

I finally understand that my past behavior was reaping present consequence. Until I accepted that I am a new creation in Christ and that ALL my sins have already been forgiven, I could not be free. Today I am free from the lie of condemnation, I am free from the selfishness of self (on this battle front anyway). I have learned to surrender my will to God. I have been delivered. I am free to choose, free to live for him, free to serve his people, free to heal the broken hearted, I am free

The Lord revealed to me that my failure was predictable. Until I surrendered to him completely, until I trusted him completely, until I truly loved him, until I stopped trying to change in my own strength, until I waited upon him and his timing I could not be free.

I am free

Praise you Lord Jesus

My brothers and sisters you too can be free

Confess your sins to Jesus and repent

Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior

He will set you free

Your brother in Christ

Ron

Have you ever talked with God?

2008-03-18T21:58:00.000-07:00

Have you ever talked with God?

I would love to say that I have and indeed in some unusual ways I have. I hear all the time about people who share stories of conversations and words spoken. Me I am lucky if a word or idea is dropped into my head. Usually it has little to do with what is going on at the time. Although there was that one time at the retreat last November when he spoke to me.

Okay yes I have the odd conversation with God. They seem to be infrequent and not a typical friend to friend conversation but rather what you might expect from a Creator of the universe to single lowly human being conversation. Yeah I have some of those.

I pray often, not continually as the Bible encourages, but definitely often. It is through prayer that I most often encounter God. Last night before falling asleep I was praying and an image came into my mind of what it might mean to have the eyes of my heart open. Don’t ask me to explain I can’t. The image was more like an emotion. It stirred my heart and gave me the clear sense of what this phrase meant.

So what the heck am I trying to say here? What’s all this talk about talking to God anyway?

Well he spoke to me this morning as clear as I am writing this post and I want to share it with you.

Flash back to Sunday morning for some context:

I was talking to a brother in Christ and co-laborer in our men’s ministry leadership team about the meaning of Proverbs 27:17. (There will be a post on this just as soon as I finish writing it!) I was explaining to my brother that this verse has a deeper meaning to me than the obvious because I am a metallurgical engineer. Whooooo fancy name, hard to spell. Yes I get it, but we all have a past this is mine. I studied metallurgy in college and this knowledge is firmly implanted in me. So I know about steel and iron and how they are worked into useful stuff, it’s what I do for a day job.

I explained to my brother the beautiful metaphor that this verse in proverbs represents to me, the depth of meaning is unmistakable. I walked him through my interpretation of the meaning of the verse and he was taken aback, he had no idea of my background and had not looked at the verse in the way that I do. We ended the conversation by discussing the possibility of doing a teaching on the metallurgical meaning of the verse at an upcoming men’s bible study.

Back to the Present

This morning we were together (my brother and I) in our churches men’s bible study. After songs of worship (where I was focused on closed eyes and open heart from last nights prayer) our pastor walked us through Galatians chapter 6. Out of left field another brother asked a question. This may seem normal but it is not. In the twenty weeks of study there must have been a total of 6 questions all together. You simply cannot manage a group of 200 guys and take questions in a window of 45 minutes. Today our pastor did.

The question was on the meaning of Galatians 6:6. After explaining the meaning of the verse (it was in relation to giving) he continued to explain the context of the verse backing up into verse 5. To my astonishment he asked the questioner what is that called when someone studies metals? “Metallurgy“, was the reply. He talked briefly about testing metal. As he did I looked at my brother and smiled what are the odds?!

Our pastor then got back on the giving theme and expounded on the importance for us men to give of ourselves in love of the king within his kingdom (not to earn to love!). He mentioned the old story of time, talents and resources, we are called to give.

About this time I started to laugh, this was no random event, this was God talking to me. The metallurgist called to lead and give of himself for the men’s ministry he is so passionate about. I leaned over and shared the story with my friend and he too laughed at the irony.

Later that day I related the story to another friend. He added a piece that cinched the deal. The guy who asked the question that started this seemingly random connection volunteers his time with the blind. He helps the blind overcome their challenge; he helps the blind to see.

Open the eyes of my heart father I want to see you

In the mean time I will abide in you

I wait for you to speak into my life

Your will be done Father

Amen