The Importance of Praying
     The importance of prayer cannot be understated. Prayer is the very life blood of Christian existence. Jesus Christ is both the example and key to the importance of praying. We come to God through Christ, thus Jesus opens the door that we might enter into that child relationship. Jesus is also the living, breathing example of praying.  Luke wrote that prayer was a lifestyle for Jesus when in Luke 5:16 he says of Jesus –
“But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.”
Time and time again we find Jesus starting His day by slipping away from the disciples to spend some one on one time with God. The thought behind this is: If Jesus felt the necessity to spend daily time in prayer with God, while He was God, then does it not follow that prayer should be that important to us, mere mortals.


Or consider Jesus’ command in Mark 14 to His three favorite disciples:
"Keep watching and praying, that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Mark 14:38 
Prayer is important if we are to protect ourselves from falling into temptation, and to protect us sometimes from ourselves. 


Prayer is vitally important if we want to learn the character of God. By using Scripture and Prayer we come to learn who God is. We begin to glimpse the unfathomable, to understand more of the infinite nature of God. We learn what He likes, what He dislikes, what God’s desires are. Prayer is important because we learn to love what God loves, will that things that He wills and to think His thoughts.  Prayer is so important that it should never be a part of our lives, it should be our lives. Prayer should not be our "second nature" it must be our nature. It should become a part of our mental process.  Jesus encourage this very thing in Luke 18:1 –
“Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart...”


And Paul reiterated it in 1 Thessalonians 5:17  “pray without ceasing;”
So – how important is prayer in the life of the Christian? So much so that it should be their life. Ask God today to help you learn to pray without ceasing and to not lose heart.


I know MANY of you out there who are in deep struggles... let me encourage you to not lose faith - pray. I know that many of you are in a high water mark of life, all is going even better than you could have expected... let me encourage you to not forget who is the great Provider - pray...

“Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling the spirit of God.”
     Edwin Keith

Dream again -

 

David Augsburg in his book “When Enough is Enough” wrote some sage advice…

“People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered.    Love them anyway.   

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.  Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.  Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.   Do good anyway.

Honesty will make you vulnerable.   Be honest anyway.  

The biggest men with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men with the smallest minds.   Think big anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.  Build anyway.

People really need help, but may attack you if you do help them.  Help them anyway.”

 

Life is “tough” – live it anyway (Doug Duty)

 

You have (you may have had) some impressive ideas, some daring dreams and powerful potential… It is my prayer that you never lose those – if you have I pray that you can rekindle them. You see if you do lose that, life takes on “mundaneness” – sort of just going through the motions.

I want to tell you today about a great example of living in the Old Testament, in fact it is one of (if not the #1) favorites of mine in the Bible.

But first -

Think back to the dreams and hopes and aspirations that you had… what kept you from them, what kept you from reaching them? Sure life is difficult, sure life has its twists and turns BUT life can be lived with an upward calling… life can be lived with those “dreams” finding reality. 

Let’s look at one man in the bible that made those “dreams” into reality… my friend Nehemiah. I love the life of Nehemiah; what he did, what drove him, how he went about his calling… in his life you can see several aspects of a person living upwards…

At the beginnings of what was driving Nehemiah – In Nehemiah chapter 1 verse 4 it reads – “Now it came about when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”

You see, Nehemiah - Had heart – when he heard the suffering and demise of the people his heart was broken; he felt for them and that feeling lead him to do something.

I know that it is easy to get caught up in our own circle, our own limited world. In this day and age it is far too easy to become callous, jaded and removed. We are bombarded by television, newspapers and the internet until we are numb. And once that happens we pull inward – we no longer see possibilities – we only want to survive. That is when we lose heart and we lose the drive to strive for something bigger than ourselves. And then we lose our dreams and aspirations, our goals become only distant “has beens”.

What are we to do –

1. Don’t let today’s circumstance steal tomorrow’s hopes.

Nehemiah could have. While he was doing all right for himself as the king’s cupbearer he had dreams of going home, of being with his people and he saw more in his life than what was happening at the moment.

2. Don’t let today’s “stuff” harden your heart.

It is far, far too easy to get hardened by the world, to want to put a shield around your heart because you are tired of getting hurt. But when that happens you lose the ability to feel compassion and passion for something more.

3. Don’t let today’s activities keep you from going to God.

Nehemiah, heart moved, went straight to God, he talked with God and shared his concerns and his broken heart. We will find out later that Nehemiah did that a lot! When was the last time you took your dreams and hopes, you hearts desires to God and told Him how deeply you felt them?

 

Take a look – where is your heart, where are your dreams?

 Get real........ 

Doug

John 10:10 “…I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.”

 

 

Who is the one actually “sick!”

 I want to share with you a sobering thought today, not to bring you down on a Monday but to get you to think all week long…

 In Mark chapter one beginning in verse 40 – Mark writes…

“And a leper came to Him, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."  And moved with compassion, He stretched out His hand, and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.”

 It is a great event in the life of Jesus because it shows us His tremendous compassion and willingness to help anyone, even those that society had deemed the absolute lost, the “untouchables” who weren’t worth anyone’s time.

Leprosy is a strange and sad disease. The leper does not feel physical pain. The disease renders the nerve endings dead and they are no longer alert to the damage they may be doing to their own bodies. The odd thing is that at no point does the leprosy patient “hurt”.

In a book by author Philip Yancey called “The Jesus I Never Knew.” He writes a story of a doctor in India…

“Dr. Brand told me of one bright young man he was treating in India. In the course of the examination Brand laid his hand on the patient’s shoulder and informed him through a translator of the treatment that lay ahead. To his surprise the man began to shake with muffled sobs. “Have I said something wrong?” Brand asked his translator. She quizzed the patient in a spurt of Tamil and reported, “No, doctor. He says he is crying because you put your hand around his shoulder. Until he came here no one had touched him for many years.”

 That is what Jesus had done 2000 years earlier to a man no one would touch. And while lepers don’t “hurt” don’t think that they don’t “suffer”. Almost all the pain that they endure, all the pain that they go through doesn’t come from the inside; it comes from the outside – the pain of rejection that people impose upon them. While they don’t hurt – they do “feel.” If you are like me that saddens you.

And it should… because it still happens today.

Mother Teresa in Calcutta ran a hospice and clinic for lepers. She said once,

“We have drugs for people with diseases like leprosy. But these drugs don’t treat the main problem, the disease of being unwanted.”

No we don’t see too many diseased lepers walking around the U.S. – but the human condition is an odd one.

A person will always, yes ALWAYS, find their own “leper.” That person that is “not like them” so they must be “diseased” (maybe so they can feel better about their own sickness).  Come on you know I am right – think of the modern day “lepers”…

Social status – someone being different (in any way) from you – those of “unlike feathers” – those who have been divorced – those with AIDS – someone with a drug or alcohol addiction – illegitimate babies (and God forbid, their mothers) – poverty – the homeless or jobless – the childless – the single – the “under dressed for church” – the list goes on and on…

If you talk to any of them you will find how they have been “untouched” – especially by modern Christians.  Think about it – you have your own personal “leper” don’t you; someone you have shunned, steered away from, gossiped about, pointed a finger at, ignored, felt disdain for, didn’t want to get near and God forbid you have to “touch” them.

Yet that is not what Jesus did – He didn’t see the disease He saw the need, He didn’t see the illness He saw the hurt, He didn’t see the sickness He saw the pain. And yet we say we are “followers of Christ”, that we are supposed to live to HIS example.

You know – the more I think about this – they may be “diseased” – but are we the ones who are sick?

See you “in the trenches” – Doug

John 10:10 “…I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.”

 

 

 

IN THE TRENCHES!

     I am one who absolutely believes that we have a Father God who listens to His children, that we can approach the throne of grace with great assurance that He will listen. SO – I believe that we can ask the question “Why.”  But let’s keep something in perspective – we are just like Job. When Job asked the “why” he didn’t receive the answer, nor did David through out Psalms. What they did learn was to trust God and to trust that He would work it out if they did.  

     When life throws you a curve… and trust me it will – what will you do with it?   

None of us is immune from the ups and downs of life. Nor can any of us can escape the reality of physical death. Just as death is certain – so too is normal life, it isn’t what happens to you so much as what you do with it.

     Romans 8:28 reads – “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  

One key here is that it doesn’t say that all things are “good” but that God works all of life together for the good. If someone loves and trusts and accepts God, if they are convinced that God is the all-wise and all-loving Father, then they can humbly accept all that he sends to him.  So the question becomes not “Why God…” but rather – “How would You have me respond to this?”

     Trust me when I say that sometimes when life happens to you; you might find it hard to pray, you might not be able to form the words with you lips. But I bet you could with your heart. Just before Paul wrote that all the stuff in life God would work for the good for those who love Him he wrote - 

     “And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words…” Romans 8:26  

      At this moment there is a Believer somewhat that has been thrown a curve in life, immobile in a hospital bed. Somewhere there is a Believer on the edge of eternity. Somewhere a family is facing ruin (financial, relational, etc.) Somewhere there is a Believer facing death from the hands of evil people.  They very well may be unable to form the words that would describe the depths of their despair. But the groanings in the weakness are being carried to the Father be the Spirit. Yes I am sure they may be asking the question “why” but I would bet that this same Believer is saying in their heart – “ok, God… now what?” Not in a negative sense but one that asks – “What do you want me to do about it?”

      I’ll will go out on a limb here and say that you have either been in a time like that, that you are going through a time like that – and if it is neither – you WILL go through a time like that… It isn’t/won’t be good.

     But in that moment… let me encourage you – PRAY. Pray straight from the heart. If you cannot form the words let the groans of you heart be carried by the Holy Spirit who will intercede for you. When you can’t pray, when weakness or tragedy overcomes your ability (physically or spiritually) to pray, when you are at a loss as to what to pray for – God’s word tells you – just pray from the heart.    

 I promise you that God who hears you in silence will answer you. I know it to be true, I have seen the results of sincere pray avail much…

 We are all in this together –  See you – “In The Trenches”

 Doug

  “When you pray, rather let your heart be without words than your words without heart.”  

 John Bunyan

STRESS

“STRESS” –

“…mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium…”

(read - external factors that throws life out of balance)

Or how about the word - ANXIETY –

“…an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it…”

    Not fun words are they – in fact just talking about stress and anxiety may cause a little of both.      Stress and anxiety are something that we ALL deal with at some time or another – no one is immune. Stress and anxiety are an internal state of being brought on by external forces or circumstances (sometimes by perceived circumstances that haven’t even happened yet)…

     Stress and anxiety are deadly, it can cause muscle aches, migraines, ulcers, mental breakdown and even heart attacks. They cause us to see life through filters. We might see through a filter of fear, maybe one of hate or maybe even a reality that isn’t really real. But whatever the cause it can affect us mentally, physically, socially and worst of all (to me) spiritually.

     Stress and anxiety can cause us to doubt ourselves – to doubt our beliefs – to doubt our faith and yes, even to doubt God sometimes. It may be hard for some to admit that,  but you only have to look as far as the Old Testament to see that the “heroes” of our faith stressed out at times too.

      Abraham – while we don’t normally like to see it you have to imagine that as he walked to sacrifice Isaac his heart would have pounded in his chest… what would he tell Sarah, could he go through with it…

     Moses – as he ran for his life because he killed a man, when he had to go home and tell his wife that he had just met face to face with God and that they were going to leave the farm and head to Egypt.

     Joshua – when Moses died and he was supposed to take Moses’ place.

     Nehemiah – when he knew that he had to travel home and repair Jerusalem, then some supposed friends threatened him.

     Job – after all he went through and his friends said it was all “his fault”, his wife told him to curse God and Job just wanted to die and get it over with.

 Even in the New Testament –

     All the disciples – running scared the night Jesus was tried and crucified, hiding in a room for fear that they would be next.

     Mary – standing at the foot of the cross watching her first born being killed for (in her mind) no reason.

     Paul and Silas – stuck in jail, beaten just because they wouldn’t quit telling others about Jesus.

     John – trapped on the island of Patmos left to die just because he too wouldn’t stop telling others about Christ.

 These folks were not different than you and me…they faced every day trials and tribulations, they faced failed relationships, work related stress, family problems, tax issues, religious persecution, money problems, health problems, legal problems, even obedience problems… it is easy for us to forget that they were real humans too.

They were though; they had failures and worries as well as stress and anxiety in their lives.

 And if God could help them through – well, even more – if God could use them through it all then maybe He can/will do it for Christians today. He won’t make the external forces or circumstances necessarily go away but He can/will steady the internal life.

He even warns us about stress, anxiety and worry – and then tells us what to do…

 "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7 

 "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life…   "And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span?”… "Do not be anxious then...”  "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”   Matthew 6:25, 27, 3, 34

 You cannot make the external forces go away, you cannot make the troubles evaporate – Jesus even confirmed that – “…In the world you will have tribulation…” (troubles) John 16:33b

     I will admit that I have read this before and said to my self – “Oh, great!” but we have to continue on to the rest of what He tells us -

     “…but take courage; I have overcome the world."  John 16:33b

 And Paul would say later – “Be anxious for nothing, BUT in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”  Philippians 4:6 

 Yes, I know what it says – don’t be anxious, don’t stress – but we do anyway don’t we? Maybe that is why God was so clear in amongst these verses to keep saying… “I will take care of you!” Because He knows how we are…

 Take every situation – work, family, circumstances, relationships, finances, etc. etc… - take it to God in prayer – tell Him what that you need the strength to get through something particular (He cares about the particulars you know) – tell Him that you need guidance in a situation, direction and composure to overcome an external force that is putting pressure on you right now… He will listen, He will answer.

 I won’t promise that you won’t have some muscle tension, some headaches (Why? Because your humans and you’re going to anyway)… But I can tell you that if you put your heart, mind and soul into your faith and into trusting God’s promises you can overcome those external forces and circumstances and in the process you might find that the ulcers go away, the headache subsides, the heartbeat slows down – because Jesus said that He had overcome the world – and you can too!

 So let’s get real –

 I am praying for you…

 DOUG

 

YOU CAN GET MAD...BUT

A lady once came to evangelist Billy Sunday and tried to rationalize her angry outbursts. “There’s nothing wrong with losing my temper,” She said. “I blow up, and then it’s all over.”  “So does a shotgun,” Sunday replied, “and look at the damage it leaves behind!”  

Getting angry can sometimes be like leaping into a race car, gunning the motor, going zero to 100 in 4.4 seconds and then finding out that the brakes don’t work.  We all know what anger is. We have felt it, dealt with it and suffered because of it… And when it gets out of control it turns destructive, it can lead to problems—problems at work, in your personal relationships, and in the overall quality of your life.

I would have to say that 90% of what we get angry about doesn’t really matter.

Think of the last time you got “angry.”  

Was it about something worthwhile?   Was it something that really mattered in life?   Was it simply because you didn’t get your way, something didn’t go the way you expected, or you didn’t like the person you had to deal with?   What we get angry about is – silly stuff.  Sadly too few of us get angry for the right reasons… yes, even Christians.      Some Christians even think that getting angry is a sin – but folks – getting angry isn’t a sin, what you get angry at and what you do with it… well that is a different story.

In Mark chapter 3 verse 5 is says that Jesus got “angry” at the hardness of the Pharisees’ heart.     Jesus’ anger was what we call – “Righteous indignation.”  Indignation is anger aroused by something unjust, unworthy, mean or hard hearted.   Jesus’ anger was a combination of resentment and a broken heart.

You know… If you cannot hate what is wrong, it becomes questionable if you really love right.   Some people suppress anger, holding anger inside in unhealthy ways.  Some people wrongly express anger, by griping, with sarcasm, or rage, maybe intimidation and blame. Some people become passive with anger. In a battle for superiority, passively angry people have a need to control without being transparent or open.     Some people are assertive with anger. Failure to share feelings in a constructive way may produce assertive anger.   Everyone needs to deal with anger. Folks, you can't eliminate anger – but what you do with it can make a world of difference in your life. Jesus was one who could be angry and not sin. And He is our example.

Here are a few suggestions on how you can get - ANGRY THE RIGHT WAY! 

TALK IT OVER –James 1:19a (quick to hear, slow to speak) If you will simply talk to the right person (not 50 others) - approach them with kindness and an attempt and attitude to make right – then you might find that a cup of coffee and a 30 minute conversation could diffuse an irritating situation.

THINK CLEARLY - James 1:19b-20 – Anger can blind your thought process.      Ill directed anger is not going to fix anything - it won't make you feel better (may actually make you feel worse). If you think clearly you see problems and situations for what they are, not what you perceive through angry eyes. James 1:20 – “for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” Reacting instead of responding will not achieve the Godly results.

TAKE TIME – to consider what is good and right - Philippians 4:8    When you get unjustifiably angry you don’t see much else… you don’t seem better solutions, you don’t see the damage you might be creating… Take time to consider all the aspects this way you will make sure you are getting upset about the right stuff, not the silly stuff.  Consider the right things to do in response.

TAKE POSITIVE ACTION - consider solutions rather than just the problem.   Anyone can find problems, anyone can get angry about anything… but Christian men and women should be those who can get angry and their anger (righteous indignation) leads to positive actions and answers – to actually DO SOMETHING.     Jesus’ anger was a mix of anguish and compassion – BUT - His anger resulted in POSITIVE ACTION – it moved Him to do something, something positive… Shooting a doctor who performs abortions is not the proper response to the anger the procedure might produce in you… Murdering in the name of God does not lead to a very good witness.

Jesus had the power to wipe out the Pharisees, instead He used that power heal.

 

You have been told “Don’t Get Mad – Get Even”  But take Jesus’ example

Don’t Get Mad– Get Right.

“GET REAL…”

Have you ever had a second chance at something? If you did, what did you do with it?

You may have heard the expression – “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” While that is true, you may be given a second chance to leave a lasting impression.

Few of us will ever face a second chance opportunity like the one my mother-in-law faced (at least I hope you don’t). Several years ago she literally stared death in the face, but through the miracle of prayer she fought back and left Intensive care at the hospital after about a month.  She was given a remarkable second chance at living.

While you may never face a second-chance situation like this -

We all face an opportunity of a second chance at real living. Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20 

      "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.

Paul had been given a second chance at real living; to live a full, fulfilling life – one of love and faith.

Both of these instances beg the same question – Now that you have a second chance:

How will you live out this second chance life?

Whether you are given a second chance physically or spiritually there comes with it a responsibility to live it fully and to live it in a way that will make a Christ like impression on those around you.

If you are given a second chance there is a call from God that you need to remember – God said in Isaiah 43:19 - "Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it?

So if you have been given a second chance at eternal life – and then God left you here… well He wants to live that new something in your life. If He has given you a second chance at anything – a relationship, a job, a spouse, a friend, maybe even life itself…

How will you live it out? Will it make your living any different? Will you see it for what it is?

Let me clarify one last thing – it really isn’t “what will you do with it?” – the real question is – “How will you live it?” That is real life, that is real living…

Let’s Get Real…

Doug

 

“Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:12 

“Charge!”

 

Years ago when I was in Basic Training in Ft. Jackson we had a little fellow in our platoon whose last name was Debrito. He was a nice enough guy; quite, shy, sort of geeky but a nice guy. During the war games and drills he was ALWAYS the guy who survived while the rest of the platoon was taking causalities, some wounded but also getting dirty and sweaty as well.

The Drill Sergeant used to give us a hard time and tell us that it would be Debrito who would go home, get the medals and the girls – because he (Debrito) could always be found hiding in the foxhole while the battle carried on and the rest of us were in the thick of it.   Now – while that may sound like a safe and inviting place to be, you can ask any military member and they will tell you:

“I didn’t join the service to hide in foxhole (trench).”

SO that got me thinking– that as Believers, as Disciples – the trenches ARE NOT the place God wants us to live. No, God wants us to live a full, active and participatory life.  Scriptures like –  Luke 10:1-3

     “Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.  "Go your ways; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”

Also - John 10:10b  “…I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.”

Abundant life doesn’t happen from foxhole living or at the bottom of the trench.

It is time for Christians (Believers, Disciples, Followers of Christ) to “GET REAL!”

So the bottom line is that it is time for us to move out of the trenches and into real life.

It is time for us to go out, to move from the trenches on to the front line of living as real Christians.   Look around you, our community needs us, our country needs you. It needs you to be real, to be real in every aspect of your life, to live out loud. People need to see real Christians on the front lines of life, not hiding in the trenches. Our churches need Believers to be real. Our communities need to see real Disciples. God is calling you to be a real light on the hill.

In the Kingdom of God it isn’t the one who hides that will hear – “Well done good and faithful servant.” It is the one who will enter the gates of heaven with battle scars…

So we are moving from “In The Trenches” to -

“GETTING REAL”

Robin Williams

I guess by now (Aug 12 2014) most have heard that the comedic genius Robin Williams has died from what they are saying was self-inflicted asphyxiation – suicide. Of course now we are hearing a great deal about his battle for many, many years with depression – which lead to substance abuse – which created more depression – which give the false requirement of more self-medicating…  what a vicious cycle.  

This is a quote attributed to him - “I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone, it’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel alone.” It seems odd to us, heartbreakingly so, that a man who could entertain us, make us laugh and in the case of Patch Adams make us cry would suffer from debilitating depression. But remember that old saying that – “its lonely at the top” – that was made up for a reason.

A person can seem to have it all together, they may seem to be the pinnacle, and they may present a smiling face and share the gift of laughter – all while slowly dying inside. They appear to those around them to be what we might even want to emulate, but all the while they feel lonely, depressed and broken (though the world tells them they have everything going for them).

Let me give you a couple of biblical examples. In 1 Kings chapter 19 Elijah the great prophet of God is running for his life, he is scared, he hid in a cave and was crying out to God. Now, this was a man who had just experienced a momentous miracle of God from what was honestly a simple prayer. Yet here he is hiding in a cave, lonely and scared (and by the way, this is the same guy who had raised a widow’s son from the dead!) but here he is and his own words he says – “and I am alone…”

David in Psalm 22 was in a bad place. In Psalm 22:2 he cries – “O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; by night, but I have no rest.” To me this sounds like a person in great distress, very possibly battling depression. Again he wrote in Psalm 38 – “My heart throbs, my strength fails me; And the light of my eyes, even that has gone from me. My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague; And my kinsmen stand afar off.” Again, that sounds to me like someone afraid and alone.

One more – the great Prince of Preachers – Charles H. Spurgeon, the guy that so many preachers want to be like… wrote of himself – ” "Some years ago, I was the subject of fearful depression of spirit. Various troublous events had happened to me; I was also unwell, and my heart sank within me.”

Three giants among Believers. Who would have guessed it?

Ok just one more - I have a pastor friend of mine whose wife was in a terrible accident and left paralyzed from the neck down. They struggled but the pressed on. They kept their faith, he was a loving diligent husband who both worked and looked after his wife so faithfully, fortunately he had a position that would allow him to do that. In a meeting with several pastors one day someone asked him how his wife with doing and with great pride and excitement he told us of how wonderful she was doing and that she was make small progress...then one of the pastors turned the tables - and asked him... "How are you?" He gave the obligatory answer - "Im fine, I am doing ok." Which was followed up by - "No...I want to know how you are doing!" Then the dam broke. He broke down in tears and shared of how hard this was to see his wife like this, how hard it was to stay focused on his job, how hard it was to be a caregiver... and he cried. Several of us huddled around him, prayed, hugged him and offered support. He left that meeting with a burden lifted, if only for a moment, but knowing that someone out there cared about HIM.

 

Let me just share this thought with you.

Just because a person is out front, just because they seem to have it all together and have NOTHING AT ALL to be depressed or sad about does not mean that on the inside they are not crying in an emotional fetal position. That friend who seems to have it all, that leader who seems to be hard charging and successful, that friend who always helps others but is never helped by others… If you and I would take some time to just ask them… “Are you ok?” if we watch for the signs that might indicate some struggle… we might just surprise them with that compassionate question. And you don’t know that it might by the one smile, the one hand, the one simple exhibition of love that saves a life.

This is why it is so very important to have real relationships. First with God through Jesus. The three giants I mentioned above would all come to say that it was God who got them through. Secondly, have real relationship with real people, not Facebook relationships but relationships where you are able to be real, be broken, be honest, be happy or sad. Listen, observe, and don’t assume that there is nothing wrong. We are all human, we all need Jesus and we all need relationships that are genuine love.

If you know someone is hurting. Be an ear, be a shoulder, be a REAL friend. Don’t assume they are ok… ASK THEM – even if they seem to have it all together. If you are the one struggling, seek the help of a friend, a physician, a counselor and yes… you can talk to God.

I think if we were more real, more honest, more open in our relationships we could help each other so much better.

In Galatians 6:2 is says – “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” And by the way, the Law of Christ is the law of love. God knows what He is talking about.

 

This is not at all comprehensive, it certainly is not medical advice and I don’t claim to have all the answers. What I do know is this – we need God and we need each other.

Today – just the simple ramblings of a simple man.

Us First…

No one has to tell you that what we see in our society and what we are witnessing around the world runs counter to the Biblical principles set forward by God.  I know that there are good people out there (because I see them in the church), I know that there are non-Christians who are morally good. But sadly these are not the norm.

You only have to watch the news for a few minutes to hear that all is not well in Camelot. Frankly we should not be surprised. We (as a nation) allow for an “anything goes” attitude, we call sin a “personal choice” and then when someone goes through emotional problems they want to blame their past, their parents or the public. We, the people, in order to form a supposedly perfect nation allow any principle, any action, and any behavior to go unchecked in the name of personal freedom as if corporate responsibility is of no issue.

Where in the world did we get this idea that our behavior was someone else’s fault? When did we start to believe that we could do anything, live anyway and not expect serious consequences?

The bottom line answer is when we took God not out of schools but when we took God and His Word out of life. Somewhere along the way we became like the children of Israel, we cursed the God who freed us and quit listening to His words.

I have said on occasion - “The world is going to hell in a hand basket...” and we believe that they need to get their act together. But think about it, why should THEY if we WON’T! That’s right, I said it – why should we expect a world who doesn’t know God to get their act together if those of us are called “Children of God” won’t get our act together and when we look just like they do.

In an attempt to attract the “them” – we have become like “them.” Don’t think that “them” cannot see it, that they cannot see through our hypocrisy.

But wait – there’s more – What if we started to live biblically? What if we returned to this call to righteousness and holiness that God wants of us? What if we made decisions based on biblical principle? What if we loved God with all the heart, mind and soul? What if we lived a life that was striving to live by God’s instruction instead of our own “pleasures”?               What if we acted and lived like we said we believed!?!

It’s not legalism is “loveism.” It’s loving God and loving people (while not buying into sinful actions) and then living like it.

It’s putting God at the center of EVERY aspect of your life. It’s reaping the spiritual maturity and confidence in life, its gaining real blessings – both tangible and intangible.

I believe that God is calling His Church, His Children to return to righteousness, return to holiness, to live like aliens in a strange land. We have no excuse not to. Trust me, I have tried to come up with my own list of decisive arguments that would free me from this call – but every one I come with God comes back with a better one. In His call to “come now let us reason together” I have found that His reasoning is much better than mine!

It is time to get real – it is time to return to holy and right living... then and only then will we begin to see the nation, the world change.

STONES

We took some time this past few weeks to visit our daughter and her family in Dupont Washington. Our three grandkids, of course, were the highlight of our trip. All the things we did were really nice but being with them is what makes it meaningful.

On a particularly warm day (by Washington state standards) we took a little hike through the forest down a trail that led us to the shore of the Puget Sound. The beaches there on the sound are not like sandy, they are covered in rocks ranging in size from a tiny pebble to baseball size stones. We played with the kids for a good while, they actually got in the water (which again by Washington State standards was “warm”). We attempted to build rock “sandcastles” but rocks don’t pack as nicely nor hold form like sand does. We built our rock castles and then the kids went back into the water.

As I sat there watching them play in goose bump producing water I reached over and picked up a small stone. It was a nice amber color and when held up to the sun light it had a soft glow about it. The rock had a noticeable square shape to it, but the edges were not sharp but rather rounded off and smooth, not at all jagged or sharp.

I held that small stone in my hand and, it was rather beautiful and smooth and I began to think about just how much this rock has been tossed and turned in the sea water, how many bumps and maybe even some battering against the shore that it must have endured before ending up sitting in the sun. The years of being tumbled and tossed had not created sharp edges but rather had polished what must have been at one time a sharp, rough rock into a beautiful, almost gem like stone.

I thought about how God turns us from rough, often too sharp, often cutting rocks into gems for His purpose. It makes me wonder if we see the things that toss and tumble our lives for what they are. Sure many things will through us in a bit of turmoil, sure events in life can be horrible at times, sure there are times in our life where we feel we are being beaten down, tossed here and there. There are certainly times in life that are not good at all.  Even in Romans 8:28 it never says that all things are good

 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Not all things are good, but even the bad things can work together with the good to shape us for God’s purpose. Those times can soften the edges; polish our lives that when in the Son Light shows something glowing and beautiful. So maybe we need to take to heart what James wrote in James 1:2-4

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

The various trials in this life are strengthening the stone, not trying to break it apart but rather smoothing the rough out of our character and the perfect result is that we become this gem in God’s Kingdom.  I know from personal experience that this isn’t always easy – which is maybe why God used a small smooth stone on the shore of the Puget Sound to remind me that He is still shaping and smoothing me for HIS purpose and reasons…

Just a little vacation time coming up for me in the next few days - so I thought I would post a thought before I head out.

In the Trenches

I didn’t know much about the former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow.  I do know a little more about him than I did before.
I didn’t learn it from his funeral on television, I didn’t watch it. I actually learned it from Snopes.com and yes what they said was that the information about Tony Snow on the internet was actually true. So I followed a link that led to an original article that was published by Christianity Today © magazine that contained an essay that Snow wrote in response to the question – “How has this bout with cancer affected you?”
I am not going to pass the whole article along to you – you can find it at –
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/july/25.30.html
But suffice it to say that his words are meaningful and impacting. I do want to share an excerpt from his essay – and pray that you will take it to heart...


BLESSINGS ARRIVE IN UNEXPECTED PACKAGES—IN MY CASE, CANCER.
“Those of us with potentially fatal diseases—and there are millions in America today—find ourselves in the odd position of coping with our mortality while trying to fathom God's will. Although it would be the height of presumption to declare with confidence What It All Means, Scripture provides powerful hints and consolations.
The first is that we shouldn't spend too much time trying to answer the why questions: Why me? Why must people suffer? Why can't someone else get sick? We can't answer such things, and the questions themselves often are designed more to express our anguish than to solicit an answer.
I don't know why I have cancer, and I don't much care. It is what it is—a plain and indisputable fact. Yet even while staring into a mirror darkly, great and stunning truths begin to take shape. Our maladies define a central feature of our existence: We are fallen. We are imperfect. Our bodies give out.
But despite this—because of it—God offers the possibility of salvation and grace. We don't know how the narrative of our lives will end, but we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face-to-face.
Second, we need to get past the anxiety. The mere thought of dying can send adrenaline flooding through your system. A dizzy, unfocused panic seizes you. Your heart thumps; your head swims. You think of nothingness and swoon. You fear partings; you worry about the impact on family and friends. You fidget and get nowhere.
To regain footing, remember that we were born not into death, but into life—and that the journey continues after we have finished our days on this earth. We accept this on faith, but that faith is nourished by a conviction that stirs even within many nonbelieving hearts—an intuition that the gift of life, once given, cannot be taken away. Those who have been stricken enjoy the special privilege of being able to fight with their might, main, and faith to live—fully, richly, exuberantly—no matter how their days may be numbered.
Third, we can open our eyes and hearts. God relishes surprise. We want lives of simple, predictable ease—smooth, even trails as far as the eye can see—but God likes to go off-road. He provokes us with twists and turns. He places us in predicaments that seem to defy our endurance and comprehension—and yet don't. By his love and grace, we persevere. The challenges that make our hearts leap and stomachs churn invariably strengthen our faith and grant measures of wisdom and joy we would not experience otherwise.”

"This article first appeared in the July 2007 issue of Christianity Today. Used by permission of Christianity Today International, Carol Stream, IL 60188." (parts in bold were added by me for emphasis)

I highly recommend you go to the earlier mentioned website and read the rest of Snow’s essay. Until then I simply ask you to think, to ponder, to meditate on your life and on the gift that is, bestowed by God.
Snow’s words said – “...we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face-to-face.”
God is not a “puppet master.”  You choose the path that you will walk today, you choose how you will use this gift of life you have been given.


What are you doing with it? Will it take cancer or some other disease or incident that brings you close to the brink to make you consider your path?


Did you make a child laugh today?


Have you kissed your spouse for no apparent reason today?


Did you encourage your children with a word of confidence and praise?


Did you stop for a minute as you left the house today to listen to the birds?


Did you pause as you left the office thanking God that you had a job in this economy?


Do you see your current circumstance as a blessing rather than a curse?


Today - Did you tell a family member or maybe a friend of the loving grace of God and salvation in Jesus Christ?


Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”  James 1:2-6


In the trenches
DOUG

     I am one who absolutely believes that we have a Father God who listens to His children, that we can approach the throne of grace with great assurance that He will listen. SO – I believe that we can ask the question “Why.”      But let’s keep something in perspective – we are just like Job. When Job asked the “why” he didn’t receive the answer, nor did David through out Psalms. What they did learn was to trust God and to trust that He would work it out if they did.

      WHEN LIFE THROWS YOU A CURVE… AND TRUST ME IT WILL – WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH IT? None of us is immune from the ups and downs of life. Nor can any of us can escape the reality of physical death. Just as death is certain – so too is normal life, it isn’t what happens to you so much as what you do with it.

     Romans 8:28 reads – “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

     One key here is that it DOESN’T say that all things are “good” BUT that God works all of life together for the good. If someone loves and trusts and accepts God, if they are convinced that God is the all-wise and all-loving Father, then they can humbly accept all that He sends to him.

So the question start with “Why God…” but leads to – “How would You have me respond to this?” “What would You have me learn from this?”

     Trust me when I say that sometimes when life happens to you and it happens FAST far too often; you might find it hard to pray, you might not be able to form the words with you lips. But I bet you could with your heart. Just before Paul penned that deep truth of verse 28 wrote -

     “And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words…” Romans 8:26 

     At this very moment there is a woman that has been thrown a curve in life, she is in a hospital bed. At this very moment another is facing a drastic life change that they didn’t see coming. Another was forced to make quick life decisions. Their groaning’s from weakness are being carried to the Father be the Spirit. Yes I am sure they may have thought of the question “why” but I would bet each must grow into the place where they question is asked – “ok, God… now what?” Not in a negative sense but one that asks – “What do you want me to do about it?” “How do you want me to respond to this?”     Sometimes the answer is a simple – “TRUST ME, I will work it out for the good if you love and trust Me.”

     I’ll will go out on a limb here and say that you have either been in a time like that, that you are going through a time like that – and if it is neither – you WILL go through a time like that… It isn’t, it won’t be good. We all know that not all life is cotton candy, unicorns and rainbows but that quite often can be rocks, goats and black clouds

     But in that moment… let me encourage you – PRAY. Pray straight from the heart. If you cannot form the words let the groans of you heart be carried by the Holy Spirit who will intercede for you. When you can’t pray, when weakness or tragedy overcomes your ability (physically or spiritually) to pray, when you are at a loss as to what to pray for – God’s word tells you – just pray from the heart.

 I promise you that God who hears you in silence will answer you. I know it to be true, I have seen the results of sincere pray avail much…(if it looks like I’m mumbling that just me praying)

We are all in this together –

See you – “In The Trenches”  

Doug

 

“When you pray, rather let your heart be without words than your words without heart.”

John Bunyan

 

David Augsburg in his book “When Enough is Enough” wrote some sage advice…

“People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered.    Love them anyway.   

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.  Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.  Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.   Do good anyway.

Honesty will make you vulnerable.   Be honest anyway.  

The biggest men with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men with the smallest minds.   Think big anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.  Build anyway.

People really need help, but may attack you if you do help them.  Help them anyway.”

Life is “tough” – live it anyway (Doug Duty)

 

You have (you may have had) some impressive ideas, some daring dreams and powerful potential… It is my prayer that you never lose those – if you have I pray that you can rekindle them. You see if you do lose that, life takes on “mundaneness” – sort of just going through the motions.

 I want to tell you today about a great example of living in the Old Testament, in fact it is one of (if not the #1) favorites of mine in the Bible.    But first -

Think back to the dreams and hopes and aspirations that you had… what kept you from them, what kept you from reaching them? Sure life is difficult, sure life has its twists and turns BUT life can be lived with an upward calling… life can be lived with those “dreams” finding reality. 

Let’s look at one man in the bible that made those “dreams” into reality… my friend Nehemiah. I love the life of Nehemiah; what he did, what drove him, how he went about his calling… in his life you can see several aspects of a person living upwards…

At the beginnings of what was driving Nehemiah – In Nehemiah chapter 1 verse 4 it reads – “Now it came about when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”

You see, Nehemiah - Had heart – when he heard the suffering and demise of the people his heart was broken; he felt for them and that feeling lead him to do something.

I know that it is easy to get caught up in our own circle, our own limited world. In this day and age it is far too easy to become callous, jaded and removed. We are bombarded by television, newspapers and the internet until we are numb. And once that happens we pull inward – we no longer see possibilities – we only want to survive. That is when we lose heart and we lose the drive to strive for something bigger than ourselves. And then we lose our dreams and aspirations, our goals become only distant “has beens”.

What are we to do –

1. Don’t let today’s circumstance steal tomorrow’s hopes.

Nehemiah could have. While he was doing all right for himself as the king’s cupbearer he had dreams of going home, of being with his people and he saw more in his life than what was happening at the moment.

2. Don’t let today’s “stuff” harden your heart.

It is far, far too easy to get hardened by the world, to want to put a shield around your heart because you are tired of getting hurt. But when that happens you lose the ability to feel compassion and passion for something more.

3. Don’t let today’s activities keep you from going to God.

Nehemiah, heart moved, went straight to God, he talked with God and shared his concerns and his broken heart. We will find out later that Nehemiah did that a lot! When was the last time you took your dreams and hopes, you hearts desires to God and told Him how deeply you felt them?

 

Take a look – where is your heart, where are your dreams?

See you “in the trenches” –

Doug