Broken Branches

The sky is darkening and raindrops are lazily speckling the window. The weather forecast calls for some mild showers today with the possibility of thunderstorms in other places around the Midwest.

Sounds pretty mild compared to what has taken place in other parts of the nation. I recently saw some of the damage from ice and wind storms that left over 150,000 Kentucky homes and businesses without power earlier this year. Branches of trees were broken and down for miles along the parkway.



It brought John 15:5 to mind where Jesus paints a vivid word picture for us: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Connection is the key. This spring those broken branches will not have the life-giving connection they need to produce leaves and fruit. In fact, the road crews had already been out cutting and clearing debris.

Jesus tells us a flourishing, worthwhile life comes from close relationship with Him. He is the source of life and vitality, the source of any lasting fruitfulness in our lives. Whether life brings mild days or stormy gales, we must remain dependent upon Jesus. A fruitful life is a dependent life.

Road Trip Reminiscing

Took a couple days to go see my parents and celebrate my mom’s 75th birthday! How time flies. Here are a few thoughts from the trip:

- Noticed the State of Kentucky website www.UnbridledSpirit.com.
It made me ask the question, is there anything in my life that grieves the Holy Spirit, thus bridling Him, or is He free to move and do in my life as He fully desires?

- The warmth of the sun through the windshield gave me a bad case of spring fever and a gratitude for the sense of touch.

- Snowball-like Bradford pear trees in full bloom, fluffy white clouds floating lazily against a light blue sky made me grateful for sight.

- Birthday dinner fajitas made me thankful for hearing, smell, and most of all, taste!

- Time with family made me thankful again for a faith-filled heritage, and the opportunity to be together.

- Family matters.

The Link

"Why me, why now. Why..." Walking through the needs, hurts, and challenges of life, it is human to ask "Why". All of us probably have been there or will experience it at some time.

That said, have you ever noticed that the Bible focuses more on "How" than "Why"? "How do I get on from here? How can I make it...?” When we move from "Why" to "How", that is where we connect with the resources of God that enable us to keep moving forward in life.

Interestingly, I recently came across a biblical response to “why”. It is in "the link".

Actually there are two. One that causes you and me problems is our link to Adam. Romans 5:12 says: "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—".

It is because of our connection with Adam and the effect of original sin that we get death and the whole process of getting there. For me that means some aching joints, a few more wrinkles in the mirror and some gray hairs starting in the sideburns. (I try to keep them trimmed out but it seems more grow in every week!) This is also why we have wacky stuff, accidents, and illnesses. It is all a result of our "link" to Adam.

Another reason, for a follower of Christ, is our "link" to Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:10-12 says: "You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted".

Much more could be said, but the bottom line is that we can expect some difficulties as we journey through this life, and God has the resources to enable us to walk through them all.

Holy Spirit Work Through Me

Seems I have a case of writer's block this evening. However, I ran across the song below and thought it fit well with our recent emphasis upon the Holy Spirit and His ministry in our lives. It is a great prayer for any Christ follower.

More Thoughts about "English"

Before looking at some more oddities of the English language, I just have to say how grateful I am for all God is doing in our church family. There have been a number of significant answers to prayers lately. Thanks Lord!

The following "English" language thoughts make me smile and I hope they do the same for you. Even more significantly, they remind me that anyone attempting to communicate spiritual truths in English really needs the Holy Spirit's help.

English is a crazy language. Think about it, there is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

We take English for granted but if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, two geese; so why not one moose, two meese?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?

In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all. That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

So, why doesn't Buick rhyme with quick?

"UP"

I am UP and at it this morning: Bible and prayer time, exercise, emails, clean UP and on to studying for weekend speaking assignments. I am pumped UP about this weekend.

One email, which is way too lengthy to share here, reminded me of the complexity of the English language. It makes me grateful for the help of the Holy Spirit in communicating the truths of God’s Word. Here’s an excerpt you might find interesting.

There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is 'UP.'

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the Officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?

We call UP our friends. And we brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver; we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special.

And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.

We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!

To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary.
In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

I hope you are UP for it.

Uncertainty

“When was the last time you rode a bike?” Suddenly that question was daunting, even haunting. Ten years, no, like a webpage stuck in a loop, my mind kept searching and searching. Other than riding a stationary bike at the gym the last couple weeks I literally could not remember when I was on one.

Last night I took a friend’s bike for a quick spin around the church parking lot. Some unsteadiness was evident and I narrowly avoided riding off into a field. Not a good start in preparing for a 40-60 mile trip.

What have I gotten myself into? Is this a smart thing to be doing? Can I really do this? There was a flood of questions in my mind.

It seems like uncertainty and fear cloud our minds most when we begin to step outside our comfort zone to do something new or different. The same is true spiritually. Ever notice when you take a step to follow God’s leading that a whole host of questions and fears arise? Sometimes it just takes guts to keep going.

As you follow God’s leading in your life, I hope you will move through the inevitable uncertainty that comes and show some guts. As for my bike ride, I am hoping it doesn’t take blood and guts.

Habitat Ride

Friends have encouraged me to ride in Habitat for Humanity’s “Ride Across Indiana” this May. Looks like it might actually happen. A bike has been offered and a few people have already voiced a willingness to support me, kicking in money for Habitat if I ride.

It could be an adventure. But it is going to take more than just a “will to ride” to make it happen. Desire alone won’t move me across the finish line. It will take a “will to work to ride” so that I actually get into shape before May. Follow this blog for updates and the final outcome; maybe even a few pics.

So often the winning equation in both life and faith is: desire + discipline. Desire gets us going, discipline keeps us going. We need both.

I’m grateful that the Holy Spirit helps believers on both counts. He prompts us concerning the things of God, creating desire, and He produces self discipline within us as we yield to Him.

Sort Of Like Driving Through Iowa

“Sort of like driving through Iowa”. Does that describe your Bible reading lately? That is how Mark Batterson describes his reading of Leviticus. In his March 8 blog he goes on to say: “after a while the flat land and corn rows can get a little mind numbing. But you've got to keep driving….it's the flat lands of Iowa that help you appreciate the mountain ranges of Colorado.”

A number of us have completed Leviticus recently. At times it may have felt mind-numbing, but a key to remember is that you’ve got to keep reading. I appreciate the "mountain peak" of Jesus’ sacrifice more after moving through the "flat land" of Leviticus. Don’t you? Let's keep reading.

Margin

One of the greatest challenges I am facing lately is finding “margin” in my life, that time for rest, relaxation and recreation. Although I am a follower of Jesus, and He took time away, I find it hard to do that. Seems there is always something else to do or someone else to see. I relate strongly with the plaque in one pastor’s office that read: “God has given me so much to do, and I am so far behind, I will never die.” Sometimes it feels that way.

At a cognitive level, I understand that rest is not laziness, nor is it sin. But something inside pushes me to do just one more thing, make one more call, to stay up to write one more post for this blog… It all matters. It is all about Jesus and about people. That stirs me, moves me, it motivates me to keep going. The challenge is to find the right balance between hard work and rest that will bring the optimum glory to Him.

Turning 50

It is hard to believe it, but this weekend I turn fifty. It seems odd. I may be hitting the half century mark but I still feel like I am twenty-five, at least until I try to do some of the things I did at that age. But turning fifty isn’t all bad, for instance, my father-in-law reminded me that in some cultures I am just now old enough to grow a beard. Hmm…

I’m not exactly sure what “turning fifty” means. But one thing I am sure of, fifty is not twenty-five. Fifty is more; more weight, more wrinkles, more gray hairs, hopefully a little more wisdom; it is just more. It also means more opportunity to serve the Lord and others. Just hours away from this significant milestone, I am making the choice to serve God more faithfully, follow Him more closely, and love others more deeply, to offer the best I have, turning fifty.

Let Go & Set Sail

I am “pumped” about our March Sunday morning message series, “Let Go and Set Sail”. It is all about letting go of the things that hinder us from following the leading of the Holy Spirit, and energetically giving ourselves to follow wherever He leads. It is about adventure!

Imagine a sailing vessel sitting in harbor. The beauties and adventure of sailing the Caribbean awaits you. All that is needed to experience the adventure of a lifetime is to untie what holds you in dock, set your sails, and catch the wind.

The Christian life is a call to adventure, a call to let go and set our sails for the wind of the Holy Spirit; to follow His leading. Too many people settle for a life tied to the shoreline, when all along the wind of the Spirit is blowing. Do not settle for the harbor when God has adventure for you!

It is going to be an exciting few weeks. Hope to see you Sunday!

“Tradewinds 2” and the Holy Spirit

“Tradewinds 2” is a computer game involving commerce, strategy, and guts. Starting with a sailing vessel and $1000, a player sails the Caribbean, buying and selling merchandise, performing assignments for governors, avoiding storms and battling pirates. It is a wind-driven adventure.

In John 3:8 Jesus said, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

The Christian life is to be a Spirit-driven adventure. The Bible is filled with stories of men and women whose lives were marked by drama, passion & excitement. Too many today seem to think that “Christian adventure” is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms like old news or jumbo shrimp. Adventure is at the heart of Christianity. Are you ready to let go of the shore? Ready to set sail? The wind of the Spirit is blowing.