Mission Faithwalk

                 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, (Psalm 30:11)           Though I prefer the NASB’s use of “mourning” to the NIV’s, “wailing,” the latter fits better with my recent post about grocery store aisles. This verse brings to mind a transition that has taken place in the last ten years. The first five of those years still involved lots of stress caring for my father, but there were tiny steps. In the past five, I’ve moved more assuredly into gladness (NASB), joy (NIV), and, well, maybe not quite dancing.           But this isn’t the way we think it should be. We want the transition to go at the speed of Leo Sayer’s Long Tall Glasses : less than three minutes between “of course I can’t dance”  and “Hand me down my tuxedo, next week I’m coming back for more.” But as...

                 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. (Proverbs 29:11 NIV) Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:18 KJV) Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is one who keeps the Law. (Proverbs 29:18 NASB) Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. (Proverbs 29:18 ESV) I’ve shared multiple translations of this verse because it’s one of my favorite verses and the differences help in understanding it. But I’m going to expand it in its principle. Where there are no guiding principles, there is chaos, but happy is the person who has and follows guiding principles. And the closer those guiding principles are to reality, the more your life will “work.” After my rant two days ago about Scripture twisting, I’m feel...

                 Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever. (Psalm 28:7-9)           Yesterday, I responded to a comment on Facebook that suggested that a parent's first (and only?) priority in life should be tending to the needs of his/her child. I pointed out that there are needs, and there are felt needs. A child may be absolutely sure she needs a dragon or another candy bar. They may throw themselves down in the grocery store aisle and scream, and nothing short of giving them what they want is going to be enoug...

                 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:37) Excuse me while I vent. I’m reading a book about simplicity, in which the author cites this verse as an argument that we should live out a divine center in which we do not experience internal conflicts about what we should or should not do. Now, had he referred to the first chapter of James, I probably would not be having this response. I’m not saying his idea of being single-minded and living out of the divine center are wrong. But Matthew 5 does not address the issue of being conflicted about what one should do. It has to do with taking oaths. Jesus taught that we are not to swear by Heaven, the Earth, Jerusalem, or our heads. Rather, we are to simply say, “Yes” or “No.”  That’s not the same thing. It’s not even close . His claim now creates in me a conflict of motivation. Do I throw the book in the met...

                 A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly. (Proverbs 26:13-16)           Sluggard: a habitually lazy person           Recently, someone said that a sluggard isn’t just a lazy person. It’s a person who basically believes that nothing matters. There’s no reason to bother.  I’m not quite comfortable with that depiction, partly because of the first verse above. Clearly, the sluggard has at least some sense that his/her life matters. Perhaps it would be better to say that the sluggard believes they don’t matter, or that nothing is going to make things better. In ...

                 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings…   remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness. (Proverbs 25: 2& 5) The thing these two verses have in common is a king. It’s tempting to say that they have nothing to do with us, but we were created to rule, and as Christians, we are sons and daughters of the king. That might not grant us all the authority we think necessary to be a king, but enough. What’s more, while non-rulers likely didn’t have the time or resources to search out a matter in Solomon’s time, we are not so unfortunate. I can tell you from fairly extensive experience that searching out a matter is glorious. Another difficulty some might have with the first of these verses is that (in their opinion) a good God wouldn’t conceal anything; therefore, it cannot glorify God to conceal a matt...

                 By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures . (Proverbs 24:3-4) Wait. Yesterday’s message was “riches bad.” Now, today, it’s that riches are connected to knowledge and wisdom? Yes. Yesterday, we were warned not to make the pursuit of riches our motivation and as a sign of success. Today’s passage refers to valuable things with which we fill our homes. One of the riches that comes to mind for me is crafting supplies. It’s not that I want to have a house decorated with crafts that I treasure. It’s that I want to be able to solve problems that arise, have ready access to something productive and creative to do, and be able to give to others. I have friends who put pictures of family members on their walls, or pictures children or grandchildren have colored. Mind you, the frame may not be gilt. There may not be a frame, ...

                 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.   Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. (Proverbs 23:4-5)           So much of our lives is like the Wizard of Oz. We go on grand quests and eventually stand in awe and wonder of something, only to discover “the man behind the curtain.” The “riches” we seek, whether money, fame, power, influence, adventure, safety, or whatever else you may list may be exciting at first, but the glitter gets all over everything. Familiarity breeds contempt, and what was enough once upon a time is old, outdated, or not enough.           This is the problem with diminishing returns. Just as the roller coaster or horror movie you watched was exciting or scary the first time, and maybe the seco...

                 A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:13) I must begin with my standard disclaimer. What I’m sharing is not an appeal to pity, nor is it blaming anyone. It’s just part of my story and you’ve probably heard at least part before. Part of today’s Bible study homework is to consider the stories we believe about happiness. I’ve just listened to a book on the subject and one of the big stories we believe that he mentioned was that we associate happiness with things being as we want them. When we get the job, the marital status, the contract, the house, the dog, or the new outfit, book, plant, or “toy,” then we’re happy. Until we see a different thing we want or the thing we got produces diminishing returns. Then we’re not happy any more. I spent a great deal of my life in this cycle  and at least as much of my life believing that happiness was not something I ...

                 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaish 30:21) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)           Another section of my homework is to examine life experiences have shaped me into who I am. In this case, I’m fortunate because part of another challenge given me by someone else led me to produce a list I laughingly call a “Boring Tale of a Failed and Incidental Life.” It begins with going to college, so I should add the earlier experiences, but it’s three pages long and doesn’t include my early...

                 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.  (Proverbs  27:17) You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20) There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit— immortal horrors or everlasting splendours. (C.S. Lewis, Weight of Glory )   I’ve joined a spiritual formation Bible study at my church, and one of the assignments involves looking back at the influences that have shaped my life. It’s supposed to take an hour. Excuse me while I laugh. One of the questions has to do with people who have influenced me. Coincidentally, I recently started (and gave up) reading Med...

                 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;   and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.   For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (2 Peter 1:5-8) Galatians 2 Peter Love Love Joy   Peace   Patience Perseverance Kindness   Goodness Goodness ...

                 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)           I’ve written before of an experiment with rats that showed that having hope can keep one alive and trying for many times longer than not having hope does. And that hope doesn’t even have to be  fulfillable. The fact that there is a light on that makes a path to escape visible – even if unreachable – gives reason to hope, even for rats. And, to be mindful of responsibilities – Hope is the strong belief that what is undesirable will end, go away, or not damage and/or that what is desirable can, may, or will happen. It’s the belief that good, improvement, or what is desired, is possible and/or coming.           Today’s passage describes God as the God of hope. As ...

                 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; (Psalm 24:1)           One of the books I’m reading is The Freedom of Simplicity by Richard J. Foster. He begins with an Old Testament perspective that is reflected in the verse above from Psalms. He doesn’t use this verse, but works his way through a number of others to show that the world doesn’t belong to us and God’s perspective of our use of it is not ours - no matter which side of the current political divide we’re on.           But it will do us no good to get off into the weeds of how we go about things. The moment we decide things belong to us or that God doesn’t belong in the picture, we bring competition into the matter. Competition is complication. Consider my oft-repeated example of a river. If you understand that the water...

                                                         He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;     I will be exalted among the nations,     I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10           I chose this verse at least partly because I’m irritated (on the one hand) and a little anxious (on the other.) Two separate issues have (in my opinion) a single foundation – the issue of who is in control. Exactly what the issues are really doesn’t matter because if it weren’t these two, it’d be two others. It’s human nature to look at “the winds and waves boisterous,” the storm, or the surrounding army and respond. After all, our lives are at stake. If our lives are at stake, however, we’re more likely to turn to God about i...

                 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. (1 Timothy 1:6) I’ve started reading the first of two books on simplicity as a spiritual discipline, which means that my mind is like a puppy with six new toys. There are a several key words that I want to explore. Today’s verse has one of them: meaningless. It has a partner with which it must be juxtaposed: meaningful. As a writer of speculative fiction, I’m sensitive to the charge of meaningless words. I make up words. Fiction isn’t fact, and therefore (to some) is meaningless babble. As a Christian, I’m also accused of speaking of things that have no meaning or reality because I reject “sacred” worldly doctrines.   To be meaningful, according to the dictionary, means “having a serious, important, or useful quality or purpose.” So meaningless words are those that are not-serious, unimportant, having no useful quality and/or no useful purp...

Blessed is the one     who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take     or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,     and who meditates on his law day and night. (Psalm1:1-2)   Today’s passage says that the one who doesn’t walk with the wicked, stand with the sinners, or sit with mockers is blessed. So, do you do any of those things, or are you blessed? Two unhealthy attitudes come to mind. The first is denial. “I don’t walk…stand…sit…” The second is hypochondria. “I’m sure I’m guilty of at least of one of those even if I don’t realize it. I must be constantly vigilant.” Neither of those extremes is helpful because they lead to our focusing on ourselves and our sins instead of on God’s law.  A story is told of some men who blindfolded themselves so they wouldn’t look on a woman an lust. Commendable, but the...

                 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6) This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts after the king’s share had been harvested and just as the late crops were coming up. When they had stripped the land clean, I cried out, “Sovereign Lord, forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!”   So the Lord relented. “This will not happen,” the Lord said. This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me: The Sovereign Lord was calling for judgment by fire; it dried up the great deep and devoured the land. Then I cried out, “Sovereign Lord, I beg you, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!” So the Lord relented. “This will not happen either,” the Sovereig...

                      My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. (Proverbs 3:11-12) During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him (Hebrews 5:7-9) Quite often, when the subject of discipline comes up, punishment is the real topic of discussion. Let’s put that aside quickly with the statement that punishment and discipline are not the same thing. There are times when punishment may be used as tool for discipline, but it should not be the automatic respons...

                 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)           I’ve written before of an experiment with rats that showed that having hope can keep one alive and trying for many times longer than not having hope does. And that hope doesn’t even have to be fulfillable. The fact that a light on makes a path to escape visible – even if unreachable – gives reason to hope, even for rats. And, to be mindful of responsibilities – Hope is a strong belief that what is undesirable will end, go away, or not damage and/or that what is desirable can, may, or will happen. It’s the belief that good, improvement, or what is desired is possible and/or coming.           Today’s passage describes God as the God of hope. As such, He can and will p...

                 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. ( Deuteronomy 7:9) If we are going to revere, admire, and hope in the Lord, this verse is a good one to consider. Don’t you admire people who keep their word? God keeps His covenant over generations.  Where I struggle with this is that God’s keeping His covenant over generations isn’t about me. It’s a long term, not immediate thing. Perhaps most importantly, it doesn’t involve my getting everything I want. But God didn’t promise to be my slave. He promised to be my God. The problem is with me, not Him – and I recognize that. Whether it’s part of human nature or something taught in our culture, there’s part of me that want to play the victim. It’s not fault God doesn’t consider keeping His covenant to mean what I want it to. I can’t...

                 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (I Peter 3:15)           Revere: feel deep respect or admiration for .           How do you behave when you really admire a movie, book, or person? Given five minutes to talk about it or them, would you take ten? Fifteen? An hour? Once in a while, I see post on social media from someone who just noticed something about a scene from a book or movie that is more than a decade old. I’ve heard of people who can tell you statistics from the football season, and intelligently discuss the strong and weak points of teams and players. And somehow, while people may find these admirers boring and may try to avoid them or the topic, people don’t neces...

                 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (II Corinthians 1:3-4) “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:2-3)           Often, when things are going other than as we’d like, we want God to show us compassion and to comfort us. It’s natural, normal, and appropriate for us to seek those things from Him. We should seek those blessings from Him.  Years ago, as I whined on about some crisis my life, asking God what I had done to deserve it, He didn’t tell me spe...

                 But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” (Psalm 31:14)           One of my friends on Facebook posted a meme asking about building self-esteem. This subject is fraught with landmines that center on the question of what’s meant by “self-esteem.” We seem to be living in an era in which we see anything less than being idolized as harming our self-esteem, with the idolators being both ourselves and everyone else. At the same time, we’re often told that our self-esteem should never be such that it leads to our interfering with someone else’s self-esteem. And the problem is that even if this weren’t a no-win scenario, it would still be a no-win scenario because even if you find a good balance with one person, there are thousands of other people with whom you may interact.           Even if we develop...

                 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24) I know I’ve done this passage before. It’s from a favorite psalm, it’s the passage of the day on Biblegateway.com, and, it goes nicely with yesterday’s thoughts. In fact, it’s a sort of an “outside the forest” view of the situation. Inside the forest, we don’t ask God to search our hearts or test our thoughts because we’re in our hearts and thoughts and doing the Chicken Little routine, partly because that’s where things can fall on our heads. When we’re outside the forest, we can ask God to search, test, and lead The good news is that outside of the situations that while we may need to excuse ourselves, pitch our fits, and return – described yesterday – knowing that our little fits are nothing more than a way to use energy and calm down so we can subm...

                 Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. (Isaiah 25:1)           Yesterday evening was difficult. Something that was supposed to take 30 minutes took two hours, so I didn’t get to the prayer meeting. I am not making as much progress on the phrase count checks as I’d like. Never mind the fact that what I’d like would require that I check 439 phrases per day, some of them with more than ten occurrences. So far, I’ve averaged around 260 per day. Next week, I have 4431 individual words to check (738/day). Yeah. I know. Reason has nothing to do with it.           Today started out comparatively well, until I was on my way home from errands. Then I got stressed again. Ignore the fact that I reviewed 87 phrases while making signs a...