Mission Faithwalk

  And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (II Corinthians 3:18)   I seem to be stuck. It’s not a bad sort of stuck (I hope,) but a friend asked a question about what was wonderful or magical about September, and now I can’t seem to shake the idea. Part of the transformation of September is to get back into “life” after taking the summer off. One of the things I don’t like about summer is the idea everyone else seems to have that it’s a time to kick back, and September marks the time to go back to school, and therefore we all have to get back with the program. We transform back into real people in September. The idea that came to mind as I responded to my friend is that we are like the pumpkins some folks grow. All summer long, they’re just growing, but in September, we start at least thinking about what they might transform int...

                 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. (John 14:23)   I don’t know about you, but I’m not comfortable playing host. There are times when I think I’m absolutely horrible not only as a host, but as a housemate and pet-owner. We’re back to the same old problem – definitions. What does a good host look like? What are the rules? In this verse, Jesus talks about a prerequisite to the position of host – obedience. I’m not so good at that, either, for the same reasons. Obedience to what? Obedient how? What are the rules? Some would probably say that the point of being a host is to spend time enjoying the company. But what time is breakfast? What do I make for dinner? Do I maintain my normal routine?  It would either stress them or bore them to tears. Do I make plans for place to take them? Do I empty my schedule and...

  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)   Another wakeful night and this was the verse I landed on. I last discussed this verse on May 1, and my focus was on trust. This time let’s focus on God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that God exists. This is simple logic. One doesn’t come to something that doesn’t exist. But if we’re honest, there are times when we aren’t sure there is a God. And for those who claim there isn’t, there are times when they aren’t sure there isn’t. There are times when both the insecure believer and the insecure nonbeliever say, “OK, God. If You’re real…if You’re out there….” And that’s the problem. If He’s real, He’s “out there,” not with us, as He claimed and promised. At least, that’s how it seems. We may be uncomfortable with this feeling and even berate ourselves for doubting. But read the verse aga...

                      This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. (Isaiah 48:17)   My first response as I read this verse is a prayer, “Oh Lord, remind me often who You are. Speak Your names to me. I confess I forget them so easily.” This passage ties in with the time of year. For most of us, this is when we change from summer to fall and from school’s out to school’s in. It’s a time to harvest and a time to plant. Eight years ago, this was the time of year when I transitioned from one lifestyle or job to another and one place to another. And today’s verse is all about that transition. It would be more accurate to say that I began to transition. Today’s verse wasn’t the one I chose as an anchor, but it’s like it. It’s all about trusting God that He will direct and guide. Transition is ...

  With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale  a wall.  (Psalm 18:29)              Today’s verse is how I tell myself I should be acting. I should be standing on the roof top, fists in the air, shouting, “It’s done! I won! YAY!” But what I feel like I’m doing is staring at my computer in disbelief, amazement, dismay, fear, shock, etc. There’s part of me that says, “Now what?” Another part knows what. There’s a lot of work yet to do on Word Fire and the work can now officially begin on book 4.           But the thought of book 4 is scary. It took me from 2016 to 2020 to finish books one and two. It took another two years to finish book three. Book four ends the series. I have ideas I don’t feel equal to.           Of course, this is just my challenge. Maybe you haven’t just finished something. You...

            The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!” (Psalm 116:3-4)   Lupus is an autoimmune disease, meaning that it is a type of disease that causes your immune system to attack you. The name comes from the Latin term for the word “wolf.” It brings to mind the story told by a Cherokee to his son about his having two wolves fighting inside of him. One was good, and the other evil and the one that would win is the one the boy fed. I suspect we all recognize that we have both wolves, but what we may not realize is that the evil one is just as willing to attack and devour us as it is to have us to evil external things. Last night was one of those nights. I fell asleep nicely enough, but at about 2:30, I woke thirsty. After that, if I slept at all, it was dozing. I’m trying to learn to spend such unwanted wakeful times i...

  Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors. (Proverbs 22:28)   One of the characteristics of our society at the moment might be described as post-modernism, or it might be described as progressivism. According to the former, any change is equally good as staying the same. Everything is subjective. According to the latter, movement in a specific direction is seen as good. Both tend to be bound up in the phrase, “Change is good.” The problem is, of course, that both changing and staying the same produce mixed results. Changing may make one thing better, but two worse. Changing may make two things better, but one thing hellish. Use the words “Staying the same” in place of “Changing” in the last two sentences, and they would be just as true. When it comes to the change involved in moving boundary stones, the likelihood that “hellish” is going to be involved is high. The purpose of a boundary stone in ancient times was to show where your land ended and ...