Christianity

The WOW Factor

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If you were to bring up the topic of the creation of the universe in a crowded waiting room, I’m certain you would find the opinions on this subject as diverse as the crowd of people in the room.  There would be some who would say they believe in a random Big Bang form of creation, others would espouse a view known as intelligent design, and then there would be some who whole-heartedly embrace the Genesis account of creation.

I find it hard to look at the intricate design of the world and believe it just happened by chance.  In Psalm 8 we find the author contemplating the role of man and his place in the world.  In the next Psalm, David writes:  I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.  I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

When was the last time you paused and reflected on the marvelous works of God.  I mean, what would a flower be without its fragrance?  How dark would the night skies be without the light of the moon and stars?  How different would be birds be if they were drab in color and whistled and sang out of tune?

The sunrise, the sunset, and the rainbow all act as a canvas on which the Master Artist paints in vivid colors.  The day would be much different if it began and ended in a colorless brown instead of a fire-red hues.  Speaking of fire, what would fire be without its warmth on a cold night or water without its refreshing coolness?

How about food?  What would chili be like if there was no spice or a breakfast roll without cinnamon?  And, it’s almost too painful to consider a world without ice cream!

How mundane would life be without this complicated, yet marvellous thing we call love?  Isn’t love the WOW factor in everything that God created?

When you read the book of Genesis, you see all that God created.  After He had spoken the physical world into existence, God formed Adam out of the dust of the earth and breathed into him the breath of life.  Next in line was the creation of the animal kingdom, but God wasn’t finished until He created woman.

Adam thought he had seen it all, but when he saw Eve, he saw the marvellous WOW-inducing works of God

I hope you’ll take the time, sometime this week, to consider the marvellous works of God.

 

A Tribute To Dad

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When Father’s Day made its appearance on the calendar of 1965, I observed the day with a heavy heart.  My dad had lost his life in an oil field accident just a few weeks earlier.  As a 12-year-old boy, I could only focus on what I had lost.

Now that I’ve had 47 years to reminisce, I know how fortunate I was to have had Eddie Seymour for my father.  Dad was very involved in the lives of his three sons.  He taught us how to hunt, fish, and how to play the game of baseball.

At an early age, Dad’s appreciation for fast cars was see in his frequent race with the train as he would speed down a gravel road to beat it to the crossing.  I think Dad’s need for speed  found its way into the DNA of his boys.

I have a clear memory of each evening when  Dad got home from work.  He would hit the shower and sing.  I would stand outside on the patio and I could hear the running water and Dad’s voice as he belted out:  I wish I was an apple, a hanging on the tree and every time my Cindy passed, she’d take a bite of me.

When you’re a boy of 12, you have no idea how precious life is and how short it can be.  The meaning of family is a concept that you never really consider.

As a man of 59, my perspective on life has matured.  I know how important it is to have a loving mother and father.  I know what its like to experience the powerful emotions of loss, sorrow, grief, and joy.

Through each of these life cycle events, I have paused to think of Dad; and, after all of these years, I still miss him and I still have a great deal of love for him in my heart.

Hey Dad, happy Father’s Day.

Love You!

Stan

The Frustration of Forgetfulness

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How many of you guys have been in the tool shed or garage and laid a tool down and couldn’t find it again?  Ever gone to the grocery store and forgot the shopping list and you are clueless as you walk the aisle of the store?  During the commercial break have you gone to the kitchen for something but forgot what it was you were after?   How about this one:  Man I can remember that face but not her name.

I know I am not alone in my memory deficiencies.  I know some people who make notes in their cell phones.  I know others who have tied a string around their finger or used a band aid.

I have tried many different techniques to improve my memory, but there is a common weakness to each of these:  I have to remember something to make it work!

One thing that we should remember is that God never forgets.  The prophet Isaiah (49:16) recorded the words of God:  I have written your name on my hand. 

Fast forward to 33 A.D. and the hand of God is nailed to the cross.  Why?  Because the name of His children are also written on His heart.  That is is something worth remembering.

The Trials and Trails of Life

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Trials and trails and are similar in appearance, but they are words with different  meanings.  The key to understanding the definition of these two words is the location of the “I” within their context.

I have walked many trails that have been pleasurable experiences. I have also encountered several trails in my life that were full of trials.

When a person finds himself on a trail that is suddenly full of trials,  life can be rather confusing.  This was the case with King David, when he said: I tried to understand all this; it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood . . . (Psalm 73).

Remember what I said earlier about  the “I” context and how it can change the meaning of a word?  When David tried to understand the context of his life from just an “I” or “Me” perspective, his perception was sadly lacking.

David’s comprehension of the situation changed when he took an eternal perspective on the trials he was facing.  The “I” in his context became “not I,” “not me, me ,me,” but instead it became “Thee and Thy will for me.”

There will be times in our life when nothing makes sense.  The trail will seem too steep to climb and too long to endure. In times like these, we need to do what David did:  We need to turn to God.  David realized that God had already walked the trail that was before him:  When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path (Psalm 142:3).

When thinking about the trails he had taken and the trials he had experienced, the Apostle Paul wrote:  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

If you are presently walking a trail full of trials, let me remind you of a couple of things:

1.  God never leads His children down the wrong path,

2.  While you may not know where the path will lead you, God does.

3.  Even though you may be confused, but God is never confounded.

4.  God is present in your trial and will comfort you, and if you will allow Him to do He will use  you to comfort someone else.

I hope this is enough to keep you thinking.

Jigsaw Puzzles

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Most all of us have had the experience of putting the pieces of a puzzle together.  It may have been a simple puzzle as a child or a more difficult jigsaw puzzle as an adolescent or an adult.

Dumping the contents of a box on a table and then trying to piece it together, may be a form of entertainment that you do not enjoy.  It is, however, one of life’s realities:  Puzzling situations and circumstances are a part of life.

Puzzles come in the form of trying to balance a budget, repair a car, raise a child, or they can be in the form of emotional, ethical, or moral dilemmas.  Regardless of the situation, there are times that we are as frustrated as “all the king’s men” because we can’t put the pieces of our Humpty Dumpty life-like-puzzle “together again.”

David had the task of solving several puzzles during his lifetime.  One of the keys to doing this was the realization that God was walking with him.  When David walked in step with the Good Shepherd he saw the solutions more clearly.  Those times when he was out of step with God, he found life to be more painful and more puzzling.

In Psalm 23, David said:  “You are with me.”  This reassuring promise is found throughout the Bible:

Will you have hard times and heartaches?  Certainly!  Will there be times that are perplexing and puzzling?  Most definitely!  Will you have to walk these paths alone?  Absolutely not!

Remember, David said that God will be with us.  If you find yourself struggling with some puzzle, I encourage you to let the Light of the world shine in the dark moments of your life.

I encourage you think of the presence of God as you listen to the song  God Be With You .

Remember

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Memorial Day is a day to remember the sacrifices of those wh0 have paid freedom’s price.  I hope you pause sometime over this 3 day weekend to remember the hardships, the heartaches, and the acts of heroism that have sustained the liberties we enjoy.

Very few of us are enough of a history buff to connect the last days of the month of May to the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940.  I would encourage you to read this link that provides an interesting account of the pivotal events that transpired on these historic dates.

While World War II might predate many of us, the events of 911 are etched in the memories of more than just a few who will read this blog.  I was sent a link to a YouTube video a couple of months ago, and the events of this video made me think of Dunkirk.  I encourage you to watch this goosebump-producing video by clicking here.

Both the article and the video I shared are a testimony to the power of the human spirit.  I hope the sacrifices of Dunkirk in 1940 and the heroes of 911 are enough to keep you thinking and remembering.

 

Enduring Life’s Hurdles

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There are times when the burdens of life are incredibly heavy.  When I experience these times in my personal life and when I walk with others who are struggling, Hebrews 12:1-3 is the Gatorade that keeps me going:  let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Heartache, sickness, and grief can present circumstances that are difficult to endure. Like it or not, they are hurdles that are a part of life’s race.  Regardless of how hard we train, we will find it difficult to cross the finish line if we do not keep our eyes on the goal.

The key to finishing the race is to keep your eyes focused on the next step and not the hurdle three steps in front of you.  Even though tragedies and  trials can appear to be insurrmountable obstacles, a person needs to see more than just the mountain ahead.

Instead of bowing to the mountain,  focus your faith on the God who made the mountain.  When troubles come, do you see just the storm or do you see the rainbow?  When you feel there is no way out, do you hear the roaring lion or do you feel the presence of Daniel’s angels?

When it comes to endurance, you do not have to walk alone.  Jesus extends an invitation to walk with Him and He offers to help carry the load:  Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly (Mattew 11:28-30 The Message).

Go ahead and read these words from The Message, they should be enough to keep you thinking:  Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!—Hebrews 12:1-3

Follow the Leader

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There is a word in the Lord’s Prayer that is a common word, but at the same time, it isn’t.  The word lead is one that you have probably used many times.  If you have a dog, you have told him to “heel” and then you would lead him as you walk.  As a child, there is a good chance that you played the game, follow the leader.

The word lead is uncommon because the form of the word used in the Lord’s Prayer (lead us not into temptation) means something else.  The word Jesus used is one that means to bring or to carry. 

Using the Shepherd-sheep analogy, this word suggests the personal involvement of the Shepherd for the benefit of His sheep.  The idea is not that Jesus will simply lead us, but that He will carry us through the shadows and show us the way.

Jesus, our Shepherd, knows what we need, and He knows how to lead.  The truth of this statement is found in Hebrews 4:14-16:  Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did not sin.  Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Here’s a thought to keep you thinking.  We can know that He knows, because He has already been where we are going.

His Name’s Sake

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Like many people, Psalm 23 is a favorite of mine.  As I was reading it earlier today, the last four words of  verse 3 caught my attention:  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

A person’s understanding of these four words may be limited because he thinks of God just as God.  The Hebrew language of the Old Testament is much more expressive and describes God in much more colorful and explicit terminology.  The different names of God emphasize the way He interacts with HIs creation:

  • Jehovah-rophe (the Lord who heals you)
  • Jehovah-raah (the caring Shepherd)
  • Jehovah-jireh (the will provide)
  • Jehovah-shalom (the Lord is peace)

The personal application for us is that when we are struggling with emotional or physical issues, we can call out to Jevovah-rophe.  When we feel like we are alone and no one cares, Jehovah-raah is present.  When we do not know where to turn or what to do, Jehovah-jireh will provide.  When the world seems to be shattered and crumbling beneath our feet, Jehovah-shalom is the peace in the eye of the storm.

I hope his name’s sake will be enough to keep you thinking.

Evolving or Flip-Flopping

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I find the language of the media and politicians to be interesting.  They carefully select a specific word or phrase and use it like an artist to paint a glowing picture of either the issue or the the person they are promoting.

I recently read an article that praised an individual for the wonderful way his position had “evolved.”  Later in the article the writer lambasted another person for “flip-flopping.”  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think both of the individuals in the article had simply changed their minds on an issue.

My concern is not so much about how we evolve or flip-flop, but more on what we become.  The teaching of Paul is clear on this matter.  In Colossians chapter 3, Paul lists the necessary steps we are to take, so we can become more like Christ.

1.  Set your heart on Christ

2.  Set your mind on the things above

3.  Put to death immorality

4.  Put off the old man

5.  Put on the new man

6.  Put on love

7.  Let the peace of God rule in your hearts

I encourage to get your bible out and read this passage of Scripture or click here to read it.  There is more than one thought in this passage too keep yoou thinking.