Keep on keepin’ on . . .

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”     -    Philippians 3:12

 

I finished cardiac rehab last week (woo hoo!) As I was finishing they reassessed some of the markers they checked when I began – weight, flexibility, cardio-stamina, etc. It was encouraging to see progress, but also a reminder the improvement hopefully isn’t over. Physically, satisfaction leads to complacency and we often lose ground when we get that attitude.

 

You know, the same is true spiritually. When we get satisfied with where we are, or see a little progress, it is tempting to think we “have arrived” and get slack.

 

The Apostle Paul, who had accomplished so much, realized even he could not stop pressing forward in his Christian walk. The same is true for us. We need to keep our eyes on the goal, to be like Christ. Just as with physical training, there may be times when we slip, but get back up and press forward.

 

Thank God for the progress, and keep on keeping on until we finish this journey.

Dying Declaration

“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And, bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”     -     John 19:30

 

Probably one of the most valuable pieces of oral evidence is known as the “dying declaration.”

 

I remember as a young police officer meeting the ambulance at the hospital to take the dying declaration of a man whose throat had been slashed in an argument over a parking place. Had it been necessary, I could be called to give that statement on his behalf in court.

 

The rationale is that a person facing death, knowing they are facing death, will, in those final moments, speak only things of truth and importance.

 

Jesus’ dying declaration is given to us in the verse above. Of course, He spoke only truth and things of importance, but these words should bring us great peace and comfort.

 

In His final moments on the cross, He was declaring our sin debt paid and His redemptive work done.

 

That’s a dying declaration we should love to repeat!

“Let Your Light Shine”

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”     -     Matthew 5:16

 

While on a mission trip, I was part of a team of people who were going into the community to invite people to the neighborhood church. Their attendance had dwindled down to the pastor, his wife and a few children they brought with them each Sunday.

 

I was sitting in the house next door to the church – right next door – and the young mother told me she, her husband and their small children would love to attend, but they didn’t think the church was ever “open”. “We never see any lights on over there,” she said.

 

It was true, the church did not have evening services, so the lights were never on.

 

I wonder how many times people – some very close to us, don’t know we are Christians, because our “lights” are never on.

 

Throughout the New Testament, we are told to “walk in the light, as He is in the light”, that we are to be “children of light.” In the verse above we see the reason is so that God may be glorified. So, make a conscious effort to let your light shine on someone today – and glorify God in the process.

Everyday Greatness

“Everyday Greatness” is a collection of stories originally published in Reader’s Digest. There are seven life goals, each supported by three values for a total of 21 chapters. In each chapter there are stories from people who have demonstrated the application of these values and principles in overcoming challenges in their own life. Each chapter closes with a collection of quotes on the topic.

Some of these stories are from the lives of people whose names you know, from Reba McEntire to Joe Paterno to Henry David Thoreau. But, most of them are from people whose names are not widely known, yet they have impacted the lives of others from Nazi concentration camps to high school football fields in Texas and beyond.

Each of them is a story of inspiration and encouragement to do what is right for the sake of right and to take stand when everyone else has left the field.

The collection of quotes alone is worthy of the price of the book, but the stories which are profiles of applied virtues are ones you will want to read to your children and teach your students.

“Everyday Greatness” is great volume for reference as well as inspiration.

(I will be posting a few of these book reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program J

Who’s your Hero?

Who are your heroes? Who do you try to pattern you life after?

As a child, my main hero was the Lone Ranger. I have photographs of me at about 4 or 5 years old, wearing the cowboy boots, the cowboy shirt, hat, and the six-shooter on my side. (Maybe that’s why it was so hard to transition to a semi-automatic!)

I wanted to walk like The Lone Ranger, talk like him and be like him. The trouble was the Lone Ranger was make believe. So many of our heroes are either not real (TV characters etc) or human beings with their own frailties and faults.

The Bible tells us, in Ephesians 5 to be “imitators of God.” We should desire to look like Him, act like Him, to love like Him. He is to be the hero we are to model our life after! Imagine what that would look like if you walked, talked, and acted like Him each and every day.

What a difference that would make in each of lives and those around us!

Appalachian Trail, Carver’s Gap Tennessee

The most legendary trail in North America has to be the Appalachian. While I admire the strength and stamina it takes to cover all 2000+ miles, it is not likely I will be able to undertake that endeavor. (There’s this thing called work – that keeps me away J )

However, we have made several day hikes and if you can’t do the whole thing, maybe you can enjoy it in pieces as we are.

Last year we went on a 6+ mile jaunt which included Max Patch Mountain, just west of Asheville, NC. That hike is highly recommended.

This year, we did two hikes on the AT, one just across the Tennessee line at Carver’s Gap. We headed north a couple of miles to the side trail up to Grassy Ridge and an elevation of 6,180 ft. The starting elevation was 5500 ft.

In that relatively short hike, we crossed three balds and had wonderful views. There is a fenced in section along Jane Bald which contains Angora goats which are kept there in an attempt to control the blackberry bushes which are threatening to take over the area. You can read more about it here – http://tr.im/ubNl

The Roan Mountains are also home to Gray’s Lilly which can only be found in this region. The rhododendron were in bloom and it was a great day all around.

The hike up to Grassy Ridge was well worth the effort and we had lunch with a view words cannot describe.

 

 

    View from the top of Grassy Ridge

    Gray’s Lilly

Boone Fork Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway near Blowing Rock, NC

    

Recently Eileen and I spent a few days camping at the Julian Price Park
on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

While there, we also took a hike on the Boone Fork Trail. This trail actually runs
through the campground, but the “official” trailhead is at the picnic area.

The trail is a 5.5 mile loop and is rated moderate to strenuous on the National Park Service literature.
There is considerably more moderate than strenuous. It took about 3 hours and we stopped several times to enjoy the beauty.
The rhodedendrons were in bloom and there were many waterfalls.
Much of the trail is wooded, but there were also pasture lands and open valleys.

We saw chipmunks, squirrels, deer and a variety of birds in the area.

When we finished the hike we had a picnic lunch by the stream. We highly recommend this hike if you are in the area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Lesson From Flowers

“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

– Matthew 25:40

Recently, it was time to put new flowers in front of the church. Several of us decided Gerbera Daisies would look good there. So, I headed off to the hardware store to get them. Well, when I got there, there were no daisies, just a bunch of flopped over, shriveled up, faded blossom petunias – and lots of them.

I went inside hoping for something better, or word that the flower truck was on the way, but my friend, Wally, who owns the hardware store said that’s all I have left, but I’d love to give them to the church. He said, “I’ll even give you some MiracleGro and a watering can for them. They just need someone to take care of them.”

They sort of reminded me of Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree.

So, I took them. Not what I thought I wanted, but what I got nonetheless. I got flowers, and all I needed to take care of them and nurture them and then watch them flourish – all I had to add was a little effort.

God spoke to me in all this. Those flowers were just like many of the people who come our way. They may not be exactly the type I would pick, but they are who God sees fit to place in our lives. He has given us all we need to care for them and nurture them and watch them flourish.

Jesus tells us that when we serve and give to those who are the least in our estimation, we are actually serving and giving to Him.

I planted those flowers, put some water and MiracleGro on them – and I am excited to see what God will do with them. I am also trying to do a better job of keeping my eyes open for those God will see fit to send my way – so that I might care for and nourish them as well.

Addition to Blog – Right Hand Column

Have you ever had a Bible verse, or partial verse, stuck in your head and you just can’t remember where it is?

Great news! With the help of www.Bible.Logos.com software, you have to look no further than the right hand side of my blog.

They are giving away some really nice Bibles as well. Check it out at http://blog.logos.com/archives/2009/07/the_great_bible_giveaway.html

I hope you find it useful!

Christianity Today’s Study Series “Faith and Pop Culture”

Christianity Today’s Study Series “Faith and Pop Culture,” is a small group study which examines various forms of art, from TV to literature to cinema from a Christian perspective. As the authors point out, there has historically been a love/hate relationship between the church and the arts.  

From Steinbeck to steroids, the eight sessions cover not only the traditional arts such as cinema and literature, but also address sports and television. The study also explores the role of “family friendly” movies, violence and the specific role of Christians in the entertainment industry. The eighth session is a challenging consideration of what it takes to fulfill the modern desire for entertainment.   

The outline of each session is designed to facilitate a small group study, with step-by-step instructions from breaking the ice to getting focused on the topic, to rolling up your sleeves and digging in to what the Bible has to say about each topic. Each session ends with a challenge and a personal action plan for how to apply or further consider the subject in the coming days.

This study would be suitable for youth or adults and, I think, would be especially useful for family devotions either in the home or small group setting. It challenges the student to be careful of what we watch and the impact of our choice of entertainment on our thinking and our witness. I think this is an especially timely study considering the events surrounding the recent death of Michael Jackson, Steve McNair and Farah Fawcett.    

“Faith and Pop Culture” is a well designed and useful study guide for small group study.

(I will be posting a few of these book reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program)