New - Part One

I turned forty this year. I still don't have the urge to go out a buy a convertible sports car, get a tattoo, or sell everything and travel to Spain, so I guess I'm not officially in my "mid-life crisis" yet. I don't feel old. In fact it's been a year of renewal and repair for me. And I guess I'd like to explain that.

Some of you who actually read this know me personally. Some of you knew me a long time ago, but haven't seen me for awhile. Others, I'm assuming, don't know me from Adam, but are accidentally reading this. Anyway, here's the story of my year so far, mostly regarding my physical health.

First off, I want to establish the fact that I'm not an athlete, nor have I ever been one. I played no sports in school. None. Ever. I was more interested in getting home and heading out into the woods near our house and splashing down the creek bed with my best friend. I started working a "real" job at age fifteen, and I think I worked pretty hard. For the most part, I've worked physically hard at most everything I've done. But I've also had this appetite my whole adult life that seemed to be a force bent on destroying me physically. When I combined 20+ years of being really physical (not athletic or healthy) with 20+ years of eating all my favorite comfort foods (pizza, pasta, chips, etc.) I found myself in the worst physical shape of my life at the end of last year. There have been other conditions that may have contributed to my condition then, like arthritis, but for the most part it was the result of two decades of filling myself with enormous amounts of very unhealthy foods and drinks, along with smashing my body into everything in front of me just to prove that even though I was very overweight, I was strong.

The arthritis over the winter left me feeling unable to do anything physically. You can read my very first post "My Long Winter's Nap" to get an idea of where I was at that time. I had all the excuses I needed to just continue to become Earth's version of Jabba the Hut from Star Wars. But God awakened me just enough to start looking for relief from the arthritis. The medicine is out there, but it's very, very expensive. Guess what? My insurance company covered it, minus a thirty dollar copay. Eight thousand dollars every 6 weeks, and they covered it. The results were almost immediate. Relief from the pain came almost immediately. I rode that wave for several months, feeling pretty good about myself. But the weight gain continued. I still ate and drank everything I wanted, whenever I wanted. I'd ask my wife if my weight bothered her. She was always kind enough to say "no". So I'd tell myself that I was o.k. even though I had to hold my breath to bend over and tie my shoes in the morning. Naturally, I started outgrowing clothes. At that time (April-May 2009) I was pushing 270 lbs. I'm 5'9" tall. When I went to our local box store to buy some clothes, I found I had then moved into the "extended sizes" and was going to have to start paying an extra $2-$5 for each article of clothing. There was a reckoning that day. I bought a couple of shirts and pairs of pants that fit, but vowed to try to change.

I think that's the point where I normally started losing the battle. I'm assuming that many folks out there know what I mean. There's some short-term resolve that comes when you're in that condition, but it's normally very short-term. And it's immediately followed by a sense of failure and a loss of self respect. I saw friends at church and work that were enrolled in a weight loss program at our local hospital and were losing weight rapidly, were exercising and really having fun. I wanted that. But when I inquired about the cost, I immediately discounted that as a possibility. So I continued to wonder how I could possibly fix it. In May of this year, my blood sugar was high enough that I was begging my doctor not to label me diabetic...."just mark me 'glucose intolerant' or whatever. I can fix this, I just need time". My blood pressure was up to 145/90, and my doctor was also talking about medication for that. I was already on cholesterol medication, triglyceride medication, and anti-depressants. Can any of you relate?

Then came my God moment.

Near the end of May, I was really losing the battle. The arthritis was no longer limiting me, but I was limiting me. Again, for a snapshot of where I was emotionally at that time, see my post "It's In There". So I prayed. That's a pretty novel idea, huh? I realized something as I tried to ask God for help regarding my physical condition. For a very long time I've known that I can give things up to God and He helps. I've seen it happen. I'm very comfortable with that arrangement. I'm also very aware of my limitations as His child, a created being. But it occurred to me very vividly that day that my physical being...my body...my health...was something that I had never considered giving Him control of. I guess in my mind, I was to be the steward of my body. To go to Him and admit that I ruined what He gave me to care for was something I had been unwilling to do.

So that was my prayer. "Father, I've ruined this machine you built for me. I thought that I knew better than you how to take care of it. I've readily given you control all the things in my life that weren't right, except this. I realize now that you created this body, so no one but you would know how to keep it working. Please show me how I can restore this body physically to a point that pleases You, not others, and is a testament to your love for me." It was mere days after that prayer that everything started to change.

I'll end Part I here just so none of you fall asleep. You can click here to read Part II.

Peace,

Mike

Better Than A Nail

I'd like to offer a brief warning about this post. It's not meant to turn anyone's stomach, but I do describe very briefly a medical procedure I had done recently. The video at the end also contains a fairly graphic representation of the pain the Christ endured as He neared the end of His life. I make no apologies, but I do offer a warning. Considered yourself advised.



I had surgery last week. It was a carpal tunnel release surgery on my right hand. I had my left hand done a month ago, and it's healing nicely. Going in this time, I knew pretty much what to expect, which parts would hurt the worst, which would not hurt at all, how the whole surgery room procedure would go. It's an outpatient procedure, and it's just my hand, so it really was no big deal. But I knew, having done this once before, that when the doctor injected the three big gobs of local anesthesia into the palm of my hand, it was going to hurt. That was all I thought about as my mother (yes, my mother...I'm forty but I still throw her a bone on occasion and let her take care of me) drove me to the surgery center. I wasn't worried, like I said - I survived it once. I just knew that would be the worst part.

As they prepped me for surgery I started thinking of how I could minimize the little burst of pain and uncertainty that comes when they start injecting you like that. I decided I would think about other people that were going through physical storms that were enduring much more pain and suffering than I was. I would think of my friend Jack, who just had surgery on his heart...ribs spread, bones and organs moved around, the works. I'd think of my dad who went through excruciating pain and suffering before he died. I'd think of all these things and within a few minutes, my hand would be numb and all would be well in the world. That would get me through my "mini trauma".

All was set, and here he came. Evil, menacing grin on his face as he walked up to me with that giant syringe (no, really, my doctor has a pretty good sense of humor, and we had talked about the shot being the worst part, so he was really laying it on). He stuck it in my hand, started pressing, and as the skin started stretching, I remembered why I hated that part. I forgot all about my plan to divert my attention at first. As he stuck the needle in the second time, I just relaxed, laid my head back, decided to just "man up" and take it. I was just getting ready to pull up all my mental images of the sufferings of others when my doc said "all kidding aside, I know this really hurts". And my reply?

"Better than a nail driven through your hand."

What? Did I say that? Where did that come from? That wasn't in the script. But it was a message for me, out of my own mouth. God knew that I still feel so unworthy of the suffering that Christ endured for me. God knew that once that thought was in my head, no amount of pain that day would allow me to feel sorry for myself. I laid there for the next two or three minutes, now totally unaware of what was going on with my hand. It wasn't numb yet, but it ceased to matter. I had this image in my head of the literal process of a soldier spiking Christ's hands. I felt so small. I felt how cold the surgery center really was. I felt so petty and weak. But God knows how to deal with that, too.

The next string of thoughts were of God's reason for that. He cares so much for me, that He would allow His own Son to be defiled and abused beyond what humans were designed to bear.

How much must He love me? How much must He love you? Would you be willing to take His place on the cross?


Peace,

Mike

If We Are the Body, Then Who's In Charge?

I don't know why it still amazes me that children can say such profound things and not even realize it.

My six-year-old son really keeps my mind on edge. He comes up with questions and observations that just blow me away. Sometimes even when he doesn't understand something, it raises a deep philisophical observation or question for me.

Back on Father's Day, my family visited my father's grave. Not really knowing the significance, Cameron, my son, just continued asking questions as we stood there thinking, praying, trying not to cry, etc. Among these questions was this: "So is Grandpa in there?" as he pointed to the ground under the headstone. "Only his body is there" was my answer, thinking that would end that conversation. "Then where's his head?" he asked me in return. "What? What did he just ask me?" I thought to myself. After a couple probing questions, because now I was curious about his thoughts on this, I realized that in his mind, the head is not actually part of the body. The body is just used by the head, but the head is where a person's essence is contained. This was confirmed several days later in a discussion about Heaven, our souls, and our spirits. His question during that conversation was "so it's just a bunch of heads flying around in Heaven, but all the bodies are buried down here?" Can you imagine the mental images that must be floating around in his little head during these two conversations? He wasn't scared by any of this, just genuinely curious...trying to wrap his brain around this so that he could stow it away and move on to life's next big imponderable.

All of this has raised just a few points in my mind, though, too. We talk often in church about the church being the "body" of Christ. And we easily identify Christ as the "head" of the church. But you know what? I know that personally, there have been times when I've not looked at the two as one complete unit. I have also witnessed others that apparently don't either. I know God is flowing through all that we do. I know that the Holy Spirit is moving among us and keeping us connected. But as material beings, I think it's possible that we often look at Christ as being "there" and at us as being "here". The head separated from the body, so to speak. It occurs to me now that Christ doesn't want a remote-controlled church. He wants to be attached, connected to the core, with all the same life and blood and love and passion flowing through Him that flows through us. He's not just our headquarters, broadcasting commands from afar. He's the Team Leader, and He wants to be right out on the front lines with us, feeling the danger, fighting the enemy, hearing the cries of the wounded around Him. As our "head", He knows that He too is part of the body, part of us. He was hated. He was beaten. He tasted death. He didn't do it because He was bored. He did it because as the head of this body, He needs us to know that He's with us, He's been there, He'll always be there. He's not just a head "flying around in Heaven".

I'm throwing in a song that I really like that sort of goes along with the idea of us being the Body of Christ. I hope you enjoy it.

Peace,

Mike

It's In There

Raise your hand if you've ever been sad.

That's what I thought.

At some point, we all go through times where something just isn't right. We feel sad, and maybe we're not sure why. For some, there's a clinical explanation. Maybe it's depression, or grief, or anxiety. But even when you're told that there's a logical explanation for feeling the way you do, that doesn't make you feel any better.

I recently went through a time like that. For some reason, this past winter really weighed me down. Considering the work situation, the economic situation, the typical midwest "permacloud" winter, and my poor physical condition that is mostly my own fault, I had plenty of good excuses to feel a little down. But the thing that just kept nagging me was that in spite of those external influences, I really didn't have reason to be down. I have an awesome wife, two beautiful, smart, funny kids, my wife and I have both kept our full time jobs, and I know Jesus is my Saviour and that I'm protected and loved. So what was there to whine about?

I still can't answer that. I never did come up with a reason for feeling that way when I've got so much going for me. I did realize, however, that when you're in a personal relationship with Christ, the good feelings and happiness are never gone from you. Sometimes they're clouded from your vision. Sometimes you get distracted. Sometimes even when you think you're really focusing on what matters and you know that God is at work in your life, you still miss what He's actually doing. It took a trip throught the country recently for me to realize that.

As I've said before, one of the responsibilities I carry at work is to make deliveries. In Elkhart County, many of those deliveries require short trips through Amish country, away from orange barrel-laced roads around our factory. All winter long I made those trips, occasionally enjoying the beauty of fresh snow on the barren corn fields that mark both sides of the road. But most times it was just a wet, gray, nervous trip, made as quickly as road conditions would allow. But about 3 weeks ago, as I drove the route that takes me down roads that often require a patient wait to get around horses pulling buggies, I looked into a couple of the same fields that seemed so depressing throughout the winter. And I smiled. In one farmer's field were ten or twelve horses, gathered into a half-circle around 2 "brand new" ponies. And I mean new. Barely able to stand, still wet and fuzzy, the ponies would stand up and wobble around on legs that just seemed way to long, but the adult horses kept closing in around them so they could lean on them as they tried to gain their balance. It made me think of all the people that have kept me from stumbling too far away from God my whole life. It made me remember that the world isn't about my comfort or relative happiness. There must be a certain amount of resolve on my part to make my world better. And, as I said, the ponies made me smile. 3 months ago, there was dead plants, snow, and mud in that field. Then there was God's message to me that came attached to a smile:

"If you think that what I've given you is gone because you can't feel happy, you're wrong. It's in there. It's in there Mike, and as long as you keep believing in Me, and keep serving my Kingdom, it will never leave you."

And that's it. Does that seem too simple? At times I'm sure it probably is. But I also know that I typically look too hard and ask the wrong questions when I'm seeking God's presence in my life. He's given me all that I need. He'll continue to give me all that I need. I'll be sad again sometime, I'm sure. But this is one more lesson He's given me to use when those feelings return, as I'm they sure they will. With God's help, though, maybe next time won't feel so heavy to me.

My prayer for you is not that you look harder for God in your life. It's not that you have some sort of huge revelation that changes your views on everything. No, my prayer is that you simply realize that God can give you all that you need. You get to keep it, but to keep it you must share it. And you must stay in touch with Him through it all. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit guides your eyes to the ponies, but doesn't blind you to the mud.

When you know God and His son, Jesus Christ, you're given everything that matters. And even in those times when you feel you've lost it, be assured that if you love the Lord, it's in there.

Peace,

Mike

Spend Wisely

The Story of the Greedy Farmer From Luke 12 (The Message)

13Someone out of the crowd said, "Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance."
14He replied, "Mister, what makes you think it's any of my business to be a judge or mediator for you?"
15Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot."
16-19Then he told them this story: "The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!'
20"Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?'
21"That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God."

How do you spend your time? Are you as concerned about what you're doing with your time as you are with what you're doing with your money? Isn't our time here a gift from God? How about our money...is that a gift from God?

These are a few of the questions that have been rolling around in my head lately.

There's a lot of talk these day about money. Everything right now seems to revolve around the presence or absence of money in our lives. Last year when the stock market tooks its tumble, you couldn't go anywhere without hearing about all the folks who had saved for retirement, lived simply, and lost everything. With the seemingly smooth stroke of some sort of cosmic wand, millions of people went from feeling secure and excited about retiring to being in fear of that same thing. I remember in the years before that, you couldn't watch television for an hour without seeing a commercial for some bank or investment company telling you that your time was running out. You must invest now. But in the grand scheme of things, we live what, maybe 20-25 years in retirement if we're lucky? I understand, trust me, that we need to save. And we all want to be at least moderately comfortable when our working days are finally done. But when you consider the amount of time that will be spent in retirement and compare that to eternity, don't you wonder if we're worried about the wrong things?

To "save time" and "spend time" may not be literally possible as with money, but you can use your time wisely to prepare yourself for eternity. That's an investment worth saving for.

Peace,

Mike

Slippin' One Through

James 4:7
So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.

It's the little things that get overlooked.

I was recently an "almost" victim of credit card fraud (actually, debit card, which I believe is worse). My wife and I had just returned home from a weekend getaway. There was a message on the answering machine for me from my bank. The message stated that I needed to call back as soon as possible regarding possible illegal use of my debit card. I called the toll-free number and reached a customer service representative (on a Sunday night, no less).

After identifying myself to the representative, she informed me that the Security Team at the bank had flagged a transaction 2 days prior as an attempt at card theft. When I asked how she could be sure, she explained that a transaction had come through for $1.00 for a purchase from an online music service. I told her that I frequently use that particular service, and each song happens to be 99 cents. I wondered if maybe they mistakenly flagged one of my own legitimate purchases by mistake.

She explained further that the person who attempted to use my card number was asked to enter their zip code at the time of purchase. The zip code entered did not match the zip code on my bank account. She said that this has started happening so frequently that it automatically gets flagged as a theft attempt.

I told her I appreciated the fact that they had intercepted and declined the transaction and subsequently froze the account, but I couldn't understand why someone would only try to steal $1.00. She said that the $1.00 transaction was only to "ping" the account. The thieves run a very small, innocent looking purchase through and if the transaction is completed, if they manage to "slip one through" they then know that the card is active and available for further use. She said "And then that's when they really wipe you out". She said that people rarely notice or investigate a $1.00 discrepancy on their account, so by the time they realize they've been robbed it's too late.

How interesting.......

So what in the world does that have to do with a life with Jesus Christ? Or with discipleship? Or with right-living?

Think about it.....how many times do we let a "little sin" or a random negative thought pass through our lives? How often do we treat someone unfairly or think something really vile about someone, only to brush it off as less than significant?

I believe that Satan understands this concept perfectly. He doesn't use what power he has to try to make us all murderers. He doesn't put opportunities for adultery in front of us every day. We're often faced with temptations that are easily justifiable. He just doesn't go "all in" right from the start. No, his method is much more cunning. And unfortunately, much more effective on me.

You see, Satan will start out with one tiny little seemingly unimportant seed. But once we've become tolerant or worse, even comfortable with that one tiny little bad thing that's in our life, I think our hearts harden just a tiny bit. Our senses get a little dull. Then a little more.....bit by bit. It's like I've heard people describe football....it's a game of inches. Satan knows that he can't win my heart in one swift, massive blow. But he does know that if he can slip enough little blows through "under the radar" so to speak, he might just lull me into complacency and get me all wrapped up in sin before I realize what has happened. And many of us know how hard it is to recover from that.

So what should I do? What should we all do? As always, God has given us the answer. This time, I believe it's in Ephesians 6 in The Message:

^10-12 And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

^13-18 Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

Paul knew. The apostle Paul knew that if the Ephesians didn't make a conscious effort every day to protect themselves from the little sucker punches that Satan dishes out, they'd be in trouble. And I think that God is giving us the same message today through this passage from His Word.

So watch yourselves out there. Don't discount the "little evils" that Satan tries to slip through on you. Talk to God about His idea of protecting yourself. And pray for those around you, that they, too find the armor they need to resist sin.

I like to think of it as a neighborhood watch for our souls.

Peace,

Mike

Called

How cool it must be to know that what you're doing is truly your calling.

I'm not just talking about your job. And I'm not talking about your particular service project or group, either. I'm talking about all the things you do that make you who you are. Some call it vocation. I think that your vocation is where what you really love and are passionate about meets and fulfills a need that the world has. I've also heard it called your "perfection". When you begin to wrap yourself around the thing that God made you to do, the feeling is so perfect, you can't imagine it any other way. Sound cool? It probably is. I can't tell you honestly how that feels because I'm not currently in that situation. I'm still imperfect. I'm still watching, waiting, wondering when my perfection will find me. I suppose that's part of the problem. Maybe that's the whole problem.

I consider myself to be pretty cautious when it comes to my employment and the activities on which I choose to spend my time. My hobbies are "safe" for the most part. My life is pretty quiet and uneventful. Not boring, just uneventful. I haven't taken many chances in life, on jobs, or in relationships. So I'm the one that sits and wonders what it must be like to have the courage to shed the norm, close my eyes, and let God take me to my perfection. Life on Earth will not cease to happen if I never find that perfection. But I also think that if I don't find it, it will go undone. Someone else might do something similar, but never the exact same perfection as the one set aside for me. I'm not much on assuming that if I don't do it, someone else will. It's not like taking out the garbage.


The problem I see more often (now that everyone is becoming so interested in God's plan for them) occurs, as usual, when we get in the way of said plan. What I mean is......many among us have these really strong desires to do certain things in our lives or with our lives. And quite often, opportunities present themselves that allow those desires to manifest. I think the trap is that it's so easy for us to say "well, I want to do it, and now I'm able to do it, so it must be God's will for me to do it". I could be wrong, but doesn't Satan make it pretty easy to do the wrong things, just as God can remove obstacles that prevent us from doing right? My struggle with my search for my "perfection" is that I can't tell if what I'm feeling is truly the voice of God moving me in a certain direction or if my own will is convincing me that it's the right thing because I think it's what I want to do. I don't trust my feelings all the time. They've gotten me into trouble often enough that I'm a little skeptical.

I know without asking that my pastors would undoubtedly recommend that I pray on this matter and listen closely for God's answer. That's very sound advice for making any decision. It's also what I'm currently doing. I know that the answer will come. As I've written before, God has been in control of my life since before I realized it. I don't doubt that He has a plan for me. Nor do I doubt that His plan involves some truly amazing things. I'm just really anxious for the day to come when I know that what I'm doing is the one thing that He set aside just for me to do.

I know I'm called. And I know I'm called to do good for the Kingdom of God. Right now, however, it feels somewhat like getting a phone call where the caller says "Mike? Yeah, it's me. I need you to go over there right away. I have a very big project going and there's one part of it that I need you to help with. Thanks, Bye". You think you recognize the voice, but not for sure. You also have no idea where "over there" is. You know what the "big project" is, but you don't know what could possibly require your help. And the caller hangs up before you can get any more information. You just know that someone out there is waiting on you and counting on you. All you can do is hope that they call back or that you somehow fill in those blanks correctly.

Called. We're all called. If you've found your perfection, I hope you realize how big of a blessing God has given you. If you're still not sure....if you're still waiting and watching like me....don't give up hope. There are plenty of things that need to be done for the Kingdom in the meantime that aren't necessarily set aside just for you. I feel that by regularly engaging those things, I might be helping myself to better understand the more "Mike-specific" things that lie ahead.

Peace,

Mike

Thump, Thump

I love blowing up someone's preconceived notions about me.  Not in a malicious way, I just like it when someone says "I thought you were totally different than you really are".

A group of men from our church called the Band of Brothers recently got together for dinner out and a Clint Eastwood flick.  Joining us was a guy who had never done anything with our group in the past.  At the end of the evening, he and I and another member of the group were sitting and kind of recapping the evening.  Our new member made a statement about our group.  He said "this group is totally different than I thought it would be.  I always assumed you were a bunch of guys walking around thumping their Bibles and talking about church". 

Now don't get me wrong.  As I explained to my friend, there is definitely a need for groups like that, too.  Our church has several really good, really intense scripture and accountability-type groups for men.  Our group, however, serves a different purpose.  I told him that if someone from the B.o.B. group saw him doing something he shouldn't be doing, we wouldn't call a meeting and discuss it.  There wouldn't be "share time" on how we feel he should act and how that is supported by scripture.  No, we would walk up to him and probably slap him in the back of the head (sometimes literally) and tell him to stop.  Period.  

My point is not that there is one method of teaching and learning discipleship that is better or more effective than another.  We see throughout the New Testament that Jesus used different forms of teaching depending on who was listening and who the intended audience really was.  I think sometimes we find a certain way to relate to others how we feel about our faith, about Jesus as our Savior and about God and His church that strikes a chord with a particular audience.  We then assume that the same thing will affect everyone we speak to in the same way.  I think that what happens over time is that we start performing our story instead of telling it or acting it out.  Granted, God can work through us regardless of how we feel we appear to others.  But I feel that we need to be conscious of who it is that is listening so that we are open to what tools God would have us use in certain environments.

Sometimes I like to speak quietly in a circle of close friends and relate what I'm feeling calmly to a group of accountability partners.  But more often than not, I feel the Holy Spirit moving me to turn over tables....to get a little sweaty....to really "throw down" with the world.  God did, after all, regularly choose men to do battle, get messy, and swim upstream.

Be open to God's ever-changing missions for us and dare to try something new in the name of the Kingdom.

Peace,

Mike 

Black Flagged

It's sure a good thing we have different rules for life than they have in auto racing.  

One rule in particular that stands out to me is the minimum speed rule.  I'm no racing professional, so forgive me if I don't have the details just perfect on this, but I believe there is a rule in NASCAR that states that if you can't maintain the minimum speed on the track, the officials wave a black flag and you have to remove yourself from the race or face fines and/or penalties.  

Let's say a driver (we'll call him "Rusty") is really doing well.  He's been in the front pack most of the day and has led a lap or two.  Late in the race, there's a "big one" that causes damage to a lot of the cars, including his.  He takes his car to the pit area during the caution period and his crew starts banging out fenders, changing tires, making whatever repairs they can to keep Rusty in the race.  He reenters the race along with all the other drivers, but he notices right away that there is something wrong with fourth gear.  He can only use first, second, and third gear.  He can only run 165 m.p.h. when the other cars are running at nearly 200 m.p.h.  He notices the black flag waving, and his crew chief calls him on the radio and says he has to come into the garage because the officials have determined he can't maintain the minimum speed, so he can't be on the track.  The rule really is there for the safety of the drivers.  Allowing one slow moving object to stand in front of forty-two fast moving objects is just asking for big trouble.  But that's auto racing, not life.

Rusty now has no chance of winning this race, and he'll be hard pressed to even finish once they start disassembling his car.  Points are lost, tempers flare, reputations are on the line, sponsors are wringing their hands in anxious anticipation.  Oh, and by the way, no one can even tell who was at fault for the wreck that started it all.  

Imagine the same rule being applied to your life.  You get a good job.  You meet the right man or woman, get married, start a family, and make the right choices.  You're running with the lead pack for a long time.  But then let's say there's a crisis in your family.  A family member dies.  Everything is in chaos for a time, then nothing seems right after that.  Life is a chore to deal with during that time, so you flounder a little bit.  Maybe you even stray from what you know is right because you don't know how to manage your feelings.  You drift far from God.  You become damaging to those around you and to yourself.  And then you're told that you're chance has come and gone.  Since you can't keep up, you're not allowed to be a Christian any more.  You're not eligible for salvation any more.  Even though you aren't to blame for the events leading up to now, you're still the one who will pay the price.

My God is a God of second chances.  My God will let you keep running.  He wants you to keep running.  He doesn't care about minimum speeds because He knows we all run at a different pace.  He's the chief that says in your ear "don't worry about finishing first today....just know that no matter what, I'm here to help you finish - period."   He's a God who somehow gives you fuel to last longer than you should be able to - even in the worst conditions.  He's a God who just wants you in the race because He is the One standing at the finish line.  His son, Jesus Christ is the prize.  We win by finishing, not by finishing first.  All he wants from us is for us to stay in the race.  He knows we'll need to keep working on the vehicle.  He knows sometimes we'll be right up front, charging forward, leading the way.  But he also knows we'll get a lap down sometimes.  He doesn't care.  He just wants us in the race.

As for the life He offers......the black flags, the penalties, have all been paid.  He put His only son here to take the penalties for our sins so that we can focus on staying in the race.  

What does that mean?  Put your helmet on.  Put your gloves on.  Put your fire protective suit on.  It's all the armor of God.  Drop the visor and hang on.  We're built to finish.  We just need to refocus.

Let's go racin' boys.

Peace, 

Mike

Leaning Over the Wheel

Thursday was one of the foggiest days I can remember.  Ever.  I was making deliveries in our "big truck" Thursday morning and I just couldn't believe how hard it was to see.  Driving a large, heavy vehicle in conditions like that made me a little nervous.  At one point, I caught myself leaning all the way forward, up over the steering wheel, squinting to see oncoming traffic, signals, and road signs.  It occurred to me that there have been times in my life that felt like that, too.

I think that when our focus shifts from Godly things and our attention is pulled toward living instead of life itself, we find ourselves in a fog like that.  Sometimes, when it's just a small distraction, you can just look around a little bit harder and still find your way fairly easily.  But sometimes, even when we really want our lives centered around God we get really distracted and we find ourselves in a situation like the fog on Thursday.  As I leaned over the wheel, I found myself reacting to things immediately.  A stop sign would suddenly appear and I would jump on the brakes.  Or I'd see oncoming headlights and I'd hit the brakes and move a little farther toward the edge of the road.  When I think about living life like that, I feel a little sick.  I remember times when I was far from God and I could look no farther than what was happening right now in my life.  All I could do is react to things as they came up, and sometimes that's a little overwhelming.

An added variable that I experienced that day was the result of temperatures hovering around freezing.  As the fog fell on the roads, it formed an invisible layer of ice.  This was not even "black ice" as we experience here so often.  There was no sheen, no reflection...it was totally hidden....like a trap.  But I drove.  I drove excruciatingly slow.  I leaned over the wheel and freaked every time I saw movement ahead of me.  I turned the radio down.  I stopped sipping my coffee.  All I could do is lean forward and take it, whatever "it" was.

That's a terrible way to live.  Not the driving part, I really enjoy that part of my job.  But to live a life that consists of nothing more than squinting to see what your next problem is going to be just isn't spiritually healthy.  Nor is it what God intended for us.

Later that day I looked outside and saw the rain falling.  February rain in Indiana is no real shocker.  In fact, we have a lot of those days and normally they make me feel a little down and maybe a little sleepy.  But as I watched the rain that particular day, it occurred to me that the rain had cleared the fog, and had also washed the thin film of ice from the roads.  How ironic....on a cloudy afternoon in February, the rain actually washed away the perils of the morning.  Visibility was fine....all the schools were back in session.  God had showed up for me in a most interesting way.

So if you find yourself leaning forward more often than you'd like, or if you're always squinting to try to see what trouble life is getting ready to give you, or if you just feel like you can't find your way through the fog in your life, remember this:  God gave us Jesus Christ for a reason.  God gave us Jesus so that in our times of confusion or fogginess we can call on Him.  He'll come....He'll clear the way for us.  In fact, He already has.  In our times of fear, sadness, desperation, anger, or dread....we can call on Jesus.  He doesn't promise us a lifetime of sunny days.  But there's healing and clarity....even in the rain that will surely come.  Just don't forget to call on Him when things are really great, too.  He likes to hear "thank you" just as much as we do.  

Living will always have its challenges, so it's in vain that we focus on happy living.  Instead, let's praise the One who created life itself, and find joy in the offering of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Peace,

Mike

Frozen

Frozen. That's what I was. It was a very strange feeling for me because I'm a decision-maker, yet this seems to be happening more often right now.

I don't mean frozen as in cold, I mean frozen as in stuck in one spot. I was unable to move for a few seconds, unable to speak or think. My assistant stood in front of me waiting for me to answer her question "what do you want me to do now". I couldn't answer. There were too many things that all needed to be done first.

Our spiritual lives can become the same way. We can get so overloaded with what we want to do that we lose sight of what we need to do. Our souls get frozen, unable to function, because we're so committed to the mechanics of living that we have no spiritual life.

Jesus invites us to live with Him, to rest in Him, all the time, everywhere we go. He allows us to unclutter our lives so that we can focus on what matters. He's waiting for us to get out of our own way and let our hearts and souls find joy in Him.

It's time for me to thaw out and let my soul rest in Christ for a while. How about you?

Peace,

Mike

My Friend

I'd like to tell you about my friend.

I have this friend.  He's been a friend of mine longer than I can remember.  He was my friend when I was a little boy, and we managed to stay friends through my teen years and into adulthood.  This was a guy who, when he saw me doing something stupid just quietly reminded me that I knew better, that my parents raised me better than that.  Most of the time, I acknowledged his opinion, but went on being an idiot.  For some reason, he still wanted to be my friend.

I went off to college for a short while and did some really stupid things.  I still thought about my friend from time to time, and I knew that he would probably give me some sound advice about my behavior if he were there, but I really kind of kept my distance for awhile.  I knew from the past that he would still be my friend later, and I was having fun.

College ended pretty early for me and I came home and started working full time, moved into my own place, and just kept being an idiot.  By now I was only seeing my friend three or four times a year, and when we did talk, it was kind of uncomfortable because I didn't know what to say anymore.  I didn't really feel like I knew him well enough any more to just "hang out".  But we always assured each other that we wouldn't forget about each other and that we were still friends, even if just barely.

I lived alone for over ten years, and during that time I went through some really shallow, dangerous relationships.  Somehow I managed to stay out of trouble.  Many things could have gone wrong, but nothing did.  No legal trouble, no kids outside of marriage, no dependency, no nothing.  I didn't see much of my friend at all during that time, but I knew that it was because I wasn't making the effort.  I talked to several people during that period of my life who told me that my friend was still around, and that he was concerned for me because of how I was living.  As usual, I respected his concern and his opinion, but I continued doing things my way.

I got married, bought a house, and started a family.  Still there were no big problems, no tragedy, no big hurdles. 

As happens often when people reach this particular stage in life, something clicked and I felt the need to get back to church.  Not for my sake, but for my children, of course.  I was raised in the church...I knew the story and the routine.  So off I went to find a church that was convenient near where we lived.  While "shopping" at Trinity UMC, would you believe I ran into my friend. And for the first time in fifteen years, I felt like it was time I made the effort to get reacquainted with him.  That was roughly 2004.  In May of 2006, my father was diagnosed with cancer and was given just a short time to live.  

This part of the story could sound very tragic.....but I had my friend with me.  For some reason, God chose to reunite me with my friend at just the right time to rebuild a relationship that would truly support me through the only thing in my life that could be called "tragedy".   I had developed an incredible relationship with my father through working together for 8 years.  As his condition worsened, my friend continually showed me how to find God's work in what was happening with my family.  He showed me how my mother loved my father in a 1 Corinthians kind of way....doing first and feeling later.  He showed me how all the people around my family rallied to support us in our time of greatest need.  He showed me God's mercy in ending a life after six months of illness that could have gone on in misery and pain for years.  My friend did that for me.  He gave me the strength to tell my unconscious father that it was o.k. to go....that I would take care of the family, that he didn't need to fight any more.  He gave me the opportunity to watch him take his last breath less than one minute after I said those words to him.  I've never needed more closure than that.  My friend gave me the ultimate gift at the low point of my adult life.  He gave me Peace.

My friend has been giving me gifts since I was a baby.  He did things for me while I wasn't paying attention to him.  He has always been my friend, even when we didn't talk.  I've asked my friend if I could talk about him in my blog and he was very comfortable with that.  I asked him if I could offer his friendship to all the people I come in contact with, and he is very excited about that.  I warned him that many people may take him up on his offer of friendship and support....again he thinks that will be great.  So I offer you the opportunity to have a friend that I've had my whole life.  He'll be there when you need him, and also when you think you don't.

Oh...one more thing....my friends name......

                                                           Jesus Christ. 

He's my Saviour, He's my brother, He's my everything.  He said to tell you that if you need Him....just visit your local church.  If they preach the Word of God, you'll surely find Him.

Peace,

Mike