journey onWord with us

Quiet down before God, be prayerful before Him.

Those words taken from Psalms 37:7 in The Message sum up the journey, and struggle, that I have faced this week. In an effort to practice embracing God in each moment (after all I did write about it), I have been keenly aware of my desire vs. my struggle. It only makes sense to me that every Christ-follower would want to live with a quiet center and prayerful heart. Why is it then that so few live with ears in tune to what the Lord is trying to convey? My personal conviction is that the quiet center available to us is filled with noise (I battle the noise, do you?). We can all find excuses for the noisy and distracted lives that we lead, but when the noise and distractions cause us to miss what God is saying, no excuse is good enough. Is your heart quiet and prayerful this week? 

My personal reading has taken me to a book called Thirsting for God by Gary Thomas. Really thirsting after God will cause redirection in anyone’s life. I find that seeking the Father slows me down internally, and fuels the desire for that quiet center. See if the following quote from Thomas’ book resonates with where your journey is currently.

Living a busy life is like running a marathon—we tax our ability to care, our ability to focus, our strength to manage disappointment, our sense of peace and rest. Consequently, we live on the edge of exhaustion, irritation and anger. We have to re-gather ourselves, guard our peace, and focus so we will be free to care about the things that really matter and fully give ourselves to the tasks God calls us to address.

Could those words be spoken of you? If so, you have felt that guilty tug when someone needs your assistance but there is little energy or emotional reserves to help. We are all human and subject to seasons that are extremely busy and taxing. But to live with noise, distractions and chaotic schedules that limit our listening to God and hinder our walk with Him is unacceptable. You and I can quiet down and be prayerful before Him.

In the book, Thirsting for God, there is another penetrating and very convicting statement that we all need to hear. “The spiritual life is impossible in a heart full of noise and occupation”. Our lives become about fitting God in, and less about living life from that quiet center. The noise around us does not have to invade us.

Countless times, I have read of Jesus getting away and praying. Luke says: But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. I can imagine that those were special moments and times of refreshment. I need exactly that in my life. But oh how the distractions and noise become addictive. For me, it’s a choice: will I or won’t I live with a quiet heart, and seek to embrace God in each moment? How about you? There can be no greater indication of our need to fight the noise and distractions than looking at Christ’s pattern. He needed to get away from the crowds, and He needed to pray. None of us can claim lives with more noise and chaos than the Son of God. But listening to the Father was obviously important to Him. Could it be any less important for us?  I believe a quiet center is available to me; do you?

My goal in this post is not to instruct, but to relate. My selfishness often drowns out the voice I most want to hear. Recently I have been challenged to grow quieter, and embrace Him in each moment. Progress is slow, but I’m determined to have what is available to me. For me it starts in my time with the Father. But then there has to be a conscious choice all day long to slow down, relax and be a listener. I want to hear what He has to say. Your noise and distractions are probably different from mine, but you have them. Are you working from a quiet center, or just fitting God into your schedule (easy to do)?  My thoughts in writing this were skeptical – that no one would really take the challenge. But if there is one person reading this that is ready for a quiet center (and I hope it’s you), I am praying for you!

God still speaks … slow down with me and listen.

While on vacation last week, I had the opportunity to think about the mental pace and daily structure of my life. Without much effort I create too many options for too little time. And then I find myself frustrated with the quick pace, crammed schedule and being mentally distracted. Well, who am I to blame for all of that? I think you know the answer. To live in the moment is a phrase I could speak convincingly about, but too often they are words that resonate in my soul more as cliché than reality. It is my assumption that your schedule, pace and mental distractedness may, in a small way, resemble mine. Therefore, I would like to challenge you with a radical shift that causes you (and I) to embrace God moment by moment. 

Living in the moment does not come without risk.  For one, you will become more aware of lost moments, and lost moments are just that … lost.  Let me illustrate my point. During the vacation/part business meeting last week,  I found myself not enjoying the moments as much as I was trying to control them (still recovering as a type-A personality). But then something happened that brought living in the moment to the forefront of my mind. At a big party on the last night of the meeting, my daughter grabbed my hand and then cajoled and badgered me to come out onto the dance floor with her and her mom (plus the multitude of other people). Nothing could be further from my comfort zone … nothing! Nothing on that trip will be remembered as much as the laughter (at non-rhythmic dad) and fun that we had in those few moments, and to think I almost missed it. Remember, a moment lost is just that … lost.

Living in the moment seems elusive in our fast-paced world. My daughter’s dance lesson illustrated to me the power in a moment, and also how easily it could be lost by our own frailties or fears. Now, every week is not a vacation or big party, but every week is filled with countless moments given to us by God to be cherished. It is easy for all of us to use our pace of life and busy schedules as an excuse. And it doesn’t take much energy to be diverted by yesterday’s failures and tomorrow’s fears. But when I (and you) live in the moment, excuses aren’t necessary.  In his book, God Is Closer Than You Think, John Ortberg shares that the greatest moment of your life is right now. We cannot change yesterday, nor control tomorrow.

So how are we to live in the moment when the pace of the world we live in is not likely to slow any time soon? Our schedules will be full, demands will seek to overwhelm us, our minds will be pulled in a hundred directions and we will have a million reasons to excuse our weariness. But if we choose to relish the moments, perspective can come, our minds will relax and our souls will quiet down. Believers in Christ are to be people of joy, radically embracing God’s design for each moment. It is a matter of faith to enjoy Him with each moment, while trusting Him with all of the demands we face. Another quote from God Is Closer Than You Think gives us clear  perspective on understanding how to live in the moment.

“We are not meant to embrace moments, but to embrace God. Moments are not always good; God is never anything else but good. Moments are simply the place where we meet Him. Every moment. Starting now.”

Not tomorrow, but right now, embrace God in this moment. It’s all we are guaranteed. I illustrated my crazy dance lesson because I struggle, just like you. God gave me a moment to enjoy my daughter, and I almost missed it!

When you and I consciously seek to embrace God in each and every moment, something will be different. We will have a clearer  perspective on our lives, and not be as bound to the issues of yesterday and tomorrow. We will all battle our fast-paced world until He comes. But we can embrace Him in each moment and have joy in the journey. Remember a moment lost is just that … lost!

There is a question and issue that are as old as “the church” itself.  We find them both in the context of the parable of the fig tree.  The question is intertwined with the parable, but you have to back up several verses to understand both fully.

The question I am referring to is “when?”.  Even before Jesus left earth, the question of “when will it all end?” began to be asked.  And what began as a curiosity has blossomed into a full-fledged industry today.  Visit a Christian bookstore and you will see shelves and whole sections filled with books on End Times prophecy.  Google the words “end times prophecy” and you will get nearly six million results (I am taking the small footnote below the search box’s word for it).  The question of “when?” is, no doubt, a popular and ancient one.

The parable of the fig tree comes at the end of a larger dialog between Jesus and his disciples.  Jesus provides details and an illustration via the parable in response to the disciples question, but I found it interesting how the discussion began and in the very first words Jesus utters after the question.  It is in how the discussion began that we also find the “issue” I referred to in the very first words of this post.

Several years ago I belonged to a small men’s Bible study group.  It was a great group and over the course of four years we became true brothers.  Three of the five members of the group were current or former elders/deacons, and over the course of our many and wide-ranging discussions I became very familiar with the term “the 3 B’s.”  It was never absent when they shared stories or burdens from their years as church leaders.  The 3 “B’s” are Buildings, Bodies and Budgets, and for them, so much of the focus of their leadership activities and stresses surrounded those three issues.  They longed to be true spiritual leaders, but so often they were absorbed with the realm of the physical in the demands of these three core areas.  At the very beginning of Jesus’ dialog with his disciples, we see two of the three “B’s”.

Luke 21:5 (NIV)
Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God.

I guess the “B’s” are just as old as that question of “when?”  Jesus quickly responds and makes it clear that there will be a day when that “building” will not stand, and those stones will come down.  And just as quickly, the disciples follow with the “when?” question.  Jesus will answer the question they are asking, but not before he answers the real question.  “Watch out that you are not deceived.”  Luke 21:8 (NIV)  Jesus seems to be saying that the “when?” doesn’t matter nearly as much as “who” they follow.  Being watchful and careful is important (Jesus mentions them both later in the passage), but guarding your heart is the first priority over being on guard for signs.

It is important to be watchful and to “look at the fig tree…” as Jesus suggested, but guard your heart first.  Don’t worry about events so you can follow a timeline, guard your heart and follow Jesus.

Buildings, Bodies and Budgets still have your attention?  Back up to the first few verses of Luke 21 and model the widow’s idea of budget.

It was an interesting journey back in time as I looked through books donated to a relief auction. Popular books that I had used in the 1980’s could now be had for a simple donation. Although illustrations from these works are dated, the principles remain timeless. A quick scan of one, Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back, by Charles Swindoll was as penetrating as the first time I read it. A particular chapter caught my eye related to stress. Stress was different then, without the internet, cell-phones, twenty-four hour news and all of the other “conveniences” meant to make our lives easier. But stress was stress, nonetheless! What mattered then and now, is how we handle it.

Psalm 46:10a (NASB)
Cease striving and know that I am God

These are words that are quoted with great conviction, regardless of the generation. Who doesn’t want to live with a heart that is quiet and at peace before the Lord? But striving after our objectives can easily dominate our lives, thus creating stress. Anyone who is a Christ-follower should be willing to examine their level of stress vs. their willingness to cease striving. A closer look at the word cease gives us direction. The Hebrew term for this word means relax. It is counter-intuitive to think that I can accomplish more in my walk with God by being relaxed, rather than by striving. Ceasing to strive, and daily dependence on a Greater power will accomplish His purpose in and through us.

From the dated, yet relevant reading, the following words gave great 21st century advice. My old relief sale copy of Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back, quoted Tim Hansel’s work, When I Relax, I Feel Guilty. I am sure you will associate with the spirit in his words…

Slow me down, Lord.
Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.
Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills.
Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory.
Teach me the art of taking minute vacations – of slowing down to look at a flower,
to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to smile at a child, to read a few lines from a good book.
Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life’s enduring values, that I may grow toward my greater destiny.
Remind me each day that the race is not always to the swift; that there is more to life than increasing its speed.
Let me look upward to the towering oak and know that it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well.

Read and re-read those words. As you start this week, are you willing to join with me and cease striving? Is the word relax in your current vocabulary? The nature of stress hasn’t changed since the 1980’s; we’ve just added new sources of stress. Psalm 90:12 (MSG) provides another timeless truth:

Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well!

Living wisely and well is to live under the umbrella of God’s power and relax.

I have a busy week upcoming, and so might you. We can choose to slow down, relax and become better examples of what it means to be a Christ follower. Stressful circumstances may still attack, but living with a quiet heart will change the way we act and react. Timeless treasures from old books …..still work!

Two very different thoughts have been simmering in my soul as I have sat this week with the parallel accounts of the Parable of the Tenants.  The first has more to do with the “parallel” part, and the second is directly related to the parable.  The first is an encouragement, the second, a challenge.

In the three parallel accounts of this week’s parable, there are word-for-word matches, comparable narrative and seemingly divergent details.  For example, all three gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) begin with the same setting and basic plot of a vineyard that was planted, rented to some farmers, and the vineyard owner then moved away.   Matthew and Mark mention additional details of a wall, a winepress and a watchtower, but there is no mention of them in Luke.  Similarly, each gospel mentions three individual servants that were sent to collect fruit for the owner at harvest time.  Each of the gospels, however, sequence things a bit differently and with varying details of the treatment the servants received.  Matthew mentions all three in the same sentence and then says, “he sent other servants to them, more than the first time…” (v.36).  Mark mentions each of the three in separate sentences and then says, “He sent many others…” (v.5).  And Luke mentions each in a separate sentence, but does not mention any additional servants.  Luke also never mentions that any of the servants were killed, while the other two writers do.

Is this troublesome to me? Should it be to you?  It is not.  And consider this … when was the last time you witnessed the same event as a group of family members or friends and had each retell it separately with exacting order and detail?  God has created us in His image but with fingerprints and true selves that are unique to any other.  Although we might be present in a shared story, we will notice and record details that are on a sliding scale from same to similar to very different.

I can “see” a conversation amongst the Trinity about the plan to have human writers involved in the writing of the Holy Scriptures.  I can “see” the consideration of the risk that is inherent in leaving this sacred responsibility to finite and flawed creatures.  I can also “see” God’s reassurance that this is exactly how He wanted it done.  He invited the scripture writers to participate, just as He invites us to be instruments in sharing His good news with the world.  Do you remember the first time your mother or father trusted you to do something really important, even though there was a real risk that you could mess it up?  How good did it feel when you accomplished it, or when you messed it up and they reassured you that it could all be put right and you could have another try at it?  How infinitely better is it to know that God loves you and trusts you to be a part of His plan?  And that if you mess it up, He can put it all right, and you can have another try at it.  In parallel accounts we should not run from nuances or differences, but rather dive deeper to consider them as purposeful contrasts or compliments.

The second significant thought that has been with me this week as I have sat with this parable is a challenge.  The picture this parable paints is a very familiar one.  It seems clear who Christ is speaking of when He mentions the vineyard owner, the tenants, the servants and the son.  What my mind was almost immediately drawn to was the reaction of the religious leaders at the very end of the telling of the parable. 

In context, this is a second storied response from Jesus after the religious leaders question His authority.  It is not a surprise that they would react negatively, however, I do admit to being a bit surprised at how quickly the religious leaders picked up on the meaning of the parable.  When I think of parables, I always “hear” the phrase “for those who have ears to hear” echo in my head.  Jesus had a pattern of illustrating truth in stories that could only be discerned by hearts that were open.  Yet on this occasion, the sharp and targeted meaning was not hidden from the understanding of hearts that were hardened to His message.  The text does not mention others in the crowd, but I am sure there were others whose ears “heard” and hearts were changed in a kingdom way.  It is perfectly clear also that the religious leaders “heard”, and their hearts were moved in a wholly different direction. 

And to me, this is the challenge and truth of parables.  I believe they are meant to inspire action, not just understanding.  Do you remember the story Nathan told David in 2 Samuel 12?  It’s the story of a little lamb taken from a poor man by a rich man.  The treasured lamb was then killed just to be served at a casual dinner for a random house guest.   David responded in anger, just as the religious leaders did to Jesus’ story about the tenants.  Except that David’s anger was in advance of his understanding what the story really meant.  When Nathan explained that he was the rich man in the story, his heart was broken and repentant.  This story was meant for action, not just understanding.  The Parable of the Tenants, was also meant for action.

As you read the parables, I challenge you to consider how they are meant to inspire action, not just understanding.  They were given in a very specific context, but as with all of scripture, they were also “breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16) in our lives.  Consume the parables, sit with them, but don’t just leave it at your notes or an interesting new thing you learned.  Let them soak down to your very core, change you and inspire the verb that is your daily walk.

On the mental highway that we all travel, a litter of broken promises, harsh words, painful memories and wounded relationships can be found. What we choose to do with the litter will without a doubt guide our emotions and be evident on our spiritual journey. No traveler is exempt! All of us have heard the words, “I’ll forgive but I will never forget.” And when considering the unwanted pain and hurt that others have caused us, we’ve all thought; “there is a limit to how much I will take.” My personal experience has led me to believe that one of the greatest emotional struggles anyone faces is with forgiveness. It is obvious that when I offend or hurt someone, I am all in on being forgiven. But when someone has wounded me….well, forgiveness then becomes a different story. C.S. Lewis said: Forgiveness is a beautiful word until you have something to forgive. 

In studying a parable on forgiveness during the last week, I have been struck by the words that Peter asked that caused Jesus to share a story.  Peter’s words reflect the mental highway that you and I travel. See if you can relate to his question found in Matthew eighteen…

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?  Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. v.21 (NIV)

Is Peter placing a limit on how often he should forgive someone?  Of course he is, and you and I could easily have asked the same question? Because we think, “how much should I have to take?” You would be interested to know that Peter’s focus on forgiving up to seven times is more than the rabbis taught. Their teaching was, “you must forgive three times, but the fourth time you must not forgive.” Both Peter and the rabbis were wrong, and I believe that Jesus’ answer to Peter conveyed continual forgiveness…no limits. And therein is the emotional burden that confronts us all. Do we travel through life believing Jesus and continually releasing others, or do we hold on to all the litter of broken promises, harsh words and painful memories?  Our answer is easy, (release and forgive those who hurt you) our choice is more difficult.

Emotionally, we all have our reasons of why we won’t forgive. And we can all think of extreme situations that would make forgiving very difficult. But God has chosen that forgiveness is the best way, the right way and the only way! Forgiving doesn’t mean that we ignore reality, or will want to be close friends with someone who has wounded us. Gary Inrig, in his book The Parables states it well – The reason for forgiveness is found in the forgiver, not the forgiven. It is an act of grace. Doesn’t it make sense that if the will of God is forgiveness, He will enable us to do it, and bless our commitment to His plan? Quite frankly, the person you forgive may not deserve it.  But the choice should still be to forgive.

One of my favorite sayings from author John Maxwell is, forgive everyone, every time for everything. Not three times, not seven times, but every time! Jesus would concur. On the mental highway that you are traveling, is there some litter scattered along the way due to painful, wounded relationships? Do you believe Jesus, or have you created limits?  Forgive and travel in freedom!

“…the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you”
Romans 8:11 (NIV)
“…will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do”
John 14:12 (ESV)

Do I really believe those words?  And if I quickly answer “Yes”, how do I define the word believe?  Paul states that I have the same Spirit and power that raised Jesus living inside of me.  Jesus emphatically states that if I believe in Him, I will do what He did, and even “greater” things.  I don’t know about you, but my life rarely lives up to the potential and promise contained in those truths.

I was reminded of this recently when I heard again, the story of a man who had visited a flea market and bought an old painting for $4.  He bought the painting not for the artwork, but for the beautiful antique frame.  When he got it home, he began the careful work of removing the painting.  But alas, not far into his work, the frame broke.  It was just too old and fragile to hold up.  I am sure you can imagine the man’s grave disappointment … but the story doesn’t end there.  Because as he was doing the careful work of removing the canvas from the frame, the man discovered something quite unexpected.  Hidden between the canvas and backing was an original copy of the Declaration of Independence!  At the time of its author, there were 500 copies made of the Declaration.  To that date, only 24 copies were known to exist.  This man had just found number 25!  He later decided to auction the Declaration, and the opening bid was $800,000.  The winning bid was $2.5 million!

The most memorable parts of this story seem to be the grave disappointment of the broken frame, the joyous discovery of a treasured piece of American history, and the amazing profit margin of an afternoon at a flea market.  But just as the man did with the painting, let’s peel back the top layer and reveal the immeasurable hidden treasure.  The “picture” I see is of the family or families who had that painting hanging in their home.  Passing by it, sitting next to it, staring at it, and never knowing the amazing treasure that was there, but hidden from view.

I think that painting is symbolic of my life and the powerful truth that the Spirit of God lives inside of me.  How many times do I read the words of the Scripture above, and say “Yes” with my head and not my heart?  How long will I go hanging on the wall, showing an average painting to the world around me?  Jesus longs to be that man who breaks your frame, removes the outer canvas and reveals the treasure that lies within.  He longs to be the one who free’s me to be who He made me to be, and to go do those greater works that He has planned for me.

You’ve probably already noticed I spent the entire last paragraph referring to, and challenging myself.  How about you?  Many of you are believers, and will identify with the words of my heart.  Some of you, however, may not.  To you, I would love to talk to you about Jesus and a life and truth that’s immeasurably more valuable than even the most treasured national artifact.  Email us.  Don’t settle for a beautiful frame, seek the treasure.

Can you imagine a more frightful or frustrating surprise than to be awakened out of a sound sleep by a phone call? Your mind races as you figure out how to find the phone. Will it be serious or just another annoying wrong number? Ten years ago this fall, the phone rang at 3 a.m. and our daughter was crying and quite upset. She had just moved to New York City for college, and was living on the upper west side of Manhattan in student housing. She was not prone to homesickness and had never given us a late night scare. But this was different; it was the rats!  They had invaded her building, and she and her roommates were scared to death of them. So what did I do? I went to NYC the next day and rat-proofed the dorm room….just what any other caring father would have done. The Bible is full of stories of how the Father cares for His children? One of Christ’s parables gives us insight into the heart of God.

After Christ finished praying in a certain place, one of His disciples said, “Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” Jesus gave them a model prayer and then launched into a story. Luke chapter 11 gives us the parable.

Then he said, “Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend traveling through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’  “The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for the night; I can’t get up to give you anything.’  “But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need.  v.5-8 (NIV)

[ Always study parables in their period
context. Remember they are told in the
experience of daily life in the first century
and not our 21st century Western culture. ]

From my study, I have surmised that the bold request would have been a result of wanting to show hospitality (part of the culture). Picture the person knocking at the door of a friend living with his family in a one room peasant’s house. I can picture the scene and the frustration that would have ensued. Jesus explains that although he would be reluctant, the sleepy neighbor would respond to this boldness and persistence. Please be careful not to interpret this story as a parallel of our Father’s care for us when we come to Him, but as a contrast. We have an un-weary Father who desires that His children come with their burdens. Can you believe your Father wants you to continually come to Him? Do you believe He will answer? Have you given up hope? 

After giving the parable, Jesus, invites them to come boldly to the throne of grace. His words are timeless, and we don’t have to wait for midnight emergencies. He is waiting for His children to call on Him. 

“Here’s what I’m saying:  
Ask and you’ll get; 
Seek and you’ll find;
Knock and the door will open.
Luke 11:9 (NIV)

In studying this passage, we find that the tense of these admonitions is to keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking. Are you living persistent in prayer, with a settled confidence that He is committed to meet your needs? If not, start by faith today.

If my daughter calls at midnight with another rat emergency, I would be on my way quickly. So would you! With great power and divine care, God is ready for our emergencies, and every other need. So why do we hesitate to really seek Him? If you are in Christ, know that you have a good and loving Father who is not reluctant to answer your prayers.

Who is your neighbor? Throughout the course of our marriage, Genel and I have had some good neighbors, and well…some not so good ones. When we were getting ready to sell our home in Florida and move to Ohio, the family that lived next door to us painted their brick ROYAL BLUE!  We had great neighbors once we got to Ohio, but eventually they moved. One of our new neighbors liked miniature collies … lots of them, and those dogs loved to “speak” late at night. We moved!  I could go on with stories of the good, the bad and the ugly, but I am sure you have plenty of your own. In the course of His earthly journey, Jesus was confronted with a question by a religious lawyer. The lawyer wanted to justify his actions, and asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In response to the man’s question, Jesus told a parable about the Good Samaritan. We have all heard the phrase “Good Samaritan”, but in the story I wonder which role you and I would have played. Jesus relays the story of a man going from Jerusalem to Jericho. The trip is 17 miles with an elevation drop of 3,300 feet. The trail is rugged terrain and called the Way of Blood because of all the dangers. A man is robbed, beaten and left half dead by some thieves. A priest passes by on the other side of the road. Then a Levite passes by on the other side of the road. What is the deal? These religious men passed by a hurting soul, and ignored his needs. Then a Samaritan comes by … and helps the man. We can surmise that the beaten man was probably Jewish. His own people left him, and a hated Samaritan was the one to care for him. You can read the entire parable in Luke 10:30-37, but we must ask the same question that Jesus asked; So which of these three do you think was a neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?

[ Remember, parables typically intended to teach one main point! ]

If we are looking for one main point from this parable, what would it be? I would suggest that it surrounds the answer to the question, who is my neighbor? The simple answer is, anyone I can help. Defining our neighbors geographically, culturally or ethnically gives us the excuse to ignore the needs of others. The Good Samaritan helped the one in need, while the religious men left him to die. You and I may not be passing half dead wounded souls, but we daily pass by neighbors (anyone I can help) who need our touch.

As a little boy, I was a holy terror … but a friendly one! The day my new neighbors (the Combs) moved in over 50 years ago, I was sitting on their porch waiting for them. I am sure Mrs. Combs was not real blessed to have me as the welcoming committee. A year ago, Genel and I visited my home town and stopped by the Combs old house.  We walked into the yard and heard Mrs. Combs say, “Mike Nichols!”  I had not seen her in probably 38 years, but she remembered the little hyperactive neighbor boy. From a physical standpoint, I was a good little neighbor and she never forgot me. For all the neighbors (anyone I can help) that pass me by, I want to still respond like that little boy I was.

You and I are confronted routinely with “neighbor” issues. And by now you know I am not speaking about those who live to the left and right of us. Our choice will be similar to the one detailed in Jesus’ parable. Will we walk by, keep going, ignore the issue?  Or will we stop, maybe get dirty and risk some time, money and comfort. The choice we make  will have a direct and possibly profound affect on that neighbor (anyone I can help). Is it worth it to be a 21st century Good Samaritan?  Of course it is! And the Mrs. Combs of the world won’t forget you, and most importantly, the Father will be pleased. Be a good neighbor!

I think I love the nation’s birthday even more than my own.  I love everything about the Fourth of July.  I love seeing American flags flying from just about every home on our tree-lined street; I love the family gatherings and picnics; I love sparklers and fireworks displays; I love the inspiring music … all of it.  It’s also the only time of the year that I actually find value in the 300+ channels on my TV as I surf around for revolutionary era documentaries and movies.  My DVR fills up with programs it takes me weeks to watch, and some that I end up promising myself I will look for and watch next year. I own almost every flag t-shirt Old Navy has ever made and have been caught falling to sleep humming Sousa marches.

For several years, I volunteered to change the road sign at my church.  When you signed up, you committed to a rotation that included three months during the year.  The first year I signed up, I made sure my rotation included the month of July.  And that very first July, I came up with a saying that I used every year following during the month’s first week…

faith’s document is a
declaration of dependence

The fabric of our nation’s birth is woven with the thread of strong faith.  The freedom earned with the blood of patriots, was the result of our people’s collective desire for independence.  In stark contrast, the foundation of our faith has as its cornerstone, a strong statement of dependence.  I desire God, and He desires me.  I have no hope separate from the sacrifice of his Son.  Apart from Him, “I can’t” is my best, but “I can do everything …” (Philippians 4:13) when He is the one I depend on.

In a people so defined by rugged individualism, dependence is more often seen as a sign of weakness.  In my world, as a kingdom citizen, the weak shall be strong, and the meek will inherit the earth.

On this, and every Fourth of July, I celebrate my citizenship and allegiance to the great country I call home, the United States of America.  And while I may call this place “my home”, my heart knows that it’s not.  My true citizenship is in a kingdom of the here and now, yet is not of this world.  My true King is my Creator, and my God.  On each day of the year, and especially on each Fourth of July, I boldly reassert my declaration of dependence on Him.