Jealous for Love

I realize "a real danger in our study 'about' God. When we tame him, in words and concepts, and file him away under alphabetized characteristics, we can easily lose the force of the passionate relationship God seeks above all else. There may be no greater danger to those who write, talk, or even think about God. Mere abstractions, to him, may be the cruelest insult of all" (Yancey, Just Wondering).

Could it be that God is not so much impressed with our analyzing him as he is with being loved?

No One Succeeds Without the Help of Others

The holiday season is a college football fan's ultimate fantasy. There is a bowl game every day of the week and with some days there are multiple games being played. One of the most important lessons taken from sports is that individuals alone cannot achieve what many can do together.

Recently I was reviewing some of the accomplishments this amazing team at Promise Network (formerly Gospel Publishing Association) has been able to attain. This small but incredibly gifted team has published almost a half billion copies of our Answer Magazine. Yes, that is billion.

It took 31 years, but what an incredible accomplishment. I could go on about the number of states and countries and continents we have impacted but I leave you to think think about this: the positive outcome of any endeavor is the result of the many contributing their efforts toward one common goal. No one succeeds without the help of others. Put some good people around you and together, point them in the direction of the goal line.

Daddy's Shoulders

A man’s shoulders are designed to do many things. For example, a football player will use his shoulders to block or tackle an opponent. And who hasn’t used his shoulders to balance a heavy load. Heavy bundles are steadied by a good, strong shoulder. We often describe a person's ability to handle a tough situation by alluding to the shoulders,"he can shoulder the burden."

Yep, the shoulders are designed for many things but none more rewarding than the giggles and laughter from your own child bouncing atop a set of shoulders belonging to “Daddy.” When I viewed for the first time a little girl’s picture tribute to her daddy who died in one of the World Trade Towers on September 11, 2001, I confess I cried a river of tears. I thought about all that was and all that would not be.

I am reminded that every minute counts. Every opportunity must be seized. Time is opportunity and opportunities are ours to create memories. What memories have you created lately?

Lost and Found

Honey, just stop and ask directions. No way am I asking directions if this has been suggested by my wife. I am adequate I keep repeating to myself as I get us more lost. On my last trip to Ammon, Jordan I took a long walk as I often do when I travel. Only this time I didn't pay close enough attention to detail and soon wondered how to get back to point of origin. One Jordanian I asked for directions thought he was funny by addressing me as "cowbooey." Having had facial cancer, I have to wear a sun hat. Cowbooey did not receive favorable directions from Jordanian Leno. This event got me to thinking.

If one doesn't acknowledge his lostness, does he still qualify as lost? Is lost a state of awareness?
If I were still out on the streets, wondering around, and trying on my own to get back, refusing to acknowledge my predicament, would I be lost?

Lostness seems as much to do with someone else as it does with one's denial or acknowledgment of lostness. Think about it in the context of relationship. A child strays from home and is unaware of the circumstances and a mother and father are panic stricken over their missing child. An old man, long lost to himself, wonders away from his alzheimers center and those responsible for his care immediately notify the police.

The point is, one's lostness is not simply determined by an individual. Those in relationship often feel the anguish when that which is lost has not considered his immediate state. "Why don't you stop and ask directions?" "I know where I'm going and I know how to get there."

Jesus told stories of a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. In each case the lostness was felt by those in relationship regardless of the actions of the lost. The sheep was lost to the shepherd, the coin was lost to its owner, the son was lost to his father. Rightly understood, man was the crowning moment is all of God's creative display...the object of God's love. We wander. We go our own way and refuse to acknowledge our wrong turns. With all the love of a father for a child, God continues a tireless and determined pursuit to bring us home.

The old song writer had it right when he penned the hymn, "Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go."

Death by Riding Mower?

Over the weekend I drove a 54" riding mower up onto the ramps carefully placed onto the tailgate of my GMC pickup truck. The deck of the mower snagged the lip of the tailgate. No big deal; back it down and start again. On the way down the deck caught a portion of the right ramp and within a blink the mower, with me in the saddle, is crashing to the ground and threatening to roll over. Not a good thing. I could see the next morning headline, "Murray Mower Kills Man in Alabama."

Life suddenly changes when, the things you are counting on for support, give way and come crashing down. Kinda like the stock market or job security or, well, you fill in the blank.
Fortunately, the mower did not roll over cause I'm not sure I could have dismounted in time to same myself some major embarrassment and long term pain.

This incident has got me thinking about other things I place a lot of trust in and how secure they might be.

Ever had an similar incident that has stirred you to reflect on the dependability of your "ramps?"