"Tuck me in!"

"Daaaaad! Mawwwwwmmm!! I'm ready to be tucked into bed!"

It was our sweet routine. After their bath my son and my daughter, would put on their pajamas, crawl into their beds and call us to 'tuck them in'. We would go to their separate rooms, pray with them and tuck the covers all around their legs and arms while quickly repeating, "tuck, tuck, tuck, tuck." It brought a smile to their faces and cheered our hearts! They always asked for a bedtime story and we'd happily comply. I liked to create my own stories and I made EVERY effort to make sure to end my spiritual allegories on a happy note and squeak in some sort of moral. My wife and I would kiss them goodnight, and then make our way to the bedroom door. As I stood in the doorway, I'd put my hand on the light switch and say, "It's time to rest, so...blow out the light." It was a game we'd play. They would blow at the light and we would pretend that it would flicker (a couple of times for effect) but always go out. It was something fun for them to do; a pleasant memory shared. We would leave their rooms and like clockwork, just a few minutes later, would hear, "DAD? MOM? Can you get me a drink of water?" We were always happy to do it. A sip of water and another kiss goodnight and we left the room. What they didn't know was.....after several minutes, we would sneak in and check on them; just to be sure they were asleep and all "tucked in."

As kids so often do, they matured and grew. They graduated from awesome universities and accepted career positions out of state. My personal quip was: "If you feed them, they will grow! Give them wheels, they will go!" We helped them both to relocate. Our goal was to make sure they were...all "tucked in".

It is heart wrenching and emotionally draining leaving the loves-of-your-life in another town. We long to hear their cars pull into the driveway and the rattle of the keys in the front door lock. When they were living at home, we use to worry why they weren't home. They honored their curfew but we ALWAYS wondered where they were and what they were doing. Now, we can only pray that all we taught them will be remembered and put to good use.

The amazing technology of cellular phones, texts, Skype and email has provided an awesome connection for this generation! It's an immediate contact. We pray with them and for them! We send them prayer-texts all the time! "Prayer IS the key in the hand of faith to unlock Heaven's storehouse."

The sweet childhood routine of 'tucking in', blowing out the light and giving our children a drink of water, for the night, ended looooong ago. Although at times the moment became ......routine, it is dearly missed.

Our Heavenly Father HAD secured a Heavenly home for us. There was plenty of communication between Him and our original parents. Although there was no need to directly 'tuck them in'. He would directly---talk to them. THAT was plan 'A'. ALL of their needs were met. However, instead of VOLUNTARILY leaving Heaven, (like earthly children do), the Father had to KICK them out; banish them and block the gate! Our inherited sinful nature keeps us from re-entering our Home.

Like lovingly bathing our children, God still wants us to bathe afresh everyday in His grace. He yearns for us to talk/pray with Him every night and day. He desires to whisper bedtime stories in our ears. He wants to kiss us every night AND morning. He knows where we are and has given us keys to the Heavenly home. He begs us to call His name, "FATHER! Can I have a drink of water!" He longs to hear our footsteps on Heaven's threshold. I believe His thought is: "Provide grace for them so they can grow. Build a space for them so they can know." Your station in life does NOT matter. Start where you are. Through sin, ALL of us have 'moved' farther from Him than just another geographical state. We have been relocated to our own earthly home; NOT because He hates us....because He LOVES us. Talk to Him. Make it your "Sweet routine." He wants to "tuck you in".

We miss our 'kids'. God misses His kids!! You and me. ~Pray /\

Jonah's Ketos Chronicle

This week I and many of my friends of my same faith, are studying the Bible's book of Jonah. For such a small book it packs quite a punch! I'll be the first to admit that anyone who reads the story is afforded ample wiggle room to doubt its veracity. This small book is loaded with astounding events! To the Christian believer, one has to admit that the story is a bit hard to swallow (pun intended). The story is multifaceted. It is my intent in this space to share some of what I feel are a few of the story's shiny facets; my personal observations.

Hearing the story as a child, I was horrified by the idea that it was feasible to be in a boat in water and be SWALLOWED by ANYTHING! Think about it. First you are afloat and suddenly you're on an internal slip-n-slide and then treading in belly fluids! YUK! I didn't dwell on it but it did have an impression.

Very early into my adulthood, I soon realized that one doesn't have to be on a body of water to be swallowed whole! School, a military venture, relationships, a career, family responsibilities, marriage, divorce and even deaths to name a few challenges. They can be overwhelming! A person can even be floundering IN A CHURCH! Regardless of our station in life, without a belief in Christ we are just one inhalation away from breathing water! We are ALL searching for a life-line. I know I have often been in over MY head and I am taller than many! God can hear our prayers while we tread water. A person can certainly drown even in a pool of responsibility. 

Just like the Jonah story, I have seen a few co-workers thrown overboard, only to survive, return and announce: "Leaving this 'ship' was the best thing that ever happened to me! I found my calling. I just needed a little shove off the bow!" Sometimes God pushes you off the bow to get your attention. 

God gave Jonah a task to do but he chose NOT to do it. Consequently, he was swallowed by a large swimming behemoth (Greek= ketos). He survived and was vomited onto the shore. He then journeyed to a town and told people to change their lifestyle or God would punish them. UNBELIEVABLE? Yup, easy to disbelieve... until you research and learn that leviathans DO EXIST! Men HAVE been swallowed WHOLE......and survived! Due to the gastric juices their skin was bleached in places. Jonah was vomited ashore as well. Although we don't know where he was regurgitated, being baptized in the belly of.... well, anything would get my attention! The event changed Jonah's life and he became more compliant! (Duh! Ya think?!) God certainly knows how to get our attention!

The prophet Jonah was released from 'ketos belly hell'. He smells like "big fish" vomit MM-mmm-MMM, his skin is faded from the gastric juices, he more than likely had fish guts and fish scales (call them sequins if its more palatable) in his hair and probably some seaweed-goo liberally applied... everywhere! (Funny. There are some cosmetics that actually have seaweed in them!) In addition, he probably lost his HAT.... AND anything that girdled him! Get my drift.... I imagine clothes don't last long in ketos juices!!!! (Sand... can be SO annoying!) Just think...If Jonah had followed the will of God from the beginning... he would have smelled a whole lot better and NOT wore a 'sand suit' that day! Couple this with Fish-rot cologne mixed with a tincture of gastric juices is...to say the least, unforgettable! (Not much of a market for: Ketos cologne!). Sin stinks!
  
As it was with Jonah, we often choose to journey in an exactly opposite direction than God would have us travel. We, in effect, spray ourselves with the 'cologne of non-compliance'. We wander around oblivious to OUR smelly selves, all the while thinking the other guy is the odoriferous one!  Oh, I am sure that before Jonah arrived at Nineveh he took some time to tidy-up a bit. We don't know where he 'came ashore' but the story then places him at Nineveh. Nineveh is quite a distance from ANY shoreline.  It's here that I believe we fail at understanding how wide scoped and permanent disobeying God can truly be.

HOW did the Nineveh-ites know that Jonah had the 'ketos experience'? I doubt he wandered into town and said, "Hey mean 'ole Nineveh-ites, I was swallowed by a whale, oops big 'sea monster'"  "Yup the ketos got me."  No, I doubt it. I believe he was permanently disfigured by his non-compliance/experience. People stopped to stare at his permanent infirmity. We, like Jonah, can be saved from sin but a scar, (or scars) might be better left alone. Scars are not so much a "badge of courage", but to the Christian, a 'Testimony of Salvation'!
  
It is my hope that I can be more compliant to the will of God. Although a sandy shore is attractive, being there for the correct reason(s) is half the battle. God still loves us even when we are non-compliant and grumble; scars and ALL! Jonah is a book of hope. Without Christ, we would be better-off thrown overboard. Swim with HIM! Not away from Him! ~Pray /\

Gumption and Prayer!

The church I attend, Madison Campus, has been experiencing some very encouraging changes! Our new pastor has been emphasizing church fundamentals, has started a new "Teach Us To Pray" series and is emphasizing evangelism. To that I say HALLELUJAH!

Like many, I start my day with personal prayer and strongly appreciate the pastor's prayer challenge. I have accepted his challenge and have made a special effort to pray 'all day'. Don't get me wrong, it's not a continual mumbo-jumbo. It is a mind-set; a continual 'feed' and very specific. After all, the Bible tells us to "pray without ceasing." During my devotional prayer, I  ask... "Lord if I can help someone today, please send them my way." (Poetic huh?!)

The pastor also wrote some very encouraging words in a recent church-bulletin column. He said, "...maybe God is opening your [our] eyes to a more fulfilling prayer life."  I am convinced God is doing exactly that to all who are willing to pray. Recently, I was reminded that, as simple as it sounds, prayers ARE ANSWERED and that prayer warriors ARE NEEDED.

Last week, after completing a few errands with my wife, it was time for lunch! We decided on a restaurant (name withheld) that we hadn't visited in several months. As I entered, I prayed again,  "Lord if I can help someone today, please send them my way."

We entered, we were greeted, seated and provided menus. The waiter seemed a bit hurried but quickly brought us water. After some brief niceties he asked if we were ready to order. We weren't, so he scooted through the swinging kitchen doors. When he returned, my wife and I made our selections and we asked that the cheese and sour cream be omitted. "No problem." he said. "Will there be anything else?"  "No, that's it. Thanks." Suddenly the waiter's hurried demeanor seemed to melt away and he asked, "Excuse me but I noticed that besides omitting a couple of items, you both ordered vegetarian entrees. Are you Seventh-day Adventist?"

WOW!, I thought! That's quite a leap! Just because we exclude some items from our diet and are vegetarian (I'm attempting veganism), it doesn't mean that a person is Seventh-day Adventist. I know that, and you know that. In fact, I found his comment VERY surprising! I also felt that perhaps it wasn't any of his business. (My human nature often rise-eth within me!)

I said,  "Yes, we are. We attend the Madison Campus SDA church."

"Oh, I know where that is. I use to attend that church. I went to the elementary school and I also went to the academy. Well, I didn't graduate from there but I did attend. As soon as you ordered, I THOUGHT you were Adventist!"

He asked if we had kids and we determined that he knew them. "My sister works here too," he said. He called her over to our table and she chatted at length as well. (The restaurant wasn't as busy. We ate a late lunch.) They both revealed some VERY personal things about themselves, their hopes, aspirations, regrets and successes.

So there you have it, the variable of: 'Associative Adventism'. He knew of Adventism, we ordered like Adventists, 'quacked' like Adventists, we must be Adventists! Maybe a better coinage is: Familiarity breeds an AH-HA! factor!

Suddenly, I felt strongly compelled to ask both of them to come back to church. This is a big change for me. Although I believe people should go to church, asking someone to actually go to church is something I don't do. Well, lately I HAVE been asking but it takes some ....gumption and......prayer.. It scares me to ask. I use to be frightened. Now I'm frightened NOT to ask. I believe a strengthened prayer life has encouraged my new behavior.

"Have you considered coming back to church?", I said. "We have two services. Listen, there are a lot of things happening in this world. It's a crazy place. You NEED to come back to church!" I even pointed my finger at him. I couldn't seem to stop talking. I've seen other people do the same and it concerned me; even embarrassed me, now I hardly think anything about it.

"Yes, I know, I know", he said. "I do want to return. I actually get Friday night and Saturday off! I told my boss I'm Adventist." The waiter smiles, laughs and under his breath says, "It actually works out real well!.....  I am going to return."

Remember, I prayed that I would be able to "Help somebody in my path" and suddenly, during lunch, two people were standing at our table waiting/wanting/asking to be invited to church!

Like our pastor, I ask you to pray. People are SEARCHING for a connection. People are WANTING to come home. Still others are SEEKING for a home. If YOU have found a 'home', ask someone to come to it. If you haven't found a church-home, come to Madison Campus!

Be bold! Be brave! People are making some SERIOUS decisions; be a positive part of it!!! ~PRAY! /\

Bird, Chirped the 'Word'! (edited)

During the early morning, I opened both the front and screen door to allow the fresh cool morning air to sweep through the house. To encourage more of an air exchange I walked to the master bedroom and opened the rear window but left the screen down. Ahhhh! Exhilarating!  I sat down in a chair, opened my 'Moving Mountains' devotional from Amazing Facts and began to read a devotional about nature. Suddenly, I heard a rustling sound in the living room!! Thinking my wife had returned early from her walk, I called out to her, "Is that you?" No answer.

The rustling persisted accompanied by an odd scratching sound. Scratching, scratching on my foyer floor.

I cautiously peeked from the bedroom, there it was...a bird walking across the wooden entry. Suddenly it was ME vs. BIRD (not Larry, for any 'old' Celtics fans). "Shoo!" I said, waving my arms and attacking to encourage its quick departure. The bird saw my antics and decided flying at me was its best option! Perhaps it sensed the air flow and wished to dart for an opening or maybe it saw through to the back patio. My tactics changed. My team (troop of one) retreated, (I swear I heard a little girl scream). I dodged any contact, made a quick scoot through the living room and into the kitchen. I instituted my only plan of CP: Covert Peering. Yup! You no doubt have heard of "Bond, James Bond". I was 'SPY, SUPER SPY'! 

Suddenly my cell phone rang.....from the bedroom. I weighed my options:

1. Get the phone and be exposed to a flurry of wings and bird-borne pathogens, (I know it's silly but I'm a bit of 'clean-o-phobe' A brief flash of microbiology class......Psittacosis!) Nah! It's just a bird.

2. Let my wife come home and find 'Larry'! Hmmm...

I dared to re-enter the bedroom, snatch the phone and say a quick, "Hello!" No response and my contender 'Larry' bird, a beautiful large Eastern Meadowlark, flails at the screen. I believe they fly south for the winter. I wasn't expecting his arrival and wish he'd leave. Another flashback: An old English literature class. Edgar Allen Poe and 'The Raven' that came "rapping, rapping on the door".

The phone rings again. I see my wife's pic on the phone.

In frustration, I quickly spat out a greeting, "Hello!" 

"Hey, WHOA! You sound stressed! What are you doing?" my wife asks.  

"I'm chasing a bird!" Silence......

"You're chasing a what? Did you say: A BIRD?!"

"Yes, A bird! It flew in the house and I am chasing it. Well,.... I'm trying to at least."

"OH! Well..... I'd better let you go." Click. I was on my own! It was me against 'Larry'. Hmmmm... maybe Edgar is a better name (I know for sure, it's NOT Lenore! Read the poem 'The Raven'). I suddenly grow concerned that in all the excitement, 'Edgar' might 'drop a message' for me to clean. If it does this ....smear tactic, he will be renamed 'Pooping Poe'! 

Edgar, still flailing at the screen, seemed to chirp a scream for an escape. I grabbed a shirt and successfully threw it on him, carefully scooped up both as Edgar continued chirping bird words. I quickly walked to the open door and released it too the wild. A good spy am I.

It suddenly dawned on me that I had started my devotional reading about nature, suddenly nature was scratching at my door and then staring at me? I glanced at my shirt and spied a 'message' from......Pooping Poe. 

Just because we find an open door, it doesn't mean we should fly through it. If we enter and find ourselves captured by circumstances and/or our poor choices, by all means, PRAY! Prayer reveals many awesome open doors. Very soon those doors will close and that shirt (robe) of 'escape' will someday no longer be needed. For now, the beauty is that Christ is waiting EVERY MOMENT to welcome us like a fresh cool morning breeze. He covers us with His robe of protection. Invite Him to 'fly' into your life and do some Spring cleaning! It will be a welcomed change. Stop sitting on the windowsill of life flailing at the screen of separation. You can fly to freedom with Christ one moment at a time. ~Pray /\

Spring Cleaning! Exhume! Make Room!

Occasionally, archaeologists unearth a new artifact and to their surprise, the discovery serves to verify Biblical history. When this happens, it's all I can do to contain my excitement! I intensely appreciate when God leads people to His hidden truths, removes the dust of history and proves the Bible stories. 

The Bible has truths hidden deep within its pages. Some believe that these truths are old fashioned and effectively dead; that the ONLY value of anything exhumed is because it MIGHT be a collectible. Everyday I am more fully convinced that, YES, every artifact is dead but only temporarily mute. It's as if they slumber, waiting for God's messengers (us), to give them a voice! 

Another hidden truth, yet to be discovered, are the Ten Commandments. As the Bible record indicates, the Commandments were written on stone tablets, they were kept in God's tabernacle and in a holy box called an ark. It's interesting to note that to this day, the expression, 'cut in stone' is still an effective metaphor to describe permanence. In fact, if our society were to disappear I doubt a hard-drive or the like, would stand the test of much time. I believe the actual stone Commandments will soon be rediscovered. However, God's Commandments can be seen today. We are a testimony to His temple. He lives in us. He engraves His promises and commands in our hearts. Christians are a testimony to His holy word; His Commandments. We need to keep telling ourselves, "I am God's chosen." 

In the Bible, in Romans 2:14 through 17, we read: "¹⁴ Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. ¹⁵ They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. ¹⁶ And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life." NLT

Even non-believers understand what is right and what is wrong. When we are receptive to it, we prove that ancient knowledge is alive and well!  As His children, we are drawn to follow the Word of God. We know that the Spirit of God is on the inside of us, guiding and directing us. Every time we follow His leading, our ability to hear and know Him is strengthened. Don't  choose to bypass the Holy Spirit's prompting, By doing so we effectively pick up the erasure of the world and begin to rub-out God's words from our heart; leaving our hearts empty. A blank slate, is an invitation to an artist to write new passages. Keep listening to God. Let Him write on your heart. Avoid a heart of stone!  

Have His Commandments become dusty in you life? EXHUME THEM! Breathe life into them! 

~Pray /\

GIGO

Just the other day, while I was in the grocery store, I overheard a brief conversation between two people. It went like this: "Hey, how are you doing today?" Immediately the friend responded, "OH! Not well, I am just beside myself!" Then, without another word, both people put their arms over each other's shoulders, bowed their heads and prayed.

The expression, "I am just beside myself", was understood by another as a need. I never did discover why the person was experiencing a challenge. I guess I was more impressed by the pause for prayer at the produce. It's understood that in this life, each of us have difficult moments. We ALL experience setbacks and find it necessary to hurdle obstacles. None of us are exempt. In fact, if we were to REALLY take some time to chat with people, (Try it on the next  person you see after reading this), we would be overwhelmed by their challenge(s) and stories! 

As challenging as each of our negative experiences are, we shouldn't make the mistake of allowing them to DEFINE us. Allowing our thoughts to be harnessed by negative experiences/moments, fertilizes seeds of discontent. Next, sprouts emerge and the tendrils crawl into the cracks in our facade. It's easy and very human to dwell on being "beside oneself".. Soon we are held bondage by our own negativity. Our hearts will swell on what we dwell!. 

I especially appreciate the acronym  GIGO = Garbage In, Garbage Out! I've changed it a bit and believe (logically) the reverse is also true: God In, God Out.  YOU choose the content of YOUR heart. Don't be in agreement with the enemy.  There are forces that are at war with your spirit. Remember that on ANY given moment we have the God-given choice to: Bow our chin to our chest (prayer) and put negative spirits to rest! (You are welcomed to use that expression if you wish.) We are NEVER alone; "beside ourselves".  

A positive attitude puts us in agreement with God. We are Never alone. God and thee are a majority! (Use that one too!) When you agree with God, all things are possible.

Today, if you begin to feel "beside yourself', cast down those negative thoughts. Start dwelling on the fact that the Creator of the Universe, the Almighty God, has offered to carry your problems! Accept that today "no weapon formed against you shall prosper..." Isa. 54:17 LET GOD fight your battles. When you meet a caring friend ANYWHERE and they ask, "How's it going?" Smile and share your life. Tell them, "God is beside me, in me and works through me! I am NOT beside myself!" BUT, never pass by an opportunity to ask for prayer. Feel comfortable in pausing for payer, even in the produce. God has a supernatural blessing to offer in your life, my life AND the life of our friend(s). ~Pray /\

Sea of Me

When the Children of Israel ('C of I') started their historic Biblical exodus, there were many 'outsiders' that also joined the procession. The Bible refers to this tag-along-throng as the "mixed multitude". Most of this group were quite worldly-wise and brought with them their own contribution. For the most part, this contribution was not very positive. Some authors advise that this mixed-group instigated the social unrest that led to the doubt and blame that was so pervasive on the journey. In fact, Hollywood's movies that have been created about the mass exodus, portrays several vocal 'Downers' (Danny and Debbie) wandering and inciting doom and gloom! Since the group was a mix of  personalities and experiences, it's easy to imagine that it consisted of curious onlookers, friends, casual acquaintances, beggars, prostitutes, thieves, believers of other gods (faiths), co-workers, schoolmates and some who were genuinely seeking truth. There were essentially people from all of Israel's walks of  life.  

In a much different setting we see a similar scenario. When Jesus and His disciples set sail across the Sea of Galilee, they too had many "others" that followed them; people from all walks of life. For a brief moment, Satan was allowed to harness the winds, swirl the waters, and drag the I.J.S. Disciple-ship (In Jesus' Service) through an intensely soul-searching experience. What many fail to grasp is that other boats and their passengers had also set sail and by association, had experienced the same storm. In fact, because Jesus was NOT in the boat of the others, you would think that the 'others' would have experienced even more fear!

Did you ever stop to consider that during BOTH stories and ALL the experiences, the Exodus, the 'Disciple drenching' AND 'others' in the flotilla, Jesus was still with EACH person?! You might have caught the lesson well ahead of me but the fact surprised me. Let me reiterate for effect and affect. 

Here goes: During both events, Jesus the Christ was well aware of the needs of EACH disciple, each tag-along-throng member, each flotilla member and each person feeling unworthy, or perhaps TOO WORTHY! (Peter, but THAT'S another story!) Regardless of whether Jesus is physically IN our boat (mine and/or yours), we need to accept that Jesus knows where your are traveling, where you are 'floating'. All we need to do is REALIZE that an absence from God is essentially an enslavement into the world; a slow downward spiral into the 'Sea of  Me'. What each of us can see, is our self!

If I had been in the Children of Israel (C of I) mixed-multitude...somewhere, I would like to believe that I would have been near the front of the line, looking ahead, seeing what would be next, obeying, always praising, praying and singing.... but you and I know that NONE of us can do those things ALL the time! There are times when I have to admit, I do doubt just where I would be. Would I be leading? following?; perhaps just 'in the way'? (As an aside, it's odd how the expression "in the way" has come to have a negative connotation. Perhaps we should consider the words as a more positive or more Heavenly expression... like...."In the Way"; Heavenly way.)

Consider this: We are still on a journey. Much like the 'C of  I'  and/or the Sea of Galilee Flotilla, we are still wandering. All too often we seek and find new gods. Regardless, God STILL cares! Ask God to point out the demons of  distraction. Ask God to shut the mouth of the 'Downers'. If YOU have been that person, ask God to get you on track to the Promised Land! It's STILL available, through Jesus the Christ, one step at at time! ~Pray /\