What are we made of today?

I remember watching a documentary from 1972 called "On Any Sunday" and seeing what some of the men portrayed, like Malcolm Smith and Steve McQueen, would go through to race motorcycles.  It made me reflect on my wife's father who also raced and built motorcycles in Sweden.  Just watching the men in that film and talking to my father-in-law had me a bit awestruck.

These men pushed themselves and their bikes to the limit.  They had a passion for riding that was inspiring.  In spite of the danger (or maybe because of it) they pressed on even after hardship, fatigue, and accidents too numerous to count.

What they all have in common is the way they seem to just shrug off the dangers and injuries.  As my father-in-law told me after saying he had no idea how many times he'd wrecked, "If you haven't wrecked, you haven't ridden."

This is the true and genuine life of a motorcyclist;  accepting the danger and risk, moving past the accidents, and continuing to ride.

Life can be like that.  Life can be hard, and we do have trials.  But those who are seasoned in the faith understand that the only way to face a trial is to go through it. 

The early Christians were like this, James said, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 (NIV)

And Peter said, "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." 

1 Peter 4:12-13 (NIV)

 There is a passion for Christ that propelled these early believers forward. Giving up was not an option.

Because, as Jesus told us, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NIV)

What are we, as Christians, made of today?  This question haunts me even as I write these words.  Do we give up too easily when life gets difficult?  Or do we press forward?

Can we learn to view trials as those who came before us did?  Can we come to understand life in this vastly different way and see our faith as so precious that we are willing to endure anything to be made into the likeness of Christ?

As the write of Hebrews tells us, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." Hebrews 12:1-2(NIV)

Zombies

Zombies are all around us.  They are the living dead...

I read recently of a young man who had everything the world says is needed for a happy life.  He is 32 years old, handsome and rich.  The company he owned had him traveling all over the world and he partied like a rock star.

Yet one day he realized that his life was not a happy one.  In a blog posting he said something along the lines of: 

"I didn't like the people with whom I had surrounded myself: Businessmen, socialites, club promoters, and models bored out of their minds from 5 nights per week of nightlife...  I felt trapped by this lifestyle that I bought into, and I wasn't proud of who I had become.  I wasn't necessarily ashamed, but I certainly wasn't proud.  This isn't who I wanted to be."

Why? 

Because he was a Zombie, a member of the walking dead. 

No amount of success or partying can cover up the fact that without Jesus Christ we are not fully alive.  Dead men walking, zombies...

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,  in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath." Eph 2:2-4  (NIV)

Zombies, they are all around us all the time.  The "living dead".  Those of us who have accepted Christ are no longer walking with them, we are alive.

Paul goes on to tell us in Ephesians,

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,  in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." vv5-10

Each and everyone of us has a purpose and a destiny.  But to find this destiny, it must start with a life that has not only accepted Jesus Christ, but is fully submitted to his will. 

In order to become fully alive we must know the very source of life.  God created us, and it is in Jesus Christ we have life.

And in that life, we find our purpose.

We have the answer to that age old question, why are we here? 

To accomplish the works God has prepared for us to do since before we were born.

Daily Rock!

"Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"

"Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." John 6:28-29 (NIV)

As preacher Mike says, "it's simple, but it's hard"

There are many who say today, "I believe in Jesus" but do they? 

Do we?

I heard a story once about a man went to war.  He said he was an atheist.  After the first battle, he was found to have a Star of David, a cross, an Indian arrowhead and a rabbit's foot!

The man was asked, "I thought you were an atheist?" to which he replied, "No, now I believe!"

He was further questioned, "What do you believe in? I can't tell by all these things you carry." 

The man replied, "I don't know, but in this place I can't afford to make anybody mad!"

To believe in Jesus Christ is to believe in him alone.  To accept not only who he is, but everything he said.  Reading on in John 6 we find Jesus began to say some very difficult things to grasp and accept.  He was pointing to himself as the very source of life and he was doing it with some rather graphic language about eating his flesh and drinking his blood.

On hearing that, some disciples simply put a wall up and stopped listening.  Even when Jesus explained further, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe." vv 63-64 

It didn't matter to them, the choice was made, they were out of there.

"On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" vv60

This is where the rubber meets the road.  Instead of trusting Jesus and asking further how to apply his words, these disciples judged his words as too difficult to accept and left him.

I have to respect these disciples for one reason.  They voiced their rejection. 

Many today won't do that.  They will hold onto their "belief" in Jesus, but by their lives they will show they have found his teaching too difficult and rejected it, not in words, but in actions. 

But the Word of God is not a buffet, we cannot pick and choose what we believe.  We accept and follow all of it, or none of it.

Jesus said in Revelation 3 :15-16 (NIV) "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!  So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

Notice Jesus did not say, "I know your words" but "I know your deeds"

There is an old saying, if you find someone whose words don't match there actions, look to the actions to find the truth. 

Let's take a look at our actions today, do they display a belief in the one he has sent?  I'm not talking about those moments when we get cut off and respond in anger.  I'm talking about life choices here.  How we choose to live and walk on the earth.  How we choose to spend our free time.  What we do with this gift of life that God has given us. 

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us today if our actions reflect a belief in Jesus Christ. 

Daily Rock!

I remember one time, at night, when I was riding with a friend of mine.  It was a beautiful night in the Outer Banks and we had this ride we liked to go on that crossed several bridges. 

As we came on to the second bridge (about two miles long) my buddy ran out of gas.

I rolled my bike behind him using my headlight to keep him seen, as he pushed his bike for about a mile to the other side. 

A motorcycle is heavy! 

You discover that rather quickly when it runs out of gas.  What was meant to be a vehicle becomes a burden when you have to push it, step after step.  It was not meant to be propelled by human effort. It's supposed to have a motor running with the power to cause movement.  Disconnect from that power and you are no longer riding.

I was thinking about our discussion at ReFuel last night and about the Holy Spirit.  Many times life can feel like we ran out of gas.  We are trudging along wondering why everything seems to take so much effort. 

Reading in Acts Chapter 1:4-8 (NIV) Jesus is speaking to his disciples after he rose from the dead.

 "On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

Then they gathered around him and asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"

He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Power.  The Christian life cannot be lived without the Holy Spirit.  We have a responsibility to obey the Holy Spirit, but we can not do the work of the Holy Spirit.  Like riding a motorcycle, we play our part, but we do not cause the forward motion.  We do not supply the power.

Are you feeling extra burdened?  Could it be that you have tried to take on the role of the Holy Spirit in your life?  Or maybe you've tried to do his job in the life of someone close to you?

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:-28-30 (NIV)

Today let's ask the Holy Spirit to help us let go of anything we've been trying to accomplish in our own strength.  Next ask him to empower us to do what God has called us to do.

Daily Rock!

What does it cost to follow Christ?

I remember when I first bought my motorcycle, I was very excited.  I kept thinking about how I would take it for a nice long ride that weekend.

But I had one slight problem.  I had never ridden before and I had no knowledge or skill.

I used a YouTube video to figure out how to shift.

That first weekend was spent puttering around the block, learning to shift.  I remember a little kid waved at me.  I nodded my head back.

I was too afraid to take my hand off the handlebars to wave back.  I had no idea it would be that difficult to learn how to ride.

Purchasing the bike was the easy part.  Learning to ride took time.  That first month I rode over sand, dumped the bike, got up and rode again. 

There have been a lot of miles and a few more accidents, but I am still here, riding. 

Now if I just left that bike there in the driveway, would I be a biker?  I owned a Harley, I bought t-shirts, I had a helmet in my living room.  But to be a biker is to ride a motorcycle.  And that takes time and commitment and accepted risk.  It  takes counting the cost, realizing that any ride could be our last.

Salvation is free.  We accept the Lord's gift and we are saved.

But then it is time to live out our faith, it is time to go to work.  Jesus said, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.  And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:26-27 (NIV)

In Matthew 27:32 (NIV), at the time of Jesus' crucifixion we read, " As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross."

I believe this happened to illustrate (with a vivid picture) what it would be like to follow Christ.  Jesus is going to his death, he is handling the salvation of our souls and restoring our relationship with the Father.  And there is the disciple, following behind, carrying the cross.

To live out our faith is to love Jesus more than anything in our lives.  To accept whatever he allows into our lives.  To go wherever he tells us to go.  There is no guarantee of an easy life, after accepting Christ, our lives are no longer our own. 

If we don't live out our faith, we are simply posers. Jesus went on to say, 

"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won't he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?  If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. " Luke 14:31-32 (NIV)

Read this next verse slowly...

"In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." vv 33

Today we see many in the church who claim to be followers of Christ.  But they are not the salt of the earth, they are not the light of the world.  They wear the clothes, even speak the words.  But like a poser whose bike sits in the garage as he makes excuse after excuse for leaving it there, they don't  accept the danger, live with the risk and ride.

"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out." 

"Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear." vv34-36 (NIV)

What will it cost us to follow Christ?

Everything.

Daily Rock!

Are we prepared to be the answer to prayers?

Reading Matthew 9 today, 

"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV)

Jesus saw the amount of work to be done.  He had great compassion on the people who needed the good news of the gospel.  So he turned to his disciples and brought the need to their attention.  Take this need to God, he told them.

I can see them saying, "Oh yeah, we should get some workers!  You're right Jesus.  Something needs to be done about this!  Let's pray!"

It's interesting to note that there were no chapter breaks in the original text.  Those were placed there later by translators.  Therefore, the very next verse in chapter 10 immediately follows the last verse in chapter 9.  There should be no break.  Look what it says Jesus did next.

"Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;  Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;  Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.  Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.  As you go, proclaim this message: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.'  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." Matt 10:1-8 (NIV)

Do you see what he did there?  Jesus first showed them the need, told them to pray for workers to go, and then he sent them!

Basically Jesus was saying, "Oh good, I'm glad you are on board with this.  So since you are willing to ask for workers, why don't you go yourselves as well!"

Today it's so easy to stop when Jesus shows us the need.  We see the dying world around us.  We cry out how it needs to change.  And then we go about our lives, doing nothing about it. 

But the answer to man's problem will never be anything other than to hear the Gospel.  And they cannot hear if we do not go.

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:14-15 (NIV)

Time to get those beautiful feet moving!

Love God, love people, do something about it.

Daily Rock!

Reading in Genesis Chapter 11 today,

"Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward,they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.

They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building.  The Lord said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.  Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."

So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.  That is why it was called Babel —because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth." Gen 11-1-9 (NIV)

I have to admit, when I first read this I didn't get why the Lord would see this as a bad thing.  A city, unified by a common goal.  What's the problem with that?

But then I read it through again and one sentence stood out to me, "so that we may make a name for ourselves"

The motivation to build this city was not to know God or to glorify him.  It was to exalt themselves.  Therefore God frustrated those plans.

We are designed by God to be in a relationship with him.  He is our nourishment, he gives us our purpose.  We are his workmanship meant to bring honor to his name, and his name alone.

God will frustrate any plans in our lives that do not align with his goal and promise to form us into the image of his son.

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph 2:10 (NIV)

Daily Rock!

" Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Phil 4:8 (NIV)

Technology has given us many cool things but has also given us many ways for the enemy of our souls to target our thought life.

Think about it, at one time you only heard music if you played it yourself or went to where it was played (like last night's Bikes Bands and BBQ!)

Now you can bring all your albums with you wherever you go in a device that fits into the palm of your hand.

We are always plugged in.  I think if I said "bunny ears" to some young people today (in reference to a TV) they would have no idea what I am talking about. Even TV shows can be watched on a smartphone.

And all that music, movies, TV shows,  have messages.  Some subtle, some not so much.

Do those messages influence us?

Ever watch a TV show where all the people are beautiful and feel ugly afterwards, down on yourself?

Ever watch a movie and desire to do something heroic with your life afterwards?

The messages are there, we are just so accustomed to them we don't notice anymore.

These tools can be sources of great blessing or they can drag us down.  The tool itself is not the problem, but what we allow into us is.

There are Biblical guidelines to consider, and I don't think I need to go into that.  But for today, I would suggest something.  Let's prayerfully pay attention to our media input and where our mind goes afterwards.  How do we feel?  Edified or put down?  What kind of desires have been stirred up?

Then perhaps take a look again at Phil 4:8 and ask ourselves if what we allowed into our mind matched that criteria.

King David!

Let's look a little more at the life of King David.

After David had been a rather successful king he had a son named Absalom.

To make a long story short, Absalom wanted to be king, he felt he could do the job better than his father.  So he gathered followers and formed a rebellion against David.

This was David's reaction when he heard the news.

2 Samuel 15:13-14 (NIV)

"A messenger came and told David, "The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom."

Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, "Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword."

At first this could look like David was afraid, but he was not.  Just as he would not use violence to take the throne, he would not fight to keep it.

"If I find favor in the Lord's eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again.  But if he says, 'I am not pleased with you,' then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him." vv 25-26 (NIV)

The Psalms give us a little bit more insight into how David was feeling.  It was at this time he wrote Psalm 3.

"Lord, how many are my foes!
    How many rise up against me!
Many are saying of me,
    "God will not deliver him."

But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
I call out to the Lord,
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.

I lie down and sleep;
    I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side."

Psalm 3:1-6 (NIV)

When the circumstances came to take away his position, he didn't see it as his position to hold on to.  God gave him the kingdom and God could take it from him in any manner he saw fit.  He trusted God to do what God wanted to do.

That is our lives in Christ.  That means we travel the roads he has chosen for us.  When Jesus told his disciples his road led to a cross, Peter rebuked him for it.  Jesus, in his response  told them all,

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?  For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done." Matthew 16:24-27 (NIV)

The battle isn't about what we do with our lives day to day.  The battle is for our very soul, for who we are becoming.

Jesus calls us to be disciples not because he wants us to abandon our heart, but because he wants us to discover it.  We find our purpose in this life on that path, and only on that path.

That is why God will test us with circumstances often beyond our comprehension.  Because his dream is to see us all transformed into the very image of Christ.

Daily Rock!

I was riding eastbound on 42 to attend ReFuel last night.  Close to the exit for 70 there is always what looks like a pile of cement on the road. 

I really don't know why it is there, but it reminds me of a speed bump taking up about a third of the lane.  I am sure anyone who rides that road knows exactly what I am talking about. 

It's easy enough to avoid, you just go around it.

But it does concern me.  Someone new to the area might not see it.  What is easy to avoid for those of us who know about it, could turn out to be deadly for someone who isn't watching the road.  Especially someone new to riding.

Knowledge of the hazards, watching the road...  For a biker, that is how you stay alive.  I've often been warned by fellow bikers of hazards like that, or roads known for deer crossings, etc.

I've been thinking about those 17 baptized this past weekend.  They need two things, knowledge of the Bible and brothers and sisters to walk with them. 

The Word of God, and fellowship of believers.

As Paul said, "What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up." 1 Cor 14:26 (NIV)

Because this life is full of hazards and many of them have been pointed out in the Word of God.  Those of us who have run into obstacles before can share our experiences and so help those young in the faith avoid the plans of the enemy.

For "we are not unaware of his schemes." 2 Cor 2:4 (NIV)

When a biker goes down, it's tragic enough.  It's even worse when it's an accident that could have been avoided.

I've been walking with the Lord for many years.  I've gone down a few times myself and by his grace I still stand.  But I have also seen others who have crashed, seemingly never to recover. 

In each case they didn't know the Word, (or ignored it) and they broke away from fellowship.

I'm thankful to the living God, for we've been given all we need to walk that victorious life.  Let us be smart enough to use it.

Daily Rock!

Tom Petty has written, "The waiting is the hardest part..."

Reading Psalm 18 today.

"In my distress I called to the Lord;

    I cried to my God for help.

From his temple he heard my voice;

    my cry came before him, into his ears." Psalm 18-6-7 (NIV)

We all have times when we struggle, when everything seems to be coming at us.  Life feels like it is being choked out of us.

David says that in his distress, he cries out to the Lord.  And God hears him.

Isn't that a wonderful message? 

Well... it doesn't feel wonderful when your heart is breaking and God is silent, does it? 

Yet even when we don't feel him, God always hears the cry of our hearts.

God will show up in a powerful way, as David tells us a few verses later.

"He reached down from on high and took hold of me;

    he drew me out of deep waters." vv 16

But the problem for us is, how long do we have to go between the "he heard me" and "rescued me".  David doesn't say how long that is.  However we know from Psalm 22, even a man after God's own heart can feel like God is taking a long time to show up.

In fact, the waiting can be downright  painful.

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

    Why are you so far from saving me,

    so far from my cries of anguish?

My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,

    by night, but I find no rest]"  Psalm 22:1-2 (NIV)

How long do we wait? 

Why is this a part of every believers walk?  David, Joseph, even Jesus who quoted Psalm 22 on the cross.  There will be times when God feels far away from us, and often at our deepest trials. 

Why? 

It is hard to accept that God does not see life as we see it.  God's agenda is to make us like Christ, not to give us a happy satisfying life here on earth. 

And the things inside of us that bubble up during the time between "he hears" and "he rescues" tell us a lot about the state of our walk with him (OH MY!).

Those things are there during the good times too, we just don't see them as clearly as we do during times of stress. 

God is more interested in making us holy, into the image of his Son, than to make our lives comfortable. 

So he allows hard times to bring things to the surface so he can remove them.

How long? 

I guess however long the Lord feels it takes to do the work of his agenda, not ours.  We can choose to go off and find relief on our own, or we can choose to stay and wait while he works. 

Really only one good choice, because we are left in that same place Peter was, "Lord, to whom would we go?  You have the words that give eternal life." John 6:68 (NIV)

 

What can we do?  See what comes out of us during this time, ask forgiveness for that, and wait. 

I know this isn't a pleasant message, but life isn't always pleasant walking with the Lord, is it?

But it is the path that leads to life.  Perhaps on those days we should just be grateful we are on that path.  This road may be hard at times, but it does lead to paradise. 

Daily Rock!

Have you ever had a time when you began to break free and live your life for the Lord, only to have someone say something that crushed that freedom and caused you to shrink back?

Seventeen people were baptized on Sunday, and many of them are going to experience just that.  I am sure many of us have already been there.

Someone tried that with King David once.  Let's see how a man after God's own heart responds.

Reading in 2 Samuel chapter 6. David has been made king, and he is bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the city, vs 14-22 (NIV).

"Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.

When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!"

David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord's people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord.  I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor."

Her comment is meant to humiliate David, but the sarcastic words finds no home in him.

David was willing to look more foolish, even humiliated in his own eyes for the sake of the Lord.  There is no self-consciousness in David when it comes to living his life out loud and all in for the Lord.

He wasn't trying to look cool or impress anyone.  He loved the Lord, he was happy that the Ark (which represented the presence of the Lord) was coming into the city and he expressed that joy by dancing.

When living and pleasing the Lord is our only focus and the enemy stirs someone up to attack us, their comments bounce off and find no home in us.  We simply care about what pleases the Lord.

Preacher Mike Beasley
Freedom Biker Church
919-550-FREE

Daily Rock!

I enjoy riding with my wife.  She has a great sense of direction and knows the way, so my mind never has to be on where the next turn is.  I have no real sense of direction so having a wife who both rides and knows the way is a double blessing for me!

We enjoy exploring the roads in and around our home.  Nice open country roads full of twisties and void of a lot of traffic.  Sometimes I fall a little behind, but I always keep her in sight.

But there are  times when we ride and come upon a traffic light.  These are the times when I need to follow rather closely.  The reason being (as I'm sure some of you have already guessed,) that when we approach a green light, often it turns yellow as she goes through and a choice has to be made.

Is there enough time to go through the light?

Time enough for one bike to make this light safely is not always time enough for a second bike.

So when you are the one following, you need to stay close to the lead bike.  That way, if they stop, you stop. If they go, you go.

Jesus said, ""Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does." John 3:19-20 (NIV)

How do we live a life like this?

By closely following our Lord.

"It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him." Deut 13:4 (NIV)

As we begin this new week, let's examine how closely we follow our Lord.

Because if we follow closely enough we never get lost - he most certainly knows the way.

Daily Rock!

What do we do with our time, treasures and talents?  Do they belong completely to the Lord?

Or do we use them for personal gain?

We see this all the time.  A musician whose gift is meant to bless others uses it to turn herself into an object of worship.  A man with great physical strength uses that to intimidate or abuse others rather than to protect.

That is a tempting thing.  To use what God has given us to feed our own agenda or ego.

King David was tempted to do that very thing.

. 

David had protected a man and his possessions. The man was  Nabal and David protected his sheep and shepherds, pretty much being a wall of protection around them.  When he heard it was sheep-shearing time, he asked Nabal for some provisions.  But Nabal insulted David's men and refused to pay back the good deed.  We read David's response in 1 Samuel 25:21-22 (NIV)

 "It's been useless—all my watching over this fellow's property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good.  May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!"" 

 

Not an idle threat, his men were strapping on swords and getting ready to do some business here.  Notice what is missing here? 

Previously David had consulted with the Lord before going into battle.  There is no prayer here, just human wisdom.  I've been insulted, I have an army, the gloves are off!

David is mentioning God, but he is not consulting God, at all.  By putting God into his agenda, it can seem righteous, but it is not.

Nabal's wife, however, heard all about it and greeted David on her own with the provisions.  She reasons with David, and reminds him of what is right.  Notice even the subtle reminder of his killing Goliath (like stones from the pocket of a sling) David your victories are in the Lord, for the Lord.

 "Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling.  When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel,  my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant." vv 29-31 (NIV)

David saw Abigail as being sent from God, and called off his plan.

"David said to Abigail, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me.  May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands."vv 32-34 (NIV)

David was a talented musician and warrior.  But the music and the strength was not given to him to feed his own ego.

We need to remember why we were given the time, talents and treasures we have.  It is important for us to examine our hearts and pray that the Lord is glorified in our lives by everything we say and do. 

Daily Rock!

"Buried with him in baptism raised to walk in newness of life!"

This Sunday we have another Baptism Sunday at Freedom Biker Church in Clayton. 

And as each soul is baptized, we will hear that statement over and over, "Buried with him in baptism raised to walk in newness of life!" It's a reference to Romans 6:4.

How do we walk in that newness of life?  Do we have a part to play in that?

Reading Galatians today:

"I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV)

He is doing the work in us, the Lord is causing the changes.  But we do have our part to play in that.  It is very much like a dance where the Lord chooses the music and the steps, then he leads us.  But we must dance according to that beat, follow those steps, and let him lead.

Otherwise we will look like Dudley in the movie"Wild Hogs", the music will move us, but it will move us in an ugly way because we will not be dancing to the rhythm of God.

"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." Galatians 5:16-18 (NIV)

and also

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:22-25 (NIV)

Keeping in step with the Spirit of God, is living a life in agreement with his Word.  That is the way our lives will begin to show the amazing fruit of his Spirit.

And that is how we will walk in a newness of life the world could never give us.

Daily Rocj!

Today's blog might ruffle some feathers.

1 Corinthians 13:4 - 7(NIV) reads,

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

This morning I was wondering, what would this look like if I replaced the word love with the word Christians?

"Christians are patient, Christians are kind. We do not envy, we do not boast, we are not proud.  Christians do not dishonor others, we are not self-seeking,we are not easily angered, Christians keeps no record of wrongs.  Christians do not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Christians always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere."

Do we look like that?  Would an honest look at the church today be described that way by anyone?

Long before today's political agendas existed, the Holy Spirit prompted Paul to write these words and describe love in these terms.  This is how the church of Jesus Christ is to behave, all the time.  There is no room for exceptions, Jesus Christ told us to even love our enemies.

Do we?  Is this what the dying world sees when they look at us?

Is this what we show?  Is this the standard we measure our Facebook postings by? (ouch)

This world is not our home.  No matter how much we would like it to be, it is not.  Jesus Christ said in his prayer to the Father, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." John 17:16-18 (NIV)

We are meant to be a light, so that all people may find Jesus Christ.  Everything we say, everything we do, how we live our lives need to point to Jesus Christ.

God is patient with the world, not desiring that any should perish but that all may believe (2 Peter 3:9).

Are we?

Love God, love people, do something about it.

Daily Rock!

When you look at your life or the circumstance around you, what do you see?  What conclusions do you draw from the things that happen around you?

We are so quick to draw our own conclusions, aren't we?  Something happens, and we react or we speak.  We think we know, because we feel we are seeing everything.  We act because we assume we have the whole picture.

I know I do that, all the time.

Reading through Luke this morning the same theme kept jumping out at me.

First, Jesus asks this question.

"Who touched me?" Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."

But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me." Luke 8:45-46 (NIV)

Next

While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher anymore."

Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed." Luke 8:49-50 (NIV)

and finally

"Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here."

He replied, "You give them something to eat." Luke 9:12-13 (NIV)

No one touched you Jesus, let's keep moving you are wasting time here.  Your daughter is dead, Jairus, send the teacher away.  Lord these people have a need, dismiss them so they can eat.

In each of these instances the observer did not see what Jesus saw and they drew a wrong conclusion.

Peter basically tells the Lord his question makes no sense.  Well-meaning people tell Jairus to give up hope, and the disciples are looking at their own resources (or lack thereof) and feel there is no other way.

But Jesus talks to the woman he heals, raises Jairus' daughter from the dead, and multiplies fish and bread to feed 5,000.

As we go about life, it is so tempting to draw conclusions for ourselves and others based on our own wisdom and what we see.

But if we stop and ask the Lord, perhaps he has something else in mind.  Perhaps there is more to the story than what meets the eye.

Reminds me of an old Hymn, let's make this a prayer today.

Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit Divine!

Open my ears that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.

Open my mouth and let me bear
Tidings of mercy everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.

Open my mind that I may read
More of Thy love in word and deed;
What shall I fear while yet Thou dost lead?
Only for light from Thee I plea.

Daily Rock!

How do you turn to God when you are angry or upset?  Do you turn to him at all durning those times?

Saul had pretty much turned into a mad king.  He is obsessed with finding David and killing him.  When he found out that Ahimelech the priest helped David and gave him the sword of Goliath, he ordered all 85 of the priest that lived there killed, along with their families including women and children.

We pick up 1 Samuel 22 with David's reaction.

"But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled to join David.  He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. Then David said to Abiathar, "That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family.  Stay with me; don't be afraid. The man who wants to kill you is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.". 1 Sam 22:20-23 (NIV)

Next David  poured out his heart into a song, Psalm 52.  I love reading the psalms in the context of when they happened.

Notice  the way David prays here. He starts out with the anger he has over what Saul has done but ends in praise to God.

Psalm 52 (NIV)

1 Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero?
    Why do you boast all day long,
    you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?
2 You who practice deceit,
    your tongue plots destruction;
    it is like a sharpened razor.
3 You love evil rather than good,
    falsehood rather than speaking the truth.
4 You love every harmful word,
    you deceitful tongue!
5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:
    He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent;
    he will uproot you from the land of the living.
6 The righteous will see and fear;
    they will laugh at you, saying,
7 "Here now is the man
    who did not make God his stronghold
but trusted in his great wealth
    and grew strong by destroying others!"
8 But I am like an olive tree
    flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God's unfailing love
    for ever and ever.
9 For what you have done I will always praise you
    in the presence of your faithful people.
And I will hope in your name,
    for your name is good."

That is a good lesson, when talking to God, be honest with where you are at.  Vent to God, let him know what happened, how you are feeling.  Then sit in silence for a moment, and allow the Spirit of God to take you to where you need to be.

This is how David put into practice being a "man after God's own heart."

Daily Rock!

There is so much ugliness in the world today, it is easy to lose heart.

I look at the news today.  The familiar words are always there in the headlines.  Slain, killed, gunfire erupts, and "state of emergency".  I wonder at times why the Lord bothers, how he can possibly see anything worth saving with us.

This past weekend my wife and I were in Washington DC.  Yesterday we visited the National Gallery of Art.

Just walking into that building, I could see how beautiful it is.  The columns that soar to the ceiling, the fountains, the natural light.  Then room after room of paintings and sculptures of all kinds, from all periods in history.  Plenty of room to walk around, look at them, wonder about the hands that made them.  Without a doubt my favorite was the Da Vinci on display.  A very rare treat, it's the only one in the United States.

It refreshed my soul.

I saw that we are capable of creating things of great beauty.  And then, arranging them so that people can freely see them.  The National Gallery of Art is free to the public, as are most of the sites in DC.

What else is free for us to enjoy?

You don't have to travel to a museum to see these things.  Beauty is all around us, in nature and the people we meet every day.

But we have to look to see them.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Phil 4:8 (NIV)

Daily Rock!

Have you ever been tempted to take matters into your own hands?

In 1 Samuel, Saul and David have been playing cat and mouse with Saul searching for David and David living in the wilderness.  David has about 600 men now, his numbers are growing and I am sure he must be wondering when God would make him king.  When all the wandering in the wilderness would come to an end.

Have you ever felt like that?  Called to do something, but waiting on the Lord to make it happen...  Then an opportunity arises and you are tempted to give circumstances a nudge.  Or perhaps just make a small compromise, get things moving.

"After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi." So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.

He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.  The men said, "This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'" Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.  He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord."  With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way." 1 Samuel 24:1-7 (NIV)

Although circumstances at first looked like God was giving David an opportunity to kill Saul as his men urged him,  David had a relationship with the living God, he knew what was right and what was wrong.  And he chose to trust the Lord to bring about his destiny as king, in his time, in his way.

And the result was that when Saul realized David spared his life, he confirmed David's destiny.  David's enemy became a source of confirmation that he would be king!

"You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.  You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me.  When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today. I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands." 1 Sam 24:17-20 (NIV)

God was working on David's heart, forming him and testing him.  God is always more concerned with us having a right relationship with him, than any work we could ever do for him.  And to have that right relationship, we must keep our choices consistent with his word.

Without the relationship with him, we have nothing.

"Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?'  Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Matthew 7:22-23 (NIV)

Daily Rock!

So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there.  Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men." 1 Sam 20:1-2 (NIV)

David's life is not that great at this point.  He is running from Saul and hiding.  He just left another city where he pretended to be insane because his reputation as a warrior put him in fear for his life.

Have you ever felt like that?  You are doing what the Lord told you to do and it seems to be working against you.  Where is the abundant life?

It was during this time he wrote another song.

Now keep in mind he didn't write this song with the hope that millions would be blessed by it over centuries.  He wrote and sang to his Lord, because that is what a man after God's own heart does in times like these.

We talked a little about this in ReFuel the other night.  Time with God, just telling him how you feel.  It doesn't have to be a song, it just has to be honest.

There  is honesty in these words, but also the hope in who God is.  Notice how David is always turning his words back to God and praising him.

Take a moment and pray for God to reveal something to you, then read this whole Psalm.

Psalm 57 (NIV)

For the director of music. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave.

1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
    for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
    until the disaster has passed.

2 I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.
3 He sends from heaven and saves me,
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

4 I am in the midst of lions;
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.

6 They spread a net for my feet—
    I was bowed down in distress.
They dug a pit in my path—
    but they have fallen into it themselves.

7 My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;
    I will sing and make music.
8 Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!
    I will awaken the dawn.
9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.

Daily Rock!

It's easy to judge the actions of God without knowing the whole story.  To view events through our own eyes, jump to a conclusion, and then react.

Reading Luke 15 this morning, this is the story of the lost son.

I think we are all pretty familiar with this.  A son takes his inheritance, parties like a rock star and then comes to his senses when life takes a turn for the worse.

We've all been there.

I have read this hundreds of times and I have never understood the reaction of the other brother before.  I did not get why he was so angry, and would not go in.  Until today I realized just how much I am like him.

"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.  So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.  'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

"The older brother became angry and refused to go in."Luke 15:22-28 (NIV)

I always assumed that the older brother knew the whole story.  He did not.  All he knows is, "'Your brother has come,' and, 'your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

The older son did not know that the younger had repented, was wiling to be a servant just to come home.  He did not have that piece of the story.  Therefore, based on his own limited knowledge, he did not trust his father's actions.

He took the facts he knew, "My brother left, blew all the money and came home and my father celebrates?" and he reacts in anger.  Then he sits outside the party angry, refusing to go in even after his father starts pleading with him.

Notice the father does not explain his actions at first, he just pleads with him.  There is that moment with God, when he doesn't want to have to explain himself.  He just wants us to trust him.  Do we?

"So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.  But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' Luke 15:28-30 (NIV)

Then comes the amazing love and humility of the father when he explains himself to his son.

"'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" Luke 15:31-32 (NIV)

How do we react when we only have part of the story?  Do we judge the heart of God when we don't have all the answers?

"God why are you allowing this?  I thought you were loving?  God why don't you fix this?  I thought you were just?"

Do we really need the God of the universe to explain himself to us before we fully trust and obey him?

Or can we just trust that he is who he says he is, regardless of what we can see with our limited understanding?

Daily Rock!

Continuing to read of the life of David in 1 Samuel.

David killed Goliath, and enters full-time into the service of Saul's army.  He is spending some time fighting and some time as a court musician.

Saul has hatred in his heart toward David, and in his spiritual condition, he tries to kill him.  Not once, but several times.

"But one day when Saul was sitting at home, with spear in hand, the tormenting spirit from the LORD suddenly came upon him again. As David played his harp, Saul hurled his spear at David. But David dodged out of the way, and leaving the spear stuck in the wall, he fled and escaped into the night" 1 Sam 19:9-10 (NIV)

As I mentioned yesterday, David's life doesn't get any easier after killing the giant.  Saul appears to have forgotten what David did for him and his country, he has become his enemy.  Or really, he has sided with the enemy of David's soul.

Notice that Saul attacks David when he is living for God, following his leading and worshipping him.  Yet, God has allowed the spear to be thrown.

But he did not allow the spear to hit its intended target, that's important to note.  Even in the midst of this unwarranted attack, God is in control.

1 Samuel tells us he "escaped into the night," and that evening he wrote a song.   The song was recorded for us as Psalm 59.

"My enemies come out at night,
    snarling like vicious dogs
    as they prowl the streets.
They scavenge for food
    but go to sleep unsatisfied.

But as for me, I will sing about your power.
    Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.
For you have been my refuge,
    a place of safety when I am in distress.

O my Strength, to you I sing praises,
    for you, O God, are my refuge,
    the God who shows me unfailing love." Psalm 59:14-17 (NIV)

What do we do when our lives are difficult?  How do we react when we live for God, yet things don't go as we feel they should and the spears are flying at us?

David is not looking at his current circumstance and judging God.  To him God has not changed, he is still "the God who shows me unfailing love."

Daily Rock!

Are you facing a giant?  Is there something in your life that is taunting you, causing you to lose heart?  Something that makes you doubt God is with you?

Reading in 1 Samuel 17 today.

So to set the stage, for 40 days a giant named Goliath was demoralizing the entire army of Saul.  Not one man would fight him, one-on-one.  The army had taken their eyes off the Lord and put them onto the enemy. 

And this guy was huge, his spear was reported to have a head on it that weighed about the same as a bowling ball! 

David hears the taunts and because of his relationship with God and love for God he volunteers to fight the giant.

"David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him."

Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth."

But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock,  I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.  The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine."

Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you." 1 Samuel 17:32-34 (NIV)

If you notice, he didn't say, "I'm really good with a sling shot...."  what he pointed to was a history of God enabling him to defeat first a lion, then a bear.  He never imagined his past accomplishments to be anything but God giving the victory. 

How do we move forward when we are facing a giant?  It's tempting to go around it, or to even run in the opposite direction. 

Sometimes it is good to take a moment to reflect on all the victories God has given us.  We need to remember that it is not by our own strength and power that we accomplished anything. 

"'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty." Zechariah 4:6 (NIV)

Knowing of God's past deliverance, how did David face his giant?

"As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground." 1 Sam 17:48-49 (NIV)

A study of the life of David shows that his life did not get any easier after this.  In fact, the life of a simple shepherd was far more appealing in many ways than the life David would have from this moment forward.

To be a "man after God's own heart" is not an easy road, but for David it was the only road to take.

"But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:14 (NIV)

Daily Rock!

Recently my wife and I signed up for a one-day course to improve our motorcycle skills.

One of the riders we met at the BikeSafe class was a young man who rode in on a Ducati.

He was wearing a well worn leather jacket with padding.  Underneath was a padded vest, and he wore a special neck brace with his full-face helmet.  When speaking to him I found out he was a former stunt rider.  He shared a few photos on his phone, in one of them he was doing a wheelie with no hands.

I sat there thinking, why would he need this class?  You would think that if anyone had a complete  skill set it would be a stunt rider!

His answer stayed with me.

"You can always learn something new, you never stop learning.  I would never want to get to the place where I think  I know it all."

What an amazing attitude to have!

Reading Matthew 18.

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.  And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:1-4 (NIV)

A child is capable of learning two languages at once without the need of writing anything down or studying.  They are in constant learning mode and have no problem looking foolish, making mistakes, or getting the answer wrong.

A child is a learner, they are not set in their ways.  To be a learner takes the humility of a child.  It never occurs to them that they should think they know it all.  That comes later, when they are teenagers!

In our walk with the Lord, are we teenagers or children?

Let's begin this week with a prayer from Psalm 119

"Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees,
    that I may follow it to the end.
Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law
    and obey it with all my heart.
Direct me in the path of your commands,
    for there I find delight.
Turn my heart toward your statutes
    and not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
    preserve my life according to your word." - Psalm 119:33-37 (NIV)

Daily Rock!

esterday my wife and I attended a motorcycle safety course called BikeSafe that was operated by the local police department.  All of the instructors are motorcycle cops.

There is some classroom time, and then you are given a page with the route to ride on it.  Each student is matched up with an officer who follows you on his motorcycle. 

At first it is a little unnerving being around so many cops.  But in the class time, the officers explain how this day is for you.  They are passionate about one thing, teaching you to be a better, safer rider.  I began to understand- this isn't a day about giving out tickets, this is a day they give to help you enjoy riding and staying alive while doing it.

It's amazing how confident you can be when you are riding in traffic with that police officer riding behind you!  Go ahead, see my riding buddy today?  Let him catch you cutting me off!  Go ahead, make my day...

Now I'm horrible with directions.  I taped the little paper to my tank and we headed down the road followed by my instructor.  A few times I missed the turn, had to turn around as he politely pointed to the correct way.  But although he was letting me lead, he was always there to make sure I stayed on the route.  He had my back, was watching out for me the entire time.  When we returned to the classroom, he gave me both encouragement and pointers to ride better. 

I thought about that today, how much that is like our walk with the Lord.  There is some "class time" while we study the Word, then out into the world with the Holy Spirit there to guide and watch over us, politely pointing out when we have strayed off the route God has chosen.  Then ending the day with reflection on mistakes made and encouragement on how to grow. 

"If you love me, keep my commands.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—  the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." John 14:15-17 (NIV)