Author: Dr. J.D. Wilkins

I've always had something to say, an opinion as it were, so here are some of those thoughts for today ...

God Acts … in Providence

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If the definition of “miracle” is defined as God working in extraordinary ways, then “providence” is God working in ordinary ways.  However, the line between these two distinctions is not always that clear.  Miracles seem magnificent to us, but providence can also be amazing.  The Westminster Shorter Catechism defines providence like this:

“His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing of all His creatures and all their actions.”

In short, this means God either allows or designs everything that happens.  Where do I get this idea?  Focus here on the word “ALL” in this definition of providence, because God’s control of His world is comprehensive and all-inclusive.

Providence carries with it these three concepts:  preserving, revelation, and concurrence.

God’s PRESERVING can mean a variety of things but according to scripture must include:

  • that this earth could not continue to exist without God’s permission
  • that Jesus holds everything together [Colossians 1:17]
  • that God is holding off His final judgment until all He knows will be saved, are saved [2 Peter 3:5-9]
  • that God preserves His people from death or destruction at many points during this earthly life [Genesis 45:5]
  • even though death will come to us eventually, in death God continues to preserve us [Psalm 16:10]
  • ALL this happens as God directs the course of nature and history to a preordained goal [Ephesian 1:9-11]

God’s REVELATION is not mentioned in the Catechism above, but is important for us to note, because:

  • everything that happens reflects (reveals) God’s wisdom (Psalm 104:24; Proverbs 8:22-36]
  • God’s Word directs (reveals) all things [Psalm 147:15-20; 148:5-8]
  • the heavens themselves declare (reveal) God’s glory
  • in all this God’s invisible nature is clearly in view (revealed) {Romans 1] as He makes Himself known to us.

CONCURRENCE then refers to God’s working in even the smallest events of nature and history to bring about (according to the Catechism) ” the cooperation of the divine power with all subordinate powers, according to the pre-established laws of their operation, causing them to act and to act precisely as they do.”

Huh?

Think of it this way.  When plants germinate, they are carrying out the natural law God designed for them.  This is true.  However, the doctrine of concurrence demonstrates that God is also working in, with, and through these laws to achieve His own ultimate preordained goal [Ephesians 1:9-11].  This means that even when a sparrow falls to the ground [Matthew 10:29], this event will never occur unless it fulfills God’s preordained goal.  It also means that God knows the numbers of hairs on each of our heads [Matthew 10:30].

God is working both in heaven and in everything that happens in nature and history.

So here’s the thing.

Providence (in the same way we looked at miracles, fits the original threefold picture of: control, authority, and presence.

In providence God controls everything, reveals Himself authoritatively, and is present and active in the world He made.

Next time we will look at how God acts in Creation.

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God Acts – an outline

Dr. J.D. Wilkins2 Comments

If you have been one of those people who made it their goal to read the Bible all the way through … cover to cover, including the maps and concordance… what you quickly notice is how difficult it is to understand the timeline of this work.  The Bible is not linear.  The books overlap and many cover the same time period but from different authors perspective.  But one thing is clear from the very beginning, God is actively involved with the world He created.

When we ask the question “Who is God” the Bible becomes the definitive work for not just discovering the answer, but also for understanding how the information found there applies to us individually.  In Scripture we find God acting in many ways to reveal Himself to mankind.  Here is a brief outline of what we’ll examine in this section of God ACTS.

God acts:

  • Activity in and with the natural world through miracles, providence, and creation
  • Making heavenly proclamations including His Lordship in eternity past, controlling everything in the present, and a plan for eternity future
  • All these activities and proclamations are done in accordance with the plan to redeem His creation from sin and death.

Why would God go to such lengthy extremes to reveal Himself in this way?

Let’s start with God acting in this world through miracles.

So, what constitutes a miracle?

Many people today define “miracle” as anything occurring outside the laws of nature.  However, Scripture doesn’t say all that much about natural law, because the Bible authors didn’t know enough to identify miracles as exceptions to the laws of nature.  Even when Jesus calmed the storms of the sea, the emphasis from those who witnessed this is interesting.  “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” (Luke 8:25)

God has always been busy in and through His Sovereign control of nature. The authors of the Bible speak of miracles as an extraordinary demonstration of God’s LORDSHIP.  One great example is the deliverance of the Hebrew people as they left Egypt.  God made the waters separate so His people could cross on dry land, but they had no concept of natural law being suspended.  Moses wrote that the event happened through a “strong east wind.” [Exodus 14:21]

So here’s the thing.

The wording used in Scripture for “miracle” whether expressed in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament, or the Greek terminology of the New Testament, seems to focus on three general ideas:  powers, signs, and wonders.

Powers… are miracles where God acts in extraordinary ways controlling His creation. [Luke 8:25; or Exodus 14:21 above]

Signs… correspond to the idea of an authentic communication from God about His intentions.  [Luke 2:12]

Wonders… circumstances of events intended to wake us up and realize God really is here, right now, just like Peter did in Luke 5:1-10.

Well… do miracles still happen today?

To answer this question, maybe we should recognize that while there are many miracles demonstrated in the Bible, even in this historical record miracles didn’t happen every day.  Miracles were the exception, not the rule, and they were usually to validate the words of a prophet (OT) or an apostle (NT), but especially to authenticate God the Father’s witness that Jesus Christ is the Son.  In fact, there is a 400-year time span between the last book of the Old Testament, and the first book of the New Testament, where God didn’t act, or speak in any way at all.  Because of this truth, we shouldn’t expect miracles to be a regular part of the Christian life either.

God never promised this.

That said, there is nothing to indicate God doesn’t or won’t work in a miraculous way today.  The term “wonder” usually applies in Scripture to floating axe heads [2 Kings 6:1-7], turning water into wine [John2:1-10], or miraculous feedings [Mark 8:1-13],

But Psalm 134:3-4 says, “Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever, to him who alone does great wonders…” then verse 25 says, “He gives food to every creature.”  We don’t pay enough attention sometimes to realize God feeds us all, through His Sovereign control to keep this world in order, producing the food we eat.

In this sense God is working in extraordinary ways (miracles) all the time, all around us.

Next time… God acts in Providence.

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God is…

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To answer the question: Who is God?… we must state the obvious.  He is LORD.  In the first two installments I introduced three basic tenets as a foundation for spiritual understanding.  God as Lord is… in control of all things, speaks with absolute authority, and is present with us, His creatures, all the time.

But the question, “who is God?” really is asking for more than this simple view, right?  So over the coming weeks, my articles will be like taking a leisurely stroll through some Bible passages that help us see, know, and understand God better.

This will be a glance into the nature and character of God, as His word reveals it.  The vast expanse of Bible material to cover would overwhelm us both, if we tried to cover it too quickly.  So little bits of tasty morsels is all I will give in any one article.

Psalm 34:8
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Where to begin?

One of the mysteries of scripture is how God reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Spirit. We call this the Trinity, although this word is not found anywhere in the Bible.  Three in One we say, and the Bible implies it is so.

Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

You will notice right away that I will also use this threefold pattern to help bring clarity to the topics discussed.

The Bible reveals God to us by

  • showing us his ACTS,
  • by giving us authoritative DESCRIPTIONS of Himself,
  • and by revealing just a glimpse of the relationship between Father, Son, and Spirit.

The ACTS of God are all about demonstrating how God the LORD is in control of everything.

The DESCRIPTIONS of God the LORD help us understand the demand on His creatures to yield to His authority and will for our lives.

And the glimpse of the TRINITY tells us that even before God made the world, He was in personal relationship – committed to one another in love, and perfectly PRESENT to one another.

Now, here’s the thing…

Some of the work you’ll have to do on your own.  If you don’t own a Bible, you need to borrow one, or buy one, or link to an online website that makes the Word of God available to you.  I simply will not be able to give the text of every reference, every time, but will give you the source to look up for yourself.  It will have great benefit for you, if you look it up and read it for yourself, trust me on this.

In all of God’s acts, descriptions, and glimpses of His inner life (Trinity) He puts Himself on display as LORD.  Everything He does, everything He says, every glimpse is so that you and I will be like those first chosen ones.

Exodus 29:46
They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.

Are you ready?

We begin tomorrow with “How God Acts”

 

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Transcendence and Immanence

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Yesterday I introduced three basic tenets for why God is Lord (Jehovah) and Jesus is Lord (since They are One):  Control, Authority, and Presence.  If you missed this article, read it by clicking here.  Transcendence and immanence are two terms which describe the God of the Bible, even though they are not terms found in the Bible.  The Bible talks about God being “On high” (transcendence), it speaks of God being “with us” (immanence).

Some teachers/pastors/theologians have misunderstood God’s transcendence. suggesting God is so far away (above) us that we cannot really know Him personally, our language can’t describe Him adequately or accurately, making God nothing more than a heavenly blur without any definitive characteristics.  This view of transcendence is unbiblical, because the Bible teaches we CAN know definite things about God, and even come to know Him personally.

Jeremiah 33:2-3
This is what the LORD says—the LORD who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the LORD: Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.

When the Bible uses terms like “on high”, “exalted”, or “lifted up” it does not mean distance, it means the glory of enthronement.  God is King, He is LORD…transcendent above us in His Lordship, being in control and having all authority.

Isaiah 6:1
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

In this same way, using the term immanence,  should refer to God’s presence among us and within us.  The misinformed speak about God becoming immersed in the world, hidden, so that He cannot be distinguished from creaturely reality, referring to His humanness.  But this is not Biblical teaching either.

Jesus incarnate was neither hidden nor consumed in His humanity.  Yes, He emptied Himself, the Bible says. Yes, He didn’t think holding on to His eternity-based God-ness was something to be held onto, the Bible says.  What He did say was “I’m going to prepare a place for you, so that where I am you can be too.”  [Philippians 2, John 14]

So, here’s the thing.

Transcendence and immanence are not that difficult when you think of it this way…

God is not so far away that He doesn’t know you exist, or what you’re going through.  And He isn’t so far above you that you can’t know Him personally.  In fact that is His plan exactly, for you to find Him and know Him, as Lord (transcendence).

To make this easier for you, He came to earth Himself (immanence – Jesus) to implement the plan of God for humanity to be saved.  His Spirit is right next to you now, leading you to this truth.  And when you trust in Jesus as LORD, embracing His saving power in your life, this same Spirit comes to reside inside of you… His presence never leaving you.

Next time:  Who is God?

 

 

A simple view of God.

Dr. J.D. Wilkins1 Comment

1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Here’s the thing.  Everything we do… and I mean everything… is either to God’s glory or it is not.  Therein lies the crucial concept about what it means to call God/Jesus “Lord.”  In order to live in this simplistic view of God, several elementary tenets must be present.

First, God is in control.  This means in His sovereignty, God is in charge of everything.  He allows evil to exist so that He can demonstrate His power to turn it into good.  We can choose to do good, or not, but what happens as a result of our choices God is still in control… even if our actions were ill intentioned.  For example, Joseph’s brother’s willfully chose to sell him into slavery in Egypt.  But God… (don’t you love that phrase?)… but God took that evil action and turned it into good.

Second, because God is in control, He has absolute authority over my life.  We should never doubt or question this authority.  And, the absoluteness of God’s authority means His lordship transcends all other loyalties on our part.  Yes we should be loyal to our parents, friends, nation… But God says we should love Him with all our heart… without any rival.  In addition, this authority covers all areas of human life.  Read the opening verse 1 Corinthians 10:31 again.

Third, when God takes you and me into His family, He fights for us, blesses us, loves us, and sometimes disciplines us for our sinfulness.  But most importantly, God is present with us.  Jesus was named Immanuel (God with us – Isaiah 7:14).  Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, because we are His temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16)

So…

Control, authority, covenant presence… these three tenets are the main biblical concepts that explain the meaning of God’s Lordship.

Tune in tomorrow for the meaning of “transcendence and immanence.”

Just in time…

Dr. J.D. Wilkins2 Comments

Just in timeThis is the Rocky Mountaineer engine which pulled our train from Seattle to Vancouver on the first leg of our fantastic vacation in May, 2018.  As we boarded that afternoon I was almost overcome with excitement at what I would see and experience over the next week and a half.  I remember the rush of adrenalin at the first movement of the train pulling out of the station, and the unmitigated sense of joy at being in that place, at that time.

I’m thinking this must be what it was like (in some greater way) for my dear friend Jay Wheelock, yesterday morning at 6:20 a.m. CDT., when Jay went to be with Jesus.  His passing was difficult for me.  I loved this man as much as I ever could have loved a brother.

He was in fact my brother, because I also had the rare privilege of leading Jay to trust in Jesus as his own personal Savior back in the late 1990’s.  For the last 20 years or so Jay and I played lots of golf together.  We went on many spiritual journeys together, as his mind led Jay to read the Bible constantly and come to me with a list of questions to help him make sense of it all.  Now, looking back on all those years, and all that conversation and discussion, I miss him already.  I’m sad… but it’s a joyful sadness.  Because I know… that Jay now knows… the truth of all we discussed.

Consider for a moment these truths:

Psalm 139:16  ~  You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Psalm 39:4  ~  LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered–how fleeting my life is.

Romans 8:1  ~  So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:53-58  ~  Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:  “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

The schedule for the Rocky Mountaineer train journey was never precise, they always gave us a general arrival time span.  This was because they shared the tracks with other trains and the train traffic controllers determined who went where and when.

However, in the Sovereign plan of God, laid out before Jay was ever born, God had it all worked out.  And God is never late or imprecise.

The ultimate truth is crystal clear:

Romans 5:6  ~  You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

Thank you God, for my brother Jay, who now knows the truth of these words, and lives now in the power of your presence.

Faces

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faces

The smile.
The frown.

Sadness.
Disbelief.

Comprehension.
Fear.

Doubt.
Peace.

Just a few of the faces I’ve seen.
All coming from one set of muscles designed to demonstrate unlimited tales of emotion.

The face.
Yours is beyond beautiful.

The lines of time in all the right places, enhancing your glow, casting spells on all who care to see.  The eyes, nose, cheeks, lips all perfectly placed, what a marvelous creation.

Each expression a diamond mine to explore until time is no more.
And even then, there would be no end to the joy that is your face.

Mine seems to be one dimensional compared to yours.
I lack the luster, and grace of the excitement of your eyes.

My nose just sits there whether I talk or listen.
Yours with all it’s tiny curls and twitches brings brilliance to every laugh, drama to every tear.

My lips too long have drawn taunt with frustration, anger, depression.
Yours always inviting conversation and the taste of life and love.

Why is it that women’s faces are always so beautiful, and men’s always so worn and chiseled?  It doesn’t seem fair until I realize one simple truth.

Men were never intended to look into mirrors.
They were created to look into the divine and bring him glory.

And to facilitate that end, God in his infinite wisdom gave man the greatest of all gifts.
The faces of the woman he loves.

 

 

Revelation 14:2

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rushing water

And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.

The sound of this water was so loud I could barely think.  But what I thought was this verse describing a worship scene that even John struggled to describe.

May the light of God in Jesus Christ shine bright upon you today, and His love and grace fill your life with blessing unspeakable.

 

#WalkAway in not a new thing…

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In these confusing days of intolerance, judgment, and hate I’m reminded of these words written thousands of years ago:

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” [Ecclesiastes 1:9]

What stirred this thought process for me was an article on the Fox News Website this morning, click here to read it for yourself.  According to Fox News, “Kevin Nicholson is a decorated Marine Corps veteran who served combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Following his time in the Marine Corps, he earned a joint degree at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government (Master of Public Administration) and Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business (Master of Business Administration). He then worked for McKinsey & Co., and now works for ghSmart as a business consultant. He is a first-time candidate in the Wisconsin Republican primary for U.S. Senate.”  Now here is a man I could get behind and support without question.

Yet, as I read this article, an overwhelming sense of sadness came upon me.  What the author of Ecclesiastes wrote is true throughout the ages.  Intolerance will be around until the end of time itself, repeating with fervor ever so often, rising again and again to claim its victims.  One very famous victim of intolerance had a lot to say about the #walkaway concept.

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.  God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.  God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.  God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.  God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.  Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”  [Matthew 5:3-11]

In His teaching, Jesus went on to talk about hate, anger, revenge and other volatile topics ending with these words…

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.  But I say, love your enemies!  Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.” [vs. 43-47]

There comes a time when dealing with intolerant judgers and haters requires a person to just #WalkAway.  Jesus said this too.  When His disciples were met with ridicule or persecution after preaching the gospel in a given city, Jesus instructed them:

But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate. 

[Mark 6:11]

Today’s vernacular would say… #WalkAway

He never said this life would be easy.   He never promised we would only walk through rose gardens, and only smell the roses.  In fact He said,

“They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

[Luke 12:53]

Today on the front page headlines we find Kevin Nicholson’s story and see these words fulfilled:

I’m running for Senate as a Republican. My Democrat parents are so furious they’re backing my opponent

 

The most important thing you can take away from this blog today is this:  God’s WORD is absolutely true.  There is nothing new that God hasn’t seen, or already said is coming.

So, if you want to find your way in this crazy world, the place to seek your path is in the word of God.  It was true then… it’s true still, today.

2,107 Miles North

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2107 Miles

Photo taken:  May 24, 2018, 1:12 P.M.

It’s been almost 2 weeks since my last post, but I can explain.  Perhaps the best explanation is this image.  My wife and I love to play golf together, and we look forward to many golf trips in the future.  If you follow this blog you’ll know that we just returned from a trip to Canada where we toured the Rocky Mountains and saw amazing sights along the way.  One of our two-night stops was at the Jasper Fairmont Lodge, in Jasper, Alberta, Canada.  This photo perspective is from the first tee of the JFL Golf Course.  We didn’t get to play that day, the course was having some teenage tournament, and behind us (not in the photo) were several bus loads of kids about to tackle this course.

So with that context, the reason I haven’t written in a couple of weeks is that upon our return from vacation it became apparent that if we were to go on many more vacations involving hiking, or golfing, my wife was in need of a total knee replacement.  Eleven days ago, she had this surgical procedure done.  We go back to the doctor tomorrow to get the staples removed.  Then, in about another month or so, we’ll be back out on the golf course chasing that little white ball.  As a result, I’ve been out of touch and haven’t even been at my computer much.

This morning I travelled 2,107 miles in my mind, standing once again on this first tee box, imagining what it would be like to play this course.  What strikes me now, stuck me then, that I might have trouble focusing on my swing because I was so distracted by the beauty of the surrounding terrain.  The blue hue of the mountains, the almost fall-look of the forrest, and the brilliant gleaming green of the fairways was a truly awesome sight.  I wondered then, and I wonder now, if those kids realized how blessed they were to play in such a grand place.

As I write this, I can almost smell the cool air drifting down the fairway as the breeze quickens, the leaves rustle in nearby trees, and the branches move at the tops like soldiers saluting a passing general.  On this day, just like that day in May, I’m reminded of God’s glory, and how blessed I am to know He is in sovereign control of all of life.

Thank you God for the beauty of this world, and thank you that my wife is healing well, and that soon we’ll be venturing outdoors again to experience your creation among the greens.

1 Corinthians 2:9   That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

 

 

Can’t see the forest for the leaves

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look straight up 2

photo taken: Sunday, May 20th, 1:55pm

I realize that I misquoted this statement, but it fits better with this image.  It was, and still remains a mystery to me why so many people look out, or down, but never look up when walking through a forest.  The path may be dangerously steep or rocky, so yes you have to look where you’re going, I get that.  No mistake at all that the forest is filled with all different species of trees which are glorious all on their own, but together in the mix of trees, one could even call it magnificent.  But just once when you look up into the canopy… at the tops of the trees where the sun shines through… well most people never do see this image.

These leaves were a good 5 to 10 feet above my head, so the tops of the trees overhead had to be 75-100 feet above, or more.

Our eyes seldom focus on the far things, but rather on the things right in front of us.  These bright green leaves might represent our current circumstances, good or bad.  The tree tops might represent our future, sometimes obscured except for an occasional glimpse of what might be.   And the brightness of an overcast sky in the distance having no clarity at all, represents a hazy, gauze-like, white cotton heavenly, but unknowable, eternity.

I don’t want to miss any of it.  I want to capture everything in this life which God meant for me to experience, understand, and know.  So while I’m focused on the now, I live in the hope of seeing the tops of the trees before my life is over. Then, in the end, to go into that bright light, to be at home with the Lord.

Right now, I continue to look up, because I want to be ready.

Job 35:5   Look up at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds so high above you.

What’s wrong with this picture?

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whats wrong with this picture

photo taken May 25th, 2018, 4:12pm

We had stopped at this location to see a frozen lake and landscape on our way to Banff.  It was majestic as far as the eye could see, the mountains, the ice cap, the beautiful blue sky, and this lake that until now was frozen solid and had just begun to melt.

When into the frame stepped this young man with a paddle board… hmmm.  Now I’m not one to judge, but it did cause me to contemplate, “What is he thinking?”  Surely he is not going to plunge himself, on purpose, into this ice cold water, then paddle board around for the afternoon… is he?  I don’t know how this story ended.  It was time to load the bus, and go on to the next site on the list.  So, we never saw him go in, only his intention to do so.

The action of the young man weighed on me as I consider life around me today.  I don’t know what causes some people to just “jump” into an irrational pattern of behavior.  I don’t understand how this action would even be a consideration.  Maybe it is as simple as this young man considers himself to be a “paddle-boarder.”  So in all kinds of weather, regardless of hot or cold, he goes paddle boarding.  I guess I could accept that.

I also know that it might be how people look at me.  I consider myself to be a person of faith, long-time pastor/teacher.  So whether in adversity, or peace; when I’m sick or when I’m healthy; whether I have little, or a lot… my thoughts turn to scripture and its applications for life today.  It’s who I am.

What came oozing out of this young man’s veins was, “I need to go paddle boarding,” it’s who he is.

What comes oozing out of you on a daily basis?  And does the world around you always understand why it does?

There is one sure-fire way to determine people of faith in the chaos of the world today.  When it’s freezing spiritually, or when it’s beautiful spiritually, the person of faith is seen this way: they are … loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and in control of themselves.   How do I know this?  Read Galatians 5:22-23.

The world in chaos and darkness will look at you the same way I looked at this young man… and they won’t understand it.  But make no mistake, God’s Holy Spirit will use you in these actions to make a difference in your world.  So let the “fruit” of God’s Spirit inside you work through you today.

 

 

It’s Not Easy

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not easy

taken: Johnston Canyon, Alberta Canada, May 26th, 11:31 a.m.

Walking this path to the waterfalls in Johnston Canyon was a fast 20 minute hike, so we chose to let younger legs pass us by as we just took our time listening to the sounds of the forest and the river below.  In one incredible moment, there was a single ray of light that lit up this lone aspen tree in the forest, and I knew what it meant when Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” [Matthew 5:14]

What we are designed to do is reflect God’s image to the dark world around us, because He lives inside us.

What we are supposed to do is speak God’s truth to an unbelieving world which is filled with hate, anger, fear, and judgment… and speak this truth in love.

What we are supposed to BE… is holy, set apart for God’s own purposes, just like this lone aspen in the middle of the forest.

In the chaos of life surrounding you today, if you are in Christ, be “The light of the world.”

It’s not easy…

Can You Imagine?

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Center of Attention small

Thursday, May 24, 1:18 p.m., Jasper National Park, Alberta Canada.

And the thought that came to mind was, “Heavenly!”

These two read chairs, sitting next to the lake just behind the Fairmont Lodge, were so inviting.  In the cool mountain air, with just a hint of breeze, I was thinking how nice it would be to just sit and talk.

This led me to folks who’ve gone on before me to heaven, and how one day maybe I’ll get to sit beside them in some idyllic setting such as this, and just catch up.  I’d like to sit with my mother again like this and just talk like I did when I came home from college.

Then, I thought of my dad, struggling with the mysterious illness we call Alzheimer’s disease.  I don’t remember many times when my dad and I just sat and talked.  We played golf, we played card games at family times like Christmas or Thanksgiving.  But there weren’t that many times when we would just sit and talk.  Now, I wish he could remember me, and we could just sit and talk.

Inevitably, these thoughts today brought me to the idea of one day just sitting and talking with Jesus.  How marvelous that will be!  But wait…

I know it seems like prayer is a more formal exercise often only emphasized in church worship or at Bible studies, but doesn’t the Bible actually teach us that prayer is simply having a conversation with God?  In fact on this day we celebrate as Father’s Day, what could please him more than if we simply pulled up two chairs together (wherever you are today), and just took the time to have a conversation with the Creator of the universe, our Heavenly Father?  The Apostle Peter said it this way… 1 Peter 5:6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

No More Thirst

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AF 1 small

Here I stood, listening to the roar of the mighty Athabasca Falls, taking in the stunning view of sunlight as it lit up the mist, while my heart inside my head repeated over and over and over, “My God, How Great Thou Art!”

The stone monument nearby read:

Since the last in a dynasty of glaciers retreated 10,000 years ago, The Athabasca River has battled a trembling earth.  Abandoned channels, potholes and deep canyons in some of the hardest rock in Jasper National Park mark the ancient battle lines.  Today, the battle continues upstream at the 25-metre falls.  This trail offers a 20-minute visit to one battleground in a land of many.  It is a dangerous please so please stay behind the guard rails.

This image taken May 25th, at 10:15 a.m., captures the spirit of this monument completely.  The power of the water running over these giant stones was intense.  It was easy to believe the story of the river in battle with a trembling earth.

It also brought instantly to my mind the eternal battle being waged around the world for the hearts and minds of those far from God.  In one crystal clear image I was drawn to the words of Jesus as He sat teaching during the Feast of Booths (see John 7).  What stunned those great teachers in the temple was His ability to speak so clearly, communicate so effectively, with authority and influence, because Jesus had received no formal training like they had.

Think of the stubbornness born out of rote ritual and legalistic thinking as the stones of the mountain, and the words of Jesus spoken in love as the river water doing battle against the walls of human thinking.  These water falls, to my mind, are these words of Jesus to the Pharisees that day, and yes to all the world, to every person alive today:

John 7:37-38
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

Today as you read these words, as you view this image, trust in Jesus to quench the thirst in your heart for meaning, purpose, and life.  Only Jesus has the power to give eternal life.

 

 

One Way

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One Way small

On Sunday, May 27th, at 8:34 a.m., I was remembering all that we read about the discovery of Lake Louise by the first settlers, and the small hamlet named for this nearby lake.  It was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria… yes “that” Queen Victoria.

This view is pretty much due west from our room, and overnight most of the ice that covered over half the lake had melted.  There was almost no breeze at all and the lake took on a perfect mirror reflection of the mountains and sky above.

While standing in awe of the view, I wondered about the pioneers who might have witnessed this view decades ago, and if they needed direction, it was easy enough to see.  Right in the middle of the photo, where the lake meets the closest mountain on the left, the snowy mirror reflection made a perfect arrow pointing west.

Here’s a closer view.

One Way 2 small

As I reflected on these images this morning, I was reminded that God does these kinds of things on purpose.  When the way to turn is obscured by difficult circumstances, when life seems pointless or dreary, God can reveal a path to wellness, wholeness, and healing… if we just know where to look, and follow the path revealed.  That’s why Jesus came.  It is … who He is.

John 14:6, Jesus said…
“I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Follow the signs, follow the arrows, and turn your eyes upon Jesus today.

Faith

Dr. J.D. Wilkins2 Comments

People talk about faith a lot.  Especially people of faith.  True Christ-followers understand the concept of faith better than anyone else, yet find it difficult at times to exercise that faith in certain situations.  James said it would happen [James 1:2-3].

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Recently I had the chance to exercise my faith in a real life experience, and I gained some valuable insight into the concept of faith.  Here is a little history of the Capilano Suspension Bridge, in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada:

In 1888, George Grant Mackay, a Scottish civil engineer and land developer, arrived in the young city of Vancouver in Canada. Mackay purchased 6,000 acres of dense forest on either side of Capilano River and built a cabin on the very edge of the canyon wall. In 1889 he suspended a footbridge made of hemp rope and cedar planks across the canyon with the help of August Jack Khahtsahlano and a team of horses who swam the ropes across the river. The ropes were then pulled up the other side and anchored to huge buried cedar logs.

for more information click here.

bridge small

This 153 yard bridge took me to the other side of the river, where we walked on other bridges up into the tops of the trees and looked down at the river flowing below.   I’m not a big fan of suspension bridges, holding at any given point more than one hundred people going back and forth.  The only bad thing about going all the way over to the other side… you have to cross the bridge again to come back.

Placing my faith in the cabling, wood, and design of this bridge was very challenging for me.

I suspect that for people far from God, who always want to believe they can handle everything on their own, they might have some difficulty believing Jesus really is the only BRIDGE worth taking.  They probably doubt His ability to be the Savior He claims to be.  They dispute His authority and claim to be the ONLY means (way, truth, life) of right relationship with God.

Nevertheless, it is true.

What it takes to act on this truth… is to take a step of faith into Jesus.

Hebrews helps us here [11:1]:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

If I wanted to see the river from the tops of the trees… there was only one way to get there… stepping out in faith.

If you want to know the joy of eternal life with the Creator of the Universe, there is only one way to get there… taking that step of faith into Jesus.

Juxtapose

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Now this is a great word.

My wife and I recently had the opportunity to do a bucket-list vacation.  We flew to Seattle to catch a train called The Rocky Mountaineer which took us north and east across the Canadian Rocky Mountains to Vancouver, Kamloops, Jasper National Park, Banff, Lake Louise, and finally ending our trip in Calgary.  Then after 10 days of exploring places we’d never seen, and likely never see again, we flew back home to Texas.

We saw lots of wildlife, including bears, elk, eagles, ospreys, big horn sheep, and rowdy Australians.  We made many new friends from all over the world, and enjoyed the scenery of God’s creative genius as we listened to story after story of how that part of the world was discovered and conquered by men and women pioneering previously uncharted territory.

One of my favorite experiences on the trip was seeing Mt. Robson, the most prominent mountain in North America’s Rocky Mountain range, and the highest point in the Canadian Rockies, at 12,972 feet.  When traveling through this area, this peak is only visible a few days of the year.  As you can see, we were one of the lucky and privileged to have this great view from our train.

Mount Robson

Juxtaposed within minutes of passing this spectacular view on the left of the train, was this incredible water falls image on the right, demonstrating where all that snow and ice end up.

Water Falls from the Train 1

What is amazing to me is not that I was able to capture these images from a moving train, but that I was given the great privilege of seeing both.  All along the way on this trip, I was constantly reminded of how small I am, and how large God’s creation is.  And it caused me to whisper, almost constantly…

For You are the LORD Most High over all the earth;
You are exalted far above all Gods.

~Psalm 97:9

 

Juxtapose

Bubble

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When I hear “bubble” all sorts of images flood into my head.  In no particular order or rank, I immediately think of “Double Bubble” chewing gum, “Bubble Fun” soap bubbles, the “bubble head” on a beer poured too fast, and those “bubble icons” used in cartoon strips.  Maybe my favorite is Charlie Brown and the bubble surrounding his  constant comment, “Oh good grief!”

Most recently, the word “bubble” might be useful to describe the maniacal ravings captured in a quip I saw on Facebook this morning.  The quote went like this:

The forest was shrinking, but it kept voting for the axe, because its handle was made of wood, and they thought it was one of them.”

And so goes the nay-sayers, haters, and blind who are still living in the bubble that Hillary should have won, and that Trump needs to be impeached.  This bubble is so hard to break out of, but somebody needs to do it besides Kanye West.  Don’t get me wrong, in a world filled with chaotic voices screaming at each other, it’s sometimes hard to hear the truth.  He’s done a good thing by breaking out of his bubble, and on TMZ this week, saying he was “free thinking” and that he had “slipped the bonds of black political conventions.”  (Full story here.)

Bubbles are interesting to study.   In my childhood days we would play “who can blow the biggest bubble” with our gum.  Some yAyhoo would blow a great big one, not being able to see the nose on his face, when one of his “so-called” friends would punch the bubble and all the gum residue would end up on the kids face.  Is this not a sign of our current political times? Hmmmm.

Soap bubbles are a great delight to children everywhere, including me.  (Sometimes I think I’m just a 64 year old kid).  Just dip the stick, put it to your lips and blow.  Out of this magic wand come these grand illusions of light flying lightly on the breeze, traveling up and out to worlds unknown.  It’s great fun, you should try it.

Now, here’s the thing.

There is more to this life, and to our world, than any one of us can see in our tiny bubble of existence.  I’m not just talking philosophically, I really mean it.  Sometimes folks are carried along on the wind of tradition and ritual, like so many soap bubbles, never realizing the changes happening all around them.  Then, when forced to consider the changes can be good, the bursting of those bubbles is so traumatic, they believe life as they know it is over.

One of these days, the whole world will come to understand that a larger plan and purpose has been at work in all of it.  Like Charlie Brown, to a person, all around the world, there is a day coming when there will be a great lament, “oh, good grief!”  Because in that moment the whole world will know their little bubble, was not the only bubble.  Like concentric circles (or bubbles) of our life, our church, our city, our state, our nation, our world, our universe, and all of space beyond… is contained in the sovereign “bubble” of The Creator’s will and purpose.

Maybe, just maybe, we should consult with Him about our bubble.

 

Bubble

Tantrum

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Would you like to know what the real definition of “tantrum” is?  Listen to comedian Michelle Wolf as she performs at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington on Saturday:

And I’m never really sure what to call Sarah Huckabee Sanders, you know? Is it Sarah Sanders, is it Sarah Huckabee Sanders, is it Cousin Huckabee, is it Auntie Huckabee Sanders? What’s Uncle Tom but for white women who disappoint other white women? Oh, I know. Aunt Coulter.

Despite the criticism that flooded social media, by both conservatives and the drive-by media, comedian Kathy Griffin responded to the backlash with this:

Then don’t have a comic do a roast,” Griffin said on Twitter, “If you want to focus on the journalism do a boring awards show. Journalism is all about the 1st amendment..If you don’t see the import of what @michelleisawolf did tonight then you don’t get it.

And finally, and quite unfortunately, President Trump always seems to want to add his two cents worth:

While Washington, Michigan, was a big success, Washington, D.C., just didn’t work. Everyone is talking about the fact that the White House Correspondents Dinner was a very big, boring bust…the so-called comedian really “bombed.” @greggutfeld should host next year!

So here’s the thing… a tantrum is an uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child.  Think two-year olds who demand everything is theirs, they want it now, and it’s their right to have it.  Our country will never get passed this nonsense until the grown ups quit acting like two year olds.

So here’s the other thing…

What does the person under attack do?  How did Sarah Huckabee Sanders react?  From one of her own critics, she was praised for her response:

That @PressSec sat and absorbed intense criticism of her physical appearance, her job performance, and so forth, instead of walking out, on national television, was impressive,” tweeted Maggie Haberman of The New York Times.

You can read all about the event here.

The White House Press Secretary, at least in my mind, did exactly what Christ would have done in the exact same situation.  Wait.  I should say “did” in the same situation.  In fact Jesus surrendered to the will of God that took Him to the cross.  Jesus said, in Matthew 16:24:

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders was the epitome of this verse Saturday night.  She didn’t get up and walk out.  She didn’t immediately unload a storm of vitriol on social media aimed at her attacker.  In fact in my search for anything of a response on the internet this morning, I found nothing.

Thanks Mrs. Sanders for not responding in kind, and for providing America a good model to follow, and for living our your faith in real time before a National audience.

Tantrum

Bestow

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There is no greater honor, right, or gift, as the one bestowed upon an individual who steps across the line of faith into Christ the LORD.  John the apostle, under the direction and inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God said so.  Listen to it now…

John 1:12,13  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

It is not stated as a future endowment.  It is not implied that having received this right, it could somehow be taken away in the future.  The “right” to become children of God, is reserved for, and bestowed upon, those who receive Jesus and believe in His name. In addition, this is an eternal right.  It is not eternal because of us, the believers.  It is eternal because of the ONE  bestowing the blessing, and conferring the right.  It is guaranteed in His power, not mine.

I am now… a child of God.

As such, with this great honor bestowed upon those Christ-followers, their behavior should match this position of honor, and privilege.  But does it?  I’m concerned at the number of people I know who live in fear, or in opposite contrast to what they claim as their badge of honor – a Christ follower – a Child of God.

In our world today, there is a shadowy veil of hate growing at an alarming rate, fueled by unseen forces, with the intent of annihilating the words “Christian” or “Christ-follower” from our vocabulary.  People of faith around our nation are just now beginning to recognize the first salvos breaking across the bows of churches everywhere.  Christian businesses have been under attack for awhile, but now the increased activity in the legal sector demonstrate this hate has just begun to stretch its talons of destruction.  What’s interesting, but sadder still, is that most Americans don’t realize this isn’t a new event.

The pursuit of the destruction of anything Godly, but especially the people of God, is as old as the garden of Eden.  The result of God’s children’s actions in that idyllic setting was fear, blame shifting, and rationalization of their behavior.  What are the three clearest signs, that nothing has changed since then?  Fear, blame shifting, and rationalization of behavior… is the ubiquitous nature of sin around the world right now.

So… what is “supposed” to be the defining evidence of the true Christ-follower?  I suggest that the “NATURE” of God is what is bestowed upon the true person of faith, and is evidenced when one becomes a CHILD of God.  That evidence is LOVE.

1 John 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

1 John 4:16  And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

So what is bestowed upon every child of God?

The right to become God’s children, living in the love of God, sharing the love of God, and one day when we graduate to the next life, living in the presence of the love of God… eternally.

There is no greater honor, right, or gift.

 

Bestow

God is NOT a Genie

Dr. J.D. Wilkins2 Comments

One of my favorite topics of conversation about God, is the concept of “prayer.”  I think you would be surprised how many interesting and varying views there are about talking with God.  This space is too limited, and the time you have to read is insufficient to digress into a discussion on “who is God?”, so let’s cut to the chase, and I’ll assume you know I’m talking about the One and Only God, the Creator of the universe, present and revealed in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

With that brief foundation let’s stay on track and talk a little about “prayer.”  Regardless of your faith system, or denomination, the Bible (not tradition or the teachings of men) is the defining authority on the topic of prayer.  For instance, a good starting point would be Hebrews 11:6 which says, And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.  So right out of the gate, any conversation with the eternal deity is based in FAITH and has as its motivation that God “is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

Even the Bible implies that seldom does anybody really come to God for a general conversation about nothing.  Instead of “Good morning Lord,” more often than not it’s “Good Lord, it’s morning, help me get through it until I get some coffee.”  What may start out as a prayer of “thanksgiving” swiftly and most often turns into a list of needs or litany of wants.  So, I have to say it, Hebrews 11:6 does NOT imply that God is just a genie in a bottle, we release to meet our every whim, notion, or fancy.

All too often we use Jeremiah’s words like a dial up to Uber service.  Listen to the weeping prophet’s words, as he describes God’s desire to hear from us.

Jeremiah 33:3 Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

Now, here’s the thing.  If we believe that God is (exists), and wants to reward our inquiries (Hebrews 11:6), and that we have his phone number (Jeremiah 33:3), then what SHOULD be the nature of our conversation, when God answers?

Rather than going off in any and every direction based on our circumstances, wants, or needs, God the Son, Jesus Christ, has already given us a real good MODEL on which to base our conversations with the Eternal Father of heaven.

Respect and reverence:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Request for daily needs:
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Direction and wisdom:
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Recognition:
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
AMEN!

I don’t see a genie in a bottle here.  I don’t rub the bottle, watch the smoke pour out in a disembodied ghost-like appearance, with a voice that says, “What shall I do for you today, Master?”  God doesn’t call anyone “master.”

I see the Creator seeking to engage with His creation, for them to know Him as they were intended to.

I see a Creator who knows what we need, even before we ask for it, because He sees what we don’t see, and knows what we don’t know.

I see a Creator who is timeless and always present, knowing the exact direction which will lead to me fulfilling my purpose within His purposes and His will… and He is willing to guide me there.

I see a Creator who deserves my love, adoration, obedience, and trust.

God is not a genie in a bottle… please don’t be tempted to treat Him as such.  When we call God up, in faith, and in sincerity “ask” for His love, protection, guidance, healing, or blessing, but most of all HIS WILL to be done in our lives… we will get it.

Be careful what you ask for.

 

 

 

 

Genie

Glimmer

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glimmer

What started with such a glimmering hope of adventure, became a journey that, in the end, couldn’t be over soon enough.  As a first timer going on a cruise, I was ill prepared for the pacific ocean in the dead of winter.  What could be better than Thanksgiving on a cruise right?  The gleam and glitter, the sparkling twinkle of the lights ashore as we left Los Angeles that night, are crystal clear in my memory.  Perhaps so because of this shot I took from our room’s balcony during the departure late that night.  The gentle rocking waves in the harbor, the smell of salt in the air, and the cool breezes all seemed to welcome me aboard, whispering a fond bon voyage.

Then, reality set it.

I was going to be on this rig for 14 days… hmmm.

I know people personally who can’t get enough of life on a cruise ship.  They go all over the world, and they look for new adventures, all the while sailing the oceans on a vessel holding 2,000 to 3,000 souls.  I applaud their tenacity, but alas, it is not for me.

In the darkness of a night on the ocean, overcast, with visibility about 50 feet or less at times, while torrential rains added more water to the 15-20 foot waves, I thought about 12 men in a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee.  They too thought they might die in the deep dark waters.  They too were very close to panic, and perhaps even those seasoned fishermen felt a little nauseous as they fought to stay afloat.  Then as a flicker of lightning lit up the sky, they saw what they thought to be a ghost hovering above the water coming directly beside them.  Turns out it was the form of a human man… walking on the water.

The panic of just a few minutes before turned into stark terror.  What made it worse, if there could be a worse, the Scripture indicates that He intended to pass them by [Mark 6:48].  I’ve often wondered about this phrase.  “He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them.”  Why?  He clearly saw them “straining at the oars.” Why was His intention to pass them by?

In Matthew’s version of this story (chapter 14) it seems to be more about Peter and his abandonment of all sensibility, hopping out of the boat and going to the Master.  But even in that narrative, it is difficult to pass by the underlying truth in the telling of the tale.

The fact is, when we place our hope in boats, or in my case a cruise ship, to keep us safe in the middle of an ocean, we are trusting in the wrong object of our faith.  It is Christ alone who is sovereign creator of all we see, including the wind and the waves.  It is Christ alone who will save us, when we cry out to him in our darkness.  It is Christ alone who offers these words, to the disciples then, and to us today… “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” [Mark 6:50]

There are times today when my life seems dark and dangerous, just as menacing, just as threatening as those 15-20 foot waves right outside the door to my balcony on that ship.  In these moments I hear the voice of my Savior, calling out to me, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.”

This phrase is my glimmer of hope.  In what or whom do you place your hope today?

“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” [Psalm 39:7]

 

Glimmer

Rush

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What’s you’re hurry?  Why the need to gallop through life? Is it that necessary to race to the finish without smelling those proverbial roses?  When I was in high school I couldn’t wait to get my driver’s license for the freedom of movement and the promise of adventure that little piece of plastic represented.  Now, some decades later, that little piece of plastic still allows me to zoom, zip, and whip along my way on the freeway to my heart’s desire… but now I mostly fear for my life, and the life of my family, when I’m out on those freeways today.  Today’s drivers bring a whole new meaning to the words “bolt, careen, and speed.” So you get there two and a half minutes faster, so what?  Slow down already… don’t be in such a rush.

What’s true on the highway is true in life too, don’t you think?  In just the last two weeks my wife and I have found a home that meets our needs better than our current one, and decided to put our house on the market.  For several days I rushed from one task to the next providing financial data to our lender, meeting with our realtor, and making sure we dotted all the “i’s” and crossed all the “t’s” to get this ball rolling.  We listed the house on Thursday and had open house over the weekend. A few “lookie loos” came parading through, marveling at how wonderful the house is, and why we should ever want to leave.  When order was restored, our realtor remarked that it’s early days, but there were two couples who seemed genuinely interested in the purchase process.  I said to the realtor, “Well, that’s good, because I am one of the most patient people you’ll ever meet.”

What a joke right?  Anyone who knows me, knows I’ve been full tilt on “go” since I came out of the womb.  I’ve rushed through each phase of my existence on this planet, always ready for the next big adventure.  Patience may be a virtue, and it is definitely on the list of the Fruit of the Spirit of God, but it rarely shows up in my life with strength, or longevity.  Apparently, I’m a work in progress when it comes to patience.  This morning, before I started writing this article, I was reminded again of just how sad it is for people like me, always rushing around to the next task.

Contemplating the weekend’s activities, and thinking about writing out the list for today’s jobs, I looked to my right to get the yellow stickie notepad on my desk … and out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the sun rising in the east.  A totally cloudless sky of deep purple enhanced the glowing yellow and orange rays of the coming light.  I was mesmerized, and shocked at how few times I’ve just sat and watched the sun come up.  For whatever reason, what I did next shocked even me.  I sat.  I breathed.  And I watched in wonder at the beauty of God’s creation.  I wasn’t anxious.  I wasn’t in a hurry.  I wasn’t rushed.  I just sat.

So here’s the thing.  What’s your rush?  Take a moment, and take a breath.  Now relax, look around at something besides the “to-do list,” and take the time to see the wonder and beauty of God’s creation.

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.

 

 

Rush

Invisible

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Some things we cannot see.  Many things we are not supposed to see.  They are invisible on purpose.  God designed it that way.  Even though there are those who insist that humans only use a small percentage of our actual brain capabilities, it was not designed or destined as the purview of human beings to know what tomorrow holds.  Tomorrow is invisible.  Books, movies, songs and poems have been written about the desire or dread to know what comes next… but it is invisible to us.  There must be a reason.

Could it be that the simplest answer is that God, who is omniscient, omnipotent, and ever present with us, is supposed to be enough for us?  More than just an impersonal “force” which has an equally powerful “dark side,” isn’t it significant enough for us just to know that the One who created us, also wants to lead, guide, protect, and love us… for all eternity?

In an age of real-time news coverage of the latest dramatic school shooting, or bomb-making maniacs killing people indiscriminately, is this really what should be occupying our minds?  Do we really need to know all this stuff… and especially in real-time?  In what way does this enrich our lives?  How does this help to stop the spreading panic and hopelessness, in a world seemingly gone mad?  How does this knowledge bring peace to our souls?

The clearest answer is… it doesn’t.

I’m not blindly suggesting that in some kind of ignorant stupor we simply close our eyes and pretend what’s happening in our world isn’t there.  What I am suggesting is that the media, even conservative media sources, are on the edge of being out of control.  If I am to be at peace, I must believe in something invisible… the promises of God.  We do not see them, but we can certainly know, see, and experience the results of them.

To that end, I offer only one of God’s simple promises… and then, what our response should be as we live daily in the reality of this promise.  Seeing is not believing… believing is seeing!

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

1 Timothy 1:17
Now to the King eternal, immortal, INVISIBLE, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

Invisible

Identical

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

How does one distinguish between the two distinct people and personalities that result from identical twins?  In college I found it hard to know which was which.  They laughed the same, walked, talked, ate, and looked the same.  If one showed up without the other, few knew them well enough to know who was standing before them.  The degree of likeness, one to the other, could not be described any better, or more appropriately than, identical.

When Jesus arrived in Judea, traveling from one tiny village to the next, proclaiming “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel…” [Mark 1:15] the crowds that followed were “…amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” [Mark 1:22]

Maybe the explanation is as simple as this.  The scribes, rabbis, and other teachers, while knowing the law of God, continually used other men’s interpretations and ideas when they taught what God was saying through the Law and the Prophets.  Since Jesus was, and is God, along with the Holy Spirit and the Father, He was able to speak from original intent, since He was there when the words of the Law and the Prophets were inspired then written.  As such, Jesus would quote the original text without the aid of scrolls kept in the synagogues or the Temple.  The words He spoke were identical to those written in ancient days.

So when Jesus would begin, “You have heard that the ancients were told…  But I say to you…” [Matthew 5:21-22], He was speaking about how the teaching of men erred from the original intended meaning behind each passage He quoted.  This alone gave Him the authority to also say, “I and the Father are one.” [John 10:30]

Having spoken these words, it’s easy to see why the Jewish leaders took offense, since there isn’t another way to interpret this statement except Jesus claiming He and the Father are IDENTICAL.  Now don’t go so fast here… linger a minute.

Jesus isn’t saying He is “another- like” the Father.  Jesus isn’t saying God and the Son are identical twins.  The one-ness Jesus is claiming is further captured in His statement to Philip, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” [John 14:9]

One of the spiritual games we like to play seems to be finding an explanation of the Trinity:  God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – three in ONE.  This idea is captured in an ancient image, that most of us have no construct from which to assimilate it’s truth.  We recognize the second part, but mostly skip completely over the first part.  It goes like this…

Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. [Deuteronomy 6:4-5]

Even the most simple explanation is mind boggling, because LORD (Yahweh – the proper name used for God) and God (Elohenu – the divine being) are the same. Since both God the Father and God the Holy Spirit are invisible to human eyes, it makes it virtually impossible to wrap our minds around the idea of One-ness. So…

Let’s not make this harder than God intended it.  In fact, while it may be fun to come up with human images that help us deal with the Trinity of ONE, our focus should be on the most complete revelation of who God is, and what He wanted us to know about Him.  And in this case, all we have to do is look to Jesus and see the ONE.  He is identical in every way, yet was visible for awhile on the earth, and will one day soon (I hope) reappear on this planet to demonstrate His One-ness.  What did this man Jesus say to John the Apostle that He wanted us to know?

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” [Revelation 1:8]

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.”
Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus. [Revelation 22:20]

Identical

Patience

Dr. J.D. WilkinsLeave a comment

In this age and time, a universal culture of instant gratification exists which seemingly yields not at all to the very concept of patience.  Not only do people flit from here to there seeking the next “thing” to satisfy their narcissistic pursuits of self-indulgence, but the momentary pleasure they achieve in these pursuits is so short term they impatiently enjoy the achievement, never satisfied, never satiated, never at peace.  My belief is that nothing in scripture is by accident, or haphazardly written.  So when I look at the list Paul gave the church in Galatia regarding what it means to be a true Christ-follower, and having the Holy Spirit living in us, producing in us the “fruit” of our faith in Christ… well, I contend there is order to what is written.  He wrote:

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

People today, yes-even Christ-followers today, struggle with the idea of patience because somewhere along their walk of faith, one or all three of the initial items Paul talks about is off track.  It is truly difficult to be patient about anything in life, if there is no peace in your walk of faith with Christ.  If you are not at peace – with yourself, others around you, your spouse, your family, your co-workers, then something about joy is off track.  And if your joy is nowhere to be found, then something about your love is out of focus.  Do you follow what I’m saying here?

Now, here’s the thing.

I believe each of these 9 attributes are “supposed” to be found in every true Christ-follower, every day, all the time…  but how many people do you know who really look like the image here, in real time, in real life?  I can’t look in the mirror on any given day without realizing something about one of these attributes is either missing, or dormant in my daily routines.  When I realize this, I have to ask the question, “how did I get here?”

Now this is really simple.  If I’m right, and these attributes are linear, while I may think I have great self-control, if I don’t have patience, how could I be in control of my emotions, or actions?  That seems disingenuous to me.  At the least it is hypocritical, but worse, it opens the door for Satan to defeat me spiritually, by causing me to believe I’m more in tune with Christ than I really am.

If in fact these attributes are linear, all predicated on the attribute that comes before, then all these attributes stem from the original… love.  I will never know all of what God wants me to know; nor will I experience all that God has planned for me… until I yield fully to the love of God, by surrendering my heart fully to Jesus.  In that moment, I experience His love as He intends it.  Which opens the floodgates of joy into my life.  Yielding to the Spirit in joy, opens the path to peace.  And the progression continues until I am completely yielded to the Holy Spirit’s direction for my life, and find in the end… self-control, by the Spirit’s power.

No patience today?  Go back … turn back to Christ in faith and ask the Spirit to reveal which part of these attributes is off track in your life.  And for goodness sake, be open to what the Spirit wants to do in you… and be patient while the Spirit answers your prayer… well, at least try to be…

Patience

 

Grasp

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grasp

Tiger Woods staring down a putt at Innisbrook Valspar Championship was an awesome sight.  The resurgence of a career many if not most had all but deemed completely over just 6 short months ago.  However, given a few more laser iron shots like he hit in the first three rounds, or given a few chips that went in, or just a couple of putts that should’ve rolled out a few more inches, and the trophy was within his grasp.  I agree with Randall Mel of the golf channel, and his rant yesterday about these young guns on tour wanting Tiger to come back strong.  These boys need to be careful what they wish for.  To me the most telling stat in his article is Tiger’s record when holding or sharing the lead after 54 holes… Tiger won 47 out of 50 tournaments.  Those like myself who have always been a Tiger fan (his spiritual life or morals notwithstanding), if it’s golf you like to watch, at the top levels of how golf is to be played, then Tiger Woods is the guy.

Why would I say this?  It’s just math really.  Some, and perhaps rightly so, would say that Jack Nicklaus is the greatest golfer to ever play the game.   Many say this based solely on the Major championship titles held by Mr. Nicklaus, which is a staggering 18 titles.  Once again some have wondered if Tiger could ever achieve this height, along with all his other accomplishments.  Like…

  • PGA Tour titles = Sam Snead, 82… Tiger,79… Jack Nicklaus, 73
  • Tiger’s 142 consecutive cuts made over a 7 year stretch, Nicklaus – 105
  • Most seasons winning five or more times, 10 seasons;  Nicklaus – 8
  • Winning percentage to starts, 27%;  Nicklaus -12%

So, it’s got to be more than just Majors right?  But what if it isn’t?  What if the only stat that matters in determining the greatest golfer, is number of Major titles won?  Is this really within Tiger’s grasp?  It’s been ten years now since Tiger won the 2008 U.S. Open, so does he have the stuff of Major Championship golf?  Maybe we should wait until this weekend and watch him at Arnie’s place before we decide.  But as we think on this matter consider this.  Tiger is 42 years old, and true he has had health issues, but he looked as good this weekend as he did when he was winning big time.  So how much does age factor in the Majors?

In 1978 Nicklaus won the British Open at age 38;  in 1980 the U.S. Open at 40; in 1980 the PGA Championship, again age 40; and for his 18th title, Jack won the 1986 Masters at age 46.  This means Tiger Woods has 16 more majors in the next four years to win 4 times to tie Jack… winning 5 gives Woods the all time record.  What if he plays competitively more years than just the next 4, to age 46?

Within his grasp?

Check my facts if you must, but I’m pretty sure they are correct.

But in the end, Tiger’s looking awfully good for the possibility of doing something never done before (again)… by challenging Jack Nicklaus’s Major Title number.

I think it’s within his grasp… I’ll let you decide.

 

 

Grasp