The MAIN Thing.

On December 28, 1968 (age 15) I said "yes" to Jesus, and in that moment my life was transformed. Forty-seven years since then is...a few.  My life has a not always been a clear reflection of His presence, but it has for the most part been, by His grace, a slow and steady "long obedience in the same direction."

The dynamics of our culture, over my lifetime, could be described as a devolution from "conscience" and evolution to "relevance" as our moral compass.  It's ironic that the most extreme expression of the conservative mind, libertarianism, is in many ways the penultimate form of liberalism.  My point is that "systems of thought," even theological systems of thought, can't change the trajectory of the human spirit. God does that one person, one decision, at a time. We just don't have the temperament to pull that off.  History is filled with movements which morphed into extremism that marginalized human beings, in the name of a "greater-good," producing tyranny and crimes against humankind.

It's not my job to save my culture from itself.  The part I have been given, as a Christ-follower, is to point the people in my sphere of influence to God, who can. This is "the main thing" for me.  I'm not called to point them to "systems" or movements that will save the day, but to the God of eternity who loves human beings with an everlasting and long suffering love, a transformative love.  He does the formative work in transforming people that can change culture.

So then, how can I "keep the main thing," the main thing?

• Be humble. 
• Love my spouse. 
• Act as an agent of peace. 
• Trust in the power of God. 
• See people the way God sees them. 
• Focus on walking close to God on a daily basis. 
• Empower my kids and grandkids with a legacy of godliness. 
• Declare the principles and precepts of God in a loving, inclusive way. 
• Love unconditionally my enemies and those who might seek to hurt me. 
• Pray for those raised up as leaders in my church, community and nation.

All this said... "12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us (me)."   Philippians 3.12-14 NLT

Systems and movements, by their very nature, devolve.  God, "is the same yesterday, today and forever."  

I choose God.  He produces change which gives me, gives us all...HOPE.

Press on...


bN tGit

NOT beaten.

Several years ago, I made my first sojourn to New York City. Impressive. Lot's of very tall buildings. Human kind is certainly...resourceful; take, for instance, the Tower of Babel chronicled in Genesis, the opening book of the Older Testament.

Over the years I've always attempted to find "dynamic equivalents" in the culture around me to help people understand a deeper principle from the Scriptures. The Tower of course was the ultimate expression of hubris on the part of humankind; our effort to shake a collective fist at God and say "See, you aren't so transcendent after all." Foolish pride led to an inflated opinion of who we were; God breathed, language changed and chaos ensued. We discovered we were no match for the transcendent God.

Fast forward to modern culture: God, in his grace, has allowed mankind to apply his intellect and ingenuity, these also graciously granted by God, to "discover" thousands of things that insulate us from the ill-effects of the fall: drugs, asphalt, steel, plastic, roads, air conditioning, engines, automation--the list is endless. We in turn, tainted by sin and swelled with pride, believeing ourselves to be wise, shake our fists at God and say, "You see, the Scriptures are myth; there was a big-bang and then there was mankind and look at how we have evolved...we have the power to give and take life. We don't need myths to prop us up anymore. We are God."

In reality, everything we touch we corrupt. Look at what we call our system of Justice.  We condition the air at the same time we poison it with hydro-carbons. We pollute the planet, poison our bodies, can't beat cancer or aids and when/if we do, something else always emerges. Regardless of how effective we are at blunting the effect of sin on life and the planet, sin always trumps our best efforts...and God allows it, to point us to our need for a Savior and His gracious provision for our redemption.

The farther evolved civilization becomes the further it devolves into moral and spiritual chaos--abortion, failed economies, addiction, violence, corrupt governments, greed, broken relationships, idolotry, shaminism, social injustice. Think about it, in 1965 LBJ gave us the Great Society. These unfunded mandates have done nothing to enlighten culture and end poverty--but they have driven us to edge of bankruptcy and destroyed families while perpetrating genocide on the poorest of the poor. The smarter we get, the dumber we are. We can run from God, but we can't hide.

So then, civilization as we have fashioned it, has become mankind's most recent "Tower of Babel;" the work of our-hands which demonstrates our independence, our ability to get it done without God. We set out to be like God, and in a final irony, we create the very modality that could be the end of life as we know it. We can destroy it, but we can't fix it..."and all the king's horses, and all the king's men, couldn't put humpty-dumpty back together again."

The lie that deceived Eve, continues to vex us; but we aren't beaten. This Truth has set us free...

"When we were utterly helpless...God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."  Romans 5.6a,8

Hallelujah, what a Savior! Givingthanks.


bN tGit

Thanks Giving.

The harvest is nearly complete.  It's Friday,  six days to Thanksgiving. 

These are times that challenge us all; but joy, real joy can't be touched and isn't determined by circumstance...

"Lord empower us to drill down deep and discover joy in simplicity, profound blessing in being alive; a kind touch, a gentle word, a thoughtful deed, a smile, a poignant moment. Use us as instruments that produce a concert of joy wherever this week takes us; where any week takes us. Through Christ, let it be."

Make this a happy thanks GIVING.

bN tGit

Out of the Gray.

Lake slips into a mist of gray
Horizon broken by trees stripped by Fall, bracing for winter.
Seasons change, storms pass.

A metaphor for life? 
Fifty shades of gray, stripped by storms bracing for loss.
Where is the hope? 

A Blue Herron floats over the water. 
The Spirit floats over the chaos of life.
Flashes of color break through the mist.
Seasons change, storms pass.
God--not lost in the gray.
Hope.



bN tGit

The Urgent Threat.

"These are the tmes that try men's souls..." wrote Thomas Paine in his pamphlet 'The American Crisis' published Dec 23, 1776; the Colonies faced the almost certain prospect of defeat in their war for indpendence. Paine implored Americans "don't give up the fight."

As the curtain begins to drop on 2015: our economy continues to misfire, dissonant voices disrupt College and University campuses across the Nation, Paris confronts us with the harsh reality that the world is a more dangerous place than ever before; we face the prospect of a nuclear Iran, an ascendant China, a redo in Iraq--and bitter conflict between our political parties as well as brinksmanship by our most powerful political leaders...but the fact is that virtually every generation of Americans were forced to face-down a crisis, and survived, thrived and grew strong on the idea--and promise--of the American Dream.

We must remember to "keep the main thing," the main thing. The "idea of America" has been the fuel driving our resolve to be "one nation, under God, indivisable, with liberty and justice for all." This idea compelled those who traveled this way before us to sacrifice, fight and die.  Indifference to this "big idea" is the real, the urgent threat to our liberty.

Resolve to do your part; work hard, make informed decisions, be a person of strong character, celebrate interdependence and respect people who disagree with you--but press them to think outside their "box" and you, think outside yours. Don't give in to fear or indifference--be strong and of good courage. Let's leave a legacy that will inspire a new generation.

America, an idea that works. Give thanks, bear down and pitch-in.


bN tGit

tGit.

Today a gift; time, breath, life. Now what?
Horizon indigo-blue dawn.
Sweet slumber, my retreat.
Moments with God, my hope.
Today wished away?
Sundance East.
Love's gentle touch, my confidence.
Grand smiles, my delight.
Today mine to squander, make great?
Sun blazes zenith, Noon.
Disappointment, my challenge.
Sweet fragance, my respite.
Today spent, invested?
Moon reflects suns glory, sublime beauty.
Kind word, my comfort.
Quiet reflection, my strength.
Today, something of significance to last?
Here, gone.
All I have.
It's enough.
Thank God it's today...tGit

bN tGit

Thanksgiving Menu.

Thanksgiving is just ahead on the horizon.  We are blessed this year for many reasons.  

We will gather with Kids, Grandkids, good table-talk, smiles, a look-back in time and an extra helping of making new memories.  

We will give thanks for the preservation of life, for the arrival of new life, and for progress as a family.

What are you serving at your house?  Perhaps the key isn't what we bring to the table, it's what we take away.

Remember, home is where life makes up it's mind.  Wishing you all a persuasive holiday celebration.

Let it be.

bN tGit

Yet I Will Hope

Long day; long week.

It's late, I'm reflective.
62 years; dreams of a young man, gone.

I've been vulnerable; 

Believed in, invested in; loved people. 

My heart has been broken; yes, crushed.

Made mistakes; operated in false pride, paid the price.

Yet, I will hope. 

My Redeemer, faithful and true.

His mercy, new every morning.

His touch, restores my soul. 

His strength, perfect in my weakness. 

His love, walks me through the valley.

Long day; long week.

It's late, I'm reflective.

Through Christ, I can do what's needed.

That's enough.  Let it be.

Yet, I will hope.

bN tGit

Run hard. Finish well.

Several years ago I decided it was time to fix my shoulder--torn rotator cuff, labrum and a large calcium deposit on my bursa.  I'd postponed the inevitable surgery for 42 years. Two months after the repair I began my rehab process.  I am intrigued by how fast our joints "freeze up" and muscles atrophe when we don't use them. As I strained to lift my arm above my shoulder, I could only move it half that distance; no matter how hard I tried--I could not "will" it up. Getting my "shoulder back" took discipline and hard work.

Life is like that too. When we live careless, reckless, aimless lives, we miss the best life has to offer. People are filled with potential; we are "wired" for growth, relationships, productivity and yes, achievement. Realizing these possibilities brings shape to life, purpose for living; talent and apptitude must be transformed into ability by disciplined effort. "Willing" it won't make it happen. Success and failure are two sides of the same coin and people tend to get what they expect. Our expectations tend to dictate our effort; dicipline tends to dictate our success. Successful people do the things unsuccessful people aren't unwilling to do; the door to success isn't hard to see, but it demands much of those who choose to pass through it.

But, what about "life" after death?  People of faith believe that we've been created with eternity in our hearts. The Scriptures tell us that...

"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners...God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us."  Rom 5.6,8 NLT

We embrace this gracious provision by trusting Christ as our Lord and Savior. But this kind of effective faith doesn't just kick back and "let it happen." Saving faith points us to "a long obedience in the same direction." Life becomes the canvas where we see worked out, what God has worked in.  Embracing Christ opens a door to a whole new perception of who and Whose we are.

Spiritual strength and godly character are the by-products of disciplined effort and purposeful living. The apostle Paul understood this...

"Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." 1 Cor 9.24-27 NLT

Good outcomes don't just happen.  Life and eternity demand our very best and our very best, once we have embraced Christ and His work, through effective faith--empowered by The Holy Spirit--is always more than enough.


bN tGit

Free & Brave

BIG thanks to Veterans.

People around the world live in safety and freedom because of your service to country and an "idea." 

Your tour of duty has preserved innocent life and kept hope alive--it's a legacy of sacrifice and courage.

God bless each of you on this day set aside to honor you all.  We are free, because you are brave.

bN tGit