Pray Attention

I've noticed something kind of humorous about us humans - at least the humans I've observed. Some of us are so decidedly and outwardly opposed to any sort of higher power having influence on our lives - whether it comes from some deep-rooted hurt from our upbringing, or we were burned by the church, or God failed us one too many times, or whatever the source of our spiritual apathy - and yet, when faced with a moment of sheer terror, loss, tragedy, life and death consequences, or even just being startled, the name that naturally comes out of our mouths is "Jesus".

In those moments, when we find ourselves completely helpless to change the cards we've suddenly been dealt and lost somewhere in the psychological stages grief, we instinctively resort to calling out to the heavens for aid. As if we've rifled through all the pages of our logic and reason built up over the years, found nothing of use, retreated to our subconscious attic in desperation and dusted off that last glimmer of faith that once rested on our nightstand. All of the sudden we're making bargains with God - pledging to change our ways, offering to give up some addiction or forgive that life-long grudge - if just this once He would come through.

I think we've grown so accustomed to having all the power to control our destinies that when the security blanket is yanked out from under us and everything we're clinging to is crumbling like dead leaves we have to come face to face with our utter inadequacy to deliver ourselves from the hands of fate. It is then that we finally decide to grasp for the Savior's hand that's been extended all along.

That's what I find humorous about humans. Underneath all of personalities and opinions - at the core of a person's being - is someone crying out for a savior just as much as me. It's just a matter of what it takes for that desire to come out. This helps me make so much more sense of verses like this...

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. ~Romans 1:20

The question I pose then is: what if prayer switched from being our last resort to our first resort?  What if prayer became our natural reaction to any kind of conflict or problem?

I'll tell you one thing, we would have a lot better perspective. Prayer gets you out of just thinking about yourself and gets you to see things through heaven's eyes, which is a pretty amazing vantage point from which to view life. Even when you're stuck in the valley, that perspective can help you see things for what they are and suddenly the light at the end of the tunnel becomes the light in the tunnel.

I also think our breakthrough would come sooner. A healthy routine of prayer could help us avoid these situations getting to code red status or even prevent them altogether. Kind of like vehicle maintenance; keep up on your oil changes your vehicle will run more smoothly.

When Moses was leading the Israelites to the Promised Land they wandered the desert for 40 years when that trek should have only taken days to get where they needed to go. 40 years for a trip that should have taken days!! I'm convinced they could have avoided those four decades of trials and tribulations had they prayed attention to what God was trying to teach them from the get-go. The frailty of their faith was holding them back from their promised land. I think that is the same for some of us.

See God is jealous for our hearts when we are placing our faith in anything but him. Like a good father, he will allow his kids to learn their lessons the hard way if the posture of their heart is bent on themselves. Just like grades and classes in school, you'll repeat the same life lesson over and over until you pass and only then will you be able to proceed into your future.

Pray attention to what God is trying to tell you today. Lean not on your own understanding, which is bound to lead you astray, but trust in Him with all your heart and allow him to set the course to your destiny.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
~Proverbs 3:5-6

An Emotional Giant Slayer

DISCLAIMER: Gets a little graphic.

As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. 

So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head.

~1 Samuel 17:48-51

I don't remember that last verse from Sunday school. Sure, we heard all about David and Goliath - even the stone slinging prowess that knocked the giant out cold - but it wasn't the stone that killed him... it was the CUTTING OFF OF HIS HEAD. How long was Goliath was out? I mean for the stone to "sink in" to his forehead that must have been some throw, but did Goliath completely black out or was he just momentarily dazed. How long did David have to finish the job? 

One thing's for sure, he didn't hesitate. Just like he had likely done protecting his flock from lions and bears, he knew there was a small window of opportunity from when his throw landed to when he would lose the close combat advantage. He immediately ran over to the overly grown man, unsheathed the giant's sword, which was also undoubtedly large and heavy, and proceeded to sever his freshly dented head from its body.

I find I have a hard time relating to David in that particular moment. I naturally tend to put myself in other people's shoes but I just can't imagine what would have been running through David's head as he was chopping off Goliath's cabeza. I bet it was a blurry tornado of thoughts, emotions, and pure adrenaline. Maybe he was thinking about Saul's daughter that he'd just won. Maybe he was reveling in the tax-exempt status he'd just earned his family. Maybe he was fervently lifting up his worship and gratitude to God for the victory. Maybe all of the above.

Now, let's fast forward to Psalm 42. The now-King David is pouring out his heart using some of the most poignant metaphors and passionate expression in all of the Bible...

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”

This is the same man who killed countless in battle and commanded armies to crushing victories. He's certainly no stranger to the crude, uncensored frailty of life. And yet, he still possessed an abysmal depth of emotion and the ability to convey it in word and song.

Where is this man in our society? Where is the modern-day David? A man's man but sensitive. A warrior with tears on his face. Requiring no earthly possession yet still utterly reliant and desperate for the provision of God. These seem like opposite ends of the spectrum, but in fact they are the credentials of greatness. An astounding legacy relies on a foundation of spiritual and emotional refinement, which is the inevitable result of pursuing a relationship with God.

I am fascinated and challenged by David's breadth character. No wonder God referred to him as "a man after my own heart". (Acts 13:22)

Water Ghost

It was about the fourth watch of the night. Wind howling against the mast as if it were about to tear right off the boat. If it weren't for the muddled glow of moonlight behind the stormy overcast, I would have be blind to how white my knuckles looked clinging to the side as they tossed about. I had been in storms before but something about this one was different. It was as if it was hell-bent on ripping our craft apart at the seams and casting us into the belly of the sea. 

My friends were no comfort in all the chaos. I might as well have been alone. Between the waves smashing into my face I could vaguely make out Matt struggling to tie off a rope. Andy tried crossing the boat to help but lost his footing; his cheek connecting with corner of a bench. Simultaneously a loud crack splits the sky. Pete helplessly yells out orders for someone to check on Andy. Pete's eyes, normally filled with confidence, showed a desperation I had never seen before.

Then I caught my brother Jim out of the corner of my eye. Something was off. I took a closer look. Jim's face was pale. He looked crippled with fear and his gaze was locked on something behind me. I slowly turned, almost in disbelief that there could be something worse than what we were already experiencing. Then I saw it.

Against the night sky and midst the swelling waves was a figure, inhumanly perched atop the water. There was no way that was there before. It couldn't be a spire of land, because it was moving! Was this some dormant creature choosing now, of all times, to rear it's ugly head? Out of the welling terror deep within, the only word I could muster was "GHOST!" 

As if under some sort of spell, Pete climbs over the side of the boat and, defying all laws of logic and nature, steps toward the being, ignoring the surface tension of the water. Another step. Another step. Then, breaking from the trance, Pete looks back and makes eye contact with me. I'll never forget that look. As quickly as glance took place, it was over and Pete plunged into the water... but not before the mysterious figure could grasp his arm.

-Embellishments/paraphrases of Matthew 14:22-26, Mark 6:45-59, and John 6:16-19

Bonus points to whoever knows from which disciple's perspective I was writing. (the hint is in the 3rd paragraph)

Who knew the bible could be so riveting, right? The truth is, I don't imagine I'm too far off from what that experience was actually like for the disciples. They actually did yell out "Ghost!" (Matthew 14:26). Turns out it was just Jesus. Walking on water. Psh, should've known.

The first thing Jesus says to the disciples when they catch him water-walking is "It is I; do not be afraid." which is funny because, these days, I think more people would run after finding out it was Jesus. That's a different kind of fear. Gabriel the Angel, you know, the one who told Mary she was pregnant, kicked his speech off with the same ice breaker: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." (Luke 1:30) With all of the emphasis on fear this time of year, I figured I would share that, while you may be shivering in your boots, there's a way to tell who the good guys are; they're the ones saying "Don't be afraid."

Treasure

Back in middle school and the days of coveted recess time you could find me aimlessly wandering our small little school playground. I was kind of  a loner, even then, when cliques weren't really a thing and everyone was gloriously naive to the social ramifications of associating with certain personality types (oh, what a savage landscape grade-school can be). I was almost constantly lost in my own imagination. Wood-chipped areas became bubbling lava pools over which I could dangle from ladders (monkey bars) spanning treacherous gaps. Concrete slabs became dry and desolate deserts with distorted mirages of water pools and no sight of oasis. Merry-go-rounds became revolving arenas of battle and teeter-totters became pirate planks. The world was my playground and the playground was my world.

You can imagine my surprise then when, one day, amidst my wanderings, I stumbled across a very tangible finding. There, buried in the wood-chips and in the shadow of the spiral slide, I uncovered a treasure. It was a ziplock bag packed full of pennies. I remember rubbing my eyes once or twice and looking around as if it was some kind of joke. Nope, no one was looking at me and laughing. Just kids playing as normal, oblivious to the transcendent experience I was having. Did some other kid lose it? Surely none of the kids I knew were that "rich". Did an adult hide it here in a hurried moment with the intention of returning? Whose treasure was this?... Mine?

I sat there clutching the bag with my thoughts running a hundred miles per hour. It was quite the internal battle really. My parents had instilled an incredibly strong sense of right and wrong in me already and my conscience was weighing down on me like an anvil. After what seemed like an eternity, I slowly covered the bag again and, with one last lingering stare, walked away, leaving the treasure for who knows what fate.

True story. I could be $1.23 richer today had I chosen differently.

~

Treasure is not always monetary riches though. Treasure can be whatever holds great value to us. We all have something we treasure. I'm willing to bet most of us don't even know where we have our treasure hidden. And yet, all of our decisions revolve around protecting it. If there were a treasure hunter after your treasure, what would their map look like? Where would it lead? The formula to finding it is simple really....

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:21

You follow someone's heart, you'll find their treasure. Where are they investing their time, money, and energy? Those are the clues.

Where does my treasure map lead?  Well, to be honest, the time that I protect the most is probably not the time that I should be protecting. That's something that's been on my heart lately and something I'm working on. Hopefully the healthy dose of conviction I'm administering myself helps someone else too.

I know the treasure I want people to find when they analyze my life. I know the conclusion I would want them to come to when they look at how I spend my time, my relationships, my family, and what I do when no one is looking. I want them to follow the signs of unexplained favor, genuine joy, unshakable peace, and perplexing love and, when they've discovered all of the clues, find themselves face to face with the mysterious Answer of it all.

It's not an easy journey finding that real treasure. Treasure that, once acquired, no one can steal. For others that have gone before us it has cost them their possessions, their money, their jobs (Matthew 19:21). It may even strip away everything you thought made you you. But the reward is, well, something quite hard to describe. It's something no amount of gold coins or precious gems could buy. If you haven't had the revelation that money can't buy happiness yet then there's your first nugget drawn from this treasure (Luke 9:23-25). What happens when you value that which is unseen more than that which is seen? You can do things no one has done. When you labor after another man's treasure, you'll get what you've set out to acquire. But if you labor after the bounty of heaven, you'll accomplish what no one ever has before.

Search your heart and find out where your treasure lies. Are you chasing after wind in search of the riches of this world (Ecclesiastes 1:14)? Where do you want your treasure map to lead?

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:19-21