The Journey is the Destination

John 17:1-5 1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

2 Timothy 4: 1-8 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Introduction

I suspect that these few days of schooling and family are to blame for my thought tonight. Somewhere along the way I was looking toward an ending of the trip and feeling rewarded that I had arrived.

1. Travel to Sacramento to enjoy lunch with a good friend and president of Apostolic School of Theology.
2. Travel to Fullerton, CA to enjoy 8 days of intensive schooling with little time off.
3. Travel to Arroyo Grande to enjoy my family for Christmas and relaxation.
4. Travel to Yelm and return home to my busy life.

When I travel somewhere, something I have always known about myself, I don’t want to sleep. Sleeping means I’m basically unconscious. Unconscious means I’m missing something. My wife can sit and read a book on the journey. Not me. I’m always looking around so as to see everything there is to see.

1. Notice that funny looking cow.
2. See that sheep with her two little black newborn lambs.
3. See that rusted out truck sitting in the grove of trees. Wonder what year it is. 20’s, 30’s??? Should I go check it out?
4. I wonder where that road leads to? Sure looks like an interesting side journey.
5. Look at that road sign. It’s the same as earlier – it must be a loop of some sort.
6. Wonder what the name of those trees are? Eucalyptus…
7. I wonder how long this road goes straight without a bend or turn? Let’s do a mileage check.
8. Look at that MPG gauge – 25.1 with a tail wind.
9. Look at that carload of people – let’s count the number of heads.
10. How many horses in that pasture? See that palomino... What color do you call that one? How many hands is he?

These kinds of observances are constant for me. I can do this for hours and never hold a conversation, listen to music, pay attention to the radio, or even be concerned with life in general.

• We do not see things as they are. We see them as we are. ~The Talmud

Yet, I’m always excited in some way to reach the end of the journey: Lunch plans, Great school, Wonderful family time, Home – my own bed.

When I look back over the previous journey’s I realize that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the journey as much as I enjoyed the destination. However, for me, there is nothing like the journey!

Main Thought

When Jesus reached the end of his time on earth, he glanced back over his life and recapped the successes.
1. I have glorified thee on the earth:
2. I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
3. Many other “I have’s” are mentioned later on.

During his adult ministry, Jesus always had a goal in mind. Perhaps they are listed out something like this.
1. Honor my Father in Heaven
2. Honor my parents on earth.
3. Pray always.
4. Keep my focus on the job set before me.
5. Be sensitive to those around me.
6. Reach out for those that will follow me.
7. Teach, train, and be an example, not only to the 12, but also to everyone everywhere.
8. Be sensitive in spiritual things.
9. Be aware of the hurting and needful ones.
10. Accomplish the mission that was set before me.
11. Endure everything that comes my way.
12. Be faithful in all my “church” related things.

Perhaps this is what is missing in the church today. We are so often self-absorbed in our own desires and less in what God has called us each to do. Personally, I want a section of land (640 acres) to live in the middle of and never see another person unless I’m ready for them! I would love to have a horse, a cow, a few goats, some chickens, a garden, a tractor, a 5th wheel, etc. Then I think about retiring years and where will the funds come to live by. And somewhere embedded in this list comes God and the church.

I pray that we are successful in living everyday so that we can reach the end of the journey and recap our life as Jesus did.

However, that is Jesus. God. King of all. Creator. Supreme ruler. Then, why sing?

I’ve been on the mountain with Jesus, I’ve been through the valley’s so low, yet not one time has he failed me. When to him with my burdens I go. To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus, on earth I want to be like him, all through life’s journey, from earth to glory, I only ask, to be like him…

Somewhere along the way, Saul was living out his life and calling. Trained at the feet of Gamaliel, he was on the fast track to become a major Pharisee – perhaps even the highest one. We know that he was alive during the time of Jesus - perhaps in training in another place. In the early chapter of Acts, he becomes zealous for the Law, perhaps even a Zealot – persecuting those that were followers of Christ, throwing them in prison, accenting unto their death. He stood by while Stephen was stoned. He pushed for permission to travel and had letters that allowed him to quell the Christian movement.

While on the road to Damascus, he comes face to face with The Christ. We don’t understand all that really happened, but Saul becomes Paul. His mission now changes. It seems that all his knowledge as a Pharisee is now used to understand the Christ instead of yearning to quell the movement. He is now one of “them.” Moreover, much of what the church is in strength today is because Paul followed Christ.

What does Paul do now? He lays all his personal goals and desires aside and picks up his cross to daily follow the Lord. When he reaches the end of his journey, he declares:

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

How can we be ready to face the end of our life’s journey if we’ve not lived the life as Jesus or Paul? Don’t think they are someone we have no hope to aspire to live like. They are our examples!

We sing the song, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through…” yet we are making this world our home! Don’t move me out of my comfort zone. I want things the way they’ve been for a thousand years. My pew. My church. My pastor. My home. My job. My desires. My toys. My… My… My…

Many have left the comfort of home to go and dig out new works, forsaking family and comfort, without the support of financial systems or offerings. Heroes of our present day faith, not someone found in Hebrews 11

• I never met Bro French, but his dying wish was for “Just One More Place…” – one more church, one more soul, one more opportunity…
• Bro and Sis Freeman gave up all to serve on the mission field, and after 49 years returned with no place of their own.
• Bro and Sis Demerchant still living in the jungles of South America after 40 years of missions.

Each of you knows someone you can name that are true examples of living their life for Christ.

Closing

I found these quotes today on the internet and throughout my various messages from the years of preaching and teaching:

• “Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” (Greg Anderson)
• “The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” (Don Williams, Jr)
• “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end” (Ursula K LeGuin)
• “To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping” (Chinese Proverb)
• “Success is not a place at which one arrives but rather the spirit with which one undertakes and continues the journey.” (Alex Noble)
• “Too often we are so preoccupied with the destination, we forget the journey.” (Unknown)
• “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” (Lewis Carroll)
• “What people forget is a journey to nowhere starts with a single step, too.” (Chuck Palahniuk)

What is the Journey for this church? For you? For us?

God called us together for such a time as now. He will not leave us or forsake us. He has thoughts and plans for us. Are we willing to focus on the journey and not the destination?

Shower...

I remember as a kid getting up in the early morning hours and watching the Perseid Meteor shower. So called because of its location in the Perseus constellation. In reality,it's not a shower, but the remnants of a comet that has left debris behind and the earth is moving through the debris field. In this case, it's the Swift-Tuttle comet that shows up every 135 years or so and leaves behind all this wonderful debris that gives us the show.

So, I set my alarm for 4:24, but awoke at 3:55. I made coffee, put on my jacket, and stepped out to the driveway and began looking up into the sky. After a few minutes of my eyes adjusting, a meteor would enter the atmosphere dozens of miles above me and burn up, leaving a image of a trail behind. Some were fast and small, others had longer tails and were seen a few micro-seconds longer. Regardless, after about 10 minutes I had seen 15 or so streak across the sky.

The other amazing thing were all the man-made satellites that were in constant movement. Several on a north to south, and a south to north, trajectory. Moving quickly across the sky, taking several minutes to disappear in the haze of the sky or behind the tree line. Two satellites that were just minutes apart headed south reached a certain spot and both seemed to glow really bright like they had turned a spotlight on! Of course, they were probably getting the full attention of the sun since it was causing the sky to get light.

I realized that, other than the moon, these satellites are not reflecting their own light, but the light of the star we call our Sun. High in the sky, they were being impacted by the Sun that we could not yet see. Much like most of what we are - we do not shine our own brilliance, but are merely a reflection of things around us. Some reflect more brightly than others, while many are just dimly seen. I want to be a bright reflection of all the intelligence God has given me, the love of my family, the joy of my wife, the specialness of my kids!

What an amazing 30 minute display of the heavenly skies and mans ingenuity on this Friday, the 13th of August, 2010...

An Anniversary - Sort of....

When I was about 5 years old, we moved... To Seabrook, Texas. To experience a magical location. Over 100 acres, a park, swimming pool, lake frontage - a really good place to store up a lot of really fond memories. Astronauts lived close to us. Hay bales stacked house high that became a fort. A pond for fishing and someone getting a hook stuck in their head. Cows and chickens. My first home built radio. Cub scouts. My brother and I have a shared, and really large, birthday party. All of us boys sharing a room together. A window a/c turned on only for the living room where we all sat and shared homework and family games. Boys coming over for a weekend from the boys home. Pets that were fun, and also scary. A barn that had some really wonderful smells and a hayloft that was fun to jump out of.

One of the things I remember most at this time in my life was learning to read. Somehow I was subscribed to a book delivery system where Dr Seuss was delivered on some regular basis. What fun it was to load up my books and go out into the park and sit at a picnic table and read! Even all the way out to the pavilion where Bozo the Clown skated at company picnic's, my books went with me. From that time I found a love for the written word - Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, all those SRA reading labs in school,and just about any story that was full of adventure.

I read today that Dr Seuss' first book, "Green Eggs and Ham", celebrated it's 50th anniversary - today, 08/12/2010. Dr Seuss was bet that he could not write a childrens book using 50 words or less and be intelligent and enjoyable at the same time. He won that bet! And went on to write story after story that opened up a great big world to a lot of kids. Before there was "hooked on phonics", he helped us learn to read by rhyming words and making sounds that were fun to read.

Gone now, and better known as Dr Seuss, Theodor Seuss Geisel will always be remembered by me and others as someone who made reading fun. Thank you!

I'm not sure I have ever thanked mom and dad for helping us enjoy that magical place called "Champion Park" in Seabrook, Texas, so much, but I want them to know how much fun it was! And I thank you both from the bottom of my heart.

The Road Ahead

My mind churns along many different paths, and I was thinking about a song we sang when I was young - in a church choir no less...

Song: I’ve Got A Long Way To Go
Chorus
I've got a long way to just to be like the Lord
I've got a long way to go to be like Him
I've got to be merciful, dutiful, faithful and true, kind and just in all that I do
I've got a long way to go to be like the Lord
Verse 1
I don't remember trudging up a rugged hill, with a cross upon my back
I don't recall a thorny crown placed upon my brow and now as I look back…
I've never been spit upon, ridiculed, wounded in my side, Life's no of bed of roses but still I’m alive
I've got a long way to go just to be like the Lord
Verse 2
I'm traveling onward upward daily Lord am I, on my way to victory
But when I reach that city some morning by and by, O Lord remember me
So won't you strengthen me, encourage me, deliver me I pray, Lord you know my weakness that is why I say
I've got a long way to go just to be like the Lord
Ending
I've got a long way to go (2x)
I've got a long way to go Just to be like the Lord


Can anybody know the future? What lies around the next bend? What will the morrow bring? If I cannot add one cubit of stature to my physical frame, how can I know something that has not yet occurred? Weather forecasters do exactly what their titles describe – they forecast the weather – in other words, they predict what it will be like tomorrow. Based upon science and some marvelous technology, they sense what will happen with air temps, wind velocities, moisture content, high and low pressures, jet streams, etc. But they do not really KNOW…. They PREDICT….

My thought is that I really do not know what is on “The Road Ahead…” but scripture gives us enough warning and direction to keep our head in the game…

I’ve looked back over the years of ministering and have preached these thoughts, including one that I heard from a very good friend of mine in Texas:

1. Driving thru Donner’s Pass of the Sierra Nevada Mountains that essentially splits California from Nevada, and in that mountainous trek of hilly roads and sharp corners, there was a sign ahead that gave warning to motorists – Steep Hill Ahead, Crank It Up!
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Acts 1:6-7 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? {7} And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
1 Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

2. Life is busy, yet there are times when it gets so busy we are easily overwhelmed, much like riverbanks that flow over and take over everything in its path.
Jer 12:5 "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?"

3. "I remember when my burdens rolled away I had carried them for years night and day When I sought the blessed Lord, And I took Him at His word, Then at once all my burdens rolled away. Rolled away. Rolled away. I remember when my burdens rolled away. Rolled away. Rolled away. I remember when my burdens rolled away."
John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
(Thanks Brett!)

4. Whether I needed to or not, when I recently drove to see my son, I would stop regularly and fill up the tank. My thought: “It’s time to fill’er up.” The fuel gauge may not be very far down the scale – but I wasn’t taking any chances.
Luke 14:15-24 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. {16} Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: {17} And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. {18} And they all with one consent began to make excuse.

5. Sleep is the Enemy of Man.
Matt 26:40-41 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Let me give you three scriptures to consider, each a full message within themselves, but collectively they help us to focus on staying on "The Road Ahead".

First:
Prov. 4:26-27 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Ponder, such a strange word. I thought of other words that end in "...onder" and came up with "yonder, wonder, fonder". In Hebrew, the word means "...To roll flat, to prepare [as a road]; to revolve, or to weigh [mentally]." I surmised it to reflect that I should "weigh something out in my mind…"

Have you ever been caught up in a predicament and not sure how you got into the trouble you are in? A misstep, a misspoken word, a mislabeled thought… Acting without thinking about direction, thus you "Open mouth, insert foot."

How do you back out of a situation that you have put yourself into?

Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Proverbs also states that we should not “Turn not to the right hand nor to the left...” The Hebrew for turn means by implication "...to bend away". In other words we are not to "turn away" from God's path and follow the distractions that would lead us in other directions. One way of looking at it, "don't chase down the rabbit trails" because they will lead you away from the path you're on.

Second;

Ps 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

This brings me to another message I have enjoyed to preach in the past, Thimk and Do…

In Philippians 4, Paul begins to sum up his epistle with this thought: verse 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Keep our minds and thoughts upon the things that produce good reports. Keep our minds from slipping into the gutter!

He goes on to state: verse 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Not only do you follow Godly examples, you are an example to others - watch how you example your life to everyone you come in contact with...

Many years ago I was a mainframe computer operator for a company that produced oil wellheads. On the top of the mainframe (IBM 370/135 DOS VS/Power) was a sign that came from IBM (I think). It used a particular font that make the word stand out, and at first glance you would think that it said "THINK". For several weeks I would glance at it and think that it was telling me to think about my next action while at the console. After awhile I begin to look at the word closely and it actually said "THIMK". Unless you observe closely, and think about it correctly, you would never think that it was really telling you to thimk....

You see, the first step in going the right direction was to consider what I’d done wrong. "If I always do what I’ve always done, I’ll always get what I’ve always gotten…"

You ought to thank GOD that He cares enough about the direction you’re going in that He sends you signals from time to time! As a pastor, my job is to be the watchman on the wall. When you ask about the night, the unknown, the direction…, give me the opportunity to give you some things to consider before you make your choice!

Finally;

Ps 119:58-61 I thought about the wrong direction in which I was headed, and turned around and came running back to you. (TLB)

Gravelly Lake Road, in Lakewood, has confused me too many times. Dissect it from one direction at a particular location, you can end up going the wrong way with all the twists and turns. Go too far in one direction you might as well just keep going because you’ll get close to the place you started from.

Yet, regardless of how far you have gone, when you realize you are headed the wrong way, it's not too late to work at making right that which you did wrong!

All of us need to take time to reflect on the direction we're headed. There are a lot of "look-alike" roads out there. Satan is transformed into the angel of light and he looks like the "real deal." But he's not, he's a false light!

There is only one thing that is Real - and that's Christ! Choose your road wisely... Prov 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Build it Right...

Matthew 7:24-27(KJV) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

We have all lived in a house, right? No one here has only lived in a cave?
Unless you were instrumental in the construction of that house, or unless you are a builder by nature, you probably took no thought to what it took to build that house. From site selection, to design, planning, permitting, purchasing material, hiring contractors, pouring the foundation, picking up a hammer, painting, roofing, etc. There are a thousand things to think about when you start the process. Forget something, and it’s just possible that everything will screech to a halt. Hire the wrong laborers and you can get unsatisfactory results. Run out of money – well we all understand that!

Let me share a couple of thoughts with you today on Build It Right.

First, with everything we do, we should always put God first!

Consider these scriptures:
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness… (Mt 6:33)
When Isaac traveled, he built an altar to God before he put up his tent or dug a well. (Gen 26:23-25)
(Before home and before sustenance, God was first.)
Paul tells Corinth: 1 Corinthians 3:9-11 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

There is no other foundation better laid first, than that foundation that is founded upon Christ

You see, the best lives, according to both Scripture and life experience, are built on the foundation of Christ, who is the Cornerstone of all things in our life.

You should always build your life on Christ. What does that mean in practical terms? Christ is our model in building who we are. Aren’t we tired of seeing people who try to mimic the fashions of the world? How does the world earn the privilege on telling us what to look like? How do we just give ourselves over to the worlds lifestyle and think this is pleasing to God?

Christ modeled for us what our life should be like. (Matt 6:25-33) "Take no thought..." for life, food, drink, clothing or about your body. If He can take care of the lilies of the field, how much more will He take care of us? He did not leave, nor has He forsaken us! He is with us through every part of our lives, even to the end of the world! He is the Glue that binds your physical and spiritual house from discord to unity!

Not just any ol’ building material will do - The Story of the Three Little Pigs

Once upon a time there were three little pigs, who went from home to seek their fortune.

The first that went off met a man with a bundle of straw, and said to him: "Good man, give me that straw to build me a house."
The man gave the straw, and the little pig built his house with it.
Presently came along a wolf, and knocked at the door, and said: "Little pig, little pig, let me come in."
But the pig answered: "No, no, by the hair of my chiny-chin-chin."
So the wolf said: "Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in."
So he huffed, and he puffed, and he blew his house in, and ate up the little pig.

The second little pig met a man with a bundle of furze, and said: "Good man, give me that furze to build me a house."
The man gave the furze, and the pig built his house.
Then once more came the wolf, and said: "Little pig, little pig, let me come in."
"No, no, by the hair of my chiny-chin-chin."
"Then I'll puff, and I'll huff, and I'll blow your house in."
So he huffed, and he puffed, and he puffed and he huffed, and at last he blew the house in, and ate up the little pig.

The third little pig met a man with a load of bricks, and said: "Good man, give me those bricks to build me a house with."
The man gave the bricks, and he built his house with them.
Again the wolf came, and said: "Little pig, little pig, let me come in."
"No, no, by the hair of my chiny-chin-chin."
"Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in."
So he huffed, and he puffed, and he huffed, and he puffed, and he puffed and huffed; but he could NOT get the house down.

When your house is stronger than the enemy, he will start to send you enticements to leave your house! Not just once, but three times the wolf tries to entice the pig...

Finding that he could not, with all his huffing and puffing, blow the house down, he said: "Little pig, I know where there is a nice field of turnips."
"Where?" said the little pig.
"Oh, in Mr Smith's field, and if you will be ready to-morrow morning we will go together, and get some for dinner."
"Very well," said the little pig. "What time do you mean to go?"
"Oh, at six o'clock."
So the little pig got up at five, and got the turnips before the wolf came crying:
"Little pig, are you ready?"
The little pig said: "Ready! I have been and come back again, and got a nice potful for dinner."
The wolf felt very angry at this, but thought that he would be a match for the little pig somehow or other, so he said:
"Little pig, I know where there is a nice apple-tree."
"Where?" said the pig.
"Down at Merry-garden," replied the wolf, "and if you will not deceive me I will come for you, at five o'clock to-morrow, and get some apples."
The little pig got up next morning at four o'clock, and went off for the apples, hoping to get back before the wolf came; but it took long to climb the tree, and just as he was coming down from it, he saw the wolf coming. When the wolf came up he said: "Little pig, what! are you here before me? Are they nice apples?"
"Yes, very," said the little pig. "I will throw you down one."
And he threw it so far that, while the wolf was gone to pick it up, the little pig jumped down and ran home.

The next day the wolf came again, and said to the little pig:--
"Little pig, there is a fair in town this afternoon; will you go?'
"Oh yes," said the pig, "I will go; what time?"
"At three," said the wolf. As usual the little pig went off before the time, and got to the fair, and bought a butter-churn, which he was rolling home when he saw the wolf coming. So he got into the churn to hide, and in so doing turned it round, and it rolled down the hill with the pig in it, which frightened the wolf so much that he ran home without going to the fair. He went to the little pig's house, and told him how frightened he had been by a great round thing which came past him down the hill.

Then the little pig said. "Ha! ha! I frightened you, then!"
Then the wolf was very angry indeed, and tried to get down the chimney in order to eat up the little pig.
When the little pig saw what he was about, he put a pot full of water on the blazing fire, and, just as the wolf was coming down, he took off the cover, and in fell the wolf.
Quickly the little pig clapped on the cover, and when the wolf was boiled ate him for supper.

Jesus teaches a much more practical story than this fable.
He teaches us a story of two men who go to build a house.
All things being equal, their houses could have been identical.
Not only is the material important, you must also build in the right spot.

Yet the key is, the Storms of Life tests everyone equally.
The storms of life show how well you have built!
It’s less about the material, and more about your foundation.
1 Cor 3: 11-15 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Saturday Morning... Early for some, Late for others

One of my favorite times is "early morning..." I seldom use an alarm clock as my mind just wakes up every morning around 5 a.m. or so. Everyone else can sleep as long as they want, but I generally always awake early. There's something about sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee watching the world come alive. I've watched wildlife move around me in the still of the new dawn. I've listened to birds start to welcome the morning with their trill. I've watched neighbors hastily get in their cars and drive away.

Back in the day when mornings were not as favorite as they are now, I remember my granddad and his morning routine. Up around 3 a.m. or so, he would brew coffee and cook toast until it was charbroiled. He would scrape most of the black off the hardened and dried toast and sit at the kitchen table just enjoying his morning. Sometimes he would go and do his fishing chores (check the trot-lines, ready his boat, etc.) and other mornings he would amble around the streets of his neighborhood for several hours until the sky was blue and the sun was on its way over the tree line. He would go home and grandmother would cook a real breakfast and they would start their day.

Of course, after sixteen years in Alaska, I grew used to morning (with the sun) changing radically every day. On the shortest day of the year (Dec 21 or so), the sun would arise somewhere around 10 a.m. - and to all you late sleepers you cheer! This just meant I was up for about 5 hours of dark before the day star arose over the Chugach Mountains. On the longest day of the year (June 21 or so), the sun would arise around 3 a.m. or so. You could actually play golf all night in the twilight, or read a book on the porch with the natural light at 1 a.m.

Jesus was often up in the early morning hours. In the temple He taught the people that came to hear him, He would pray before the sun arose, and He gave some insightful lessons to His disciples that were with him as they started their day.

The Old Testament is full of early morning events - Abraham stands in a place to meet God, Moses stands before Pharaoh, Jacob builds an altar, Joshua goes to war, Hannah worships, David leaves his sheep behind and goes to where Goliath is, Hezekiah goes with his leaders to the House of the Lord, and King Darius rushes to check on Daniel after his night in the lion's den.

What I take to heart is that I can find Him early in the morning before the cacophony of the day takes over and my life gets very busy. I know He is always there for me, but there is something special about those early morning hours. This is my personal prep time for the busy day ahead and How I Love This Time...

First Person Point of View

It was a wondrous time, my eight grade literature class with Kitty Sue Barber. Not only did I get to focus on what I really enjoyed doing - reading, Ms Barber made it so much fun. She tried to get us to look at stories from a multitude of viewpoints. We were exposed to various styles of literature. The scope of the class was wide and we could not read what we wanted to, but we had to read the literature pre-selected.

One memory of mine is that I would open the "literature" book and have my own book open on the inside - reading what I wanted!

I do not remember all the details, but I do recall one particular incident. She had been bragging on a book she was currently reading - a Gothic novel. The suspense was just dripping from her words as she alluded to the details of the book. Just about everyone wanted to read the book. We clamored for her attention to be the next reader!

Ms Barber held the book up and asked who would be interested in doing a book report after they read the book. A few hands dropped. Interest lost. She then asked if the selected person would do the book report from the "first person" perspective. More hands dropped. Mine stayed in the air.

Somehow I was chosen to read the book and do the book report in the "first person." The only problem, the hero of the book was actually the heroine. That's right. The main character was a female - which is the opposite gender of me.

I inhaled the book and finished it in a couple of days. My only problem was to do the report from the heroine's point of view. How could I do that? And do it so that I would get a good grade? Again, I do not remember all the details, but I do remember having to stand before the class and read my book report from the heroine's point of view. A round of applause, a bow, and a good grade as I recall.

Now, growing up with a last name like mine, I have always been teased about being a "girlie..." Over the years I've learned to take it in stride. In fact, I have begun a collection of "Gurley" memorabilia. I have an ash tray from Gurley Hall at a university in Pennsylvania. 25 pound paper flour sacks from one of the Carolina states. Surveying equipment from New York. Pictures of Gurley towns in Alabama and Nebraska. Pictures of Gurley Street in Prescott, AZ. Tokens from various Gurley mercantile stores. And the hope is that I can visit "Gurley" places everywhere I go and record the events for posterity sake.

Regardless of how my name comes across, it is the name of my family heritage. I can share things about who I am from the "first person" point of view.

This makes me to realize something important - God tells the story of history to us from His "first person" point of view. He uses others viewpoints and life events. But everything within the pages of the Bible are what He gives us to use so that we can understand who He is. There is not another book given to us to understand Him better than His Word.

Psalms 119 is a chapter that is devoted to presenting the Word of God from every letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each section represents one of the letters. And each section focuses on the Word of God. Verse 11 is my favorite, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee."

When I read His Word, I must read it from His Point of View! Only then can I apply it to my life and understand what His plan is for His creation.

The Sense of Sight

John 9:25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

Vision, Sight, Seeing…

What a miracle it is to have the ability to see. I thank God for our 5 senses - Life would truly be different with out them. My favorite is Sight - I would rather keep my sight and let go of tasting, smelling, hearing, touching…My ability to see is something I do not want to take for granted.

I have been a reader all my life (that I can remember) and with sight I can go on researching the wonders of the world through the written word!

I am a watcher of all my surroundings; I can hardly wait for the next turn in the road and the surprises it will bring – in fact, I hate to sleep when we are on a driving trip and I’m simply a passenger – I might miss something!

I enjoy watching people – how they act and react. And who doesn’t enjoy watching children as they begin to experience the world around them!

Thank God for the ability to see…I would have to change how I enjoy life if I lost my sight.

Each of us is blessed with a dominant eye…the eye that looks most directly at an object. The non-dominant eye is the eye that looks at the same object at a slight angle… This small difference helps to provide depth perception…This is important in order to focus from distant objects to near objects…In medical terminology, this is called Ocular dominance, and this describes the tendency to “…prefer visual input from one eye to the other.” One may think it’s as unique as being right handed or left handed, but there is no correlation to being dominant with one hand and the same side eye. Approximately two-thirds of the population is right-eye dominant;

Determining the dominant eye is actually very simple. Simply look at an object about 15-20 feet or so from you, raise your hands in front of your face with your palms facing away from you. Create an opening between the two hands by crossing your thumbs and fore-fingers. Look at the object with both eyes open, and then close one eye and note what you can see, then close the other eye and note the differences. I first learned about this when taking archery lessons. Though right handed, I struggled with hitting the target, much less the bulls eye. My arrows were always going awry. When the instructor tested for eye dominancy, we learned that my left high was seeing more straightly than my right eye. To use this to my advantage I changed from shooting right handed, to left handed.

Knowing which eye is dominant helps us in many facets of life. The way we angle our bodies toward something that is seen clearer by one eye over the other, or the way we always seem to comprehend easier when something is on the side of our bodies which has the dominant eye..

Now I said all that to say this…our eyes and the sense of seeing are very important to us… The miracle of sight is an amazing feat. Our eyes send signals to our brain, and our brain makes a decision or judgment based upon what we saw…

Although a picture is worth a thousand words, there was the story about the beauty of a face that launched a thousand ships.

We oft remember what we see more than what we hear.An adage of old: “Teach me I forget, Show me I’ll remember, Involve me and I’ll comprehend.”

Scripture seems to be more focused on the sense of sight more than the sense of hearing. Equal in number, God has given us two eyes and two ears. Yet the translation of images through the ocular nerve into something retained in our brain for later recall is an amazing process. Samuel T Coleridge said, “My eyes make pictures when they are shut.” The concept of seeing something in our mind is missing when someone is blind. To a woman who never had sight, Helen Keller said, “Of all the senses, sight must be the most delightful.”

John, chapter 9, describes a man who was born blind. Like Helen Keller he never had the opportunity to see. When brought before Jesus as a challenge, Jesus simply anointed his eyes with clay and spittle and instructed the man to go and wash his eyes. Upon doing so, the man miraculously gained his sight. The religious authorities were quick to seize on this, looking for a reason to accuse Jesus. When they queried the once blind man, part of his statement has stayed with me for the past little while, “…one thing I know, whereas I was blind, now I see…” This man was not only going to be thankful for that which he could see right now, today… But imagine how he will be thanking God later on in life when he can experience wonders that were once closed to him. What must it be like to come from a place of total blindness, and now be able to see everything, all the time.

Take this concept of seeing and use it for the “long view.” We can be made happy by things which bring instant gratification. I heard a man make a statement about why we love digital cameras so much, we can instantly see the results – no waiting for the film to be completely used, no waiting for the processing of the film, - show it to me right now. When my son was getting married, the photographer would look at the view finder and determine if she needed to take another picture before moving on to the next shot.

I believe Vision needs to be something that gives us not only short term benefits, but a gaze of where we are headed on the path we are walking so as to determine the end result.

The children of Israel were willing to give up their eyesight in their right eye in order to have a king (1 Sam 11:1-11). How could you voluntarily give up your depth perception just to have a king. Not even a Godly king, but one whose name means “snake”. He was not a Godly man, he was a man of the world. They were willing to follow anybody just to have a king in their life. Perhaps the problem was not only in their desire, but they had already lost the Vision of what God had intended them to have – a chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation!

This world wants us to give up our eyes, our vision, just so we can all get along. They want to enforce their own set of rules and values upon us and have us accept their way of looking at things.

Don’t give up your spiritual vision just to fit in with someone else that doesn’t believe what I believe

2 Cor 6:14 - 18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Scripture is full of those who gave up their Spiritual Vision to fellowship with Darkness.
1. In order to eat lunch with a snake, Eve partook of the fruit that was designed to not be taken. And she lost her home and was expelled from the garden…she was kicked out of a perfect environment…she lost her purity…her innocence…
2. Samson was willing to loose his eyes over a beautiful lady…. Here was a Judge of Israel, a man of strength who could rip apart a lion with his hands, destroy thousands in battle – but he had no depth perception and could not keep his eyes in focus! In the end…he lost his ability to see…and we find him a servant to the enemies of God…grinding corn in a dungeon with both of his eyes plucked out.
3. David lost his vision several times by the lust and pride within his own life and walked off down roads that led to darkness.
4. Peter loses his Vision of the Messiah and flees into the darkness after cursing those who thought he was a follower of Christ.
5. Paul describes this world blinded by the god of this world in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, where the Gospel of the Good News is hid.

Do not be a slave to a vision that is not Godly! Matt 18:9 “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.” If you find yourself off the pathway of God, do whatever it takes to get back on the strait and narrow. Mark Twain said, “You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” Keep our focus in tune with the direction of God is where we need to work the hardest.

Helen Keller was asked, “what would be worst than being born blind, she said being born without a vision”.

Prov 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

The Sense of Hearing

There are five senses that we depend on to be effectively alive in this world!

• Taste, Hear, See, Smell – these senses are located in your head.
• Feel – this is the one sense that impacts the head but we often think of it as coming from our fingers.

The senses of the head are all so specialized and cause us to act or re-act to the input we receive.

• When we taste a substance, we either hunger for more or flee the table.
• When we hear, we tune in or tune out.
• When we see danger, we either flee or fight.
• When we smell, we are either drawn or repulsed.
• When we feel, we move closer or further away.

Our senses control everything about our life. How we respond, how we act, where we go, what we search for, what our desires are – we can either sharpen our senses to grow into a marvelous individual, or we can let our senses become sloppy and our end result seldom pleases anyone. A thinking person cannot think without having had input into the brain. A loving person cannot love without having the sense of what one chooses to love. A rational person cannot maintain control if there is nothing to give one balance on the ranges of emotion.

Your sum total of being is a result of what your senses give you, how you internally process it, and what you do with it to form your outward persona. All our sensory input creates us into the person that we eventually present ourselves to be. Sensory overload creates a stressed life. Focusing on satisfying a single stimulus from a single sense makes us unstable. Example, constant visual stimulation of things that entertain us gives us an outward person that struggles with reality.

Now here’s the rub. What we hear directly affects the brain. Scripture continually points us to what we put into our heart (brain) comes more from what we hear and from what we see. During a time when many could not read, much less have a book to hold onto, much instruction came by hearing the Word of God, or listening to instructions being provided.

Listening skills are missing in this modern world. Constant noise is being filtered by our brain. We follow the sounds that appeal to us, and tune out the sounds that are discordant. I was visiting with our pest control guy today and he commented it was so easy to talk to me as I was a good listener. Such a beautiful compliment! Oh, that God could say that about us. Oft times we are formulating a response while listening to someone talk. Yet God speaks and there’s really nothing we can say in response – so we should develop some really keen listening skills.

Let me share a couple of “hearing” things a child of God should focus on.

Sharpened Hearing…

Acts 28:27 - For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

The older I get the more my hearing is becoming history. When listening to some of you I have to give complete focus to your speech, perhaps even paying attention to the shape of words you are making with your mouth. I cannot make my hearing better, but I can change the circumstances around which I listen. For example, background noise can drown out your spoken word – in order to hear you better I must remove the background noise so I can hear more clearly.

When you are trying to determine your path in life, you have to completely focus!

When a message is being preached, too many times you allow your attention to be sidetracked by the things you have surrounding you. I’ve watched people clip their nails, respond to emails or texts, play with their children, whisper to one another, or just sleep. You cannot hear sharply what is being shared from God’s word when you have your attention divided. Jesus said in Mark 3:24-27, “…And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.”

Divided attention produces unstable results! Why do you think they have passed laws to prevent you from talking or texting on your cell phones?

Sharpening your hearing means you must pull out all the stops of distractions and put all your energy into hearing what God would say to you and the church. John writes in the early chapters of Revelations, “…He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches…” In order to hear we must focus our ears upon the spiritual voice of God.

Pray…

When we pray, we do it in such a way that we vocalize to God, hoping that He hears. Have you ever listened to the words you are saying? Most of the times we just say words with no concept of the power these words have. There is power to your words – power that brings solutions!
Jesus answers His disciples desire to learn how to pray by giving them a formula. We seldom follow the formula and just pour out our self-pitying cries of despair. Listen to how you pray and tell me that you’re doing what Jesus says!

When God speaks to us we know that He answers. When He speaks to us, we should be focused on hearing what He says. 1 John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” He will answer according to His will, but we have to speak our prayers properly and not incorrectly. James 4:3, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
Prayer is a two-way conversation! Speak. Hush and listen.

Hearing God…

At the mountain where the transfiguration occurred, God speaks to the three disciples regarding the spoken words of Jesus, (Matt 17:5) “…hear ye him…” This phrase comes from Deut 18:15, where God says another prophet would be raised up (mountain top) and all should listen to him. Luke writes in several places in Acts to confirm the results of this prophecy (Acts 3:22-23, Acts 7:37).

We are commanded to listen.

This world is full of discordant sounds, voices that command our attention, words that cause us to listen… Oh what do we spend time listening to?

Yet Satan has a voice and it is often difficult to know whose voice we are hearing. Jesus says His Sheep will know His voice (John 10:27) and as the verse goes on to explain, “…I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish…”

Who do you want to listen to? False hope? Or the Truth? Or the one that can give you Eternal Life?

Never tired of hearing…

In the last days, Amos writes that God would send a famine into the land. Not a famine of food, but of hearing the word of the Lord. (Amos 8:11) How can anyone grow tired of hearing the Word of the Lord? For in these Words we have access to understanding the will and plan of God for this world. In them we learn of the majesty and beauty of God. In them we learn how much He loves us!

King David says he wants to inquire in the temple and behold the beauty of the Lord (Ps 27:4). You never tire of approaching that which YOU deem beautiful!

Finally, Paul came to the city and people of Corinth in a very plain fashion. Read his words in
1 Corinthians 2:1-16(KJV) to get the full gist of what our hearing needs to be like.

Clackety, Clackety, Clackety.... Whoosh!

When I was a youngster, there was a place that was pure joy to visit – and, although I remember being there with the family, there came a time when we were dropped off and picked up later in the evening to enjoy as only kids can enjoy without parents. What was that place? Astroworld. It was across the freeway from the Astrodome – the home of the Houston Astros and the place where Astroturf found its first home. A safe place, as I remember it, for kids to be kids. As I remember Astroworld, I do not remember anybody ever getting into trouble. There were no cell phones to keep track of each other. Our method of communication was to say that we would meet at a certain place in the park by a certain time.Regardless, you paid your admission price and every ride was free. Even though Astroworld was in our neck of the woods, Six Flags Over Texas was between Ft Worth and Dallas and was another favorite spot – although we did not go there as often.

My favorite rides had something to do with speed, high hills, precipitous drops, and high “G” turns. I do not remember all their names, but there was one that was called something like “Runaway Mine Train.” It was designed like an ore car used to transport miners and ore from one end of a mine to another. Never mind that we had no mines like this around us, but it was a pure delight to get into the car – hopefully in the front car. In this favorite spot, you would leave the station and begin to enter the mine. The very first thing you hear is “clackety, clackety, clackety” as the cars are pulled upwards to the top of the hill. You see, for the most part the thrill of the roller coaster is the unbridled speed that begins as that last “clackety” ends – Whoosh, you head down the hill and into the turns that bring screams and a joy of speed like you can never get on your bicycle.

These names sort of burn into my memory – Runaway Mine Train, XLR8, Space Mountain, Cannonball Run, and the list seems endless as I try to remember all the key words that give some the willies to just think about it.

Take the theme park out of the picture, take the roller coaster car off the tracks, and instead put your life into its place. Make your life represent the roller coaster and a great fear will wake you up in the middle of the night just sweating through the challenges that your life presents to you in the daytime. Your life is a challenge and there seem to be times that everything is out of control. Forget that the tracks you are attached to give you a semblance of order, nor that the limits of the design that God has built into the story of your life gives you hope of successful completion, you can then realize you do not have to worry about coming off the tracks and flying through the air to certain destruction.

You see, it is Satan’s plan to make sure you focus on the tragedy and uncertainty of life and not look to the certainty of our destination. He wants your life to be thrown suddenly off the top of a hill that you have been climbing and hoping that the fall will cause you to flee your relationship with God! But God knows you are better than the trials of life! His Word speaks to us, Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Consider the man Job. Satan did. He saw a man that was seemingly perfect in God’s eyes.
• Job 1: 1-3 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

Oh what a marvelous life he must have lived. Clackety, Clackety, Clackety – he grows his family and vast holdings. Life is good. Everything is growing and going good. 10 children, 11,000 animals, a large household. Not only did he “own” a lot, but his character was not even called into question – he was PERFECT and UPRIGHT. He Feared God. He rejected evil. He made sacrifices to God in case his sons and daughters had sinned. When Satan came before God, it was The Lord that asked Satan if he had taken note of His Servant, Job. The stage seemed to be set for failure; Satan is allowed to do ANYTHING to Job, except to take his life. Can you feel it? Life is about at the top of the tracks. The last Clackety sound is fading and the downward Whoosh is coming. Can you feel the gravity take hold of your life. Where you once were on that really nice upward climb, the bottom starts to drop out from under you. Look at what happens to Job: The Sabeans, the Fire of God, the Chaldeans and a great wind destroys all he has – except for his wife and the four servants who come to report the tragedies. All in one day!

This is one of the worst tragedies recorded in scripture – it happens fast and without warning.

Job is a hero – he’s perfect, upright, rejects evil and he fears God. He has it all - many children, lots of livestock and a reputation that is not exceeded by anyone else within this book.

Bring this home to us and remember how we act when something goes wrong in our life!

Life is often like this roller coaster experience. We leave the station and begin to climb the hill of life. Regardless of how long this growth period is, compare your life to the stock market and realize that every day we face challenges. Some of which can cause us to spin in a seemingly death ordained spiral to low points and we have to Clackety, Clackety, Clackety, climb again to regain.

Remember Paul’s admonition, “…all things…” work together for Good. What you are going through may seem to be the worst trial ever, but God knows exactly what you are facing. He knows the twists, turns and drops that are coming fast. He also knows when the next Clackety sound will bring joy to your life.

What's It All About?

As I penned the title to this blog, an song of old popped into my mind, "What's it all about, Alfie?" I stopped to look up the lyrics because I can only remember this single phrase. I have no clue as to who wrote it, who put the music to the lyrics, or even who sang the song. In my mind I do not remember even if it is a male or female... The only thing that remains is the phrase - "what's it all about...".

These past few weeks it seems the emphasis of so many are about the highs and lows of things happening around us. Many jump on the band wagon of excitement about this "lebron" thing, others focus on the zoo and talk about "tiger", while others are paying huge attention to soccer happening in another country - on another continent - below the equator... Some cannot get enough of twilight - we just drove through Forks and I did not see any werewolves or vampires. Some are upset that their TV show has been canceled. Some are bemoaning the latest reality show as if it's a real representation of life. While others think that it's rigged for judges to promote one talent over the other. And then there's all this talk about tar balls washing up on the coast line in the Gulf of Mexico.

From financial meltdowns, to mortgage crisis, to lost jobs, time nor space is available for me to document all the things that people decide to spend their energy and focus upon.

I grow weary with the focus on this world and all the distractions we are faced with. Somewhere I need to revamp my thinking and look to the Good News found in the pages of the Bible.

There is Hope for a better life and it is not found with a basketball in my hand.
There is Joy in living for Christ and it not found flipping channels.
There is Peace in putting Christ first in my life, even when this world is full of disasters.
There is Love in responding to the Love that came to me on a dark and lonely road.

So, I ask this question, "What's it all about?" Do you really know? Do you really care?

I Do.... A Covenant

I've been asked by some how I've "made" my marriage last for so long... Today is our 36th anniversary. I can remember that day:
- a home wedding at Freddie and Jack Huffman's house by the University of Houston
- hot and humid, the A/C not keeping up with the demands being placed on it
- a special haircut that did feel comfortable
- a spruced up 1971 Dodge Dart Sport, bright orange, white seats, white vinyl top
- matching ties for all the guys (which I still own)
- the minister, A.E. Matney, standing at the front of the room
- dad singing our wedding song selection (I still have the book it came out of)
- family and friends gathering together to help us celebrate

And then, Brenda walks down the stairs and is presented to me by her dad...

On that day we made a covenant and declared our undying love and devotion to each other. We sealed our agreement with a simple, "I do..." A covenant of love that has bound us to each other these 36 years.

Never has there been a time when I wondered, "What am I getting myself in to?" Just 19 and 18 years old, barely out of high school, we were committing ourselves to each other for the rest of our lives.

The year my granddad passed away, he and grandmother celebrated their 65th anniversary. He was a little older than I when he married and she was a little younger. Was life easy for them? No! Several world wars, depressions, sicknesses, death of a child, and a host of other unknown events could have created opportunity for their marriage to fail. That last year of his life Granddad told me that they would have had nothing in their lives except for Grandmother saving and scrimping like she was famous for. When he wanted a new motor for his boat, she would analyze their finances and his desire and determine if they could do it. What a partnership they had - not necessarily rosy on all fronts, but it gave me an insight into how their marriage worked.

To my brides chagrin (at times) I keep broadcasting that we are aiming for 65 years of marriage. We are over halfway there.

Something came to mind earlier this year - we were both born in 1955, and this year we each turn 55. Not very many people will be able to celebrate their births like this. A math statement puts sums it up: (55 + 55 = 110) * 2 = 220 - independently we are simple house current. Joined together we are great potential.

Thanks to our parents and grandparents on both sides of the family who have shown us the way. Thanks to our kids for showing us young love all over again. Thanks to God for giving us each other.

Algorithms for Life

For over 30 years I have been involved with technology. From keypunch card days and large mainframes, to modern web teams and powerful personal computers, I have been fortunate to be a part of the changes that have impacted the way we live and the way we do business. Part of my training and experience involved problem solving and analytical thinking exercises. From organizing data and workflow to produce desired results, or from developing application systems to process data, I’ve been involved in trying to critically create steps that will produce specific output. This process can be summed up in a single word that causes those who are math or science challenged to cringe. What is this word? It is: algorithm.

One web definition states that algorithm is “…a set of rules for solving a problem in a finite number of steps…” while another definition states “…any set of detailed instructions which results in a predictable end-state from a known beginning…”

Regardless of the definition, algorithms as “rules” or “steps” are created and followed to produce desired results. They will only produce results that are as good as the rules or steps created. As we wrote programs or followed instruction to complete some task, we often used the acronym GIGO: “garbage in… garbage out…” We see this humorously when we take an algorithm into the kitchen and try to prepare and cook a meal from a cookbook (essentially an algorithm of steps or instructions to follow to produce desired or expected results). With incorrectly followed steps we get a different meal result. With incorrect steps to follow we will also get differing results.

Authors abound in the leadership arena to provide steps on how to become successful in some venture. With over 60,000 titles at Amazon, there are algorithmic books that give us 21 steps to be a good leader by one author, or from following the mantra that you must first break all the rules. Many have created techniques to create leadership qualities in those that are already or aspiring to be a leader. In a Father’s Day card this year, my son states that he has me to thank for what he has become – this causes me to look closer at my son as a result and judge whether my algorithms on being a Father where successful. This causes me to look over my shoulder and consider all the algorithms of life that I have followed and determine if they will produce success and prosperity, or, have they been full of garbage.

Scripture gives us an early definition on how to be successful. When Joshua takes the reins of a nation following in the footsteps of Moses, God commands him:

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:8-9).

Prosperity and success came from attending to the 600+ instructions found in the book of the law. It was not a simple task easily followed, as there were many algorithms within the law to create a successful and prosperous life. Some tasks were designed to be followed by a select few, or even one, while other laws were followed by everyone.

Jesus provided several additional algorithms for successful living that were built upon the law of the Old Testament:

· Matt 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

· Matt 7:7-8 - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: ⁸For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

· Luke 13:24 - Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Each of these produces results that are greatly desired, and the steps taken produce a better life. Another time Jesus was being questioned by a lawyer:

· Matt 22:34-40 - But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. ³⁵ Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, ³⁶ Master, which is the great commandment in the law? ³⁷ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Noticed His ending comment, “...on these two commandments’ hang all the law and the prophets…” The English Standard Version (ESV) translates this statement as this: “...On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets…” The root of instructions finds a home in the concept of Love. Not the love of this world – which will produce worldly results, but the love of God that gives us opportunity to love others as God has loved us – individually and collectively as His beloved individual and collected group of created beings.

I submit that this is the most important Algorithm of all times – Love God, Love your Neighbor. This produces results that truly create success and prosperity in a person’s life. Regardless of the algorithms that mankind has created to produce desired results, nothing; absolutely nothing will create more success and prosperity in our lives than following the Algorithm for Life.