Have you ever had one of those days where it seems as if you are beating your head against the proverbial wall?

Picture this, no matter how you attempt to tackle a given problem you are left at the starting blocks and your feet are not moving.

If we are honest about it, most of us can relate to a time like the one described above.

Imagine a scenario where the day spent beating your head against the wall transitions into weeks and months and ultimately into a season or seasons where you feel utterly frustrated.

You cry out “What’s the use?” more times than you can count. The deepest desire of your heart is to see progress and be on a path where you continue to move forward.

However, it simply is not happening (or so you think).

You are looking for results and see none. Nada. Nil.

What you might not know is your Father seeks a greater good inside of you and He is focused on the process of conforming you to the image of His Son versus an arbitrary result you might seek.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 NLT)

Many years ago I came across a short story written by an unknown author which not only ministered to me, but impacted me in profound ways.

It gave me the fuel to keep moving forward despite periodic obstacles and setbacks. I hope this encourages you as well.

Pushing Against the Rock – Author Unknown

There was a man who was asleep one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told the man He had a work for him to do and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might.

This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture placing thoughts into the man’s mind such as; “You have been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn’t budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it, etc.”

Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure.
These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man even more. “Why kill myself over this?” he thought. “I’ll just put in my time, giving just the minimum of effort and that will be good enough.”

And that he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.

“Lord” he said, “I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock a half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?”

To this the Lord responded compassionately, “My friend, when long ago I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push.

And now you come to me, your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back brown, your hands are calloused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven’t moved the rock.

YOUR CALLING WAS TO BE OBEDIENT, TO PUSH, AND TO EXERCISE YOUR FAITH AND TO TRUST IN MY WISDOM; this you have done.

“My friend, I will now move the rock.”

Often times we fail to see what God sees. During a recent church service I came to understand that God sees much better as reflected in the title of the message – What Heaven Determines Earth Cannot Eliminate.

You may be tired, worn out, or indifferent from pushing against your own rock with seemingly no results to show for it. Be obedient and take aim to reap the dividends yielded by the process of your obedience.

Keep pushing, as you develop strength and persistence, while allowing Him to move the rock on your behalf.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” (Psalms 18:2)

I can’t speak for you, but as the pace of life accelerates I long for simpler times and treasure moments of yesteryear for what they were at face value.

I was blessed to have a mom and a dad who cared about me and who taught me basic values such as saying thank you, addressing my elders with the appropriate Mr. or Mrs. attached to their surname, or by showing respect to one who held a given office in life such as a priest, minister, or a doctor.

The higher the office the greater the level of esteem shown was expected.

To stray from the expected norm meant an encounter with my Dad for corrective action to bring me back in line.

It boiled down to this, it was about giving honor to whom honor was due.

A code of honor is generally a set of rules or ideals related to conducting oneself in a manner that is institutionally, culturally, or individually followed when interacting with others in respective contexts.

In a similar manner, Joe the farmer may have an egg stand at the fringe of his farm where he sells eggs based on the honor system. Joe is not immediately available to take your money, but he has a supply of eggs for sale and you want to buy some. You take your eggs and leave the appropriate amount of money in a can or other receptacle. You thereby acted within the honor system and did not rip off Joe the farmer.

Simple acts like holding a door open for another or a husband taking time to hold his wife’s car door open are day-to-day ways to convey honor.

On a national level standing for the Pledge of Allegiance or singing our National Anthem are ways to communicate honor to live in what has been, is, and will continue to be the greatest country on the planet. We honor the flag and those who have served our country by doing so.

The comments which follow go far beyond partisanship, Republican versus Democrat, and Right versus Left. They are squarely centered on right versus wrong and good versus evil, leaning on biblical truths versus anti-scriptural constructs.

Earlier this past week, President Trump addressed a Joint Session of Congress which was broadcast worldwide. It was his attempt to bring the nation up to speed with what has been going on in the first month or so of his second term. He was elected to do a job and it was incumbent upon him to convey to the nation his initial report card.

Whether you are for President Trump or against him, showing honor for the Office of the President has historically been a part of the fabric of our society while acting in a civil manner, disagreements aside.

To say those comprising the Joint Session of Congress were divided wound be a gross understatement.

As a matter of policy, one can live with the scenario of agreeing to disagree. What took place was utter vitriol against President Trump and fell drastically short on the honor meter not only towards him, but more importantly to others present.

The behavior expressed by those on the left side of the auditorium was appalling with one member of Congress being escorted out of the room for lack of decorum with his petulant outrage. He was subsequently censured by Congress for his outlandish actions and behavior.

For the most part, no one on this side of the room except an isolated few took the time to stand for anything.

No one.

If Honor were a person our collective imagination could have heard him being beckoned, “Honor – come out, come out wherever you are.”

Again, it is one thing to protest by actions (or lack thereof) against matters of policy on which one disagrees.

It’s an entirely different story when those who need lifted up the most are dishonored in a most shameful manner.

In the audience were multiple invited guests of the President. Without naming names except one, each had a heart wrenching story acknowledged by the President and they were asked to stand for a moment in which those in attendance had the opportunity to show them honor by letting them know America sees you and stands with you.

Those on the Democratic side of the chamber (and if the roles were reversed I would say the same thing) could not bring themselves to stand to honor a mother who lost a daughter who was murdered, a journalist freed from captivity, or a fire-fighter who lost his life while protecting his family from stray bullets during the failed Butler, Pennsylvania assassination attempt on then candidate Trump’s life.

The moment of the night which best epitomizes what I am trying to convey about honor is the story of D.J. Daniel, a 13 year old cancer patient who is attempting to live out his dream of being named as a law enforcement officer in all 50 states.

President Trump bestowed on D.J. the honor of being named a special agent in the Secret Service. A summary of his story can be seen here.

The Democratic response was simply heartless and showed no regard for his situation nor for the scarred lives of the other invited honorees.

Since we are in it together as a nation, we should be ashamed of our collective behavior. We can do much, much better than this.

Can our Code of Honor be redeemed?

It needs a drastic overhauling and we need it now.

Proverbs provides these reminders and answers.

“Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.” (Proverbs 18:12 NLT)

“Pride end in humiliation; while humility brings honor.” (Proverbs 29:23 NLT)

“The wise inherit honor; but fools are put to shame.” (Proverbs 3:35 NLT)

A step in the right direction would be to once again yield to God.

Another step would be to accept our fellow man even if we disagree with him.

For those invited guests who were dishonored during the President’s address, please forgive us for our collective actions.

God knows you. He sees you. And He loves you. You are not alone.

To call those out who were less than civil and refer to their behavior as childish does a disservice to children who know better.

Perhaps a starting place might be to acknowledge your actions, ask forgiveness of a nation, and admit to the fact that it is time to grow up for the sake of the greater good.

As for you and I, let’s accept the invitation to intentionally show honor to someone in our circle of influence.

Little ripples can begin to make a difference.

We need to invite honor back to the table and in such a manner where it starts with each of us.

Please accept this invitation to step back in time with me to an encounter I experienced nearly a half-century ago.

High school graduation was in the rear view mirror and the door to my college experience flung open.

Although a story for another day I met the young woman, Jackie, who eventually would become my wife. We have spent a lifetime together sharing all this life has to offer.

We began the dating process and moment by blessed moment we came to know each other in the way couples gradually do. Jackie invited me to know her in the context and through the lens of her beliefs.

My catholic upbringing helped me know about God. In many ways I considered Him my friend, despite the fact that my knowing about Him was more head-knowledge than knowing Him experientially and living from the heart.

That all changed in a moment and it has become the major thread in the tapestry of my life. On Columbus Day 1975, I accepted Christ not as a religious thing to do, but as my personal Lord and Savior. As imperfect as I am, I have attempted to make my relationship with Jesus the central focus of my life.

I do not recall whether it was on a school break or over a summer recess, on a visit to Jackie’s suburban Pittsburgh home I was introduced to her neighbor, a lady whom she referred to as Aunt Bea.

Aunt Bea was a Jewish believer who also accepted Christ. She was a mentor to Jackie, especially during some difficult times in her young life.

Bea hosted frequent prayer meetings in her home as she flowed in her gift of intercessory prayer. On occasion we would drop in on Bea to talk and pray.

One such visit stands out from the rest as the three of us gathered in her living room. Bea had a high-back chair which I referred to as the hot seat. When one sat in the hot seat, the prayer efforts seemed to be intensified. Good God, He knew I needed all the help I could get.

While sitting in the hot seat Bea shared with me a verse from Proverbs which has undoubtedly become my life verse.

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23 NASB)

Another version describes it this way:

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” (Proverbs 4:23 NLT)

Initially I interpreted it to mean something like this – be careful not to sin, hold on as best as you can, and life will be OK.

Not bad for a novice Christian, but drastically far from the truth as time and experience have shown me.

The life of the heart is central to who we are and as John Eldredge describes in several of his books (Wild at Heart, Waking the Dead) we live in a world at war. Your life and my life are opposed and there is an enemy who is set against us as we attempt to navigate the waters of our respective journeys.

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10 NLT)

How is that going for you?

Unless you adhere to the fact that God is a good Father and that He loves you, you might be tempted to believe He is indifferent to the things which concern you.

He is not!

In short, you and I lose heart.

Often.

We experience wave after tempestuous wave crashing against our rocky shoreline.

There are innumerable things in the course of our day-to-day existence which tend to impact our heart and bury it altogether.

Your car won’t start.
Your boss is on your case about a deadline which you missed.
Your kid is goofing off in school or is hanging out with the wrong crowd.
Your spouse is and has been out of touch with things which are important to you.

Should I continue?

You lose your job.
An expectation of a promise is undelivered.
Your health takes an unexpected detour and you are faced with things you thought only others dealt with until now.
A loved one passes.
Your marriage crashes and burns and you are left with nothing but ashes.

Unless your anchor is completely dropped in the waters of what you know to be true about God, your heart is inclined to take one of those arctic plunges you read about as you gasp for air.

And if the above were not enough consider the problems of the world you are exposed to on a daily basis, whether you like it or not.

The internet has exploded with content and we are on information overload most of the time. Wars in this place. Natural disasters in that place. Shootings, fires, accidents, invasions, and barbaric acts slowly but surely suck the life out of you.

We were NOT meant to live like this. We only have so much capacity and our trash can is typically overflowing.

It is time to revisit the words of Proverbs and guard your heart with every ounce of intention you can muster for it surely determines the course of your life.

During the pandemic information overload had a mind-numbing effect on me. On a daily basis, well meaning family, friends, and acquaintances would send me podcasts or news articles to share important information with me. It was overwhelming and was in addition to what I came across on my own.

I decided to be intentional about and restrict the content I consumed.

Recently, I made the decision to take a hiatus from the apps on my phone which fed me constant information on my favorite sports teams. This was an unplanned, but welcomed decision.

I was led to this it by the One who cares deeply for my heart. Cold turkey. I decided to obey and it has eased the drain on that which I give attention in addition to lessening distractions.

You too have the opportunity to live untethered to those things which take away from the life your heart so desperately needs.

As much as you and I would like to control those things which impact us, some are beyond our control. To that, I offer the counsel of this advice:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)

For those things which drain the life from your heart and you have a choice to be intentional and turn off the information flow in an effort to guard your heart.

Above all, GUARD YOUR HEART.

Hears to helping you discover a place called Hope.

It is good to periodically take time to reflect and remember.

In a recent post I inferred we are at the time of year where reflection typically occurs more often than not as the old transitions to the new.

The passage of time carries with it certain events or milestones attained in life. As individuals we share many such occurrences, some positive some negative.

Taking our first steps.

The elation and surprise experienced during a first kiss.

Learning to drive and graduation days.

Getting engaged, going to the altar to be married, and the birth of children.

The passing of a loved one.

A broken relationship.

Surviving an accident.

On a corporate basis, we share common experiences which affect our collective psyche.

If you are old enough, you might remember where you were during the JFK Assassination.

The landing of man on the moon in July, 1969 was over the top and nationally celebrated.

Team USA’s defeat of the USSR Hockey team in the 1980 Olympics which led to a gold medal certainly revived patriotic tendencies against a backdrop of international tensions.

Many of us recall the events of September 11, 2001 and the utter feeling of shock and disbelief which we all endured.

Covid 19 lockdowns…need I say more?

The recent events of October 7, 2023 left many horrified and asking many questions.

Today is a day to reflect and remember.

It is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day which is observed annually on December 7th.

It’s been 83 years since Japanese Imperial forces conducted a surprise attack on the US Naval base at Pearl Harbor, killing over 2,400 people and injuring nearly 1,200, eventually launching the United States into World War II.

It is a day when Franklin D. Roosevelt subsequently declared before Congress (and to the world) it to be “a date which will live in infamy”.

Without minimizing the observation noted above, allow me to digress at this juncture as I have reason to remember this date on a personal level.

Although it does not carry with it the same level of national importance which occurred on this date in 1941, December 7, 2023 is a date on my personal time line where life undoubtedly shifted for me in a major and unexpected manner.

It was on this date a year ago I faced the sobering reality, as I entered an emergency room at a local hospital, to learn I was experiencing a coronary event or to put it succinctly, I was having a heart attack.

The details can be found here if you care to read about them.

Much reflection and remembering has occurred over the past twelve months. I have discovered and have experienced what it means to have Immanuel, God with me as reflected in the following verse:

“…The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.” (Matthew 1:23 NLT)

Immanuel was with me in the ER.

Immanuel was with me during the heart catheterization as medical personnel attempted to determine the extent of the problem.

Immanuel was with me as I waited on a surgery date while spending a week on the cardiac unit doing absolutely nothing except being a human pin cushion.

Immanuel was with me during the surgery as my family waited tentatively on the outcome as I emerged from the OR looking like a Bionic man.

Immanuel was with me post-operatively as I inched toward a discharge date.

Immanuel was with me during two subsequent procedures to remove fluid which formed beneath my lung.

Immanuel was with me during weeks of cardiac rehab.

Immanuel was assuredly with me over the course of this entire episode via the loving care given through Jackie’s hands and heart, despite her obvious concerns. You are my treasure and I am grateful you are my wife – THANK YOU!!

Immanuel was with me through the loving support of my family and friends. You attended to my needs, provided financial support, sent me words of encouragement, took time away from your own lives, and drove me to appointments. You were Immanuel to me!

In short, Immanuel kept His word and became God with us during this season of our lives.

Have there been moments of frustration? You betcha!

Are there challenges to be faced? Assuredly.

Although there exists several areas of uncertainty in our life, I am assured of one thing during this season – God is with us.

I do not know the personal joys and struggles you face. I am certain they are real, up close, and decidedly personal.

You most likely have many questions, some which appear to be unanswered.

Much like He has been for me, Immanuel – God with Us, is here for you as well.

I encourage you to take a moment to reflect and remember and invite Immanuel during this season of the year to be more than a lyric in a Christmas song.

Allow Him to be real to you as He was and is to me.

If you feel led to share how Immanuel has been God with you please do so in the comments.

On a more intimate note, for those of you who prayed for me (us) and became God with us in human form with your support and kindnesses extended – THANK YOU!

You lifted us when we needed to be lifted. You were critical in helping us discover a place called Hope.

We’re at the time of year where the calendar is about to flip the page on the current year as we make our way towards the year to come.

The old is about to give way to the new. The literal and proverbial ball will drop signifying the transition of one year to the next. We are collectively turning the page from the former to the latter.

So too it is with our lives. Seasons come and seasons go.

Some seasons appear to remain longer than we anticipated as we hold onto the former when we are meant to let it pass and become part of our history.

In my life God has always proven Himself faithful.

However, I will admit with zero hesitation that life is hard and it plays itself out in seasons of sustained difficulty.

There has been a continual pounding of the waves on the shore of my heart which has left me wobbly in my attempt to navigate the terrain and steady myself.

As a couple, we have had chapters occur in our life which have left us disoriented and disappointed.

The enemy of our souls has assuredly attempted to rob, kill, and destroy us. To be truthful, it has weathered us.

I am looking for my Father to take us in His arms and to repeat what He has spoken on many occasions, “I have your back my son, my daughter. It will be OK.”

I am not looking for sympathy, I am simply being real and I know I am not alone.

My educated guess is you can attest to similar circumstances in your own life. You are not immune to the day-to-day pressures you face. You have had your share of trials which have caught you off-guard.

You might not want to admit it, but you too have been disoriented and disappointed. You have experienced heartache and you have obtained a few scars in the process.

Hope is always present and comes in many forms.

Recently, a post-election message offered on a Wednesday night at our church shed enough light to render a personal dose of hope. The speaker, Bishop Joseph Garlington, founding pastor of Covenant Church of Pittsburgh said this:

“What has happened had to happen so that what is about to happen can happen.”

Bishop Joseph Garlington

Our eyes are often fixated on the rear view mirror, looking back at what has happened in our lives from a negative perspective and with a sense of loss. We lose sight of the windshield in front of us which serves as the pathway for what’s next and the potential opportunities which await.

Personally, I have experienced my share of workplace disappointments and disruptions which have kept me from turning the page. At times I have allowed these experiences to define me and they have kept me from moving forward.

Your sense of loss may have resulted from relational issues which may have left you second guessing your way through it all.

Nonetheless, whatever has happened in our lives is no reason to keep us stuck in the past.

To repeat, that which has happened had to happen so that what is about to happen can happen.

It’s time to turn the page and walk in a new chapter. God is faithful and His Word always provides an encouragement or solution.

“But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. ‘For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NLT)

My heart resonates with a challenge offered in my favorite book, Wild at Heart, written by John Eldredge.

Let’s turn to Chapter 12. Pages 219-220. Under the title of Writing the Next Chapter.

“Now reader; it is your turn to write – venture forth with God…We are free to change the stories by which we live…we can do so because we actively participate in the creation of our own stories. ..obey God in the thing he shows you and instantly the next thing is opened up.”

John Eldredge – Wild at Heart

Rather than get stuck on the barbed-wire of regrets and disappointments, we have a say in the matter as to what’s next. We can let go of the past to invite the new.

We not only have the ability to turn the page, but we get to fashion a new narrative. Tell a different story. Change the status quo.

In the song, Tell Your Heart to Beat Again, by Danny Gokey these lyrics offer hope that what has happened in your life can be a springboard to what can happen – if you will let it.

“Tell your heart to beat again
Close your eyes and breathe it in
Let the shadows fall away
Step into the light of grace
Yesterday’s a closing door
You don’t live there anymore
Say goodbye to where you’ve been
And tell your heart to beat again”

Talk about a lifeline which offers much hope.

You and I have the opportunity to say goodbye to where we have been, closing the door on yesterday to make way for tomorrow and the next chapter.

As for you as well as for me, it’s time to turn the page and discover the new chapter which awaits us.

The choice is up to you and I.

Turn the page. Tell your heart to beat again.

Here’s praying this helps you discover a place called Hope!

The word trust has been on the forefront of my mind lately.

As a practical matter, our currency affirms “In God We Trust”.

If our money establishes a reason to trust in God, wherein lies the difficulty in doing so?

True confession, I am challenged with trusting many times on a daily basis. My heart says one thing, my head says another.

What’s a person to do when you are asked to trust when you cannot see?

Dictionary.com defines the word trust in this manner:

“Reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, or surety of a person or thing; confident expectation of something; a person on whom one relies.”

Dictionary.com

In the definition referenced above, I am intrigued with the notion of “a person on whom one relies” as it deeply resonates with me and serves as an anchor on my storm tossed seas.

As an infant or small child, you implicitly placed your trust in your mom and dad to meet your daily needs without asking for those specific needs to be met.

When it came time to be fed, you signaled by crying that dinner was needed and your mom nursed you or she gave you a bottle.

The same held true when you needed a diaper change. You insured that your tush was comfy and dry by getting someone’s attention. Loudly, I might add.

You didn’t think about trusting. Fortunately, you had no recourse. You simply trusted and all was well.

Most of the time our preference is to see with our eyes that which we desire or need. I am all for the best laid plans in an effort to map out the most amiable path forward.

For example, when it comes to money management budgeting is a good thing as it helps establish some guard rails on our fiscal activities. We save, we invest, we spend.

What is the solution when we cannot see where the money might come from to meet a given need when the immediate resources might be absent or deficient?

We are required to exercise our trust muscles.

There are times in each of our lives, where we want to trust but doing so is challenging and depending on the situation, can be overly difficult.

Our eyes want to see when seeing is meant to be done by faith. We allow our head to contradict what we know to be true in our heart.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction (or evidence) of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV)

The wisdom of Solomon in the book of Proverbs, hits the nail on the proverbial head.

We are told to:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)

We are directed to rely upon the only person who is able to meet all of our needs. You and I have a Father who not only hears, but answers our prayers.

Personally speaking, I am in the midst of a season where on the surface it appears as if God is being silent, despite evidence to the contrary.

I am often challenged to allow what I know to be true override what my circumstances or experiences might be shouting at me.

In the same manner, you may be going through a tough time. Call on Him. If He seems to be silent, draw close and listen for He will speak.

I came across this encouraging verse which has helped me in the trust department.

“Give God the right to direct your life and as you trust him along the way, you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly!” (Psalms 37:5 TPT)

My prayer is you discover hope in it as well.

Please know that He sees, He knows, He is absolutely good, and is trustworthy. He is the person on whom one can rely. There is no better person to rely upon and helps assure one of trusting when you cannot see.

Here’s to helping you discover a place called Hope.

When I was a kid my life centered around playing sports. More specifically, I played various levels of baseball for the town in which I was raised. Additionally, I was a member of my high school’s basketball team.

Whether it was baseball or basketball, I saw much playing time in both sports. On occasion, my respective coaches pulled me from a game for one reason or another and I had to ride the pine or in other words, to sit on the bench.

For me, to sit on the bench was analogous to cruel and unusual punishment. I had to get in the game where I could have the opportunity to make a difference and perhaps impact the outcome of a game.

The same could be said for you and I as we find ourselves entrenched in the current political season.

We must get in the game as the stakes are very high.

We might be voting with our own interests in mind, but what we do (or don’t do) this time around will have a generational impact.

We cannot afford to ride the pine on this one. It is time for you and I to do our part to make a difference.

During the most previous mid-term election cycle, I cited our need to vote and thereby having our voices be heard.

At the time, I outlined important reasons for us doing so. Much of the same reasons still exist and are in a heightened state as we have gone from bad to worse.

You can access my prior post here as a refresher. The stakes have been exponentially raised in the past two years.

We can no longer distract ourselves with whether a candidate posts “mean tweets” or another refines their culinary skills by offering “word salads” on the daily menu.

If you are a regular subscriber to this blog, please accept my sincere thanks for taking the time to read what I share. I do my best to do so from a biblical world view in the hope of offering meaningful content.

In the past few weeks I have heard it reported from several sources that an estimated 40 million people who refer to themselves as Christians do not vote and 15 million are not registered to vote.

I call that riding the pine and not getting into the game – intentionally!

It’s a recipe for disaster and one which has contributed to getting us as a nation into the mess we find ourselves in the first place.

The reasons to get engaged are more than a watered down party affiliation or following a candidate based on their personality.

It boils down to the issues and most specifically, the issues which are important to our world view.

I reiterate the following from Eric Metaxas’ book, Letter to the American Church.

In it Metaxas says the following:

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. God will not hold us guiltless.”

I heard a talk recently where it was proposed that we as voters cast our vote on values versus party affiliation or the like.

The speaker outlined the following value based points as the core issues we as believers should consider when voting for candidate(s) during the upcoming election.

When voting biblical values, we should consider the candidate or candidates most closely aligned with being against these positions, recognizing there is NO perfect candidate.

1. Abortion on demand in every trimester.
2. Open borders resulting in fentanyl deaths and chaos in major cities.
3. Rampant unchecked crime and DA’s who refuse to prosecute violent offenders-no bail or catch and release.
4. Out of control inflation.
5. Boys in girl’s sports /restrooms; men in women’s sports / restrooms.
6. Transgender ideology, puberty blockers, no parental notification.
7. Drag shows for children in public schools.
8. Betrayal of Israel or greatest ally.
9. Weaponization of the justice system.
10. Political weaponization of teachers unions and higher education indoctrination.

Source: America First Works

The time to act is now. We are five weeks out from the most consequential election of our lifetime.

My encouragement to you is to get in the game, VOTE, and to make a difference. If this post was meaningful to you, please consider sharing it with another.

God is and always will be on His throne. When we do our part, He does His.

Incidentally, I am providing a link to the following video to a wonderful election day message by Gary Hamrick of Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, VA.

As Hamrick states, “Government is not the answer for the soul of a nation, Jesus is.”

It would be well worth your time to listen to it.

HELPING YOU DISCOVER A PLACE CALLED HOPE

In the course of living life, one inevitably comes to a point of longing for that which is familiar.

In the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy declares in cinematic fashion “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home”, while the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and the Tin Man join forces to make Dorothy’s wish come true and get her back to the place she loved.

In our quest for the familiar there is no place which invites this desire than the place we call home.

Esthetically, one can almost smell the aroma of a fresh baked apple pie on a brilliant fall day or the scent of your favorite coffee filling the air. These play a small part in saying to one, “I’m home”.

On a more personal level, there is nothing which says “I’m home” better than those you love sitting around the dinner table, family inhabiting the rooms of your house, or hearing the sound of laughter erupt in your children from inside your walls.

In looking to paint a picture of what it is like to come home, my mind strays to a scene from the 2002 movie, Antwone Fisher.

Antwone is a young, African American navy man with intense anger management issues. He is forced to see the base psychiatrist, played by Denzel Washington, in an effort to address his anger problem.

Antwone is required to discover the root of what is causing his anger.

This eventually puts Antwone on the path of seeking the mother who abandoned him and coming to grips about the death of a father he never knew.

At first he is resistant to the discovery process, but the desire to come to understand who he is ultimately prevails.

After much searching and facing painful truths, he is wonderfully introduced to members of his father’s family. He enters a house filled with loving, this-is-my-newly-found-family faces. They greet him with warmth, compassion, and love each embracing or greeting him in a special way.

French doors leading to the dining room are closed. After the initial display of acceptance by his family members, the French doors are opened to a table filled with all kinds of festive food.

More importantly, seated around the table are the matriarchs and patriarchs of his unfamiliar clan.

The elder matriarch motions for Antwone to come to her. She is silent with tears in her eyes and in the most endearing of ways grasps his face in her hands and lovingly says “Welcome”, cementing Antwone’s inclusion and acceptance into his newly found family.

The genuine smile on his face acknowledges this fact – I am home!

If you care to see the clip you can do so here.

It is hard not to watch this scene without crying as it hits a parallel nerve.

When we are on the outside looking in we sense that something deep down is missing. We feel out of place and less than anchored. We long for acceptance and belonging.

Often times we are seeking the feeling of being home when Home is pro-actively seeking us. There is a Father who longs for us to be known as His family. His heart is set on our inclusion. The decision is up to us, unforced and freely chosen.

In what is commonly referred to as the Parable of the Prodigal Son, we have a clear picture of Home seeking us.

To paraphrase, a man had two sons and the younger wanted his share of his father’s estate prior to his father’s death. The father agreed to divide his wealth between his two sons.

The younger son leaves for a distant land where he wasted his share of the wealth on wild living. His money runs out, a famine hits the land, and he takes on work feeding pigs while facing hunger himself. He finally comes to his senses and realizes his father’s servants have it much better than his current experience is playing out.

With a humble and repentant attitude he heads toward home and is intent on asking his father’s forgiveness for his wrongs.

As the verse below conveys Home, in the person of his father, came running to him and the celebration of one who was lost now being found begins.

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’“ But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ (Luke 15:20-24 NLT)

Much like Dorothy declaring “there’s no place like home” or Antwone coming to experience what it was like to have a family include him, our experience of coming home cannot be found in a place.

It can only be found in a person who wants us to know Him as Abba, Father, Daddy, or Papa.

“So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:15-16 NLT)

The choice is yours. If you choose to know Him as Father – Welcome Home!

Photos courtesy of Brittany Castillejo

Play along with me for a moment.

As a by-product of your employment you are required to travel periodically. Initially doing so had a sense of mystique and expectation with it.

However, it has now become routine as you are in and out of airport terminals more than you care to admit and you expect the process of flying to go off without a hitch.

Typically you might monitor your flight status on an app you can access via your smart phone. Today, you overslept and you are short on time to get to the airport.

Upon arrival at the airport concourse, your first thought is to check the Departures board to check the status of your flight. The words DELAYED or CANCELED are not descriptions you want to see associated with your flight as the day would become an obstacle course you would prefer to avoid.

You look up at the Departures board and listed next to your flight are the magic words, ON TIME.

Thank you Wright Brothers!

If life were only as predictable and on time as this particular airline flight.

Are there situations or concerns for which you have sincerely prayed only to experience delays or no apparent answers at all?

The words ON TIME seemingly do not appear next to your prayer requests.

In fact, all you see is a blank slate and left unchecked it is amplified by doubt that the answer you are seeking will come at all.

I can empathize with you as I am at this crossroads now.

I once was in a life and death situation where I cried to the Lord, “I need your help and I need it now!”

If my desperation prayer was not answered pronto I would not be enjoying the presence of your virtual company at this moment.

In this specific situation, God’s answer to me was assuredly ON TIME.

Most of the time the answer to our prayers is a perceived delay causing us to wonder if our prayers were heard at all.

They are heard, as the following verses suggest:

“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.” (1 John 5:14-15 NLT)

What I have learned in my faith journey of nearly a half-century is this – God’s answer to my prayers is always on time even when it does not look like it.

His time, not mine.

As I sat down to write today, the following words came forth as a refreshing spring.

I took a moment to process some things before God as certain prayers I have offered appear to be on delay when I believe they can be classified as I-need-your-help-now prayers.

I share the intimacy of my silent utterances to God with you in the hope you too come to realize His answers to your prayers are always on time.

“I simply need to write free form to process some things. You are in the quiet moments and I find you in the stillness. I came across a new worship song from Elevation Worship called Always on Time. I have listened to this song repeatedly as it’s message is critical to me.

It has captivated my attention as a love song written by you, my Father, directly to my needy heart.

When I can’t see the answers to my prayers, you are always on time. When I feel like I am free-falling, you are always on time.

You have always seen me through every minute, every moment – there never has been a time where you were not on time. You have been beside me during each step of my journey both past and present.

It is in the process of remembering your acts of faithfulness where you have demonstrated how you are always on time.

You have carried me.

You have sustained me.

You have helped me stand when I did not have the strength to do so.

As the lyrics state, although I may have been tossed in the water, I did not go under.

There has never been a time where you have not seen me through.

When my heart fails to see your work in my life, you are always on time.

When my eyes cannot see the evidence of your presence, you have always been on time.

In the uncertainty of any given moment my mind sees question marks. You have always provided an answer.

You are there in my dark moments. You have sustained me and lit the path.

At the moment it is hard for my mind not to steer toward the constant question I have – what’s next?

You have carried me when I did not have the strength to continue on.

Jesus, you have been the fourth man in the fire, walking right beside me.

The words keep crashing like holy waves washing over me – you are always on time.

You have always seen me through even when I could not see it. You have held me when I needed your reassurance. You have always come through, despite not specifically being privy to the exact steps in the moment.

Surround me with your presence. I declare by faith you are always on time. It is the song in my heart, you always seen me through God. In declaring this truth, I worship you.

I am getting the message. Forgive me for the times where I have allowed my unbelief to quell the truth of knowing you are always on time. When I did not know how or where to turn, you have always been on time.

You have been a good, good Father right beside me, taking care of me by stepping into each moment.

When my mind races, you are always on time. You have not left me alone to figure things out. You have a plan to effect in my life. You know the beginning from the end. You see it all. There is nothing you cannot work out. You are always on time.

I prefer seeing. You prefer that I walk by faith knowing you are always on time.”

If you question whether your prayers are heard or delayed, it is my sincere desire this encourages you to find a place of hope in experiencing this fact – He is always on time.

If doubt washes up on your shore, do yourself a favor and check out this music video from Elevation Worship as it will reaffirm the truth of God always being on time in your life as well.

An educated guess tells me we share a similar point of view.

As a kid, school most likely was a dreaded yet necessary function of everyday life. The lyrics are etched in my psyche.

“School days, school days good ol’e golden rule days. Reading and writing and arithmetic…blah, blah, blah.”

When the calendar announced that summer vacation had commenced a collective hooray could be heard across the landscape of academia as children stepped into their annual, but seasonal freedom.

However, when school was in session math was one of the, if not the primary, go to subjects to be learned.

As grade levels were achieved, the concept of a number line and its purpose was gradually introduced.

The teacher used a number line to demonstrate addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division questions as well as introducing the concept of negative numbers.

He or she would draw a horizontal line on the blackboard. The very center of the line would be labeled with a “0”. To the right of the “0”, would be listed the succeeding numbers at equal intervals (usually to 10).

To the left of the “0” a similar visual appeared but the numbers would be negative or less than “0”.

To the average elementary student the use of a number line most likely was confusing but it eventually made sense.

Upon high school or college graduation, number line applicability faded like a sunset dipping below the horizon.

Why is that?

I’d like to encourage you to clear the cobwebs of your memory and consider the reintroduction of a number line of sorts.

Allow me to elaborate.

Several years ago my wife and I had an appointment with a prayer counselor at our church to unpack some life issues we were experiencing.

A day or two before the meeting, I felt impressed (at the prodding of my wife) to create a time line of my life to chronicle my history as a means of making sure I remembered key events and dates if the questions arose when we met with our counselor friend.

I recall spending several hours on a Sunday afternoon completing this task. I listed things like date of birth, family milestones, schooling places and dates, when I met Jackie, our engagement and wedding, the birth of children, start dates and losses of employment, etc.

It was an exercise which eventually allowed me to go beyond the walls which confined me negatively and it was so liberating. It was a break in the clouds which let the light in.

However, at the time of constructing my time line it was sobering. Tears freely flowed down my cheeks. Some gentle. Some intense. Moments of joy were also interspersed.

As I typed, it was as if God the Father parked Himself next to me and was saying:

“I was present for every event and every turn of the page. I was with you then and I am with you now. Allow me to take the sorrows and turn them into joy for each and every moment is a thread in the tapestry I have woven called You.”

The same can be said for you. My guess is your life has not been all sunshine and rainbows.

You have had your moments where the moments may have had you. Whether you acknowledge it or not, He was and is with you.

No of us are immune to the trials of this life and we all experience momentary triumphs as well.

My prayer for you and for me is this:

“Help us to remember that our days are numbered, and help us to interpret our lives correctly. Set your wisdom deeply in our hearts so that we may accept your correction.” (Psalms 90:12 TPT)

Can I encourage you to try something?

Construct a time line of your life. Be intentional.

Take some quiet moments and sit down to list out those life events which are the threads in your tapestry.

If you need to cry, then by all means cry. If you find yourself chuckling, enjoy the memory as it is good medicine.

By all means let it be a healing exercise so your soul can breathe again.

We all get so busy and time flies by. Stop the train for some brief moments to record your history for yourself and for your posterity.

Remember that:

“…God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 NLT)

I hope and pray this encourages you. Until next time…blessings…Bruce