Journey

I was walking through Mitchell Memorial Forest yesterday in search of some wildlife to capture some photos of. As I began my journey, I immediately felt the presence of God and He began speaking to me. He reminded me of the journey that I have been on lately. I thought about how long and unending the journey seemed at first.

He reminded me that when I started this journey, I felt all alone. I knew that I wouldn't be though. I knew that He would be there to carry me or just give me a place to rest.

Along the way, I've encountered some indescribable beauty and some more recognizable beauty. I knew that He could only be credited for such beauties.

I came to a place where I was reminded of my brokenness.

And in the midst of feeling broken, I knew that I was surrounded by those who still stood tall and strong.

At one point, I came to place where I could look back and I remembered how alone I felt when I started this journey. I knew that He was right there with me, looking down on me the whole time.

As I neared the end of my walk, I looked ahead and saw that some people were finishing before me. Older, wiser and further along in their journey's; I heard Him say to me that I will get there someday soon and that I wouldn't be alone when I finish.

Ghost Hunting . . .

Have you seen the show "Ghost Hunters" on the Sci-Fi channel? This is a reality show where, a group of paranormal investigators led by Jason Hawes search out popular haunt sights to prove the existence of ghosts. Yes, I said . . . GHOSTS . . . Really! I have not watched a full episode because of my beliefs, but I have stopped on the channel during a show just out of curiosity and my first thought was how much of this show is "produced" or in other words, being made up for entertainment purposes only?

Before I go any deeper into this subject, let me clarify where I stand on this. I am a Christian and a follower of Christ Jesus. I am not a Bible scholar but I have read enough and know of scripture that clearly speaks out on this topic. So, what does the Bible say about ghosts or hauntings? Here are some Bible truths that relate to hauntings and visits by the spirits of dead people. There are only a few incidents that deal with the living having contact with a "dead" person.

a) In 1 Samuel 28:7-19, King Saul seeks a woman with a familiar spirit (demon) to inquire of Samuel about what to do. That she actually manages to communicate with the dead shocks her (v. 12) indicating to me that it did not previously happen.

b) In Matthew 17:1-8, Peter, James and John see Moses and Elijah with Jesus for a brief period of time.

c) In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells the story of the rich man and Lazarus. In this story we learn of there being two compartments for the dead until the Great White Throne Judgment. Also in the story the rich man asks for Lazarus to be sent back to warn the living. Moses says it would do not good because if they will not believe God's written word, they will not believe though one should rise from the dead.

From the above three passages of Scripture, I would conclude that there are compartments in which the spirits of the dead dwell for now and that while there are a few instances in which God allowed interaction between the living and the dead, those situations were very rare and not nearly as common as contact between people and angelic beings.

Most importantly, Luke 16:27-31 indicates that no human spirits are allowed to return to visit the living without permission, and if permission is not granted for the purpose of warning people to flee from the wrath to come, it would not be given for trifling reasons.

I recently entered the question "Is there such a thing as ghosts" on an internet search engine and here is the answer that I was given by one of the websites:
The answer to this question depends on what precisely is meant by the term “ghosts.” If the term means “spirit beings,” the answer is a qualified “yes.” If the term means “spirits of people who have died,” the answer is “no.” The Bible makes it abundantly clear that there are spirit beings, both good and evil. But the Bible negates the idea that the spirits of deceased human beings can remain on earth and “haunt” the living.

Hebrews 9:27 declares, “Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” That is what happens to a person’s soul-spirit after death—judgment. The result of this judgment is heaven for the believer (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23) and hell for the unbeliever (Matthew 25:46; Luke 16:22-24). There is no in-between. There is no possibility of remaining on earth in spirit form as a “ghost.” If there are such things as ghosts, according to the Bible, they absolutely cannot be the disembodied spirits of deceased human beings.

The Bible teaches very clearly that there are indeed spirit beings who can connect with and appear in our physical world. The Bible identifies these beings as angels and demons. Angels are spirit beings who are faithful in serving God. Angels are righteous, good, and holy. Demons are fallen angels, angels who rebelled against God. Demons are evil, deceptive, and destructive. According to 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, demons masquerade as “angels of light” and as “servants of righteousness.” Appearing as a “ghost” and impersonating a deceased human being definitely seem to be within the power and abilities that demons possess.

So, back to my original question: How much of this show "Ghost Hunters" is produced? How much of it is made up for entertainment purposes? What are the risks of this type of entertainment? It may seem like a harmless t.v. show, but what these guys are going after is not something that should be messed with. Sadly enough, interest in the paranormal has become increasingly popular. Having a reality show that headlines in this category makes it seem normal to have hauntings or paranormal activity. Quija boards, psychics, séances, and tarot cards are also considered normal these days. These are all mediums used to invite the involvement of demons into one's life. Is this the type of "entertainment" that we should be participating in? NO, rather we are to be consumed by the word of God (Psalm 119), with knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8-10), serving Him as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2), and seeking to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20, etc.). The only freedom that the lost can have from sin and the devil is through that found in Christ alone (John 8:32-36; Romans 6:16-23; Ephesians 2:1-10). It is His gospel that we need to concentrate on sharing with others. That gospel is the power of God for deliverance from sin and Satan (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:18).

That's my thoughts on ghosts . . .

Peace!

Effort

I was riding my mountain bike at Mitchell Memorial Park bike trail yesterday when I came across this fellow taking a rest about two miles into the trail. I said hello as I went past him and he asked me how I was doing. I didn't want to stop or slow down because the trail was very muddy from the previous evenings' rain which makes it harder to keep momentum, so I quickly answered "fine, as long as I don't spill in the mud".
I noticed how big the guy was and thought to myself he is never going to make it through the whole trail. He probably weighed over two hundred and fifty pounds, and his bike looked out dated as well which means it was heavy too. Obviously this guy felt inspired to get some exercise and was determined to ride the trail on this day. The trail is a four mile loop which was designed for amateur or intermediate riders. It has a couple of good hill climbs and one short bridge to cross over, but nothing too extreme. It has been there for about three years now and gets better with age as the ground wears making roots protrude, and all of the other debris that nature naturally provides over the years. Add a little rain into the mix to create some good mud and it becomes pretty challenging, even for experienced riders.
I was going around for my second trip when I realized that I had not passed the guy yet again. As I was approaching the end of the trail I could see him exiting the woods up ahead of me. I caught up to him just as we reached the parking lot. Again, no deep conversations because we were both exhausted and were trying to catch our breath, but I told him that it was a good ride. He agreed as he began to load his bike onto it's rack. His shirt was completely saturated with sweat. His heavy cargo shorts were covered with sweat and mud as well as his old sneakers. He told me to take care and then got into his Jeep and drove off.
I started to think about and admire how the guy made it through the trail. I really didn't think that he would. His effort and determination impressed me. Most guys his size would not attempt to ride that muddy trail let alone even get on a bike and exercise. His effort also inspired me to push myself even harder. I hope to run into the guy again. I would like to ask him what inspires him.

Luke 9:23-25:
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?
NOW THAT'S TRUE EFFORT!

Peace!

Two Hours

I have been examining my generosity this past week. I used to consider myself a generous person. I gave when ever I had the chance to give whether it meant offering my time, lending a helping hand or tithing without feeling guilty about it. My wife and I even gave a minivan to a friend who needed one at the time. I have never even fathomed the thought of giving a car away, but I have to admit, we did it without hesitating and it felt awesome.
Somehow, over the course of the past few years, my generosity has turned into greed. I think this has been a slow process, but it is ever so obvious to me now. Instead of offering my time, I would rather do nothing. Instead of lending a hand, I have wondered "What's in it for me"? Instead of tithing, I have wasted our finances away not even saving a penny.
I am in the process of making changes in my life to get back to being a generous person. I am trying offer as much of me as possible. I am trying to focus on not gaining anything in return. I started tithing again at the beginning of this year, and that feels good. But I am struggling with all of it. I can't help but wonder if God will reward me for this behavior. I have been burnt by having selfish motives in the past and it is a hard habit to get rid of.
Jesus has always taught us that it is better to give than to receive. 2 Corinthians 9 reminds us of God's promise of a bountiful harvest to those who sow bountifully. The key is to not expect anything in return or not to hoard what we have. We are called to be joyful givers, not careful conservatives.
Last night, Ann and I spent the best two hours together for the first time in a long time. Our friend Whitney Woodburn, who once nannied for us, called and offered to take the kids out for putt-putt and ice cream so that Ann and I could have some time alone together. Whitney and her husband Paul are two of the most generous people that I know, and what they gave us last night was a well needed gift. My eyes and my heart were reminded of what it is like to be that generous and it has created a desire for me to give.
So, what is stopping you from being generous? Do you feel guilty when you give or joyful? Do you believe that God wants to bless you for being generous? Just some things to think about as you examine your own generosity. God has given us so much and we don't even deserve it. He has even paid the ultimate price for us by giving His life for ours.

Thank you Whitney and Paul! You two are perfect examples of Jesus on display!

Peace!

Bumper Sticker

This is a bumper sticker. At first glance, it sounds pretty cool. But really think about it. Are we really that proud that He is just the co-pilot? Do we really sit at the wheel as if we don't need His advice? As if we are saying: "Jesus, You sit there and look at the map. We I need Your help, I will ask for it." Shouldn't it be the other way around? I would rather He sat at the wheel and piloted me through my life. He is not a divine navigational system. He is not the "co-pilot" of anything. He is the Pilot. He is in charge! He already knows the direction and the outcome of my life. Jesus is a Humble Leader and He is willing to lead us from His thrown. If He is humble enough to actually lead us, then we should be humble enough to FOLLOW Him.

Jesus take the wheel!

Peace!

The Fight

Round One

Ephesians 1:11-12
In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. (He is in control!)

Round one revealed my biggest opponent. It was my control versus God. One of the hardest things about my trip to Honduras was the loss of my control. I knew this going into it, and it wasn’t a soft blow either. God straight up jabbed me with a knockout punch. He came straight for me and didn’t waste any time. I was barely out of my corner when He delivered the punch. It didn't take long for me to realize that I had absolutely no control over anything while on my mission trip, and that I was going to have to render myself to God and allow Him to be in control. I immediately knew that I was in the fight of my life and it was going to be a hard one.

I have controlled everything in my life. I think it is a result of being denied almost everything as a child and the independence I gained when I went into the military. Going from one extreme to the other was a pretty drastic change. I went from being a child at home under my parent’s law to being a free young man in the US Air Force. I still had rules that I had obey but I was in charge of myself. I had my own dorm room, my own car, purchased my own groceries and did my own laundry. I was in control of my own little world, and I liked it. It became a huge part of me. I became obsessive about everything that I did. Everything had to be perfect, which was also a quality that the military instilled in me.

As I matured through my military years, so did the need for my control. I became controlling over my friends. I chose favorites and tried to rule over those whom I felt were less important than me. I was pushy and I was a fake. I behaved differently around various ethnic and social groups to gain their friendship. If I couldn’t control them, I ridiculed them. I was my own worst enemy.

After four years of active duty, I separated and went back to civilian life in my hometown. Returning home felt good. Most of my friends were still there, doing the same old things as when I left. It felt like I had time warped four years into the future. I took a job as a maintenance man at a retirement home just as a means to earn some cash. I really had not planned anything as to what I was going to do upon my separation. I just took one day at a time and rolled with it. Then it happened. I met Ann Lauer. I fell in love and huge chunk of my world fell apart. I had never really been in love before but I was certain she was “The One”. I couldn’t eat for days and all I could think about was her. We talked on the phone for hours, mostly because she lived in Cincinnati and I in Columbus. She made me feel alive and wanted.

I soon realized that the woman I was in love with was a leader. She graduated top in her class from Ohio State, she was in management at Macy's (then Lazarus), and she had plans for her future. She was in control of her world. My world seemed insignificant compared to hers. I really had no plans, I separated from the one job that I loved, I had no college education and I was living with my parents working a crappy job. I felt inferior to her, but I was in love with her. So I packed up my stuff again and headed south for Cincy. The only thing that was important to me was being with Ann and I was willing to take a chance on love even if it meant starting over with nothing again. But how long would it be until my need for control would arise again? How long until I controlled the one that I loved the most? . . .

The Fight

Making of a Fighter

We all had our heroes when we were younger. Some of us chose Super Heroes, other’s looked up to law enforcement or firemen, and some of us wanted to be military heroes. My hero was Rocky Balboa. I remember jogging around my neighborhood in my sweat clothes and wearing a cross around my neck that was similar to the one Sylvester Stallone wore in ROCKY. I even went so far as to tell new friends that Sylvester was my uncle.

I always wanted to be a fighter, but I wasn’t exactly a right fit for the sport. First off, I was afraid of being hit, I only weighed 135 pounds as a senior in high school, and I was a four eyed geek. I didn’t fit the boxer mold at all, but I still loved the sport. I remember watching the greats: Ali, Foreman and of course no one will forget Mike Tyson. Those guys were all heroes by my definition.

It’s been years since those days. Boxers have come and gone, and sequels to the ROCKY saga have continued up to a couple of years ago. During that time, I have been through a lot of changes in my life. I served in the US Air Force for ten years, received a college degree in architectural engineering, got married, had three kids and even found Christ. The only sports I ever played were leisure ones. Backyard football was my favorite growing up, I power lifted in the military, played racquet ball occasionally, and I used to run a lot until my knees started hurting. I have never considered myself an athlete by any means. That all changed when a friend of mine invited me to go on a bike ride a couple of years ago. The ride was supposed to be ten miles out and ten miles back, I lasted about four miles. Not long after that, I entered into my first triathlon. The event was a six mile canoe, six mile run, eighth mile hill climb and eighteen mile bike ride. Let’s just say that I finished. I ride as much as I can now, on and off road, and enjoy the sport very much. But there was still something missing. Still a part of me waiting to be discovered.

It has been a year since I participated in a mission trip to Honduras. The guy who was leading us on the trip is an old school boxer and currently trains people in Muay Thai and kick boxing. We were introduced to some of the moves as part of our physical training to prepare us for the trip. I was immediately hooked, on the training that is. I approached our leader (Vinny) and asked him if I could continue training when we returned from Honduras. He gladly accepted. I jumped right into the training and it was no easy task. The physical part was not as challenging as the mental stuff. Trying to memorize all of the techniques is hard for someone who has never fought before. Just when things were finally starting to come to me, I had to back out. Financial reasons required me to make some changes and paying for Muay Thai lessons didn’t fit into the plan. I still continue to train and practice everything that I have learned in my basement and at the gym, but there is no advancement. I feel like I failed as a fighter. The thing is, I had yet to realize what my real fight would be . . .