The Test of Camping

[This article is also found on Ada Bible's blog - Sabea at www.adabible.org/sabea ]

This past summer, my wife and I made an interesting vacation choice. We needed to be in Marquette to move our son into his college dorm and to be with our daughter as she gave birth to our first grandchild. It was a great milestone week for us, but wanting to save some money and feeling a bit adventurous, we decided to camp… in a tent… for six nights… in the temperamental Upper Peninsula weather.

This wasn’t the first time we had tent-camped—we had all the equipment from weekend excursions from the past. But, it had been a few years since our last tent adventure, and six nights was the longest I had ever camped in a tent. There’s a lot of planning and packing that goes into a week in a tent: clothes for all types of weather, coolers and tubs filled with food, chairs, charcoal, tools, and gear. Packing, unpacking, setting up, preparing, living out of bags and tubs.

Everything about camping takes more time and energy: cooking, eating, cleaning, showering. It’s a slow, inconvenient way to live. My wife tells me that’s the allure and beauty of camping. It’s a process that slows you down; it relaxes you.

Honestly, it took me two days to discover that allure.

Camping frustrated me. It created tension in me. Why was I purposely making everything in my life more difficult and time consuming? Why was I trying to live in the very limited shelter of a tent, subject to the elements of weather, constantly battling bugs and dirt in the simplest duties of living? Our first meal was BBQ chicken over an open fire. Seemed like a great idea, but our wood was wet and we fought to keep the fire hot enough. It took two hours to finish cooking. It hardly seemed worth the time and effort. I grumbled through the whole experience.

But after a couple days of struggle, I began to settle into a new rhythm. I became more patient and began to enjoy the process of it all. But, in the end, I was glad to pack it all up and rejoin life with comfort, quickness, and convenience.

As we continue exploring the series on the feasts and festivals of Israel, I’m intrigued by the things that God asks his people to do in their celebration. God gives them physical things to do that were to help them remember and commemorate their past, while celebrating their present state of blessing. In the Feast of Tabernacles, God tells the Israelites to move out of their homes and live in shelters, booths or little tabernacles, for seven days. This was a symbol of remembrance of Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the desert where they lived in tents and God’s presence with them resided in a mobile tabernacle. This was like a national campout!

I think this exercise illustrated two important principles to God’s people.

First, it reminded them that, though their season of wandering was very difficult, God remained present with them—meeting their needs and sustaining them in every way. Second, the exercise reminded them that God had delivered them from the wilderness and was currently blessing them abundantly. They were to see his blessing in the harvest of the crops and grapes they had just gathered. In response, they were to give a gift of gratitude in proportion to God’s unique blessing.

As I think about this festival, I’m left with some significant questions to ponder.

How do I see the “desert” seasons of my life?
How does God lovingly sustain me when my resources are depleted?
How does God love me when I wander?
How are my needs and longings met in times of trial and hardship?

But, there’s another set of questions that this discussion causes me to pursue.

In times of abundance, am I proportionally grateful and proportionally generous?
Or, do I have the propensity—as God blesses me with more—to spend more on myself?

Take some time to reflect on the principles taught through the Feast of Tabernacles. Ponder God’s generous hand with you in the desert times and in the abundant times. Respond to him with generous gratitude.

Gratitude, Generosity and Terminal Cancer

Yesterday was one of those rare and special days in ministry when I had the honor to be in the presence of someone truly impressive. Her name is Renee and she’s dying. For two years she’s battled cancer, and recently the doctors told her that any treatment she receives will be to help the quality of her life rather than the length of her life. She’s planning her passing and understands that her number of days is short.

Until yesterday, I had not met Renee. She had requested the pastoral staff come to her home to pray with her. We are always willing to do this for folks, but honestly, I always feel awkward and anxious as I enter these situations. I never know what people are truly hoping for in these moments of prayer.  Would Renee hope we could bring God’s miraculous healing of her cancer? Would she or her family be in an inconsolable emotional state? Would she have questions about death, heaven, and her spiritual state? All of these were possibilities and we needed to be prepared and willing to speak into them by God’s grace and the Spirit’s power. What would Renee need from us? But as Dan, Cindi, and I walked into her front door, we all knew immediately we were in for something completely unexpected. We were in for a rare treat.

As we walked through the door, Renee greeted us with a radiant smile and a warm, prolonged hug. She was truly excited to see us, though we had never met. Immediately, I felt at ease. As we talked with Renee in her kitchen, we could see physical signs that cancer and chemotherapy had ravaged her body. She introduced us to her sister Mimi, who helped arrange our visit and to her daughter and son-in-law who came for the day. “Can you believe that they drove all the way from Kalamazoo just to clean my house?” she exclaimed.

As we moved into her living room, we could hear a vacuum cleaner running in a back room. Renee began to talk about her family as we looked at a picture of her four daughters on a shelf in a prominent place in the room. As I understood her, only one was a biological daughter. The other three were girls that she and her husband had taken in over the years. They had come to be their daughters through love, care, and an open home. She explained that the daughter who was cleaning her home was a girl they took in 18 years ago when she was 15 years old. Her life was riddled with pain and abuse and Renee and her husband opened their lives and home to this girl in need.

Renee talked about her husband who had passed away a few years prior. She looked forward to seeing him again in heaven. She joked about the things she wanted to say to him and hoped that heaven had been a good place for him the last few years. Renee told us stories of her life while using words like “blessed” and “grateful” throughout. It was obvious to me that this woman is traveling the final days of her life with joy, contentment, and uncommon peace.

Cancer was stealing physical comfort from her, but it could not steal her love for each moment she had breath. Inwardly, I asked myself, “What prepares a person to face their death with such ease and comfort?” I’ve concluded that Renee must be a person who lives in constant gratitude for the blessings God gives her. Her gratitude spills out into generosity. She knows that God has blessed her with the purpose of her being a blessing to others. Living with that heart-perspective has led her to finish well with joy and dignity.

As we go through this series on the Jewish festivals, I’ve wondered about the lives of those who celebrated these holidays faithfully. What principles did they live by as a result of these celebrations? Well, I think Renee helped me answer that question. Think about the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost. This was another festival that celebrated the harvest. The principle that God wanted to instill in his nation was to give thanks to the Giver who had again provided for their needs. He wanted the people to then share some of that provision with the poor and those traveling through their region. In Leviticus 23, God lays out an elaborate way for them to offer their sacrifice of gratitude for the harvest. It included them offering to God wheat, bread, lambs, bulls, and goats. It appears to be a generous offering back to God their provider. But, there was more.

When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 23.22

Interesting thing to add to the end of a festival description, isn’t it? God wants his people to experience his provision and blessing with grateful hearts, gratitude that spills over into generosity to God, and to others in need.

Renee became of hero of mine yesterday in that regard. She’s a woman who has lived these principles for a lifetime. She can now pass into the arms of the Giver with joy and ease. I’m grateful for that hour with Renee and hope she can encourage and minister to me more in her final days. It was a pleasure to learn a lesson about gratitude and generosity from this special lady.

 

Cold Shower

An old friend of mine tells the best rescue story I’ve ever heard.  I wish you all could hear him tell it but let me give it a try. 

Kurt and his wife Ginger had been vacationing in the Upper Peninsula’s Keweenaw lakeshore.  Kurt had just packed up his boat and gear as they prepared for the 10 hour journey home.  As he loaded his van, something caught his eye out in Lake Superior.  It was a canoe.  He had noticed that particular canoe earlier tooling around close to shore.  It was a dad with his two young sons.  What grabbed Kurt’s attention was how far out the canoe was now and how choppy the lake had become since the last time he saw it. Kurt reached in his bag for some binoculars.  Something in him told him that that they could be in trouble. He wanted to be sure they were alright.  Lake Superior conditions are known to change quickly for the worse and this man’s boat was not equipped to handle the increased chop.  Looking through his glass, Kurt’s fears for this family were realized.  They had drifted too far from shore and the canoe could no longer navigate the waves.  The boys were hunkered down in the bottom of the canoe as dad, looking very tired, fought with all he had to fight the current back to shore.

While Kurt unpacked his boat from the top of his van, Ginger began to make 911 calls. Kurt also had a canoe but his was equipped with a small engine.  He hoped it had enough power to carry the waves.  Ginger got word from emergency personnel that the closest rescue boat was over an hour away.  They would continue to look for help in the area but it was appearing that this family had to survive for at least another hour.  Kurt was convinced he had to help and as he put his boat in the water a couple walking the shoreline stopped to see what he was up to.  Kurt explained the situation and a man Kurt had never met, climbed into Kurt’s front seat of the canoe.  

As they navigated the chop to go find the father and his sons, Kurt noticed his boat was taking on water.  He knew that this rescue would need to be quick and efficient for anyone to survive.  He began to feel his life and the life of the stranger in the front of his boat were now at risk. They found the family fairly quickly but as they came along side the other canoe, they noticed it filled with water and the dad was now outside the canoe.  Kurt and his friend began to move the boys from the swamped canoe to his and then the dad from the side.  But with every movement they made, waves crashed into Kurt’s boat taking on more water. It too was becoming swamped and before long, all five people were submerged in the water.  Cold water.  40 degree, cold water.  Kurt knew that hypothermia was just minutes away for each of them, so he pulled everyone together and asked them to link their arms through another person’s life-vest straps.  Perhaps this would help conserve body heat but Kurt was thinking that this would also help those doing body recoveries.  Based on when the rescue boats were expected to arrive in the area, he was convinced they weren’t going to make it. 

But as any hope began to drift, something amazing happened.  Out of nowhere, a police boat appeared.  This particular boat was not supposed to be available that day but when they heard the calls on the radio they put their boat in the water and started a search.  Not knowing exactly where to look, they set out in a general direction to see if they could help.  That general direction led them in a straight line to the two swamped canoes.  Within moments, all five were out of the water and treatment for hypothermia began.  Everyone would survive.  Everyone was rescued.

One of the most compelling parts of this story was something Kurt said he does to remember that day.  He told me that on a frequent basis he’ll stand in the shower and turn off all the hot water.  He’ll stand for minutes in the coldest shower he can endure.  When I asked him why he does that, he said “I never want to forget how cold Lake Superior water was.  I never want to forget what I was rescued from.” 

Thousands of years ago, God put dates on the Jewish calendar for celebration.  One of those dates was for the Passover Feast.  In essence, this date was similar to our 4^th of July.  This was a celebration of the freedom they were given from their slavery in Egypt.  They had been delivered; they had been rescued!  Each year, they were to remember what they were delivered from by acting out the events that God orchestrated for them to be set free.

Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household…. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.

That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast…This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.

At Passover each year, they were to take their best lamb and kill it.  They were then to paint their door posts with the blood.  The lamb could be eaten but they needed to eat with travel clothes on.  Interesting dinner, isn’t it?  In a way, God is asking them to stand in a cold shower.  He wants them to feel the fear and pain of the past.  He wants them to feel the life and death urgency of their ancestors burden of slavery.  He wants them to never forget what they were rescued from. 

We too have been slaves; slaves to our sin.  God has again provided a dramatic rescue.  Some of us have been rescued out of the ugly mire of our sin.  We’re in a swamped boat, cold and clinging to life. We’ve been plucked out of the middle of our broken mess.  Others of us have been rescued from a sinful mess.  It’s like we’re tooling along the lakeshore as the wind blows and waves pound.  God rescues us before we can drift deep into danger.   Either way, we are all rescued!

So how do you mark your salvation?  What causes you to remember the pain of your past slavery?  How do you celebrate the joy of the freedom that was gifted to you through God’s dramatic rescue of you?  Think about what your cold shower could be this week.  

 

 

The First and Best

I always found it interesting that the only time the really nice dishes came out of the cupboard was when “company” was coming over. Mom’s good China dishes and fancy glasses were used almost exclusively when guests joined us for Sunday dinner. In reality, I didn’t really care about the dishes we ate on, I only cared about the food that would land on my plate. But, I also noticed that the best food was served when company was over. My dad was a pastor of a small country church when I was growing up and mom was a wonderful pastor’s wife. She viewed her role in supporting dad’s ministry as being warm and hospitable, opening up our home to guests on a very frequent basis. These guests would get the best we had to offer— the best dishes, the cleanest house, the choicest cuts of meat from the freezer, and a killer dessert.

I didn’t mind all the special attention that was given to company, the benefits were obvious to a growing boy who loved to eat. I knew it would be the best meal of the week. But, there was a moment at the beginning of each of these meals that would trigger a bit of concern in me. You see, there was this rule in our home that guests would be served first. After the prayer, each dish on the table would be lifted from the table and handed to the guests. I wasn’t to take anything until our guests were served. So, when that platter of fried chicken was placed on the table, I would eyeball the best piece hoping it would still be there when the platter got to me. I hated the idea that our guests got the first shot to grab the best piece. Selfish and petty, I know, but that was my boyish, child-like mindset in those situations. Looking back though, I can’t remember not getting a satisfying portion of all the food offered at any meal. In fact, we always had enough for seconds and even thirds.

No one taught me how to feel and think that way. Selfishness and self-protection came natural to me. I think it came from a primal, fleshy view of life that says, “Get what you want and deserve, then protect it with all you have.” Ironically, being generous, hospitable, and selfless had to be taught and learned. Those principles of living didn’t come naturally.

As God formed his chosen nation, Israel had to learn the same lessons. God wanted them to be distinct, set apart, and different from every other nation on the planet. Every other nation had a “get all you can and protect it” mindset but God’s people were to stand apart from this selfish life-view. God wanted them to realize that all they had came from the generous loving hand of God; and he wanted them to trust him to provide on a continual basis.

This principle was clearly seen in the festivals, or the celebrations, that God placed on their yearly calendar. The Festival of the Firstfruits was a time God set for them to express their joy and gratitude for their annual harvest. In essence, God tells them to throw a party because the harvest was gathered and it was good—God had provided them with what they needed in abundance. But what’s interesting about this celebration is what God asks them to do before they enjoy the fruits of the harvest. Check this out:

When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest… you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old without defect, together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine. You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. (Excerpts from Leviticus 23.9-14.)

I find that interesting. Before they could enjoy the fruit of their harvest, God asks them to give back their first and their best. Why? I think it’s because they were like me at that the table with the platter of fried chicken. They needed to be taught to trust that God had provided more than enough, even when their best had been given away. The alternative was for them to give from their leftovers. How would that reflect the heart of God?

Hundreds of years later, God demonstrated this principle of giving the first and the best in the most dramatic way. Mankind had a sin problem that could only be resolved with God giving something of high value. He gave his Son—his first and his best.  Jesus, the Son of God, the second member of the Trinity, came in humble fashion as a baby. This baby grew into a man, the Messiah, who died an unimaginable death to pay the penalty we owe for our sins. Jesus was the ultimate lamb without defect. Now that Jesus, the ultimate firstfruits offering is given, we can celebrate life—eternal life.  I’m so glad God gave from his first and best and not from his leftovers.

So, how does the principle of firstfruits affect the way you give? Are you giving your first and best from the resources God has provided you? Or, do you give from what’s left over after you’ve grabbed the best from the platter?  Something to ponder this week.

 

Wiggley Bat

Over the next couple of months, I’ll be using some of my disposable time in a batting cage. Baseball season doesn’t start until March, but the winter months offer a great opportunity for players to work on their hitting. Hitting a baseball is a very mechanical, athletic motion that takes a lot of repetition to master and fine tune. And because of that, the mechanics can easily break down and bad habits set it.

Last winter, I coached a high school player who had the habit of wiggling his bat incessantly as he waited for the pitch to be thrown. I’m not sure where he picked up this habit. He may have seen a major league player do it or it may just have been a nervous tick he developed. There’s nothing inherently wrong with wiggling your bat, unless it negatively affects the outcome of your swing. It was obvious that this little habit was no help to him as he struggled to make solid contact, swing after swing. So, I put a ball on a tee and gave him one instruction, “As you get into your hitting stance, focus on a quiet, still bat. Then, just hit the ball.” After some tee work, I threw him some live pitches, giving him reminders and gentle corrections along the way. By the time we finished, his hitting was much better and the wiggle was gone. He beamed with confidence. All he needed to do was to simplify his approach to break a habit that was negatively affecting his performance.

A week or so later, I noticed that this little bat wiggle was back. This time, I held my correction back and I stood and watched him struggle. I wanted to see if he could figure it out and correct himself. I wanted to see if he changed his approach. Again, he was struggling to make solid contact. I asked myself, “Does he remember what we talked about? Does he realize what’s going on with his bat moving all over the place? Does he think he’s doing it right? Or… did he not believe me? Did he not think my correction was good and right for him?” After a few minutes, I stepped in and we started again. I’ve learned that repetition seems to be a key to coaching. Over time, he’d get it without my help.

When we began the New Testament Challenge this fall, we looked at this passage:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3.16-17

My coaching mind resonates with this verse. A big part of coaching is pointing out what needs correction and what needs further training. The goal is to be ready, equipped to do what the coach wants us to do. These verses tell us that God uses his Word to show me how to grow and improve in how I live. But, I think we struggle with the same issues my baseball player did with his wiggly bat. We listen to teaching but then forget what we’ve heard. We hear correction but when faced with an opportunity, our mind and body default to old, bad habits. We’re given instruction but we doubt that the guidance will really help.

As we finish the NTC this week, I hope we all have developed a new or better training habit of reading Scripture on a regular, if not daily, basis. But, reading is not enough to bring about transformation. We need to read in a way that we capture the principles in our mind and heart. And, we need to read with the attitude of wanting it to break our bad habits of living and to help us build new ones. Most importantly, we need to read so we can know the ultimate Coach and trust that his words are true, beneficial, and have our best in mind.

Hearing and Doing

My mom used to say, “Learn to play an instrument that you can play in church.” As a kid, I always had the fascination of being able to play guitar or drums but my parent discouraged this dream. You need to know that I grew up in a very conservative, rural church community where guitars and drums were trumped by organs and pianos. So, as a kid, I learned to play the cornet. Ironically, I haven’t seen a cornet in a long time on the stage of my church; and my days of playing the cornet have long passed.

Music has changed and so has the church in regards to music. But, my little dream of learning to play guitar or drums still lingers in my soul. From time to time during worship at a weekend service, my heart drifts away from the lyrics of the song we’re singing and I find myself just watching the musicians do their work. They make it look so easy and I wonder what it would be like to create the rhythms and rifts that they do so naturally.

A couple months ago, I had the privilege of being at a small group retreat where a friend of mine led us in worship. Eric is a gifted worship leader who beautifully played his acoustic guitar to guide us into meaningful moments as we sang worship songs. When our worship time was done, Eric and I had a chance to chat about music, worship and the art of playing the guitar. I told him about my latent dream to learn to play and how fascinated I’ve been over the years with people who do it well. He asked, “So, have you ever tried? Do you own a guitar?” I told him I had, but not with much consistency or effort. I do own a guitar but it has resided quietly in my basement going untouched for many years.

Eric asked if I had ever taken lessons or spent time with someone willing to show me some of the basics to get started. I said I hadn’t but often taught that would be a good idea. I fully expected that to be the end of the conversation but Eric pushed it further. He said, “If you have some time, I’d be willing to help you learn.” He even suggested some times and places. I felt honored to be offered such a kind gift but I found myself awkwardly trying to find reasons to say, “thanks, but no thanks.” Eric got the hint. I think he figured out that I was more intrigued by the idea of being a guitar player, than I was really interested in pursuing it. Later I privately wondered why I balked at the chance to pursue a dream. In reality, I think I just want to be a good guitar player rather than wanting to learn and practice to become a good guitar player.

Unfortunately, I think we often treat our pursuit of following Christ the same way. God enters our life through salvation and then he tells us to be his followers in all areas of our life. He wants us to look and live like him. But then we realize that we are far from that goal and it will take time, effort, and practice for us to live as God desires. He offers us help through his Spirit and his Word yet we struggle to commit to the effort and pursuit. This, I think, is why James penned these words. He knew the human heart had the tendency to hear but not do, to dream but not pursue, and to be informed but not transformed.

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. James 1.22-25 NLT

As I’ve read my way through the New Testament Challenge this fall, I’ve become aware again the Bible offers a ton to learn and know. It’s overwhelming at times. There’s so much to digest, understand, and to discuss in just the NT. But, if I’m not diligent to read with an open heart, I may just leave this valuable information in my head and never allow it to help me be truly transformed. I find it interesting that James follows his discussion about hearing and doing with some hard hitting comments about how we are to use our mouths, and what genuine religion really looks like. It’s as if James is saying, “You’ve heard, now let me give you something to do! You understand, now get busy. ”

If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1.26-27

Resisting Temptation

As I write, it’s Halloween morning and I’ve just spent a few minutes flipping around the internet as I often do before I jump into some real work. Today, there are self-help articles all over the place on how to resist the temptation to over-eat candy and sweets. It’s one of those days when candy is everywhere. This interests me because I love candy and will most definitely be feeling the urge to enjoy too much of this good thing. Then, I stumbled on this headline: “Think of God, Resist Temptation, Study Shows.” Ooooh… that’s hitting both my candy and my pastor fix. So, I clicked to find this:

“The American Psychological Association suggests in a new study that if you think about God, you'll be more likely to resist temptation when it comes to the Halloween candy. The study, entitled "Divergent Effects of Activating Thoughts of God on Self-Regulation," by Kristin Lauren of the University of Waterloo, Aaron C. Kay and Gra´inne M. Fitzsimons of Duke University, tested 37 undergraduate students. They found that "participants who read a short God-related passage reported greater willingness to resist temptations to achieve a major goal, such as maintaining a healthy weight, finding a long-term relationship or having a successful career. This effect was found only among participants who had previously said they believe an omniscient entity watches over them and notices when they misbehave.”

God reminders can influence the self-regulation not only of believers but of anyone who has a representation of God as a cultural concept, then at least in cultures where God is portrayed as omnipotent and omniscient, reminders of God are likely a persistent and pervasive influence on self-regulation. (goddiscussion.com, Dakota O’Leary)

I’m always intrigued when I see a secular explanation of a spiritual, biblical principle. And as usual, they seem to have gotten some of it right and some of it wrong. First, the wrong. God doesn’t want to be used as a mental, cooping tool to help us achieve our personal goals of weight loss or cholesterol health. He doesn’t want to be relegated as a “reminder” to influence our self-regulation of nasty habits. Instead, he wants to be Lord of all.

But, I do find it interesting that there’s a measure of truth in this article. It shouldn’t surprise us that science and research can be consistent with biblical principles. Think about these words from David in Psalm 119 in light of the APA study:

I have tried hard to find you—
don’t let me wander from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119.11-12 NLT

I love the context of this passage. David has just described why God’s Word is so valuable to his life and he declares his delight in following God’s decrees. But then David says he has tried so hard to find God and doesn’t want to wander from him. I think he knows how quickly he can stray and desperately doesn’t want to lose his intimate connection with God. So, David states the solution—he’ll hide God’s Word in his heart. This will stave off temptation. This will hold back drift and sin.

As a kid, I memorized this verse and many others thinking that Scripture memorization was what it meant to “hide God’s Word in my heart.” What I found was that memorizing Scripture was just a good start. What I was doing was hiding God’s Word in my head. They say that the head is approximately 18 inches physically from the heart; but spiritually, the head can be miles from the heart. I think there is much more to this than a “reminder for self-regulation.”

When Jesus was tempted three times, he used Scripture to refute and rebuke Satan. Think about how vulnerable Jesus was in this situation. He was alone. He was without food. He may have been weary. He was in the discomfort of being in the wilderness for an extended period of time. But, when the most evil of enemies approaches him to deceive and distract him, God’s Word pours from his mouth as if it was part of his personal fabric. It’s interesting…another word for heart is “psyche.” This is someone’s inner most being. What is in the heart cannot be masked or violated. What’s in the heart will be revealed in times of trial and temptation. When Christ was weary, hungry, and tempted by the worst evil imagined, Scripture poured from his heart. It was more than a tactic of self-control; it was a revelation of his true heart. As a result, Jesus was able to walk away from temptation unscathed.

As you continue to read through the New Testament this week, think about the difference between having Scripture in your head and having it in your heart. Remember the verse below from our reading last week. Notice the connection between God’s Word and our inner most being. God desires to change us from the inside out through his Word.  

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.  Hebrews 4.12 NLT

 

Doing Blessing Well

t’s not uncommon for someone at church to approach me wanting to know what resources the church offers regarding managing their finances. Every one of these inquiries, with the exception of one, has come from individuals who were in financial despair due to the loss of employment, poor financial decisions, or unexpected bills that exceeded their resources. But there was the one person who came to me and said, “Phil, I would like to talk to someone about my finances. I could use some guidance.” I asked him if he could elaborate on what he was struggling with and he gave this answer. He said, “Over the past year or so, my business has really begun to prosper. It appears our tough years are over and we are beginning to really do well financially.” I was puzzled. Why would he need counsel when things are going so well? He explained, “I want to do ‘rich’ well!  God has blessed us immensely and I don’t want to mess this up. I don’t want to be selfish and consumed with my new-found prosperity. I want to do ‘rich’ well.”

How refreshing! I was amazed with this man’s mature perspective regarding blessing. He realized some very important things about God’s blessing. First, he was grateful, acknowledging that his abundance came from the hand of God and not his own. Second, he recognized the human tendency we all have to allow the things God has blessed us with to, ironically, become a curse. He wanted to do blessing right.

I’ve had the privilege in recent months to be the deliverer of this man’s quest to do rich well. He’ll approach me with an unmarked envelope with a check, cash, or gift cards enclosed. He heard of or spotted a need in someone’s life and wants me to deliver his gift to that person anonymously. As he hands me the envelope, he most often says, “Now, if you see they need more, there’s more where this comes from.”

I think doing blessing well is tougher than it looks. I hear people who are in financial need say they’d rather be on the giving side than the receiving side. I understand that completely but I think most of us don’t understand how difficult it is to be rich and to be godly. Jesus mentioned that with his reference of a camel passing through the eye of a needle. It’s just as tough for a rich man to find his way into the Kingdom of God.

If you look at the Old Testament history of the nation of Israel, you see they too had a major problem with doing blessing well. There’s a chronic cycle in the OT of obedience, drift, rebellion, pain, and then a cry for help until God sends a rescuer to restore them to blessing. Why doesn’t blessing last? Why do we drift? Even more importantly, how do we stave off the drift to rebellion?

Because of their sin, the nation of Israel was exiled for 70 years. No home, no country, no identity. But, God in his mercy rescued them and gave them a chance to return home and rebuild. Ezra and Nehemiah were two godly leaders who led the return from exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem both physically and spiritually. As the walls of the city surrounding the Temple of God were completed, you can sense a new season of blessing coming to the people. It’s almost as if you can hear these leaders say, “Let’s do blessing right this time! Let’s set the foundation deep so we don’t drift.”  

When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.

So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. Nehemiah 8.1-3

The Israelites renewed their vows to God. They listened attentively and then reestablished their foundation and identity given them in the Book of Law.

We all tend to drift away from blessing because of our propensity toward rebellion and selfishness. Is it time to cry out to God for rescue? Is it time to renew your vows? Is it time to listen attentively to the Word of God? Is it time to do blessing well?

 

The Bible Lost

I usually don’t watch a movie more than once. It usually needs to be really funny with quotable lines that get funnier each time you hear them for it to get another look. I’ll confess I love Tommy Boy and Dumb and Dumber for that very reason. I’ll also watch a movie again and again if it has a deep and compelling plot with twists and turns that need to be thought through and figured out. I’ve seen the Bourne trilogy several times and I still haven’t figured out all that’s going on in the movie Inception.

The most recent movie to capture my attention is the Denzel Washington flick, The Book of Eli. It’s one of the few movies that use the Bible in the central plot. But before you gather the kids around the TV for Christian movie night, be warned that The Book of Eli is very, very violent and filled with hard language. It’s rated R for a good reason. But the plot is riveting.

The setting is the second generation after a nuclear holocaust. Civilization is in horrible shape and the people in power are deeply corrupt. They keep control over the people by removing books from society. The younger generation can’t read and the older generation who can read has nothing to read. The main character is Eli who is called by God to carry the last known Bible left on the planet. Throughout the movie, you don’t know his destination but just know he has a place he needs to take it. The villains in the story want to capture the Bible not so they can learn truth from it, but so they can gain power from having it. The movie is about the survival of the Bible in the face of evil. Evil seems to prevail as his copy is violently taken from him.

At the end of the movie Eli, beaten and battered, arrives at his destination (beware… I’m about to tell you the end of the story). He arrives at Alcatraz where a group of people are building the world’s library. Their quest is to recover as many relics of literature they can and begin to reprint them. We learn at the end that Eli is blind and his copy of the Bible was written in Braille. Over many years of carrying the Bible, Eli has not only read the Bible but he’s memorized it. The stolen copy is worthless to the villains. Only what was embedded in Eli’s mind and heart lasted. Eli spends his remaining days quoting the Bible to a scribe who writes each word. Alcatraz has the only printing press and the Bible is set to print and reproduced again.

I can’t imagine the world without God’s written Word. I think I have 10 to 15 different copies in my home and office. My goodness, Ada Bible Church just distributed 9,000 copies of the New Testament in just a few short weeks. The Bible is everywhere in our society. But, that hasn’t always been the case and is not the case worldwide. The Bible’s existence has been threatened and assaulted throughout history, but it has always survived the test of time and persecution. The Book of Eli really isn’t too farfetched in terms of history.

Centuries before the Bible was completed, the Law of God had almost been lost forever. The nation of Israel had divided into two kingdoms because of their rebellion against God. King after king rose into power, each more evil than the last. The nation and its people had drifted far from God. The One True God of Israel had been replaced by idols that led the people into vanity and immorality. It took a new king, an eight-year-old king, to lead the people back to God. Somehow, he learned the ways of his godly ancestor David and how he obeyed God. Josiah, this young king, set out on a mission to trash all the false gods and to restore the hearts of the people to the God of Israel. As he does this, a relic is found. It’s the written Book of the Law. It had been lost. No one had read it in years. Listen to what Josiah does with this incredible find.

He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book. Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. 2 Chronicles 34.30-32

The Word of God had gone from being virtually extinct to being the spiritual guide of God’s chosen nation again. It was rescued and revived. It had life and power to give the nation hope again.

Stories like these cause me to hold my Bible more tightly. Sometimes I forget how valuable these words truly are. They are God’s written words to us. He has preserved them over thousands of years. Maybe we need to treat our copy of the Scriptures like Eli did in the movie—as if it was the last copy on the face of the planet. How would we read the New Testament differently this week if we held it as a beautiful relic that has immeasurable value to our world and to our lives? Read it this week as if it’s your only opportunity to hear from God. Cherish the time and cherish the words that have survived the assault of evil for several millennium.

The Best Meal

It was one of those things that I’ve put in the “it seemed like a good idea at the time” category. It was one of those “guy adventure” ideas that a friend dreamed up. Several years ago, I was asked to go on a hunting trip on North Manitou Island in northern Michigan. It was sold as a challenge of my manhood, an adventure of hunting, camping, hiking, living on little, going in the woods…  all that cool “man stuff.” I signed on with three other guys all wanting to test their testosterone levels in the wilderness.

This trip had unique challenges that needed some planning. First, you were only allowed to bring what you could carry on your back. This forced us to make critical decisions about what was really needed and what should be left at home. Hunting gear, by nature, is bulky and heavy, so we had to plan our food and clothing to be as minimal as possible. We packed high protein prepackaged hiking meals that required a little water and some heat to be ready. Our trip was to be four days and four nights and we planned only enough food to get to that final day. Secondly, we were to be dropped off by a boat on Wednesday and picked up on Sunday. Only an emergency would bring that boat to the island any earlier. It was clear that the boat would only come on Sunday if weather permitted. Third, the deer population on the island had been greatly diminished in recent years. Hunting would be difficult.

Our trip began on a beautiful late-October day. The trip to the island was smooth and our initial hike to the first campsite went fairly easily. We set up camp and began to discuss how we’d approach the next few days on the island. However, throughout the afternoon, we noticed the wind picking up. It was gentle but constant. We had brought tarps and ropes to make a covering for our little campsite just in case it rained. The breeze made this project a challenge; but with the tarps in place, we felt good about being able to endure the elements. Typically as evening approaches, winds diminish—but not in this case—that evening, the winds increased. And, for the next three days the winds increased even more while the temperatures fell. By Friday, the winds were constant at 40 mph and temperatures had dropped from the 50s into the 30s. This was truly an adventure, but one we had planned for.

Food became an issue for me during that time. I hated the food I brought, it all tasted like cardboard. The meals were too small and tasted terrible. Even worse, by Saturday evening, I had run out. With the wind and the weather as they were, we started to doubt if our Sunday departure was going to happen as waves climbed to 8-10 feet. We knew that no help was coming until the weather broke. I was hungry. I was sick of camp food. I wanted to go home, get warm and get some good food in me. I climbed into my sleeping bag on Saturday night not expecting the boat to arrive on Sunday. I’d be in survival mode until the weather changed.

To my surprise, Sunday was the most beautiful day of the week. Skies were clear and the wind had stopped. We packed our gear up and headed to the dock. The sight of the boat on the horizon was so welcomed. And as the boat pulled off the island, I started to plan my first meal. I was so hungry for good food that would fill my stomach. I was determined to stop at the first fast-food restaurant I saw on the drive home. That Big Mac was some of the best tasting food I’ve ever enjoyed. I ate it slowly, savoring every greasy morsel.

The Bible is filled with imagery about eating. I love that! Food is something I can really relate to. I need it, want it and really enjoy it—too much at times. So, when illustrations of food come up, I take notice. This one is fun. What is going on with the meal given by God to the prophet Ezekiel?

And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.  Ezekiel 3.1-3

God is giving Ezekiel a huge task—an adventure that would stretch him—an adventure that may not go well. Ezekiel is to go to the nation of Israel which has lost their land and freedom because of many years of sin and disobedience to God. They are exiled. God instructs Ezekiel to tell the Israelites to turn from their sin and follow God again. But God doesn’t promise Ezekiel that they’ll listen and take heed of God’s message. This is a tough task: deliver a message to a group of people who may not want to hear what needs to be said. But before Ezekiel goes, God gives him a scroll to eat. Seems a little too high fiber for me. I would bet it tasted a lot like cardboard but to Ezekiel, it tasted sweet, like honey.

There’s some beautiful symbolism here that we can draw from. God uses his written Word to nourish his prophet before a big task. God’s Word is to be consumed, digested and turned into productive energy. And for those craving direction and guidance for a tough task, it tastes sweet. It’s to be savored and enjoyed.

What tough task has God given you? What unexpected adventure are you on? Maybe this week we need to eat our copies of The Books of the Bible. Well, not literally. But, can we read as if we are ingesting the nourishment of life from God. Savor it. Enjoy the honey in the words this week. Find the power and the energy to do what’s needed even if it’s tough.

 

 

The Winner of ArtPrize is...

I’m a big fan of ArtPrize. It’s been one of the greatest things to hit our little town of Grand Rapids. This year I love it even more. I actually have a piece of art displayed in the contest. It’s a photo display of black and white pictures I’ve captured on my trips to Haiti. It’s been a great experience for me and has led to some wonderful conversations with people about photography, Haiti, and art. I’ve never really considered myself an artist, so this is a very new conversation for me to be a part of.

Because I have something displayed in ArtPrize, I’ve been downtown much more than in previous years. I’ll go hang out at my display for an hour or so, talking to people who have questions or want to chat about Haiti. Then I’ll wander around downtown with my wife to see some of the 1,500 other pieces of art. I’m amazed by the diversity in style and resources used to create art. I’m also amazed when I read the artist statements that describe the process they went through in creating the piece.  Honestly, some of it makes sense to me, and even inspires me, but others seem like a giant stretch. I walk away confused or even disturbed. That’s what happens in an open competition of art. Some art I like. Some things I hate. Some things I just don’t get. But, some of the art absolutely stops me and stuns me— like the taxidermy moose and wolves display, the pencil drawings of the band and the elephants, and even the 20,000 lanterns that were launched into the GR sky.

Of all the cool things I’ve enjoyed about ArtPrize this year, the most stunning to me was a piece of art that wasn’t entered into the competition but showed up anyway. After walking through the Amway Grand one evening, we stepped outside with the intent to head across the river on the walking bridge. As soon as we stepped outside, we saw it. It was a stunning sunset. Oranges, reds, grays, and yellows streaked through the clouds on the horizon. As the sun set— moving in and out of the clouds—the artwork changed. The light would dim and brighten as the sun, clouds, and wind sketched the colorful sky. It was interesting to listen to the people on the street when they saw this incredible display hover over the ArtPrize venues. I heard one person say, “Wow, that must be God’s entry into ArtPrize.”  Two nights later, we experienced the same thing. God was again presenting his artwork to us at ArtPrize.

God, the artist! If art makes a statement, what was he saying? What did we need to hear? Here’s what I think I heard that night: “Hey, humankind! I created you to be creative and expressive. When you are, you’re like me! Nice job. But, let me remind you of what I can do that’s bigger and better than anything you can dream up.  I can do it every day if I want to with ease, distinction, and power. I do this to be seen and to be heard. I want to be known. Here I am!”

I’m not the first person to realize this, of course. Listen to David’s words in Psalm 19 as written by Eugene Peterson’s The Message.

God’s glory is on tour in the skies,
God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
Professor Night lectures each evening.

God makes a huge dome
for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband
leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete
racing to the tape.

But God doesn’t stop his communication with a sunset. He has much more to say to us. He’s given his written Word for us to find guidance, truth, encouragement and more importantly, to find HIM.  David continues,

That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies
from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
warming hearts to faith.

The revelation of God is whole
and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
down to the nth degree.

God’s Word is better than a diamond,
better than a diamond set between emeralds.

                                                                Psalm 19.6-10 The Message

As  you see the sun rise and set, as you feel the rain on your face, as you see new colors in the trees and… as you read his Word this week, know that God is revealing himself to you. Take it in. Learn and enjoy his creative presence in your life. He wants to be known.

 

 

Mixed Motives

This morning, I found myself reflecting on some of my early impressions of the Bible when I was a kid. We just finished our first Men’s Bible Study of the fall—beginning the New Testament Challenge at Ada Bible Church. One of our discussion questions this morning was, “What place did the Bible have in your home growing up?” Rich, a guy across the table from me, answered first. He talked about growing up in a home where the Bible wasn’t present all. He really didn’t know much about it until well into his adult life. Mark, who sat next to Rich, answered next. He talked about the Bible being part of virtually everything in his childhood home. He said they read the Bible together and he was taught to memorize verses of the Bible on a regular basis. It was interesting to watch Rich listen to Mark. There seemed to be a sense of appropriate envy in Rich’s eyes as Mark talked about growing up knowing about the Bible, and starting his journey in the Scriptures early in life. Rich asked Mark, “So, do you think learning all those things about the Bible as a kid has helped you as an adult?” Mark said he still has a lot to learn but he was very grateful to have that in his background.

When it was my time to share, I resonated with Mark’s story. I grew up in a pastor’s home with a Bible on every shelf. Learning the Bible was a big deal in our household. It was read after every meal we ate together. We listened to records and cassette tapes of Bible stories. We even played Bible board games. All of this was good, but there were some ploys of learning that actually fed a darker side of me. I was a competitive kid, so I was easily motivated to learn when a tasty reward was offered. It’s amazing how many Bible verses I memorized in response to the promise of a Snickers bar. If the reward was big enough, I’d go for it. I memorized verses with the simple motivation of winning.

But I was also a kid who craved approval and applause which fed another dark area of my young soul. The feeling of getting called up on stage to receive an award for memorizing the most verses during a week of Vacation Bible School was intoxicating to me. The result was that I could prolifically rattle off Bible verse after Bible verse, but I cared little about what they meant and what they were intended to say to me. That was my perception of the Bible as a kid. It was a way to achieve awards, candy, applause, and affirmation.

After I mentioned this to the group this morning, Rich smiled and said to me, “Wow, isn’t it cool how God has a way of even using our poor motives to teach us about him?” He was right. I had learned a ton about the Bible and God even though my heart was selfish and self-promoting. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to promote bribing kids with candy to learn about God. I’m just suggesting that God wants to be known by us so much that he’s willing to use our jaded and tainted motives to reveal himself to us. In the long run, all those Bible verses and trivia nuggets would benefit me as I matured into a Christian adult. I look back with gratitude that my parents and my church loved me enough to give me opportunities to learn about God and his Word. I’m also grateful that he’s matured my heart to wanting the Bible to transform me, rather than just inform me.

Early in Israel’s history, God desired to give them a unique identity that would stand out in front of all nations on the earth. Their identity would be forged through the commandments he gave them. In following God’s law, Israel would express the rich character of God. In order to do this, God’s Word would need to be deeply imbedded in their hearts and minds. Here’s what God tells them to do with his Word.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6.4-9 

As you step into week two of the New Testament Challenge, ask yourself, “Why am I reading today?” Then thoughtfully examine your motives. Yes, God can use our mixed motives, but how much greater will this experience be when we approach God’s written Word with a pure heart?  

On The Edge of Your Seat

It was the last day of the last class I would have to take to finish my college degree. All my papers were in and all tests had been taken. The temptation to skip that last class weighed on my mind that night. But there was something to look forward to, something I didn’t want to miss. Our professor, Ken Vandenberg, had promised to bless each of us. That blessing was something I deeply needed.

For two years, I had worked to finish my degree. I was in my mid-30s and entered into a program I had deemed “college for geriatrics.” But I had grown to love the program, my classmates, and a few of my professors—specifically Ken. Ken taught several of the modules over the two years and he developed a strong relationship with our class. Ken was not a very good lecturer and he knew it, so he taught our class like a small group. He’d ask good questions that opened up honest discussions and made room for self-discovery. He built trust and rapport with each person, while he challenged us practically and personally to think through the concepts we learned. We felt known and loved when he taught. So, when he offered to use our last class time together to bless each of us individually, nothing would keep me away. I wanted to hear his final words for our class and, more importantly, for me.

There were fifteen people in that room that night. We sat in a horseshoe facing Ken as he spoke to us. He started with the person on his far left and worked his way across the room using the same pattern with each person. He’d first tell the person what he enjoyed about having them in the class. He then listed the strengths that he learned about that person over the past two years. He’d touch on some areas he saw needed more growth and he looked into the future by saying, “In the future, I can see you_______________.” He’d fill in the blank with words of promise and hope. It was a powerful time in that classroom. Because Ken loved us and knew us, we gave him the authority to speak words of wisdom and encouragement into our lives. Every person sat on the edge of their seats when Ken came to them. We all wanted his wisdom. We craved his blessing in our lives.

Ken’s words to me that night made a lasting and changing impact. I don’t remember every word he said but there was one part that literally brought me to tears. It was something I already knew but I needed to hear it from someone I trusted. He said, “Phil, you’re a people person. All of your practical work in this class has been on how to engage people spiritually in small groups at your church. You are a discipler who needs to be turned loose to care for and spiritually develop others.” Then he paused, looked up from his notes and continued. “Phil, you know that you’re in the wrong line of work. You will never reach your full potential at United Parcel Service. My prayer for you is that God would bless you with a vocation that allows you to minister to others most of your days and most of your weeks.” All of those words were in my heart, but God used Ken to affirm the transition God was preparing me for. I was filled with joy, hope, and terror all at the same time. I look back to that night over 15 years ago and see it as oil placed on the hinge of a door. My life was about to swing open. I knew I needed to pursue a vocation in ministry.

Words are powerful. The words that Ken breathed on me that night made a long lasting, deep impact on me. They gave me guidance, confidence, and passionate hope. What’s interesting to me is that Ken is an imperfect man who certainly doesn’t know everything. Imagine the power of the words breathed on you by a perfect God, who has an infinite capacity to love you, who knows all things about you, and has the power to do anything he pleases for your benefit. If Ken’s words got me sitting on the edge of my seat, what should God’s words do for me?

In Paul’s letter, he wrote words of care and encouragement to his young friend and protégé, Timothy. I bet Timothy read this letter from his spiritual father on the edge of his seat with tremendous anticipation for hope and direction in his life. But Paul encourages Timothy to let God’s Word breath on him, to infuse him, guide him, and correct him. Hear Paul’s love in some of his final words to the young leader he discipled over the years.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3.14-17

As you begin the New Testament Challenge this week, my prayer is that you read God’s Word from the edge of your seat, with great anticipation for the care and wisdom that God desires to speak into your life. He wants to speak to you through his written Word. You can trust his words. They were written with you in mind.

The New Testament "Challenge"

When I was in junior high, I attended a Christian summer camp where the speaker made an impassioned plea for everyone to develop the habit of reading the Bible every day. He promised that this routine would bring encouragement to tough days, strength to make tough decisions, and answers to difficult questions. What he was saying wasn’t new to me. My parents had encouraged this since the time I learned to read. But, there was something about this guy’s plea and the camp setting that inspired me to give it a try. I had a new found passion to read something every day and let God shape my life.

Our speaker was serious about us reading the Bible, so he created time every day for us to find a quiet place to read and pray. He suggested we read one of the Gospels or the book of James first. I don’t remember what I read that week, but I do remember what I experienced. I struggled. Really struggled. Unfortunately, I was a bit bored and distracted. I had a tough time focusing and I didn’t really understand what I was reading, let alone experiencing any kind of change. But what I struggled with most was guilt. Why wasn’t this working for me? It couldn’t be the Bible’s problem. Something had to be wrong with me.

As an adult, I’ve had similar struggles with reading the Bible. In contrast to my junior high experience, I’ve become more focused and now I understand a vast majority of what I read. But, my struggle lies with what I hear from other people about their rich and deep Bible reading experiences. My buddy, Doug, talks about times when he takes his Bible out in the woods, sits at the foot of his favorite tree, and reads and prays for hours. He talks about wrestling down life issues with God and experiencing the voice and presence of God as he reads and prays. Kristi is another person who describes Scripture as a love letter from God to her. She talks about God being near to her as she reads during her daily quiet time. This rarely happens to me. I hope that doesn’t unsettle anyone to read that a pastor struggles with reading Scripture.

All this doesn’t mean that the Bible doesn’t hold a vital, irreplaceable place in my life. It does. My struggle is not with the truth of the Bible, it’s simply with reading. So, I’ve had to learn to absorb Scripture in other ways such as listening to sermons then rethinking through the text that was taught. I love to write and writing helps me think and focus on passages of the Bible. I’ve memorized verses over the years and the small groups I’ve been in have played a huge part in embedding God’s Word into my life. I’ve noticed over the years that Scripture has been kind of like putting money into a bank account. Depositing is always fun; when you need money, you’re always glad it’s there to withdraw. Verses, passages, thoughts, sermons, and reflections have been “Bible” deposits into my mind and heart. Over the years, large and small withdrawals are made in times of personal need, times of celebration when God is given credit and praise, and times of counsel when others need encouragement or direction.

This fall will be a challenge for me as we dive into the New Testament Challenge. If you’re a prolific reader, this may come easy to you; but for me, reading is not my first learning style and I’m afraid that I may feel like I’m at that junior high camp again. But, I’m excited to push my mind and heart and try to grow stronger in this weak area of mine. If you’re feeling like I am, remember these five tips:

1.       Read what you can.

2.       Read something every day.

3.       Always have your Bible with you.

4.       Every week is a new week.

5.       Don’t worry about the parts you don’t understand, worry about the parts you do understand.

God bless you as you pursue a habit of ingesting the Word of God on a daily basis.