Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 05:31PM The Transfiguration of Jesus ~ this was an important event in the lives of Jesus’ closest friends, Peter, James, and John. This supernatural event and revelation of the glory and power of Christ came with just a small price to be paid on the part of His friends. Let me hint at just a few of these costs.
Friday, February 3, 2006 at 05:00PM No, I can't answer and prove everything that you may question me about, but I can state without hesitation: He has provided an internal peace that is beyond anything I have ever known in this world.
Friday, January 27, 2006 at 02:38PM "While people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."
1 Thessalonians 5:3 (NIV)
A primary sign of the end times (and that the Lord Jesus Christ is close to His return) is that of a worldwide party that celebrates a newfound peace and safety.
But peace and safety with regard to what?
It will be peace and safety with regard to the Middle East turmoil, specifically the turmoil between Arabs and Jews, and their struggle over who will own Jerusalem.
This week the Palestinian terrorist group called Hamas won the election among the Palestinians who live in Gaza and the West Bank. This is significant because the charter of Hamas calls for the annihilation of Israel. Not exactly a "peace and safety" situation.
Iran is also in the mix with their diatribes regarding Israel and how they intend to wipe Israel "of the map." Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons adds seriousness to their threats.
Then there are also the other Arabs and Muslims located around the world that also breath wrath toward Israel and are sympathetic to any and all other causes that decry Israel.
So, back to this "peace and safety" passage of scripture. What is that about?
Well, the "peace and safety" that will be celebrated will be in regard to a supposed peaceful settlement of this Middle East conflict. Where peace seems like an impossibility, there will be a time when peace will seem to have been reached.
This, of course, will be an aberration and short-lived.
As time and events progress and unfold, keep in mind that we are seeing firsthand events that are leading up to the time of Christ's return. Now THAT will be exciting!
Wednesday, November 23, 2005 at 11:16AM Lim-bur-ger ~ [noun]
Etymology: Flemish, one from Limburg, Belgium
: a pungent semisoft surface-ripened cheese
I don’t know if the following allegory actually took place or not, but it beautifully illustrates a point [that I will then pontificate on afterwards].
There was a grandfather who took a nap in his easy chair one afternoon. When he awoke, he got up and groggily went into the kitchen. Within moments he noticed a horrible stench. He disliked it so much, that he had to leave the kitchen.
Into the hallway he went, only to be met once again with that same horrible stench. The bedroom smelled the same. And so did the garage.
Finally, he decided that he had to get some fresh air so he darted outside, leaving behind him the stench of the house.
But, alas, that same stench filled the air outside! “What is this? Does the whole world now stink?”
What the grandfather did not realize was that two of his small grandchildren had smeared a small amount of Limburger cheese on his upper lip just below his nose while he slept.
The moral of the story is this: if a person thinks that everything in life stinks, maybe the problem isn’t everything in life, but rather their own condition and outlook.
Sometimes our outlook on life comes under the overwhelming influence of a Limburger cheese situation. Perhaps someone did something to us, and while we are aware of what they did (unlike the grandfather), we may not realize just how much it is tainting our outlook on life. Pretty soon, our whole perspective on life is miserable, but it isn’t because life itself (or the world itself) has changed for the worse. It’s the “cheese” from our one encounter.
So, what can we do?
First, take a good look in the mirror and see if the real problem is looking back at you. We must accept the possibility that the problem is emanating from us, and not from everyone else.
Second, take the humbling step of asking God to cleanse and refresh you from whatever the experience was that changed your outlook on life. Maybe the experience was something that happened to you that was of no fault of yours, or maybe it was something you brought upon yourself. Either way, the Lord offers refreshing and cleansing.
Can something that may have been traumatic and life-altering be so easily dealt with? While the path is clear, it may not be “easy.”
The next time we perceive that all of life is stinky, let’s stop and take a moment to laugh. We may have some Limburger cheese on our upper lip just below our nose. Instead of accusing and blaming everybody around us for being “stinky,” let’s take a spiritual, mental, and emotional shower ourselves. That just might change our whole world.
Thanks for reading. Have a GREAT day!
(Can I borrow your mirror? I think I smell something...)
Friday, November 4, 2005 at 02:20PM One of the situations that I am privileged (as a pastor) to be involved in with other peoples' lives is that of adult children relating with their aging parents. Aging has its difficulties, not just from a cultural or societal point of view, but from a relational point of view as well.
One of the difficulties that adult children face in their relationship with one or both of their aging parents is that of their parents' world shrinking. Their ability to get around begins to be limited. Their circle of friends grows smaller. The dreams and pursuits of new and exciting things in the future diminish and even disappear.
Pretty soon, their world shrinks to about the size of their home or their apartment. Their sense of worth and usefulness is diminished. Quite often their only remaining activity that gives them a sense of relevance is to whine and complain about the food, or about their care and the decisions that are made on their behalf.
Please understand, I am not writing this as a disparaging remark on the elderly. Instead, I hope to shine some light on some adult child's situation so that they can understand the frustration of their elderly and aging parents who seem to have lost the "nice-side" of themselves.
Frankly, I think that many of our seniors exhibit an enormous amount of flexibility and patience as their world shrinks down to almost nothing.
Imagine having your sense of freedom fade away, along with your ability to make all of your own decisions, and to no longer be able to enjoy the company of longtime friends who share your memories and values.
Imagine everyone else who is younger than you and are special to you "becoming" so busy that they "can't" come see you everyday.
Yes, they may forget that they too ran busy lives back when their body could keep up with their schedule. But now, all of that busyness seems so unimportant -- and that translates into them feeling unimportant because the busyness of their children takes precedence over them.
Perhaps you are trying to work through changes like these with your aging parents. All I can say is this: put yourself in their shoes (or shall I say bed, or chair) and look at the world from their little island. Look at the shrinkage of their lives, and their only sense of worth that might come from complaining about the food, or the nurses, or even you.
No, we cannot do everything their way, but surely we can at the very least try to understand the changes that they are undergoing. We can gently take the conversation in that direction and talk about what is happening, what feelings and thoughts are difficult to deal with in their aging years. When they know that you care and that you understand, that usually provides them with a huge boost of "I am not forgotten."
Just some thoughts for the day. Thanks for reading.
Monday, October 31, 2005 at 07:00PM 
In recent days there has been quite a bit of dialogue in the media about the price of gas and the 3rd Quarter (fy 2005) Financial Reports from the big oil companies. While the financial reports indicate the highest profits ever earned in US history, there are those in the debate that are "spinning" their own interpretation of the facts, figures, and statistics in the hopes of keeping the oil companies from society's (i.e. their customers) "wrath."
While I do believe that there was some price gouging taking place (during the 3rd quarter at which time we had some hurricanes do significant damage to our Gulf Coast), I will leave the conspiracy theories to those who enjoy that kind of thing.
My intent here is not to join the chorus of "big oil bashing," but rather to use the scene as an example for furthering the understanding of a Proverb in scripture. It (the Proverb) is a nugget of wisdom that every business owner (or manager) would do well to heed.
"People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell." ~ Proverbs 11:26 (NIV)
In this proverb, the man who hoards grain is in reference not only to someone who refuses to sell their goods during times of crises, but is also in reference to those who hoard by raising the price to such high levels that it results in an actual hoarding affect - especially affecting the poor.
If a business wants to maintain their customers' appreciation and loyalty over the long term (and thus maintain levels of profitability over extended periods of time), the best (and yes, most profitable!) approach is to be fairly priced during times of crises.
Now, is there a moral aspect to this issue also? Yes, there is.
Price gouging is definitely not an act of love for one's neighbor - a love that is commanded by God in scripture. Price gouging is plain and simply greed! And no, I am not saying that the oil companies were morally obligated to "loose their 3rd Quarter shirt" (though they certainly could have absorbed a huge net loss without it causing a longterm liability to the financial health of the company) during the hurricane tragedies in the Gulf Coast area.
Well, I think that I have pontificated enough on the issue. If per chance you are an oil company executive reading this, please endeavor to "keep your heart on the right path" (Proverbs 23:19). It will be good for your company, your long-term financial profits, and for your customers' wellbeing. And, it will be good for that day when each of us will stand before God to give an accounting for every thing that we have done in business and in life, whether it was good or bad.
Thanks for reading. Have a great day!!
Wednesday, October 26, 2005 at 12:45AM 
“The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously.”
James 4:5 (NKJV)
This verse – by the admission of translators and scholars alike – is difficult to fully understand. Due to its construction in the original language, it can be translated in a few different ways.
Fortunately we have hermeneutical standards to help us narrow this verse’s possible translations and meanings down to a few negotiable possibilities. (Hermeneutics is the study of the methods and principles of interpretation)
The primary hermeneutical standards that help us stay on the right track is that of “Scripture Interprets Scripture” and “Scripture Never Contradicts Scripture.”
So, the whole of the Bible is the well from which we may draw insight for understanding.
I prefer the New King James Version’s (NKJV) rendering (and that is not to say that the others are wrong – each holds their own merits) which is:
“The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously.”
(emphasis added)
The picture that these words paint is that of the Holy Spirit undergoing jealousy pangs as He dwells within us [Christians] when we befriend the world in a matter rather than befriending God.
This picture is consistent with one of the names of God articulated elsewhere in scripture: “Jealous God.” (See Ann Spangler’s book, “Praying the Names of God” for a little more information on this and other names of God.)
Wow, what a sobering vision: to picture God dwelling in us, and the “hurt that we put on Him” (to borrow some street lingo) when we stray. Verse 4 calls us – when we stray – “Adulterers and adulteresses!”
But, thanks be to God, when we return from our adultery (literally or figuratively) and we humble ourselves (v.6) before Him, He extends grace (v.6).
God’s ultimate call is for us to submit to Him and to actively resist the devil – these two synchronized activities will result in the fleeing of the satanic “attraction-power” that tempts us to adulterate (v.7).
A Closing Prayer for this Journal Entry:
“Lord Jesus, Father God, and Holy Spirit,
Please help me to be sensitive to your feelings. Help me to always honor you as my friend (as referenced in James 2:23) and as my Holy God. You are worthy of receiving a relationship that is Holy unto You – set apart unto You, and to You alone.
In Jesus Name, Amen.”
Once again, thank you for reading. Let us all remain consciously aware of how our actions (and inactions) affect our Lord's own feelings.
Thursday, October 13, 2005 at 02:49PM Abuse (in all of its various forms) damages a person’s ability to sense genuine love.
Putting your finger on a hot stove (resulting in a severe burn) will damage the finger’s ability to properly sense pressure, texture, and temperature. Until it is properly healed, it will either be overly-sensitive (the slightest touch results in excruciating pain) or under-sensitive (not being able to enjoy any of life’s pleasant things).
Similarly, a person who has been abused in one capacity or another (physical, emotional, sexual, financial, relational, spiritual – all of which are not necessarily mutually exclusive of one another) will experience a catastrophic change in their ability to properly sense a loving relationship. Either the relationship will cause more pain, or it will perpetuate a sense of continual dissatisfaction. Again, the person’s ability to feel and sense love is damaged.
So, if you are that person, what can you do?
I would like to offer a few suggestions for bringing your heart back to the right path (Proverbs 23:19).
First of all, let me begin with this: Healing from abuse is more than a moment of decision – it must become a lifestyle. Giving healing a chance in the short term is not enough, so plan on setting your course for healing and on building momentum for healthy patterns of life.
Second, realize and acknowledge to yourself that your ability to accurately feel and sense love is damaged. In other words, you are the one in need of “recalibration,” not everyone else. If this sounds kind of harsh (please know that it is not intended to be harsh) you may attribute the sensation of harshness to your heightened sensitivity that is due in part to your “burn” (from being abused).
Third, open up the deep, secret experiences of abuse to one or two trustworthy people. Keeping it locked-up inside keeps the poison in your system and perpetuates a poisoning of your entire life. Regardless of how well we think that we can safely contain the poison (to compartmentalize it), it will - without fail! - leak into the other areas of our lives.
Fourth, rediscover your value. A damaged heart usually considers itself of little value – and often will try to regain its sense of value through odd behaviors (working hard; playing the blame game; sexual promiscuity; creating wealth; etc.). The behaviors are rarely based on reasonableness or logic – they are instead based on a damaged ability to sense balance and realism in life.
Please don’t misunderstand what I have just written above. In no way am I saying that healing from abuse is as simple as a 1-2-3-4. However, the healing process is real and is available to everyone!
If you have not yet encountered Jesus Christ, He is the context within which we should pursue the fulfillment of the 1-2-3-4. From a personal perspective, I cannot overstate how much He loves us, cares for us, and is faithful to respond to those who call to Him with all their heart.
Thanks for reading. Let the healing begin…
Sunday, October 9, 2005 at 04:45PM Today a friend gave me a business card of someone whom he had heard preach recently. On the card, in the lower left corner is a simple statement:
Know God and Take Action!
That phrase really was (and is) refreshing! I have recently been doing a study in the book of James which basically is saying the same thing - that if you claim to know God, then do something with it!!
Henry Blackaby, in his great study series, "Experiencing God" also exclaims, "find out what God is doing, and then join Him!"
There comes a time in life and ministry when we have studied enough, and we have debated enough, and it is time to jump into the work that is at hand. Jesus said that we should pray for the Lord of the harvest to send forth workers into His harvest field (Matthew 9). Somehow I don't see Jesus having in mind a group of people sitting on the edge of the harvest field chronically studying about harvest procedures and principles - and not actually doing anything.
Yes, study should be a constant in our lives - but not at the expense of the harvest. Our study should enhance our harvesting - not delay it.
Anyway, just some thoughts for today. Thanks for reading, and maybe I'll bump into you in the harvest field sometime this week. 
Saturday, October 8, 2005 at 05:00PM 
A Preface to this Journal Entry
The following journal entry (as is most all of the entries in the "Grace for the Pain" category) is shared for a couple of reasons.
1.) I have found that journaling about the fibromyalgia pain that I battle with is a good outlet, and
2.) that some readers who frequent the Heart & Path web journal have their own battles with pain ~ of one kind or another ~ and seem to be blessed by reading about someone else's battles and victories in the same war that they are having to fight in.
So, I do not write this as a search for empathy (I am blessed with many people who know and care already!), but rather as a means for personal therapy and also for hopefully encouraging someone who does not currently have the blessing of people around them who understand.
Praise in the Midst of the Pain!
Yesterday my pain level was on an upward climb as the day progressed, and by the time 5:00pm hit I was pretty much "beside myself." When I got home I barely got a hello said to Teresa before I headed for the shower. I find that a warm shower for a few minutes sometimes brings a little relief.
While I was in the shower I began to hear someone pray, and then figured it out that it was me praying out loud in tongues (I am a Pentecostal, if you didn't already know that). I also began to pray out loud for relief from the pain.
Most of the prayer time though centered on praising God ~ of being a voice who praises Him from the midst of a fiery trial. What greater opportunity do we have to bring glory to God than to raise our voice of praise in the midst of an overwhelming trial?!
In that moment, I was privileged to extol my God in spite of the pain! What an awesome opportunity to send forth praise that is perhaps far more meaningful to Him than when I give genuine praise from the midst of great blessing!!
To put it another way, my praise of Him in spite of my pain is more meaningful to Him than my praise that is a result of being blessed in some great way. When we can look beyond ourselves (and our own needs, hurts, dilemmas, desires, etc.) and can see and appreciate the grandness and greatness of God, and then to exclaim it out loud with every ounce of sincere belief... well, then we know that we are on the right track when it comes to worshipping God.
Anyway, my journey continues. See you along the way as you journey too. Thanks for reading.
