Don't get too comfortable...

Ephesians 4:14 "As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming..."

Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil."

Ephesians 6:13 "Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm."

Ephesians 6:14 "Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS..."

I love the ocean.  The pungent smell of the salt air, the cool freshness of the sea breeze, the thunder of crashing waves, the shock of cold water against warm skin when I first dive in...  it refreshes and rejuvenates me.  It can also catch me off-guard and unnerve me.

I have learned to respect the ocean.  One time was enough to determine never  to turn my back to the sea .  I was standing knee deep in the water, just north of the Seal Beach pier.  Facing the beach, I was trying to coax my young daughter to join me when, from out of nowhere, a large wave crashed over me and knocked me off my feet.  Each time I tried to regain my footing, another wave toppled me.  I ended up crawling to safety on my hands and knees.  How humiliating!

It's something like that in my spiritual life.  Although everything may seem tranquil and copacetic, I need to be alert and ready for "sneak attacks" from the Enemy.   It is easy to settle into a "safe" routine, to forget that I am engaged in a spiritual conflict, to turn my back on Satan and his schemes.  Then, just when I become comfortable and let down my guard, he launches an attack and I'm knocked off balance.  The only way to safety is on my knees.

Dear Lord, thank You for reminding me that, no matter how calm and safe things may appear, Satan is always scheming,looking for a chink in my armor, ready to launch a surprise attack, trying to trip me up.  Please help me not to become too comfortable,.  Keep me alert today.  I want to stand firm in Your strength.  Amen.

Armored-up and heading out...

Ephesians 6:10. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might."

Ephesians 1:18-20  "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places..."

I remember well  my first bout with colon cancer.  When I think about it, I can still taste the metallic, chemical  flavor rising in the back of my throat as I sensed the cool rush of the poison (chemo) pulsing through the vein in my arm.

I also recall vividly the reality of doing battle with cancer.  I was determined not to be a passive victim letting the nurse perform weekly chemotherapy on me.  On the contrary, I was "armored-up" and, as she injected the chemical into my body, I was already in prayer, releasing the power of the Holy Spirit to seek and destroy the enemy cells.  I  was at war and I was determined to prevail!  That was nearly 28 years ago.  God won.

One of the positive outcomes of that  year-and-a-half conflict was the realization that it is only by relying on and appropriating God's "resurrection power" that I have hope of living victoriously. I know that I am incapable in my own strength of consistently living as He intends.

We engage the enemy every day.  My war with cancer taught me to focus on the essentials of my Christian walk... Prayer, faith, the Word, fellowship (not necessarily in that order).  I need to understand the power, the arsenal of weapons at my disposal, and learn how to use them.  That insight comes from consistently spending time in His Word. I must sincerely talk to God about it, asking Him to clothe me, endue me with His strength, and I must maintain communication with Him throughout the day.  I have to trust Him to do what He says He will do.  I need the camaraderie with my fellow soldiers.

Lord, I don't know  where or how the Enemy is planning to attack today, but I am "armored-up" and ready to head out.  Please help me to keep my "radio" on,  my eyes open, my senses alert, and my weapons ready.  I will follow Your lead and trust Your Word.  I know that You have already won The War.  Please help me to emerge victorious in today's skirmishes.  Amen!

Same shoe, other foot...

Ephesians 6:9  "And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him."

Matthew 20:28 "... just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

It was in June of 1992.  I was in a lecture hall in Moscow, standing before a group of 150 state school directors.  My "lectern" was a pedestal that once held a bust of Stalin, and I was trying to help them understand the concept of "servant leadership".  What an incredulous scene!  Here I was, a Christian school leader, encouraging atheistic heads of school to model their leadership style after that of Jesus!  It was a concept so foreign to their thinking that many of them went away shaking their heads in bewilderment.  It just didn't make sense to them.

Here I sit, 21 years later, pondering that same concept.  My teacher, the Holy Spirit, is telling me that my attitude towards those under my authority is to be the same as theirs toward me.  Same shoe, other foot. And like those Russian educators, it confuses me.  How do I exercise authority while, at the same time, being submissive?

Jesus didn't just answer my question with words.  He demonstrated it with His life.  Philippians 2:6-7 says, "...He did not count equality with God something to be clung to, but He emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant..."   That's servant leadership!  Paul says I am to model my life after that of Jesus, and it should be characterized by:
        - servant attitude - mutual submission
        - whole-hearted - not just lip service
        - respectful - as to The Lord
        - sincere - no hidden agenda
         - directed by The Lord - accountable to Him

Dear Lord, I'm still trying to figure this out.  I see You, The Lord of all creation, on Your knees as You wash Your disciples' feet.  I hear You, The Lord of my life, speaking softly in my spirit, "How may I serve you?"  Lord, please help me, not only to grasp this concept, but to demonstrate it today.  I want to be more like You!  Amen.

Who's your boss?

Ephesians 6:5-8  "Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free."

"I hate my job!"  "My boss is a jerk!"  "I can't wait to find somewhere else to work!"  When I hear such comments, I count my blessings.  I've been blessed to have had jobs I enjoyed and bosses I respected.  That doesn't mean, however, that there haven't been times where I've been so stressed and discouraged that I wanted to walk away.  Even the most pleasant job has its frustrations and potential for conflict.  In times like that, it is easy for me to narrow my focus and see only the problems.   That's when I'm in desperate need of an attitude adjustment.

Like pulling on my dog's leash to get his attention, Paul's words jerk me back to reality.  They remind me of Who my real Boss is.  I may get my paycheck from a human, but my employer is Jesus Christ.  My immediate supervisor is none other than the Holy Spirit, and He lays out the following principles to keep me in line:  I need to go to work each morning with:
 1.  The Right perspective - as serving Jesus - a respectful, sincere heart
 2. The Right motive - to please Christ, not men
 3. The Right attitude - good will - positive and seeking to serve
 4. The Right expectation -not for man's reward, but to receive good  from The Lord

Lord, I have my calendar and to-do list in front of me.  Please help me to go about my work today, mindful that even in the most mundane tasks I am serving You.  Please keep my perspective clear, my motives pure, my attitude positive and my expectations high.  Feel free to drop in and observe and evaluate my job performance.  Help me to not miss any appointments You have penciled in on my schedule.  I want to please You today.  Amen.

Do-Overs and Mulligans..

Ephesians 6:4   "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."

2 Timothy 3:16-17. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

"Do-Over"...."Mulligan".... Two of my favorite words.  Whether I'm  shooting hoops or driving a golf ball, I love it when I'm given another chance to get it right!

I was reflecting on these verses this morning and found myself wishing I could go back to when my children were young.  I'd like for God to offer me a "mulligan", a chance to re-do some of the things I did wrong in raising them.  Maybe, knowing what I do now, I would get it right.  Maybe.

I remember, as a young father, wishing that babies came with instruction manuals, or at least a comprehensive list of FAQs and a link to the "Help Desk".  That wish intensified as our children entered their teen years.  I felt so inadequate, like I was groping in the dark for the light switch, bumping into furniture, making a mess of things.

Now, years later, I don't think I'm any smarter, but, having been seasoned by age and experience,  I see things a little more clearly.  What would I do differently?  First, I would pray more fervently for knowledge, wisdom, and discernment. .. knowing what to do, how to do it, and when to do it.  Second, I would listen more and talk less.  It would have helped me to know and understand my teenagers better.  Third, I would use God's Word more as a tool than as a weapon.  Too often the verses came out as justification for saying, "No" to their requests or as the basis for punishing them when they misstepped.

If I could go back, I would live God's truth more consistently and share it with my children more naturally.  I keep thinking of Moses' words in Deuteronomy 6, where he challenged the Israelite dads, "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Dear Lord, I am so thankful that Joan and I were not alone in raising our children.  You were right there with us.  You used our sincere intentions and best efforts, seasoned them with your grace and mercy, and developed our children into two wonderful adults of whom we are so proud.  Thank You for giving us the opportunity for a "do-over" with our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Maybe we can get it right this time!  Maybe.  Amen.

Three little words...

Ephesians 5:25, 28, 29 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her... So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself... for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church..."

Joan and I were looking through our wedding album last evening.  A few couples we've known for years are celebrating their "50th" this coming summer, and a dear friend is planning an anniversary party.  Although we're still a few years shy of that momentous goal, she asked us to email her a photo of our "special event".

Leafing through the photo album, we found ourselves caught in a "time warp".  Gazing at those photos instantly transported us both back to our youth.  Suddenly we were standing there at the altar, looking into each other's eyes, reciting our vows, pledging our undying love for one another. I couldn't imagine loving anyone more than I loved Joan at that moment.

I'm reminded of Brad Paisley's song, "I Thought I Loved You Then". After nearly five decades of marriage, I realize that, although sincere in my affection and commitment, my understanding of love was pretty basic.  To put it in "teaching reading terms", I was at the pre-primer level.

Paul sums up in three little words what, after all these years, I am still trying to attain. I am to love my wife "just like Jesus" - just as Christ loved the church.  As Jesus did for me, I am to put her needs, interests, desires before my own.  In short, I am to nourish and cherish her.

I have found that my ability to love my wife "just like Jesus" parallels my relationship with Him.  It's like an equilateral triangle, with Jesus at the apex (the top) and Joan and I at the vertices on the base.  As we move towards the the apex, the distance between us diminishes.   Similarly, if I move away from Jesus, I find myself more distant from my wife.

Dear Lord, I have yet to discover words adequate to describe how grateful I am to You for bringing Joan and me together.  I confess my inadequacy to love her like You want me to, like you love us.  Thank You for showing me the way, illuminating the path.  Thank You for not leaving it to my ability, but for empowering me by Your Holy Spirit.  Please help me today to truly nourish and cherish Joan.  I want to love her "just like Jesus".  Amen.

Bipartisan Christianity...

Ephesians 5:18, 21 "... but be filled with the Spirit... subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ."

Bipartisan.  I like the sound of that term.  Unfortunately, it seems to have been omitted from the vocabulary of our government leaders these days.  What we see, hear, and read of politicians is posturing, jockeying for position, seeking a way to advance their own position, unwilling to consider other points of view.

The concept of bipartisanship has to do with being willing to compromise without sacrificing one's principles. It is rooted in the concept of humility and mutual submission.  It seeks to advance the greater good rather than personal agendas.

Paul said it this way in Philippians 2, "...make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.  Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.  Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus..."

I confess that, like the politicians, I am not naturally bipartisan.  Subjecting myself to someone else, being willing to relinquish my agenda doesn't happen easily.  Rather, Paul tells me that it is another mark of being controlled by the Holy Spirit, and it is a means of showing honor and respect to Jesus.  Jesus is the ultimate example of setting aside one's rights in order to accomplish the Father's will.  If He did it for me, shouldn't I be willing to follow His example?

Dear Lord, I don't know what "subjecting myself to others" will look like today, but I know it begins with subjecting myself to You.  Holy Spirit, I relinquish to You  my "right" to control, to be in charge.  Please help me to be sensitive to others and to discern when to yield.  I want to represent You well today.  Amen.

Becoming a "Gratidude"

Ephesians 5:18, 20  "...but be filled with the Spirit...always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, the Father..."

It was a Thanksgiving chapel.  We were just two days away from a week off school.  Visions of turkey and stuffing and pumpkin pie swirled in my head.  I was sharing with the students God's perspective on being grateful, the bottom line being that thanksgiving involves much  more than merely mouthing the words, "Thank you."  Rather, it is a heart-felt attitude.  The concept could be summed up as follows, "An attitude of gratitude makes you a Gratidude."

That was an easy lesson to teach, but a difficult one to learn.   Paul's words trouble me.  I would have preferred him to say, "usually giving thanks for most things..."  I might be able to handle that.  But to "always give thanks for all things"... that's impossible!  How can I sincerely thank God for pain and suffering?  How can a person truly be grateful for financial ruin?  How can one praise Him for broken relationships?

The answer to those questions: I can't.  It is impossible for me to conjure up a grateful heart.  But that's not the final word.  Paul says that, just like worship, an attitude of thanksgiving is the product of being filled with the Holy Spirit.  As He controls me, I begin to view things differently.  The Spirit allows me to peer through God's lens, to see from His perspective.  God's lens is a lens of faith.  The more I desire, allow, invite the Holy Spirit to invade my heart and control my steps, the more I learn to trust Him.  And as my trust grows,  there is a proportionate increase in thanksgiving.  To my surprise, I find myself becoming a Gratidude!

Lord, thank You for the Holy Spirit, Who relentlessly moves me to trust You and, in so doing, is developing in me a grateful heart.  Please help me to see through Your lens of faith today.  I want to look beyond the obvious and see You at work.  I can't wait!  Amen.

Tuning in....

Ephesians 5:18-19  "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;"

I stopped by Home Depot on the way home last evening.    I had just enough time to pick up some things I needed and still be on time for dinner.  As I pulled into a parking space,  Matt Redman's song, "Ten Thousand Reasons"  came on the radio.  The Celtic-flavored tune and the soul-stirring lyrics glued me in place for an extra 5 minutes, and afterward I found myself singing/humming/whistling/worshiping as I traversed the parking lot and walked the aisles of the store.

As the song played in my head, I quickly found what I needed and headed back to my truck with just enough time to make my deadline.  That's when I saw him.  A twenty-something young man was trying, without much success, to fit two good-sized kitchen chairs into his Mustang coupe.  We both  laughed at the "tight fit" and I walked on.  He was still struggling with the chairs as I drove past, and the Holy Spirit put on the brakes.  "Help him.  Offer to take the chairs to his home."  "But I'll be late for dinner!", I countered.  "Just do it", was His reply.  I backed up, rolled down the window, and offered him my assistance, which he gladly accepted.  He lifted the chairs into my truck, I followed him to his house, he thanked me, I blessed him, and I made it home just 5 minutes behind schedule.  And the song resonated louder in my soul.

I have found, time and time again, that worship sets the stage for interaction with God.  It increases the sensitivity of my spiritual "hearing aids", allowing the Holy Spirit to more effectively direct my steps.  According to the verse in Ephesians 5, a heart filled with worship is an indicator of being controlled (filled)  by the Holy Spirit.  It's designed to be a never-ending cycle: the Holy Spirit moves me to worship ("singing and making melody with your heart") and that, in turn, tunes my heart to better hear and respond to Him, which moves me to worship... and so on.

Lord, I love the "afterglow" of obeying Your prompting.  It's hard to describe the joy that results from partnering with the Holy Spirit in ministry, even in something as mundane as transporting a couple of chairs.  Let's do it again today!  I'm tuned in.   Amen.

Under whose influence?

Ephesians 5:18  "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit..."

I chuckle whenever I think about Peter's response to his mockers on the Day of Pentecost.  The Holy Spirit had "fallen" on the Believers and they were speaking in foreign languages unknown to them.  Can you imagine the cacophony!!  Some who witnessed this phenomenon wryly observed that they must be inebriated, at which Peter exclaimed, "It's only 9:00 a.m. - It's too early for them to be drunk."

Although they were clueless as to the cause, those who saw and heard the disciples that Pentecost Sunday morning knew they "weren't themselves".  They were obviously "under the influence"!  But under the influence of what? The Believers' behavior and the crowd's natural curiosity set the stage for Peter's soul-stirring sermon and the subsequent conversion of more than 3,000 Jews!  And that was just the beginning!!

From this first example of Spirit-filled Believers and subsequent imperatives such as the one in Ephesians 5, we can extract this principle: That which fills us controls us, and it is apparent that we play an active role in the process.  We determine what it is that will fill us.  Paul's command has to do with alcohol, but it can be extrapolated to include the entire set of this world's values and behaviors.

I fill myself, not just by way of my mouth, but also by what I choose to watch or read, by that to which I choose to listen, and by those with whom I choose to associate.  I have the power to decide where my appetite will take me, and that decision will determine my attitude, language, and actions.  It will also impact those who observe me.  Will they be attracted,to or repulsed by, the gospel they see in me?

Dear Lord,  You know my natural inclination toward whetting my appetite with the values and things of this world.  You also know that my heart's desire is to be under the control of the Holy Spirit.  Please curb my natural appetite today; turn my attention to You.  Please fill me and control me.  Let those who see me, see You.  I desperately want to live under Your influence.  Amen.