THE Way To Wisdom

There are two systems at work around us and through us; a world system and a heavenly system. One is anchored in what is below and temporal and the other in what is above and eternal. In the middle we are suspended in a sort of tug-of-war.

In human "condition" parlance there is a notion that, as human beings experiencing life we exist and are exposed to environmental stimuli, data, information and circumstances that we process with our mind and convert into knowledge. We then take this knowledge and through circumstance and experience develop an understanding and from that we develop a sort of wisdom - over time. I would call this a worldly wisdom and it is a self-relative wisdom. It is wisdom anchored in our unique personal experience interpreted in terms of whatever values we develop over time. As such it is self-centered wisdom.

In the worldly wisdom model our experience is: Stimulus >to> Information >to> Knowledge >to> Understanding … leading to a worldly wisdom - our wisdom. In the end, with this approach, it is our understanding that leads to our wisdom. Wisdom from others (parents or mentors) may be imparted and become ours if we submit to it. But who has not had to learn from experience despite the warnings of those who have gone before them? There is a significant element of pride in wisdom derived from our experience. Worldly wisdom can take a lifetime to develop.

 There is another wisdom - wisdom from above - Godly wisdom. This sort of wisdom need not take a lifetime to develop - it is a gift. The Bible says a lot about that wisdom and here are a few of many such mentions; 

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

Proverbs 2:2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;

Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding;

Proverbs 4:5-7 Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of My mouth.  Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

Proverbs 24:3 Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;

In the Godly Wisdom system the order is first wisdom, then understanding and knowledge. Wisdom is God’s Word that, through love expressed by faith, trust and obedience, becomes understanding. When we submit to His Word we receive wisdom directly from the top and it trickles down into understanding and knowledge of the truth.

And so with God’s Wisdom first, we convert it into understanding the world around us by trusting in it and so we are established. Seek first His Word and what occurs around and to you will be sorted out in truth. God is the Word, God is Wisdom. Wisdom is the first of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Wisdom is the watershed of the Christian life. God’s order of Wisdom to understanding to knowledge is the opposite of the order of worldly wisdom. This paradox, in my view, validates its eternal authenticity.

Wisdom has been defined as ‘the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting.’ Godly wisdom is that and so much more because it is everlasting and bringing peace that surpasses understanding.

Paul exhorts the Philippians in Chapter Four (verses 6 thru 8) of his letter to them to, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” God’s Word, His Wisdom, His Peace is a collection of such things.

Beware that there is a very real tug-of-war in the pursuit of this thing called wisdom. It is a war between worldly and Godly wisdom and the Bible has this to say about that in 1 Corinthians 1:19, For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

Blessings,

Bill

What Cannot Be Done?

As we submit ourselves to God’s will we will be challenged to enter into and join God’s plan, God’s work – God’s God-sized ambitions that He means to accomplished through His people by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our character will determine our assignment.

By world standards and by the fleshy lens through which we look His plan is dim, fuzzy and distorted. We struggle to grasp it. We think we have to do it by our own power. We think we have to invent it or embellish it. So He reveals the true plan a bit at a time according to our capacity to understand clearly and handle it. Only upon reaching the destination can we appreciate the grandeur and the profundity of His vision. One saved soul and a great global mission work are all the same to God if they glorify Him and the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But that one saved soul and that great mission are equally resisted by the world.

Where God guides he also provides. Philippians 2:13 “… for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”  We have to take that scripture to heart and rely on His provision to DO IT. What we are to do is what He convicts us to fearlessly and cheerfully do moment my precious moment. This is hard in a world full of its expectations and models for success that push and pull us away from a calm, patient, God-centered focus and demeanor.

In Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” Act 4, Brutus proclaims, “There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, and we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.”  I like that quotation because it resonates with my belief that God provides those opportunities and those tides that we are to take advantage of in performing His inspired and Spirit initiated works. The “shallows” and “miseries” are the frustration and regret we experience for having taken control through our disobedience and fear. When God says “go” and we respond “later” – the tide does not wait.

 All of us have a ministry and all who are His are called to obedience and trust – because that is how we express our love for God.

Our responsiveness to His initiatives will effect to a greater or lesser extent our joyful experience of God throughout the adventure He has for us. We will be convicted to lay down sin and take up righteousness. Decisions will be made and God will be obeyed or ignored. We will listen to Him or we will listen to others. We will tire of trying, on our own power, to measure up to the expectations of people (perhaps well-meaning and even loved ones) – or we will embrace God’s love and rest in His guidance and draw from His reservoirs of refreshing strength. Psalm 1:3, John 7:38, Jeremiah 2:13 …

Every day is different but some mornings my devotion time is mired by my worries, my plans, the distractions of others and the world. I broadcast pleas and send up supplications and “jam the frequency” with my transmissions without allowing the Creator of the Universe to respond. I find no peace or fellowship and I enter those days without a peace that surpasses understanding. The truth be told - that is probably the majority of the time. But there are days when I manage to untangle myself from myself and submit in silence to Him. What follows is resource, understanding, order, calm and security.

Today He led me by way of circumstances and one connection after another which I cannot possibly recount here - to a poem mentioned in an obituary of a man who died over five years ago. Oddly it was a man who lived a few streets away from me. A quiet man, somewhat misunderstood in our neighborhood. A man of the sea who took walks along the shore of our community beach in his knee high seamen's boots and an old foul weather jacket. He seemed to favor foul weather days to be on that shore. A retired Navy career man of WWII and Korea who I never got to know despite, as I found out in the obituary, all that we had in common. I might have shared a few yarns and the Gospel with him … cause for pause and a twinge of regret.

This man’s favorite poem was mentioned in his obituary, the obvious recollection of a loved one who was impacted by it. The poem is titled, “It Couldn’t Be Done” by Edgar Guest and it perfectly ministers to me and the challenges I presently face;

It Couldn’t Be Done ~ Edgar Guest

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But, he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn’t,"
but he would be one who wouldn’t
say so until he had tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
on his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.

But just buckle it in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "couldn’t be done," and you’ll do it.

God willing ....

All the best!

Bill

To Father

Fathering is so much more than the mere siring of a child and our culture often cheapens what it means to be a true Father.

The word Father is a word of action that encompasses loving - selfless action, intervention, courage, commitment, sacrifice and endurance.

Fathering is about rejecting passivity and getting involved, intervening and even INVADING – with fierce love - a situation and fighting for the welfare of a child who may be at risk or threatened by a bad influence.

Fathering is courageous leadership. It is strength under control. It is power directed toward the defense of those who are dependent and defenseless. It is displacing fear and uncertainty just by being there. It is being responsible and never quitting, never giving up  --- never leaving. It is about following through.

Fathering is looking for the greater reward - it is turning the other cheek to rejection from even loved ones when they don’t perceive the outcomes and consequences of their actions and the impact on the horizons of their lives that you, from experience, can see so vividly as you strive to protect them from themselves. 

It’s doing what’s right and doing the thankless thing, when no one else gets it - - - and to keep on doing it.

Fathering is a narrow, difficult, long walk. But it is a walk toward honor and profound joy and gratification in its steadfastness.

Father’s Day is the day we celebrate those who truly “Father”.

And that’s not easy. And we don’t always succeed every day.

Fathering is in many ways STRATEGIC in scope. I encourage all fathers to persevere for the rewards of Fatherhood because those rewards do not always come quickly.

The Bible says, in Proverbs 22:6 to "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

It is a fact that Fatherly sacrifice, deeds and guidance may not yield fruit for decades. But take encouragement from the scriptures and have patience.

James 1:2-4 "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

And isn't it really true that we are honored as a Father not just on Father's Day but on every day when our children display God honoring character?

Like;

• When our child chooses truth over anything false.
• When our child chooses purity over compromise.
• When our child chooses charity and sacrifice over self indulgence.
• When our child chooses virtue over going along just to get along and succumbing to peer pressure.
• When our child chooses hard work and responsibility over short-cuts.
• When our child respects his or her mother.
• When our child gives their heart and life to Christ!

In Psalm 127: 3-5 we find these powerful words, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, but shall stand up to their enemies at the gate."

So, like arrows – we prepare our children and launch them out into the world like flaming missiles of light – illuminating, glorifying and edifying to God and Godly principles. Our children are, after all, what we TRAIN THEM UP TO BE.

SO - 

If you have CLAIMED your children and walk the narrow walk I have described – Happy Father’s Day to you!

If you have stumbled as a Father and realize that you need to RECLAIM your children and are committed to doing it – Happy Father’s Day to you!

If, perhaps, you don’t have natural children but you have been presented with an opportunity to mentor or Father a child or to graft yourself into a broken family as the Father figure - and have taken up that responsibility – Happy Father’s Day to you!

God bless and all the best!

Bill 

Be Of Good Courage & Succeed!

The cowardly lion in the Wizard of OZ gives this speech;

”Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the Sphinx the Seventh Wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the ape in ape-ricot? What have they got that I ain’t got? Courage! - - - You can say that again.”

Poor cowardly lion. All the size and physical might of the real thing and he uses it to bully weaker things - even the small dog Toto - who stands up to him and sends him whimpering off. He attributes just about everything, every mundane action – the waving of an inanimate flag, even a syllable in the word apricot - to courage.

Poor action-less, victimized lion! Everything seems to have courage but him. Or has he simply rejected courage for fear of what it may require of him? How was he convinced that he, the very emblem of courage, was left out of the courage distribution? Was it a past failure? A string of failures? Was it a compelling lie that he bought? The absurdity of it all is very well made by his proclamation.

But isn’t he us, at times, in a way?

Our cowardly lion eventually finds courage in fellowship with others in a cause far greater than himself through circumstances running away from the things he feared and toward something he didn’t understand. At the end of the day, though his posture has somewhat improved, he is really the same individual that he was at the beginning of his adventure - just a bit more conscious of who he is and what has been revived inside of him.

I find that courage and success are close relatives. Randy Alcorn writes, in the May 13, 2013 CBMC “Monday Manna” titled, “Courage in the Workplace”, about the Courage to Stand, the Courage to Proceed Despite Danger, the Courage to Persevere and the Courage to Act on Convictions. These all underscore perhaps the most popular notion of courage which is action in the face of fear or danger.

Courage is power. Would not a life lived with such power be a successful one?

Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Thomas Edison said this about success, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Bill Cosby; “I don’t know the key to success but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”

I knew a successful salesman who learned from experience that for every one hundred prospecting calls he could expect a success rate of five. Every rejection was met with this enthusiastic response, “That’s one more rejection toward my goal of 95!”

Where does the kind of power to Stand, Proceed, Persevere and Act on Convictions come from? I think it comes from an inner power activated by a love connection with God.

Courage is an essential element of the character God had in mind when He created us in His image. It is imprinted like programming language on our hearts. Whenever we observe a selfless act of true courage something resonates in our hearts that stirs a call to courage.

After much thought and contemplation I believe that love is most expressed by one's obedience and trust toward another. True obedience covers trust so – let’s simplify it to love being obedience to another regardless of self. Think about it. True courage is an act of love because to love God is to obey and trust God and to obey God will require courage.

The Bible is full of commands to stand firm and to be courageous such as in 1 Corinthians 16:13; “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

A brother in the faith recently pointed me to the book of Joshua, first chapter, verses 1 through 18. He knew that God often emphasizes His most profound instructions and commands by repeating them, but what he found remarkable was that in Joshua God uncharacteristically repeats Himself TWICE on the topic of courage! Remarkable indeed. So I looked it up and sure enough God does repeat Himself not once but twice for Joshua to be courageous, to be of good courage, not to be discouraged. Why? Because God knows what Joshua is going to face and go through on account of Him. Good knows what we are going through and will go through on account of Him.

Jesus Himself on his final evening with His disciples before the crucifixion (the Upper Room Discourse) in John 16:33 (NIV) sums it up; “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus is encouraging them to take courage.

Let’s not leave out God in the person of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:26 (NKJV); “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

The voice of courage is that still, small, often whispering, compelling, convicting voice that rises like a trumpet call for us to GO, or WAIT, or DO IT, or to STAND FAST and not compromise in the face of a threat to our faith, our testimony or His glory - despite the (apparent) risk. It is the voice of truth.

Philippians 2:13 (NIV) seals it with; “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” There it is! God is that power. That courage and all courage comes from God. Courage is God rising up through us. And so every act resulting from this noble sort of courage is to His glory, His account. This power, this courage is released through love that manifests in the form of trusting obedience. And we know the victory has been won by the blood of Jesus.

Living in the moment, responsive to His commands, trusting in His wisdom and love we can focus on the process and release the outcome to His providence. This is courageous living, the key to a successful life.

Randy Alcorn defines courage as; “willingness to step beyond the confines of the familiar, established and dependable.”

What is your definition of courage?

Oswald Chambers writes, in what might be a definition of success; "God's call is for you to be his loyal friend, to accomplish His purposes and goals for your life."

What is your definition of success and a successful life?

All the best!

Bill

Idols & Integrity

Years ago before I got serious about my faith I carried a number of false gods on the throne of my heart. One was the god of cruising sailboats. I grew up around boats and learned to sail and to be a boatman. But I coveted the boats of others who had boats larger and “nicer" than the ones available to me and I built an altar in my heart to a 30 foot sailboat.

The throne of our heart is a battleground and the true and living God will share it with nothing and no one. Money, power, success, toys, sex, pleasure, even family must come second to God – or He will have no part of us. I didn’t make this up – it’s in the Bible. In fact, read the second commandment closely (Exodus 20:4) to find that God considers any idol on the throne of our heart other than Him as a major affront and an act of hate toward Him. The second commandment is, in fact, rather lengthy on the subject.

God will not be fooled. He knows our heart even if we don’t. We cannot simply worship him with our mouths and serve another (2Kings17:41, Isaiah 29:13).

He is a jealous God – thank God. He loves us and pursues us like a jealous lover; He is the ‘Hound of Heaven’. Does He allow for money, power, success, toys, even sex and pleasure? Of course He does and He delights in our pleasure in them - in their proper place and perspective. And family, of course He loves family and the idea of family and He wishes for us to have and to be loved by family – in their proper place and perspective. But He must be first – and all these other things He will add.

I remember the day my wife and I with our young children drove from the marina where we had just signed the purchase agreement on a 30 foot racer/cruiser sailboat. I remember it very well. I was bursting with pride ... I had arrived! My idol, my golden calf, was on its throne at last!

We bought that boat with money we didn’t have and took care of it with money we didn’t have. But the lenders and the credit cards didn’t complain or advise against. I named the boat “Integrity”. As I think back on it, the name was more a statement or maybe an attempt to seize the word for myself as the label for my life ... a noble gesture. The boat was older and needed work and I threw myself into the task with singular purpose to make my emblem of success as shiny as possible. Rain or shine, wind or no wind, we used that boat. We launched it in early April and hauled it out after Thanksgiving to maximize the sailing season. We sailed in storm and calm. I made us a slave to it, to justify its expense and what it meant to me. It sat firmly in the throne of my heart and became its dictator.

"Integrity" under sail on Narragansett Bay

That boat never loved me and though I referred to it as “her” and "she” our love affair was one-sided and quite impersonal. Truth be told, I was rarely myself on that boat. I was on edge and anxious most of the time. My temper was not my own there and I snapped at my wife and children often in the heat of an “important” maneuver or situation. I had no patience there. Nothing met my expectations of perfection, my expectations of this idol I had so worshipped in my mind. We would sail to a destination and as soon as we were anchored and secure my mind was racing for the next thing to do to justify and satisfy this idol. So I would busy myself with a task or sedate my angst with alcohol in the spirit of seafaring. I would lay awake in my bed on stormy nights wide-eyed wondering if I had secured “her” proper. The next day I would drag myself down to the marina before work to satisfy my anxiety and adjust the lines and fenders – after the fact.

It is true that the best two days of a boat owner’s life are the day he purchases and the day he sells his boat – at least in my case. It is also true that a boat is indeed like a hole in the water into which one throws money. The cost had become too much and the work to maintain her in the image of the idol I had crafted in my mind was endless. Selling her was a frantic effort and I let her go for far less than my heart believed she was worth. The new owner didn’t seem to appreciate anything about her – all the intimate details of her. I gave her away never having truly owned her – she had owned me.

Many years after I had sold that boat I came across a classified ad for a boat described very much like mine. The ad even listed the name of the boat: “Integrity”. My heart leaped like the heart of a lover for a lost love and I took the drive to the boatyard in the listing. There she was propped up in the corner of the yard. I almost didn’t find her. I almost didn’t recognize her. She looked awful and surprisingly small.

Her subsequent owners had taken poor care of her. Vestiges of improvements I had made and details I had invested in her were weathered, tarnished and decaying. My heart was wrenched to see it – this idol I had so worshipped – so shoddy and forgotten - set aside to this forgotten corner of the yard where the boats that are not likely to sell - or abandoned - are stored. Even the name on the transom was faded. Integrity, just a word. This vessel did not reflect its name. She called to me to rescue her and for a fleeting moment I thought I might. But she had no hold on me anymore and I saw her for what she was and I turned away. I had a different perspective.

Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate the lines of a beautifully sculpted sailboat and I love the feel of the surging swells under a hull humming along on a brisk broad reach. Oh I do so love that! I believe that God wants me to enjoy that too – in its proper place and in perspective. For the time being He has me busy with other things and so I will wait patiently until that time, if it comes. What is more important now is that “this” earthen vessel be labeled “Integrity”.   

~ "He who walks with integrity walks securely." ~

 Proverbs 10:9

All the best!

Bill   

My Day With Jesus

The following essay "My Day With Jesus" is the result of a "homework" assignment from my Truth @ Work ® Christian Business Roundtable Group. I recommend doing the exercise for yourself ...

I wake in a haze at 5:45AM on a weekday as my wife gets out of bed and heads to the bathroom to prepare for her day. Drifting in and out of sleep, my inclination is to sleep-in since I work from a home office and I’m just a little lazy but something, a presence in the room, brings me to full alertness. Someone is standing beside my bed! Is this a dream or is it real? I open my eyes. It’s real!

It’s Jesus! He’s standing beside my bed looking down on me – a slightly amused grin is on His face. His eyes widen.

He doesn’t speak but His warm smile projects a calming message and assurance that all is well and that I am His beloved. Beloved! I rise from bed just as my wife enters the room dressed in her “scrubs” (she works in health care). She’s at first startled by His presence but immediately processes the situation and declares, “It’s You - Jesus!” He nods yes. They share words and thoughts - like old friends. I don’t hear everything but there is a detailed conversation going on. The conversation is intimate and I am deeply gratified by it. I had no idea …

Somehow time goes by and Jesus sets my wife on her way without much ceremony – and she’s gone – to work. I am there alone with Jesus. He tells me that He is here to spend the day with me. I don’t know how to act. He assures me to just do what I would normally do and that he will just come along for the ride.

I shave and shower (all the while wondering whether or not He's poking around and what He's discovering while I'm getting ready) and then go downstairs to make some coffee. He's standing in the living room in front of my book cases looking at the volumes there. I grab a cup and offer Him one as I return to Him in the living room and my reading chair where I normally do a brief morning devotional. Jesus settles in the other chair in the room (my wife’s reading chair) and just gazes at me. I’m a little self-conscious. I pick up my Bible and open it to the book of James and begin to read but cannot help looking up at Him as He watches me with an approving smile. I feel like a little boy under the watchful eye of a loving and supportive teacher. I feel “right”. My mind drifts to prayer and somehow I feel Jesus’ thoughts flooding me with supplications for others I know in my life. The needs are extraordinary and deep and burdensome – I had no idea how others struggled compared to me. I begin to realize just how Jesus has cared for me and interceded for me in ways that I could never imagine praying for. I resolve to pray less for my needs, more for the needs of others and rest in thankfulness for His care and wisdom because He knows far better what I need and what to protect me from.

I have a coffee appointment with a Truth at Work ® contact so Jesus and I leave the house and head out. At the café where I regularly meet people, I get my coffee and grab a quiet table for my appointment. Jesus lingers at the counter talking to the women from whom I normally get my coffee and scone. They are entranced as He speaks to them about peace and love. He is so natural and relaxed and so genuinely interested in them. They are naturally drawn to Him. I wonder why it can seem so hard for me to project my faith to these people I regularly encounter and who know me. After a while He comes and sits with me just as my appointment, David, arrives.

David is a little confused at first when he sees my companion, so I introduce Jesus and David responds a little guardedly. David doesn’t recognize Jesus and I’m a little surprised since I thought David would be excited to meet Jesus face to face. The meeting starts to fall flat and David fumbles around a bit for an excuse that he has another meeting to attend. I’m a little embarrassed but Jesus keeps looking alternatively at David and then me reaching out with His hand and touching David’s arm gently while urging him to stay a little longer. I can feel His love flow toward David and I can actually see David’s posture change from tense and restless to relaxed and restful right there in his chair. Then Jesus plainly says to David that He loves him and David begins to weep softly. I am overwhelmed as I realize that right then and there Jesus is drawing David to Himself and David is releasing his life to Jesus. Everything that is going on around us in that café seems to melt away. The next thing I know we’re outside the café with David. We’re saying our farewells and embracing with the promise of meeting again soon. David looks remarkably different.

We walk down the busy street past people going about their business and I turn a corner toward my parked car. It isn’t long before I realize that Jesus is no longer with me. I backtrack and find him stooped down having a conversation with an old man sitting at the doorway of a building. The man is unkempt and weathered. Jesus looks up at me and asks, “May I have the eight dollars of cash in your pocket?” I check and that’s exactly what I have. After a moment of hesitation (now I’ll have no cash) I hand it over. Jesus places the money in the man’s hand and places his other hand over the money as he whispers a blessing on the man and says that He loves him and to remember what He said. The man genuinely appreciates the needed gift and nods, gently folding the money and putting it in his pocket. I don’t know what Jesus said to that man but it was obviously very personal and convicting. The man keeps looking at Jesus as we leave.

Then we are in my car headed to a meeting with one of my clients. We arrive in the lobby of the old building and the receptionist behind the glass panel recognizes me immediately but looks a little puzzled at my companion. I sign us in on the visitor log; Names: “Bill Girrier / Jesus Christ”, Company: (I pause - then write) “The Kingdom”. I’ve been calling on this account for two years and it occurs to me that I’ve never really told or indicated to the receptionist that I am a Christian. Then an expression of recognition crosses her face and she lifts from her chair, slides the glass panel open and, looking right past me and directly toward Jesus, her face explodes with joy as she exclaims, “You’re Jesus!”. “Yes I am Debbie”, He responds, “How are you and how is your daughter?”  Debbie disappears for a split second as she darts to the door that separates us from her small office. In an instant Debbie is with us in the waiting area and throws herself into Jesus’ arms. She’s crying and telling Jesus how her daughter is struggling but that she knows there is a plan and that no matter what the outcome that God knows best. I’m dumbfounded. Then I notice the picture of Jesus and the rosary beads hanging on the wall in Debbie’s small office. I remember seeing them and thinking that her religion was not as authentic as mine and writing off all chance of ever sharing my faith with her on account of that judgment.

Somehow, Jesus and I disengage from Debbie and we meet with the owner of the company, my client, in his office. I sort of awkwardly introduce my client to Jesus and I’m a little ashamed at how I’m almost apologizing for His presence with me. Jesus’ expression does not change but I feel a pang of regret for having let Him down. It occurs to me that Jesus has always been with me every time before only that He was invisible. Was His significance to me as invisible? Jesus has a way of putting my client at ease and the conversation takes off. I find my client asking Jesus many questions about life and business and decisions that I would have loved for my client to ask me. Jesus doesn’t answer every question that my client asks directly but His responses are thought provoking and ooze with wisdom and discernment. I marvel at how well He handles my client and how much my client appreciates what he imparts – even if it’s not a direct answer - but more a way, an approach or an attitude toward dealing with things. As we leave my client says something about how Jesus really impacted his heart on the matters that were important to him. His heart!

I take Jesus to lunch and the whole affair is one opportunity after another to express love, offer a kindness or express compassion and friendship toward the people we encounter. And we encounter SO MANY people. I just sit back and let Him lead. I experience no fear or self consciousness and it’s so easy with Jesus along.

I decide to finish the day by taking Jesus to my favorite beach and to a specific spot where I have spent many hours over the years alone contemplating and praying to Him. He knows the place very well and we walk together picking up beach glass of the most extraordinary colors, shapes and lusters. We look out over the water and I experience a fullness of the creation that blows my mind. I can actually see the wind and see the subtle temperatures of the water and fish below the surface. I can see for miles and miles with extraordinary clarity and I can see planets and stars and galaxies in the sky in broad daylight! It’s too much and I have to close my eyes. But then my ears pick up on so much that I have to beg Jesus to close them – and He does. And He puts His arm around me and whispers “my beloved” - and I am undone.

I ask Him what He thinks about the political, social and economic issues that have me and many others I know wondering about the path of the world. He gives me a knowing half-smile and shakes His head a little. With that I experience a surge of consciousness that He drew me to Himself and when I had surrendered to His irresistible attraction that He gave me a new heart and that I was no longer OF this world and not to concern myself so much with the superficial matters but simply to be anxious for nothing and follow Him led by my new heart. Then all those things swirling around about me came into perspective with a whisper – “love one another as I have loved you”. 

That night at dinner I marvel at the animated discussion Jesus is having with my wife. Our dog has taken a position at His feet, curled up, eyes closed tight and peaceful and he has not moved a molecule since taking his station there. I say a grace over our meal that is the grace of my life and it goes on and on and I don’t want to stop. My wife and I must have eaten but I don’t remember it, only that Jesus told us stories that I could have listened to for eternity.

The time passes and then Jesus gets up and says that He will be going. I experience a surge of grief, but only for a passing moment. His smile reassures me that He is not really leaving but merely passing from my sight and physical consciousness. Then He is gone.

My wife and I retire to our bedroom silent in our thoughts. As I get ready for bed I check the pockets of my pants for those dazzling pieces of beach glass that Jesus and I had found but they are not there except for one small, fairly plain and common looking artifact. It’s nothing that anyone would remark about and maybe it was already in my pocket from a previous trip to the beach. It doesn’t matter.

Laying back in bed I kiss my wife who is absolutely glowing, then turn and melt into the mattress slipping off into a deep, carefree, effortless sleep. Tomorrow is going to be different.      

All the best!

Bill 

Living FOR or IN The Moment

Am I living FOR or IN the moment? Sounds like an exercise in semantics and I suppose it is – substantive semantics. This topic has been on my heart for some time.

I recently heard the testimony of a man who, when faced with the decision to be loyal to a friendship and keep his word or seize a lucrative business opportunity, forsook his friend and his word. Oh, he faced his friend on the matter. He pleaded and pushed for a release from his obligations, and received a graceful response from his “true” but now “wounded” friend. He even looked himself in the mirror as he shaved and rationalized his actions against his responsibilities as a father and head of a household to be a good “provider”. So – he made his decision, sealed it with actions and … he never looked back.

This man’s wife knew about the decision, thought about it and appreciated the security and the lifestyle perks that his decision brought to her and their family. But deep down she had to admit that she was a little let down, a little disappointed, a little diminished.

We’ve all rationalized decisions that have compromised our honor and we too have never looked back. They litter our wake like so much flotsam and trash - - - Living FOR THE MOMENT.

A woman is sexually taunted and dishonored in public, a child is teased and bullied, a rude person pushes past an elder in line, a husband verbally abuses his wife in a public place, a homeless person is brushed aside or ignored, a person of faith is openly chastised – and no one intervenes or even offers a word of encouragement or a gesture of humanity - - - Convenient FOR THE MOMENT.   

A word spoken in anger that cannot be taken back. A child scarred, a wife wounded and wondering, a worker hurt, resentful and untrusting. A promise broken because it fell in the list of priorities - - - Sufficient FOR THE MOMENT.

“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.” ~ Ambrose Bierce

I remember presenting a video program to the men of the church titled “Not A Fan” by Kyle Idelman/City on a Hill Productions. The main character in the story is a business man. This man was religious and no more self centered and ruthless than most but he compromised and ‘went along to get along’. One day he realized his regrettable behaviors and lifestyle. Circumstances in his life humbled him and in that brief pause he was called to true, balanced faith. He answered the call, placing his complete TRUST in Jesus Christ. Shortly thereafter he uttered these haunting words to his wife, “Now that God's in my life, I can't see my future, I can't see two feet in front of me. I don't know what's going to happen to me - and it's such a relief!”

I have no desire to cast negative regret by this message but regret is certainly an element of the equation. Regret is a powerful motivator. It is also a powerful shackle that can be attached to a load of baggage that will bog us down and stop us dead in our tracks. We can be inspired to change by regret or it can trap us into stagnancy. Jesus allows us to un-harness ourselves from our pasts and take on His yolk, a yoke that is gentle and easy; “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30).

Face it. We are created with a spirit and we WILL worship something. It may be a career, it may be sex, it may be food, it may be our very selves, it may be our anger for someone who mistreated us. We are going to be yoked one way or another. Regret is also a yoke - a thing worshipped.

“Regret for time wasted can become a power for good in the time that remains, if we will only stop the waste and the idle, useless regretting.” ~ Arthur Brisbane

“A person is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.”

~ John S. B. Barrymore

 “Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves - regret for the past and fear of the future.” ~ Fulton Oursler

When regret results in noble action it is worthy and good. When it results in self pity and lingering contemplation it becomes a thing to regret all its own and an excuse for inaction. Living FOR THE MOMENT may result in regrets that prevent us from living IN THE MOMENT.

God is IN THE MOMENT. He presents opportunities EVERY MOMENT.  

Robert Lewis expounds on four traits that mark a true man in his series titled The Quest For Authentic Manhood of which Jesus serves as the truest model. These traits are the mark of authentic women as well. They are also the traits of people who live IN THE MOMENT.

1) A real man or woman REJECTS PASSIVITY.  Such a person intervenes, initiates, takes risks for the good and does not sit passively aside. Such a person engages. Such a one anticipates the regret that follows inaction. One is ready. One prepares. One acts.

2) A real man or woman ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY.

3) A real man or woman LEADS COURAGEOUSLY.

4) A real man/woman acts and does all things with his/her eyes set on a greater reward not found in this life.

I begin to realize that such people LIVE IN THE MOMENT FOR ETERNITY. Such a person’s life is known for its noble character, healthy relationships, God-serving, productive children and the achievement of great things toward truly noble causes.

Bottom line: Live not FOR the moment but IN the moment FOR eternity.

All the best!

Bill